At the Chisinau Center for Holistic Refugee Assistance, small groups of Ukrainian refugees gather every week to receive spiritual, emotional and moral support. These meetings have become a vital opportunity for many to share their experiences, pain and hopes with people who understand their situation and are ready to support them in their time of need. Each story told at these meetings touches the heart, just like Irina's story, which she shared with the other participants.
Irina is originally from Donetsk, where she lived a happy life together with her beloved husband and son. Everything changed in 2014 when her life started to fall apart. First her husband died, then her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and finally the military invasion of Donbas began. Every day they lived under shelling until it became obvious that it was no longer possible to stay in their hometown and they had to leave their home.
A few years passed and Irina's life began to recover. She remarried, her chosen one was a military man who accepted her son as his own with love and care. However, in February 2022, their lives were once again threatened. A new phase of war had begun, and Irina's husband insisted that she and her son and mother to leave the country, hoping that the separation would last long. But it's more than one year now their communication has been limited to telephone conversations. Irina's husband tries to encourage her, despite the difficulties he faces defending Ukraine, and Irina is worried about his life and health.
Although Irina is safe with her son and mother, her heart remains in Ukraine, where her husband risks his life every day. These hardships of separation and uncertainty weigh on her, but the meetings at the holistic refugee centre have become a source of comfort and support for Irina. Together with her aged mother, they have become regular attendees of these meetings. The Bible stories discussed at the centre give them hope and encourage them to seek a deeper knowledge of Almighty God, who does not abandon people in times of need.
Here, at the Centre for Holistic Refugee Assistance, Irina and other refugees feel safe knowing that there is always someone who will listen, understand and support them. The atmosphere of warm fellowship with a cup of coffee helps them, at least for a while, to forget their worries and find spiritual comfort. These meetings have become an important part of their lives, giving them strength and faith in the best, despite all the challenges they face.
