By: Nathaniel de Vries, member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Ontario, Canada
Submitted by Bill McKay
This year has shaped up to be a very different than what I had initially planned when deciding to work with “International Christian Community Development (ICCD).” What was going to be a beautiful Ukrainian Spring of Bible studies, Bible retreats, outreach camps, and English lessons has turned into a devastating war and refugee crisis.
Since leaving Transcarpathia, Ukraine the day of the Russian invasion, we have moved to a church in Tiszaújváros, Hungary. After making our services available to the Magyar Református Szeretetszolgálat (Hungarian Reformed Charity) we went to border crossings and assisted in any way we could. Driving refugees from border crossings to train stations, assisting with bus routes and tickets, bringing food to the train station, and driving refugees to various safe houses.
As Hungary has mobilized in assisting the thousands of refugees crossing the border and transiting people around the country, how we could be most helpful has changed. We have begun bringing supplies into Western Ukraine to families and schools that have opened their homes to refugees.
People are experiencing an unbelievable amount of brokenness, pain, and sorrow. Leaving behind mothers, fathers, brothers, and friends, they have no idea if they will see their families again. People receive news of family dying and houses being destroyed. Their previous life is gone. It is impossible to imagine the pain and suffering they are experiencing. Amidst this crisis, the Church has come together to serve its neighbor, and people have heard and seen the Gospel message.
Please continue to pray for refugees, safety to leave, places to stay, food to eat, and a welcoming community to come to. Most importantly for the Gospel to be preached and hearts open to receive it. Please pray for the Church here, as it works so everyone may know their Savior.
If you would like to learn more of the work that ICCD does in Eastern Europe, please follow this link: https://iccdabroad.org/.