My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Isaiah 32:18
Tatiana and Sergey fell in love and married while they were both attending the same university. Their dreams of owning their own home and having a large family eventually came true, as the couple would welcome seven vibrant souls into their home. Each child would bring their own unique light and laughter, transforming their home into a bustling haven of love, life, and the sweet chaos that comes with raising seven children.
When the fighting broke out in Donetsk, the explosions and gunfire terrified the children to the point where no one was sleeping at night. Then on an early morning, the air raid sirens began to scream their warnings to evacuate. Tatiana and Sergey gathered their children and began to run out of the front door to the safety of a shelter. Within seconds, there was a deafening explosion that knocked the family to the ground. When they looked up, their beautiful home was flattened to the ground. After the initial shock wore off they realized that their little 7-year-old Timmy did not make it out of the house. Tatiana and Sergey collapsed in immense pain as they tried to make sense of what just happened.
After entering our life-saving Refugee Program, we sat down with Sergey, his voice breaking with emotion, shared this… “Losing Timmy was a devastation beyond words. It felt as if a part of our souls was extinguished that day. The pain is so profound, it is like we are navigating through life without truly living. Our family, once full of joy and energy, now bears the weight of his absence. Yet, in his absence, we’ve learned the true strength of our love for each other. We hold onto each other a little tighter, and try to look for the good in each moment, knowing how precious and fragile this life is.”
My loving family, this family really needs us right now. They dearly need our love and attention as they work through the pain and trauma that has engulfed their lives. Let’s together wrap them in our loving arms and adopt them into our family circle. In doing so, we can bless them with the boundless love, support, and care they so desperately need.
