A letter from CJs in Ukraine
Dear companions,
19th November 2024 was the 1000th day of the full-scale war against Ukraine. However, despite all struggle, every desperation and seemingly intractable situation, we want to witness about our hope. First of all, thank you for your prayers and every expression of concern and support from CJ, IBVM and our friends. Every day we receive many messages that someone is praying intensely for us. We are especially grateful to our benefactors who have been tirelessly supporting us with material and financial help, especially from Germany. Without your help we could do very little, your help is an extended hand, thanks to which we are still able to ensure that our needy people can stay in our premises, we are able to give them warmth rooms and food and also to accompany them by our cars to medics and wherever they need to go, and we regularly bring humanitarian aid to the poor internally displaced. THANK YOU.
Many of you ask how we manage. It is not easy, but we can affirm that since the war began, we feel God’s presence and care more than ever in our lives. It is not easy to wake up almost every night, especially in Kiev, to the sound of sirens, air defence missiles, drones, and enemy artilleries. But we stand with our people, we are close to them and we are proud members of our Ukrainian nation. We understand it is our special mission to stay be our people’s side in this situation. We have built beautiful, deep relationships with the people most affected by the war, based on the shown human acceptance and warmth welcome, and the hope that we still cling to, despite the enemy’s increasingly powerful attacks. In all of this we testify that “nothing is impossible for God.” Please trust with us, pray with us, and pray for us that no despair and no difficulty will bring us down.
Allow us to share with you a fragment from the status of Vitalii Kryvytskyi, Bishop of Kyiv, he wrote on his FB profile for yesterday’s 1000 day of the war:
“A thousand days, that’s hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded. Countless widows and orphans, broken destinies, crossed hopes. But the war has also taught us that we cannot rely on people alone, and it has led our nation to trust God completely, for He alone will never betray.
Without God, we would not have lasted this long. Contrary to analysts and potential predictors of the collapse of Ukrainian statehood. The great works of the Lord are witnessed by our brave protectors, medics, praying believers and those who have turned to God in these difficult times – to encounter God in action.
Can the Almighty do more for us? Yes, surely. He can do all things. But this “more” must be done by us as well. Not just on the prayer front, despite the weakened hands and discouragement of some of us. Not just through donations and charitable aid, because we can’t do it without them. But also, in the justice we seek from God and the civilized world, while we ourselves are unable to deal with our budget’s and foreign aid’s thieves. Expecting God’s help, we neglect his laws, both at the level of families and in the enactment of state laws. From politicians to relationships in families and communities, we miss God’s presence in interpersonal relationships. There is also a subtle front line in this relationship – between love and hate.
Let us ask God to give us further renewal and to strengthen us. Let us get rid of everything that prevents our people from standing at war with the Russian invader. That God, as a caring Father, would protect our soldiers, the wounded and captured, the tired medics and charity. That we would preserve our towns and villages on the eve of a difficult winter. And that He Himself would touch the Russian people for their conversion and repentance, and if we find it impossible, then let us remember all the “impossible” things the Lord has done for us, and let us begin with thanksgiving with our own change and repentance, so that God’s grace may be manifested in us.”
With love and prayers
Your Sisters CJ from Ukraine:
Kristina, Anastasia, Marietta, Villana, Xenia, Diana, Katarina
