In the last Sunday on May 31st in Zalesie took place the second meeting of migrants. This meeting has been hosted by IPO “Hope to people” in order to demonstrate a friendly sympathy and support to the families of migrants in the difficult period of their lives. The Mission fully assumed the responsibility for the cost of the food and transportation, also has arranged a communication and sports games, and in this way showed love for these people. As the one of the settlers, I can say that for us, the people who have lost their habitual way of life, leaving behind our homes, and parting with many of our relatives and friends – the partaking in our fate as this one is very and very valuable. It is difficult even to say, who has done more for us within this period: those who helped us financially, or those who simply made friends with us.

Very often the migrants themselves are unable to break the cycle of depressing thoughts and reminiscence of the past experiences and the lost things. And when someone comes to you in the evening to socialize in an ordinary and unforced atmosphere for a simple cup of tea – it becomes for you, like a breath of fresh air, you come out of your thoughts and again you can look at the life in the light of Scripture and the eternity…

At the meeting were present a migrants from the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, families from the Crimea, and almost the entire makeup of the Council of the Church “Community of Good Shepherd” and their families, as well as the young brothers who were serving as a drivers and assistants to organize a picnic. The families of Andrey Pavlovich and Vova Chekerenda took care of cooking. When we have almost pulled up to the recreation center from there was radiating the delicious smells of grilling. There was a time to get acquainted, when a representative of each family could briefly tell us about himself and his family. Everything was happening simply and easily. Nikolay Nikitin has prepared for us a sermon on the text of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah on 29-th chapter. In his sermon, he tried to answer the questions faced by every refugee “Who we are: cowards, traitors as we are sometimes being called by friends which have remained in the area of the ATO (zone of anti-terrorist operation) and on the occupied territories, or people who acted wisely? How to avoid of falling into depression and to keep living an effective life of God’s children, as we appeared among the migrants? ”

As we listened to the sermon, young brothers from the “Community of Good Shepherd” were entertaining our children, playing with them in sports games. This allowed us to focus on the text of the Scripture. After preaching, even adults have played in sports games. Nikolay Nikitin and his team beforehand have prepared an excellent volleyball court and with a whistle, like a real referee he was leading volleyball battles. Someone was walking, someone was socializing, someone was playing with the children. We were leaving home tired and happy. Those migrants who are not members of Protestant churches, were very surprised by what they saw: everyone tried to grasp what was happening here, and I do kind of understand them. After a meetings that are being arranged by migrants, joining in civic organizations – it looks quite different. With a naked eye you can see that these people are united not only by a common trouble, but it is something bigger. One of our guests unbelievers, migrant from Donetsk asked me a question: “And what…? Is it necessary to join the faith so that I could take part in of what is going on here (children’s camps, meetings and so on.)?”

I’ve tried to explain to him that it is unselfish, but in this sinful world it is hard to believe in it…

On behalf of the migrants I want to say “Thank you!” Thank IPO “Hope to people” and the church “Community of Good Shepherd” for this picnic. May God bless you, and reward you for all the good that you do for us immigrants. We hope that Christ will take it as a sign of personal to him, “…for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matt. 25:35).

Stanislav Kolpakov