Our Stories

BOOTS FOR THE DISABLED

Main Characters: Yura – Volunteer, nephew of Uncle Vanya Uncle Vanya – Yura's father's brother

At the beginning of the war, Uncle Vanya gave Yura a pair of boots. They became his favorite—perfect for volunteering, running, and humanitarian aid trips.

In April, while delivering food to Kharkiv amid heavy shelling, a man approached Yura asking for boots for his disabled neighbor. Yura asked the size—44.5. Coincidentally, that was Yura’s size. As he hesitated, the man showed documents with the name Kovalenko Volodymyr Mykolayovych—Yura’s late father’s name. Without a second thought, Yura handed over his beloved boots.

He returned to Kyiv wearing store bags. The next day at church, a friend gifted him a pair of boots—size 44.5.

“If you sow kindness along life’s path, it will surely return to you with kindness.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1

HALF A KINGDOM OF INSULIN

On a trip to the liberated village of Novy Yar (Kharkiv region), an elderly couple approached us, asking for insulin. Unfortunately, bringing or buying it was impossible—residents couldn’t leave due to hidden collaborators.

But God provided. In our thermal bag, we had miracle vials for those in need. Their joy was beyond words.

Fifteen minutes later, the same couple returned—with a sack of potatoes. “Take this, it’s for you,” they said.

We didn’t take the potatoes, but we always carry the bag of their generosity in our hearts.

“Share the best you have, even if it never feels like enough.”

EVERYONE TO THE SHELTER

Location: Inzhenerne, Hospital, a crowd of locals.

In Inzhenerne, at the hospital, a crowd of elderly locals gathered, desperately needing medication. Medical assistance is scarce in this area, and our volunteers were met with warm gratitude. As we prepared the medications, a man warned us about Russian soldiers targeting gatherings. He handed us a fragment from a recent strike nearby.

Minutes later, explosions rang out. The soldiers with us said we had just 2 minutes before impact. The locals quickly sought shelter under a plastic awning. Some whispered numbers, others prayed, and some held their loved ones tight. Those 2 minutes felt like an eternity. When the strikes hit, they were miles away.

We were safe, but for others, it was their last moment. Have you ever wondered why God keeps you on this earth?

FUR COAT OR JACKET

Sandra, on her visit to occupied Mariupol, was asked to travel to the Kharkiv region to distribute medicine to people who survived the occupation. Facing the cold and no warm clothes, she was given a fur coat by her friends.

After distributing the medicine, Sandra and the volunteers came across a woman whose house had burned down. She and her elderly mother were living in a shed, unable to stay warm with a small stove. Sandra asked, “How can I help you?” The woman replied that they only had a worn-out jacket. Remembering the Bible’s words, “Freely you have received; freely give,” Sandra gave her the fur coat.

The grandmother’s tearful face showed deep gratitude. Sandra later shared the story on social media and received a message from a stranger wanting to send her something. A week later, Sandra received a warm sports jacket, just as cozy as the fur coat. The note inside read, “Don’t forget, when you do something good for others, God will do something good for you.”

This story shows that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact. Maybe someone around you needs help, and you can be the one to make a difference.

MEDICINE OR GAS?

The Last Trip Was Nothing Short of a Miracle

Our usual trip lasts three days:

1️⃣ Arrive near the destination.
2️⃣ Spend the day helping people with medicines and prayers.
3️⃣ Head back home.

But this time, we decided to stay an extra day. However, we had run out of most of our common medicines the day before. We had just enough money left for fuel to get home. The decision was made: buy the medicines and figure out the rest later. If we ran out of money, we’d push the car back to Kyiv.

While placing the medicine order online, an Instagram message from an old friend came in. His church wanted to donate money to our cause. A few minutes later, our account had an additional 10,000 UAH.

With this donation, we were able to:

  • Visit around 100 people and return home.

  • Help the villagers with medicines.

  • Treat a woman with a fragment in her leg.

  • Provide a man with lifesaving insulin.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who supports our trips. May God richly bless you all.

“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22)

 
 

THE LAST TABLET

During a time when Ukraine was lacking the essential hormone thyroxine, a medication people need to take daily for life, God blessed our team with a supply of these medications. We set off for the hotspots in eastern Ukraine — the towns of Toretsk and New York — to deliver thyroxine and other essential medicines to the population.

After the distribution and consultations, a woman approached us, asking if we had any thyroxine. We handed her a pack, and she began to cry. It turned out that she had been splitting and taking her last tablet that very day, praying to God for guidance on what she would take the next day. After thanking us and praying, she asked for another pack, explaining that she needed them for life and that one pack would last only three months.

Usually, we keep an extra pack, but this time, we only had one left. We explained to her that in another town, someone else might be taking their last tablet, too, with no hope for tomorrow. If we gave her the pack, that person would be left without medicine and hope. She thanked us, understanding, and said goodbye to the team.

In the next town, New York, a distressed woman approached us, asking for the same medicine and dosage. When we told her we had just one pack left, tears welled up in her eyes. She, too, had been splitting her last tablet, uncertain of what the future held. Rejoicing that we had made the right choice earlier, we shared the last pack with her and shared the message from the Gospel of Matthew:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

THANK YOUR MOTHER - THANK GOD!

Main Characters: Olena, resident, Yura, volunteer
Location: Paraskoviivka

The last resident of Paraskoviivka had received the necessary medicine, and the RPG team was preparing to move to another village. As the sound of packing boxes echoed, it was interrupted by a shout:

Olena: Wait, wait! — a panting woman called out to us. Phew, I barely made it! Do you have L-thyroxine?

Yura: Yes, of course, here you go. And take a Twix too, you must have spent a lot of energy running here.

Olena: Thank you so much, you’re a miracle. I didn’t know where to get these meds, and I need to take them for life! Thank your mother for me.

Yura: Praise God!

Olena: I don’t know about God, but definitely thank your mother for raising such a son and for you traveling around and helping!

Yura: If I listened to my mother, I wouldn’t be here. So thank God for caring for you and sending you these meds through us.

Olena: Praise God, take care of yourself!

Yura: So, is it God, or mother?

 
 

BROKEN HOME... BUT NOT A SHATTERED LIFE

An air bomb struck the basement of the house belonging to the pastor who was guiding us into Vovchansk, destroying two homes. Among the people in those houses, only three survived. The pastor had also stored a lot of Christian literature in that house, which he shared with the townspeople.

When we asked him, “What do you feel when you look at these ruins, where a large part of your life took place?” he replied, “I look at them and thank God that none of my loved ones were hurt and He preserved our lives. And if life is given to us, then there is a reason for it, and that reason is to serve Jesus.”

TWO MONTHS IN A CAR

In the village of Mala Novosilka, we met a resident who had spent two months living in his Tavria by the river. Before autumn arrived, this village was on the frontline, and explosions were a constant threat, making their absence a rare relief. To ensure his safety, the man decided to live in his car by the river, with only a fishing net, matches, and river water to survive.

He endured this way for two months until a rocket fell near his car. Thankfully, he wasn’t harmed, but a few fragments hit the car, forcing him to return to his house.

We always say that it’s safer to be in an occupied territory with God than in the USA without Him. This situation was no exception. So, we convinced Roman to accept a New Testament from us.

A MOSASAURUS

What could be better than a Christmas musical? At this festive theatrical event, where children are living the last days of their exciting lives, the hero of our story appeared – Arseniy.

Arseniy’s attention was immediately captured by the prop of our actor (the evil spirit) – a shark that turned out to be a dinosaur named Mosasaurus. This dinosaur was Arseniy’s favorite, and he had always dreamed of receiving such a large gift.

Now, let me tell you about the magic of Christmas. When else should dreams come true if not at Christmas? So, after the show ended, Arseniy, like a true hero, decided to approach the “evil spirit” and share his incredible dream – to have a huge dinosaur. And not just by showing it, but by bringing with him a small replica that was always with the boy.

What followed was a bouquet of compliments! Arseniy praised our toy, saying it was “very cool.” And, of course, we asked, “Would you like such a toy as a gift?” To which the boy, without hesitation, replied, “Of course!”

Arseniy was on cloud nine, having his dream come true – and this might have been his last Christmas wish. These are the moments when God works miracles, and we are merely His intermediaries.

So, let each of us be the hero of our own story and fulfill dreams, if not our own, then those of others. And perhaps, let’s ask God to use our talents and possessions so we can bring even more of His miracles to people.