Help In A Time of Need

I was opportune to hear the story of a young man who was a victim of the on-going war in Ukraine. His name is Emmanuel. He’s a Nigerian who got admission to do his masters in Ukraine. He was living in Odesa when the war broke out.

He came to Ukraine barely 2 months ago. He was just about to start his studies before the war began. Emmanuel said he had to save for 2 years before he could gather money to sponsor his masters in Ukraine. His parents were not well to do and he had no one to turn to. He got a small job that he was managing and making little savings from. Having come to Ukraine, he had a sense of small relief that he would put in his best to get all the opportunities that come his way in Ukraine and help his family. But just at the moment of him starting his masters, that was when the war broke out.

It was at the middle of the night, Emmanuel said, him and his two other Africans guys who they were living together, heard a loud disturbing sound that woke them up from sleep. They confirmed it was a sound of Russian bomb that was thrown to a location close to their building. All of them got scared and ran to the basement for protection. They stayed there till the following morning. They couldn’t sleep any more.

When it was morning, they all packed their bags and ran to the train station to leave the city. Everyone was on the street trying to run away for their lives. Everywhere was chaotic and people became tensed and afraid - both Ukrainians and foreigners- everyone was running away for their lives.

Emmanuel and his friends also had to squeeze themselves among many people that were at the train station to enter. The train took them to Lviv, the western part of Ukraine. When they got there, they moved towards the Poland border. Emmanuel and his friends had to walked for over 5 hours —all inside the cold and congested walkway. At a point they were all tired and had to wait and rest. Emmanuel said he was very sick, even right before they left home. So he only had to struggle to run away with friends in order to save his life.

But then, while waiting, they noticed that there was discrimination against foreign nationals at the polish border and many of them had to wait for hours standing, and even days before they entered. Emmanuel couldn’t risk that stress. He was already very weak and sick. His friends encouraged him to go with them but he insisted he would stay. When the night came, he decided he would go back to Odesa, where there was more frequent sounds of bombing and shelling.

Thinking this would be a great risk, Emmanuel said he needed to rest and he couldn’t find anywhere than to go back to where he lived. He already panting for breathe, and didn’t mind what would happen to him. He looked around for taxi or any means of transport, he couldn’t find. He waited and waited. Eventually he did found a taxi. And that one was very expensive. He wouldn’t mind. He entered and the taxi took him back to Odesa. 

The driver dropped him at the outskirt of the city and he had to walk again to where he could find help. He saw a military base where it was more risky to go because of Russian bombing (Russians soldiers were attacking more military base than any other structures). Emmanuel didn’t mind, he went ahead and begged them to see if they could help him. They did. They carried him to the city and found way to his house. With continued bombing and shelling around the city, Emmanuel entered his house and rested for a while. He said he was almost dead. He didn’t know whether he was alive or dead. And he couldn’t breathe well or feel anything around him. And there was nobody to help because everyone has fled.

After a while, he met some people who were planning to go to Moldovan border. He joined them, and they moved. When they got there, it was easier to cross the border and they entered the country. From Moldova, Emmanuel moved to Romania. From Romania, he moved to Hungary. From Hungary he moved to Germany.

All through his journey, Emmanuel testified that he had been favored by God. God had brought people his way to help him, even when he least expected. People that he didn’t know came for his rescue in a time of dire need. They provided him accommodation, feeding, and even clothing. He was so thankful that God brought help him at the time of need and he didn’t lack any basic thing he needed, at least at this time of the crisis where there is a lot going on in Ukraine and many people have run away for their lives.

In this new place, Emmanuel said he’s gathering himself back and planning a new future for himself.

I believe God is raising helpers and touching the hearts of people to show more love and kindness at this time of need, especially to the people from Ukraine.

And I’m using this opportunity to pray once again for Ukraine that peace of God is coming to that country and is rebuilding all the broken walls and lives that have been affected by the war. Ukraine will know a lasting peace and all the lost glory would be restored hundred folds.

God bless Ukraine and God bless our world.

Shalom!