Preparing for Easter

April 16, 2022

Tomorrow is Easter in America! What a wonderful day for us Christians to celebrate the greatest story in history – Jesus’ resurrection from death! In Ukraine and in many other countries around the world, Easter won’t be celebrated for another week, as they follow the Orthodox calendar. However, our family of 14 in Madrid is celebrating tomorrow, so today they were busy coloring eggs. This refugee family was happy to have eggs to color, even though they look much different that the kind they usually made at home in Ukraine.

Khrystos Voskres! Vin voistynu Voskres

Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Churches all over the world will be saying these phrases today. In Ukrainian, one says “Khrystos Voskres!” And the reply is, “Vin voistynu Voskres!” Happy Easter to you all!

Happy Easter to our Soldiers

We have many young soldiers in our prayers – kids who we know personally. Many kids who age-out of the orphanage system after 9th grade, join the military. The routine and institutional setting are comforting to kids who have grown up in an orphanage, so it is not unusual that many of our orphan graduates are serving in the defense forces today. Please keep these young souls in your prayers. Especially, Bogdan, Sergi, Roma, Andrei and our dear Rostik who is still missing.

Sharing with Those in Need

Yesterday, our evacuated kids and moms worked hard sorting and packing up donated clothing, and tomorrow this will aid be going deep into Ukraine. Many Romanians have been especially generous and have given a lot of clothes for the refugees coming across the border. There is so much, in fact, that we are now sending the excess into Ukraine. Most people fled the country, with only a few winter clothing items, and now they need spring and summer clothes. Several huge bags have been sorted and gathered up – and this went into Ukraine today, along with food, medicine and other items that we were able to source in Romania, and will deliver into Ukraine.

Ukrainian traditions are Still Alive

Easter would not be the same without traditional Paska, no matter what country a Ukrainian is in. All over Ukraine, and now in Poland, Romania, Moldova, Sweden, the USA – and every other country Ukrainians were evacuated to – Ukrainians who perhaps like Sasha, have never made paska before, will now try to bake this yummy treat. Filled with dried fruits, this soft and not too sweet bread is really delicious. It tastes like Hope.

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Memorial Day is Everyday in Ukraine

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