A letter from the TC in Eastern Europe: Praying for peace

Commissioners Anthony and Gillian Cotterill attended an ecumenical and interfaith prayer service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London on the anniversary of the start of the war (Friday 24 February).

International leader General Brian Peddle said: ‘We remember the officers, soldiers and adherents who give their time and devotion to those who need it most, and we thank them for their dedication.

‘While we work closely with the circumstance in Ukraine, we continue to value our Salvation Army services to the Russian people. Our prayers extend to them as well. We pray for a resolution to this humanitarian catastrophe and look forward to the time when, by the grace of God, there will once again be peace in Europe.’

Captain Daniil Lukin, corps officer in Lviv, reflects on life in Ukraine over the past 12 months.

The war caught me unprepared. I cannot say that I did not know that the war could start. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, who gathered near the borders of my motherland – with full weapons, with jet fighters, with tanks, with artillery – said the opposite. My mind told me that war was inevitable, but my heart continued to believe that it could be avoided.

On the morning of 24 February 2022, I woke up to the roar of fighter jets and the sounds of distant explosions, and I was not ready for this. I don't know at all how you can prepare yourself for this – to prepare for the fact that all your plans are no longer worth anything, your way of life is completely destroyed, stability and security have just left your house with a loud slamming of the door. Although no, it wasn't a slamming door – it was another explosion, this time even closer to my house. I don't know how to prepare myself for this.

Instead of normal emotions come fear, uncertainty, sadness. The future no longer seems bright and clear. It has plunged more and more into the darkness and there is only one thing that can stand against the darkness – a light.

Genesis 1:3 and 4 say: ‘And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.’ God is the source of light. He is the author of light. He is the one who dispelled the darkness. He did it at the creation of the world. He did it 2,000 years ago and he continues doing it today.

I found light in God for myself and for my future, and the darkness receded. His light has one important characteristic – it does not only light you, it gives you the power to shine yourself. To shine where it is darkest.

You can't avoid lighting yourself when his light is in you. Today, this is often expressed in help for those people who suffered from the war in Ukraine, which has been going on in our country for a whole year.

There are millions of people in Ukraine today who have lost everything: houses, property, friends, relatives, hope. They need help and support. They need light. And the light that is in me, it prompts me to do everything that depends on me, so that they receive this help and support and see the light. The light that chases away the darkness. The light always wins because the one who created the light is stronger than the darkness.

Natalia Rak, corps leader in Dnipro, reflects on life in Ukraine over the past 12 months.

The love of Christ, which penetrates through people into this troubled world, is the light that helps us to survive physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Explosions, fear, cold, despair, pain, tears, hunger, confusion, sadness, rage. Ukraine is filled with all that. Every centimetre of this land is ‘burning’ – somewhere like in Bakhmut because of fire, somewhere like in Mariupol from sheer horror, and somewhere like in Dnipro from a hole the size of the lives of people who died in a destroyed house.

Despite all that, Ukraine fights, holds on and is healed by the love of people who support each other every day, and give love and care for those who need it most. People share water, food, clothes, blankets, shoes, but there is nothing more valuable than time, attention and love. The love of Christ, which penetrates through people into this troubled world, is the light that helps us to survive physically, emotionally and spiritually.

A child’s smile, who recently saw his friend torn apart, the one they played with yesterday; a child’s hug, who stopped talking because a rocket flew straight into their home; the lively eyes of a boy, whose father was killed in combat... These are the things that do not fade away and are the same light. Children are exhausted by the war, teenagers are in search of themselves, women have lost their support, men do not understand what to do, grandparents have had to leave their entire lives and started from scratch, volunteers and ministers search, distribute, comfort and love. These are the people who inspire and hold Ukraine, because they do not give up, because they live.

Our team consists of an actor, a store owner, an animator, a boy with disability, a biochemist, a rescuer, a few teachers, a translator and many other people who have become one family – who, despite everything, bring the love of Christ into people's lives.

God opens his arms in this terrible time for everyone, again and again. He seems to hold every Ukrainian, every disappointed soul. He wipes away the tears of despair and sadness and gives a reason to smile, and feel joy and happiness in every day.

This is our tired but happy Ukraine. Ukraine with the desire for peace in our hearts and around us. We are strong in Jesus Christ. We are free in our Saviour. We are healed by his wounds. We are enlightened by his love.