AFFEO Programs Director Oksana Mykhaylovska shares her reflections from a recent visit with a few of the 15 families in Ukraine who received greenhouses this spring, because of your generous support!
—
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in… The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” -Matthew 25:35-40
In May, I had the privilege of visiting several families who received greenhouses through our partners. It was a priceless experience and a blessing for me. I saw firsthand how our partners serve with such dedication — not just by installing greenhouses, but by forming real connections with families and carrying out their ministry with love.
I met people who had lost everything as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — their homes, farms, familiar way of life, and professions. They arrived in a new place with only the essentials, hoping to protect their children and give them a chance to live out their childhood in relative safety. Seeing these people, weary from constant shelling, holding on to any opportunity to build a better life for their children, moved me deeply.
We visited four families, all displaced from the same village in the Donetsk region to a safer area in the Cherkasy region. One story that stayed with me was Vira’s.
Vira moved with her husband and six children — ages 1 to 17 — eight months ago. She herself is an orphan. Her experience of institutionalization and the large number of children make this family especially vulnerable and at risk of separation.
The family rented an abandoned house, cleared the yard, made a garden, and worked hard to make their new home livable. The house needs repairs, and they live in very poor conditions. Government support is small, sometimes not enough even for basic food. For them, the garden is a lifeline — fresh vegetables in summer and preserved food in winter.
This year, the greenhouse made a huge difference. After planting, temperatures dropped sharply, destroying many crops in the area. But for Vira’s family, the greenhouse saved their harvest — a matter of survival.
For Vira, it’s more than a place to grow food. It’s a safe space where she can be alone for a moment, to breathe, pray, and gather strength.
Visiting this family filled me with mixed emotions — deep sadness and profound gratitude. I rejoiced to see how God cares for this family through our partners, and how six children can remain with their mother despite incredible hardship. This trip reminded me how people on the other side of the world can truly make a difference for a family in need.
