And You Took Me In
Like you, we’ve agonized over the suffering of the Ukrainian people. And, like you, we’ve ached to do something. Relying on the vision of long-time friends and the wherewithal of precious supporters, we’re taking some small steps to help serve refugees both in and outside Ukraine.
It’s good to be back serving with Pf. Hinrich Müller, former SELK (Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche) pastor in Cottbus and Döbbrick, Germany. During our Servants to the Nations days (1993-2004) with Lutheran Hour Ministries, Hinrich served as a delightful, helpful host for North American volunteers. We also traveled together to Uganda (where the children crowned him King of Ring-Around-the-Rosie). Hinrich’s now living in Soltau, south of Hamburg, and knows just about everyone inside the church. We’ve sent him some funding, and here’s an idea of how it’s being used:
At this point, Hinrich has shared funds with eight SELK congregations, the SELK seminary outside Frankfurt am Main, and a congregation in Poland.
At this time, the seminary community is hosting 13 Ukrainian refugees on the seminary campus (wondering if this is a temporary measure). The refugees include an 84-year-old grandmother, mothers, and small children. Funds are used to pay for food, utilities, and furniture.
In the former East Germany, a center for human rights and a Lutheran foundation are gathering and shipping medical equipment to a clinic in Odessa, Ukraine which treats wounded civilians and soldiers transported from the frontline.
A congregation south of Kassel is housing refugees in the congregational parsonage and helping provide housing, furniture, and utilities for other refugees. Of note, they are sending financial assistance to a Ukrainian Pastor who sent his wife and children to Germany (they’re staying in the parsonage) but who has chosen to remain in Ukraine, looking after the elderly and war orphans. The German congregation is providing a variety of practical services to help in the integration process (e.g., education, music, language).
The Polish congregation is serving 40 elderly and young (including a 4-month-old infant) refugees. They are being cared for in the local seminary, the parsonage, and area apartments.
We get downright misty-eyed thinking of the refugees’ plight and the outpouring of tender care given by European friends. In his letter of acknowledgement, a German pastor wrote:
“With your help, we can help a little more and also pass on the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. The reward is the shining eyes and a smile and laughter of the women and children.”
“I was a stranger, and you took me in.” (Jesus of Nazareth, Mt. 25:35)
Beautiful images provided by Ukranian-American artist, Tatyana Ostapenko, whose work is driven by her formative years in the USSR and post-soviet Ukraine.