Miloš Tomić – Arvada, Colorado … On September 20, nine volunteers from Arvada Adventist Church, Arvada Indonesian Adventist Church and North Hills Adventist Church from California met in Warsaw, Poland, and headed toward the Ukraine border. The week they spent there was very demanding physically, mentally, and especially, emotionally.
The refugee center in Mlyniv, Ukraine that works with orphans and widows of war had a blown heater boiler, damaged chimney, and no firewood for the upcoming winter. This guaranteed them a harsh and cold wintertime. The Arvada team made sure that none of these things is an issue anymore, and the kids will have warm rooms to enjoy.
An Adventist church in Poltava on the east side of the country has been serving 1500 refugees a day. “You read it right–fifteen hundred people come for help every day,” reported Miloš Tomić. Every day! The city of 300,000 people has been hosting 400,000 refugees. “You are reading those numbers correctly, as well. Hygiene products–especially baby supplies–are in high demand. Our team brought them a truckload. That truckload was gone in two days,” he continued.
Many refugees came to personally thank the volunteers. Most of the refugees would briefly thank us for the things we brought for them and then, often in tears and at length, thank us for being there. “You care for us. It seems that everyone started forgetting us. But you didn’t.” Those are some of the words that summarize what really makes a difference. Filling their stomachs and clothing their bodies helps. but touching their soul–that’s what really counts.
“Our Arvada Indonesian church is already planning a new trip very soon. More people from North Hills Church are also hyped up and on board to help, and Arvada will do more as well,” said Arvada pastor Gordon Anic.
If you would like to support our Ukraine refugee aid project, let us know by emailing [email protected] Together we can do it, they say.
— Miloš Tomić is Arvada Adventist Church associate pastor. Photos by Arvada Team.
