Lena Batina shares how her team at Kharkov Pregnancy Assistance Center is learning to serve the 180,000 refugees who have poured into their city.
“As the war in East Ukraine started, more and more refugees found shelter in our city of Kharkov. People had lost their homes, friends, coworkers, and relatives.”
Nadiya* was looking for an abortion, and the name Kharkov Pregnancy Assistance Center sounded like a promise for help. When she called, the volunteer answering the phone invited her to an ultrasound appointment to determine how far along she was in her pregnancy.
Nadiya arrived with her 8-year-old son, filled out the paperwork, and told the staff her story. A year ago she was pregnant, and had to flee with her family from the fighting in Lugansk. Living in a shelter with seven other families, Nadiya felt hopeless to care for another child, so she determined that an abortion was the solution to her immediate problem. But now she was pregnant again.
“Since January we have had 518 pregnant, nursing mothers, and mothers with small children looking for help—practical help with food, baby clothes, and items for babies. All of these mothers needed the comfort, encouragement and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Nadiya and her family share an apartment in Kharkov with another family, and each family has a single room to occupy. Such close living has caused a lot of tension and stress for this young family.
Lena shared with Nadiya about the Israelites’ wandering in the desert. God’s plan had been for the Israelites to enter the land in 40 days, but because they were afraid and did not want to fight to take the land, their sojourn in the desert became 40 years.
God used Lena to teach Nadiya about trusting the Lord, even at the times when she is overwhelmed by fear and unbelief. When we are faithful to trust God and obey Him, He will provide for us! Nadiya believed, placed her trust in Christ, and chose to protect the life of her unborn child!
*Name changed for confidentiality.
Recent Comments