I have often wondered about the Wise Men from the East in the Christmas story and how they were brave enough to go off into a foreign territory following a star, the information from their culture, and their belief in God. Would I be that brave and willing to go? Almost two years ago, I got my answer.
In March, 2022, I was at home in a cast up to my knee recovering from big toe surgery (I know, it does seem like over doing it) and watching the horrifying news about the war in Ukraine. I watched as young mothers sat in a theater that had been converted to a place for them to sleep and try to keep their children occupied. My heart was breaking and I knew I wanted to do "something" to help. Then, as plain as day, I heard the word "GO." I thought, "How? I'm in a cast with another four weeks to come in a walking boot, I'm 70 years old, I don't know where I could actually go to, and I don't speak the language." Again, I heard "GO."
I asked my husband what he thought of me wanting to go, and he said, "Do it. Others will just talk about doing something but never make it happen."
The next day I called a friend who had connections all across Europe with the Future Leadership Foundation. In fact, the group was already sending funds to the countries around Ukraine who were taking in refugees. His reply was immediate; he knew of a young couple who had just opened a Help Point in Wroclaw, Poland and they could use a pair of extra hands for the work. He set up for them to Zoom with me, and we spent 45 minutes getting acquainted. I made my flight arrangements for May and left the rest up to God.
When I arrived in Helsinki's airport, I posted a picture to Facebook saying I had made it that far and had another flight and train ride still ahead of me. My host "Agnes" saw the post and knew to look for the color of my jacket when she went to meet me at the train station, which she and her son did. We felt an instant connection.
I had thought I was going to help young mothers and I'd get to hold babies, but that became only a tiny fraction of what I did. Generous friends had given me over $7,000 to spend on food and supplies that were needed at the Help Point, and it took a long time to spend that much and then carry it in and set it up for distribution. What God soon made evident was that Agnes was the mom I was there to help. Her husband was actually in the U.S. for a meeting and then ended up out of town for another meeting on his return, so we barely had a chance to meet face-to-face. She was responsible for getting her 14 year old son to school, the orthodonist, and several other appointments, as well as buying for and overseeing the volunteers at the Help Point. She felt frazzled and worn out. I couldn't take much off her shoulders, but I was able to lend my shoulder to cry on. By the time I was leaving, she was calling me "Mom."
I can't begin to list all of the ways I saw God's hand at work but I saw it multiple times a day. I was visiting a city of 750,000 that had taken in almost 300,000 refugees, staying in an apartment on my own, and riding the city bus daily to and from the Help Point. There was always someone who spoke English when I needed help, and I never felt a bit of fear walking by myself. My life verse has always been Jeremiah 29:11, and I knew all the experiences of my past travels had been to prepare me for this trip. I have been to Poland twice since then and know that I will go at least once more. I wasn't lucky enough to give birth to a daughter, but I was given a daughter of my heart.
What I learned is that I am brave enough to do anything if I am listening to God's call and letting Him lead the way, with a star or without one. Trust and then book the flight!
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In 1995, Kathleen was part of an early team to Belarus with the partnership between Missouri and Belarus and has since been there 12 more times, developing many friendships. Concern for those friends has really grown in the past two years as their country has become more restrictive. Along with prayers for Ukraine and the countries giving aid to the refugees, please include the citizens of Belarus that they may find peace and freedom.
