O Naszej Misji w US Today

Complete Nadezda update from Polish Christian Ministries' recent visit to Vasilkovke, Ukraine, and a pitch for helping her helpers:

POLISH CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
UKRAINE PROJECT
February 2015

Report on a visit to Ms. Nadezda Panasyk in January
In the middle of January 2015 the Polish Christian Ministries in Troy, MI organized the third trip to Eastern Ukraine with humanitarian aid. This time our representatives took almost 400 Christmas parcels for orphaned children. They transported them from Poland to as far as to Donetsk region that is occupied by pro-Russian separatists, and is totally closed for any visitors and organizations from outside world.

One of our goals was to visit Ms. Nadezda Panasyk, an elderly woman that was rescued in October 2014 by USA TODAY reporter, Oren Dorell. You can read it on the Internet under: Voices: Rescued Ukrainian widow still needs help.

Below is our update on Grandma Nadezda (as we call her)

Grandma Nadezda
We reached Vasilkevka at the end of the second day of our journey from Lublin, Poland. We have had to wait about two hours for Pastor Alekseyi due to his dangerous trip to Donetsk to bring other refugees.

Since October 2014 Ms. Nadezda stays at the Refugee Center in Vasilkovke, managed by Pastor Alekseyi Barkalov. The Center operates on the third floor of the local vocational school and is modest but habitual. Thanks to Pastor Barkalov’s efforts about fifty refugees found there a temporary shelter. Although they are safe and taken well care but the most of them would like to go and live permanently on their own, find a job and start a normal life.

A visit to Ms. Nadezda is a high priority for us. Pastor Alekseyi added her to the room occupied already by Lena, 35, the mother of two little children. The room is crowded, but normal. She is very glad to stay there because she has a roof over her head, warmth in the room and finally she is not hungry. Probably the most important thing is that she has no more run for cover due to exploding missiles as it was in her apartment complex near Donetsk airport. Mrs. Lena takes a good care of her and she is also very hospitable: she quickly prepared sandwiches for all of us, visitors.

Grandma Nadezda welcomed us with beautiful smile. She hugged us and kissed. Max recorded a video with Pastor Marek interviewing her. She was telling how happy she is now and about Lena’s wonderful care. She said that she grew up as an orphan, her dad being killed in the last months of the WWII. She never married so didn’t have any kids. Always alone, left behind and forgotten by everyone. But staying in this center with Lena turns her life into Grandma, having a “daughter” and two little “grandkids” constantly around. She was very emotional and couldn’t stop thanking Americans for helping her and appreciated USA TODAY readers sending money on her behalf to Polish Christian Ministries. Ms. Panasyk mentioned that she lost hope to re-unite with her cat, Pushok. She understands that during the war people are killed and to others who survived must be given a great deal of assistance including smuggling them through the checking points to safe zones. Who would think about one old cat Pushok (Fluffy) to retrieve him from Donetsk and bring him to her? But after she heard the news that there is a good chance to bring the cat back to her she radiated with joy and was very happy to hear this.

Pastor Barkalov took upon himself the responsibility of finding a small house that may be bought so Ms. Nadezda will live there for the rest of her life with somebody like Lena that will take good care of her. The cost of such a house fully furnished is approximately $5-8 thousands. Thanks to USA TODAY readers there is enough money for such a purchase. After the transaction and Ms. Nadezda moving in, there will be no problem for her to maintain it due to her government pension being restored recently.

The Polish Christian Ministries is highly involved in this project with Ms. Nadezda and channeling all money that are coming on behalf of her. But the Foundation is doing much more than that. They send humanitarian aid to thousands of civilians that are trapped in this horrible conflict which cost over 5000 lives so far. How many more are afflicted is hard to imagine. That’s why this American-Polish charity foundation comes to help those poor people, residents and refugees. We don’t ask for their social and political worldview – we help those like Ms. Nadezda that are trapped in this senseless war. Please join us in this effort by sending your contribution to the Chase account: 629327607 or send a check to Polish Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 99617, Troy, MI 48099-9617 (in the memo write: The Ukraine Project).

The Polish Christian Ministries, a non-profit organization established The Ukraine Project to help people who are found in desperate situations in Ukraine and aid Ukrainian refugees in these difficult times with supplies and products. Their most current needs are sanitary, hygiene and baby products, warm clothes and shoes, blankets, beds, canned and packaged food and medicine. We are very grateful for each person who donated money for Ukraine Project. Any help will bring a tremendous impact to the refugees in Ukraine. Let’s make a big impact and pray that God will move mountains. May God bless you.

Any questions, concerns or comments? E-mail us at: projukra@gmail.com, call (248)250-4427 or (248)217-2372 or visit our website: www.ukraineproject.org (unfortunately still under construction)