War, Lies, Truth and Love

It’s early in the morning on February 24th, 2022. 

Citizens of Russia wake to the news that their country has started a “special military operation” in the neighboring country of Ukraine. They are told that this “special military operation” is necessary to liberate the Ukrainian people from what they describe as Neo-Nazis that are running the country and oppressing its people. Lies.

Just across the border in Ukraine, the citizens there awake to the sounds of bombs and missiles exploding. The ground shakes and sirens blare; a warning that there is more to come. And there is. Much more. It is an invasion. It is war. Truth.

In the Far East of Russia, the director of Life Ring (O.L.I.’s Russian counterpart) learns the news and sends me a hurried email. He is devastated by the news. He feels sadness and compassion for the Ukrainian people. Disdain for his own government. Sorrow at what the world will think of his country. His wife cries all day long. Many millions of Russians feel the same as he does when they learn the truth. Millions of others support the effort; believing the lies told to them on the State-run news media. Mental and emotional captives of lies and propaganda.

It’s the young people that quickly learn the truth about the war. They are connected on social media. They have friends and family in Ukraine that are sending them videos and pictures. Images of destroyed schools and hospitals. Men, women and children, lying dead in the streets and the rubble of destroyed structures. These young people are watching Western news on their smart phones. A much different version of news than what is being broadcast in their own country. They take to the streets in protest against the war. Thousands will be arrested in just the first couple of weeks. Thousands more will flee the country, refusing to be a part of the war. Truth.

I write back to Eugene in Khabarovsk. He has been our director there for 22 years and has distributed millions of dollars’ worth of goods and services to many thousands of orphan children in that time. I send the same email to Andrei in Barnaul, our director in that region. I warn them that this war and the sanctions from our country will have many unintended consequences; including making it difficult for us to send funds for the children. I warn them that Western public opinion might seem to encompass all of Russia; as if its citizens are responsible for the actions of their government. Eugene sadly agrees and fears that their good works of more than 2 decades might come to an end when it is needed most. Children always suffer the greatest loss in wars. Truth. Andrei agrees, but also states that he believes the Lord will prevail and provide in the end. More truth.

Here at Orphan’s Lifeline, we were all equally concerned. We don’t do politics here. We don’t blame the citizens of any country for the actions of their government unless they are truly complicit; and we certainly never blame innocent children that are simply born in a country by no choice of their own. We recognize that the children are the future of every country. We know that they are precious and innocent in the eyes of the Lord. They are mankind’s treasures as well; deserving of our prayers, time and benevolence. Love. God’s love. Our love.

It is March now and I am losing sleep. Searching for answers. Asking questions. Looking for solutions. Praying. I think about my daughter and the conditions of the orphanage she lived in when we adopted her. We can’t let things go back to the way they were. I worry about our Church partners and individuals who have faithfully given to the Russia programs; some for over 20 years. We can’t let them down. I am worried about the millions of children from Ukraine that have been orphaned. Displaced from their own country; now in Poland, Germany and other neighboring Baltic countries. They will need help too.

I am sending emails. Many emails. Emails to the State Department. Emails to the Treasury. More than 120 emails to Eugene in Khabarovsk and Andrei in Barnaul. Dozens of emails to NGO’s and churches in Ukraine and Poland. I receive answers from some. Silence from others. 

The answers come in the middle of the night, seven days a week from Russia, Ukraine and Poland. The answers slowly but surely lead to plans and solutions.

It’s complex, but legal. It involves multiple countries, and multiple banks. Small banks that are not connected to sanctioned oligarchs or governments. Temporary and possibly permanent migration of Eugene and his family to the country of Georgia. Arrangements with trusted individuals in Russia that have helped with delivery of goods and services to the orphans for years now. Registration as a non-profit in the country of Georgia. Plans for the implementation of new programs in Poland to help the Ukrainian children displaced by the war. Some are orphans. Some are not. All are deserving of our love and prayers. Truth. Love. War.

Eugene emails me. He is safely in the country of Georgia, staying in a hostel. It is filled with young people from Russia; 18 to 35 years of age. They have fled the country to avoid arrest. Some are protestors, some are those that refused to join the mandatory attendance of the televised rally for their president. Most have warrants for their arrest. The hostel is also filled with young Ukrainians; mostly young women who have fled the country of Ukraine. All are wearing shirts with Ukraine colors, badges and flags. Russians and Ukrainians, sharing accommodations. Sharing their worries and concerns. Truth, love, war.

And so, our work in Russia will continue. The lies and war will not stop our love or our aid for the innocent children there. 

Our programs will now also expand to help orphan children and other children who have been displaced and are victims of this war. We will be helping Ukrainian children in Poland and other Baltic countries; wherever we find them. 

We are thankful for the commitment of Eugene and Andrei, for the personal risk they have taken to help ensure the continuance of our programs in Russia. We are thankful to each and every one of you who have so faithfully given your financial gifts and prayers for the innocent children for so many years. 

We are thankful to God for providing the answers to our prayers for solutions and a positive outcome to this great challenge. Andrei was right. Is right. For this is God’s work. These are His children. His treasures. Truth, love and all things good come from God and will always prevail over mankind’s wars and lies.