As I began to write this article, the phrase “war torn” came to mind. According to the Oxford Dictionary, war-torn is defined as: (of a place) racked or devastated by war. The Encyclopedia Britannica (yes… it’s still around but online) states: very badly harmed or damaged by war / torn apart by war. Worldpopulationreview.com states: “In addition to lost lives, war-torn countries must often contend with unstable economies and heavily damaged infrastructures, which range from hard to impossible to repair while conflict is ongoing and can take years (even decades) to rebuild even after fighting ceases.”
All definitions above are applicable to the war in Ukraine. While heartbreaking for all concerned, I think about the children involved. I have two adult sons of my own, and two granddaughters. To imagine – though I know in my heart I truly can’t imagine because war is foreign to our shores – children having to live through this – if they live at all – my heart breaks. But we, here in the United States, here in our Conference – we do need to imagine. We do need to take all of this to heart because as people of faith we are called to care for our sisters and brothers, both near and far. But… the children.
UNICEF has been looking into the matter of missing Ukrainian children with great intention. “So far, 465 Ukrainian children have been killed during the war and approximately 14,000 more have been kidnapped and deported to Russia” – this according to Ukrainian officials. Of that 14,000, only 125 (approximate estimate) have been sent back to Ukraine. I take those numbers in. What if it was my granddaughter? Or yours. (https://www.ebu.ch/news/2023/02/where-are-the-missing-children-of-ukraine)
United Methodist funding will move through UMCOR – the United Methodist Committee on Relief – to be used for food, clothing, shelter and later economic rebuild. May we give from the heart. “Surely one does not turn against the needy, when in disaster they cry for help.” Job 30:24
