POVERTY AND DESPAIR FORCES A YOUNG MOTHER TO JOIN THE ARMY

At the end of an exhausting cold winter day, Olya has returned to her tent. She lights a small oil heater which radiates precious little heat, but it felt so good to get out of the biting cold wind and away from potential sniper fire of Russian troops 400 meters away.

After spending some time sipping on hot tea and reflecting on the events of the day, Olya pulled several blankets over herself and settled in for a typical restless night's sleep. Her mind wandered, and for a few joyful moments, she was home with her daughters Maria and Ilona, hugging and kissing them good night. Fatigue took over as she began praying for them, and she soon drifted off to sleep in the safe arms of her Heavenly Father.

A LIFE OF SORROW

On the opposite side of the country in Western Ukraine, Olya's mother was deep in prayer herself, asking God for her daughter's protection and ultimately her safe return home.

This endearing grandmother has had a heart-wrenching life. Her husband died while still a young mother with two little children. Her daughters grew up, but unfortunately, they didn't marry well, and consequently, both were divorced, each with two daughters. Tragedy struck again with the death of her eldest daughter (Olya's sister).

The family was so poor that they had to take out a loan to pay for the funeral and burial, which was the equivalent of more than a year's salary. Neither Olya nor her mother could find a decent job to support four young children and pay off the debts from the funeral. It was a distressing time for both of them.

For Olya, it was unbearable to watch her mother cry each day and see the look of desperation in her eyes. Poverty and despair forced her to make a radical decision. She summoned all her courage and enlisted in the military to serve in the war zone in Eastern Ukraine, where the fighting was still raging, and people were dying almost every day. She was prepared to risk her life to improve the financial situation for her mother and the four children.

LIFE ON THE FRONT LINES

Thus far, she has been serving on the so-called 'second' line as a cook for the soldiers. Although it may not sound dangerous, Olya is constantly at risk of bombs and snipers. It is incredibly demanding to be on the move, changing locations frequently and setting up a new kitchen to cook for the soldiers each day.

Often, she and her unit live in abandoned, half-destroyed buildings or outside in military tents. In the buildings, they try to hook up electricity and cook on electric stoves, whereas they must cook on open fires outside. On days when any shooting starts, Olya and the other cooks are expected to get their guns and become regular soldiers who protect themselves and their country.

When Olya left for military training, her mother was shocked and scared. She was terrified of losing her second daughter too. But equally daunting was the task of raising four young girls.

ANSWERED PRAYERS AND TRANSFORMED LIVES

However, this dreadful situation led the grandma to a local Baptist Church where she would plead with God for help in her despair. He answered her prayers through the church and HART's Child Sponsorship Program. (Maria's sponsor is from Saskatchewan.)

The church members welcomed and accepted her with warmth and understanding. They're even trying to help fix up the home, which is a dilapidated old, two-room house. It has been a slow process because literally every corner of the house needed renovations.

At the same time, the Child Sponsor Program provided her and the granddaughters with food packages and a Christian caseworker who took a personal interest in their family situation.

God's answers to her cry for help were life-changing, as the grandmother soon became a Christian and was baptized. Her grandkids also started attending church and its Sunday school programs.

Last spring, Olya was granted leave from the front lines and returned home for the Easter holidays. While there, it was hard not to notice many changes in her mother and the girls. The whole family attended church together, and during this Easter break, Olya also accepted Christ!

EPILOGUE

Olya has one more year of military service left. After completing additional training, it's now expected that Olya will be sent to the front lines to serve. It is considered a 'hot' spot because of the danger of sniper fire and frequent killings.

Is Olya scared? Yes, she admits this. But after accepting Christ, she's learned to put her trust in God, which has helped her overcome all the difficulties of her military life and service.

Office, we hope this story has helped you put a "face" on the current war in Eastern Ukraine. And today, with Russia at Ukraine's gates, this war could escalate at any time, placing Olya, along with thousands of other Ukrainian troops, in great danger.

Please pray for peace in this region of the world, and please pray for God’s protection on Olya's life and that He will bring her home to her mother and daughters soon!