This guest post is written by Bruce Elliott concerning a group of orphans trapped in Mariupol, a city in eastern Ukraine currently controlled by Russian leaning separatists.  A neighboring orphanage had been destroyed, fighting was taking place in the streets, and the caregivers made the decision to flee for their safety to western Ukraine.

21 May 2014, Kiev, Ukraine

Orphans arriving at Father’s House from Mariupol

Duane and I met with Roman [Father’s House Orphanage Founder and Director], Kostya [Father’s House General Manager] and Wilma [Father’s House Board Member] for the day, with Anastasia [Roman and Natasha’ daughter] translating. We covered a lot of things but at about 4 o’clock God moved and 43 children were freed from captivity in the East and are on their way to Father’s House. We expect them to arrive tomorrow night.

Roman explained that they were expecting 27 children and 3 adults looking after them to come. But then he got word that they had been captured and were being used as human shields by the separatists. We talked and tried to figure out how we could rescue them. We were heartbroken at the situation and felt powerless to do anything to rescue these children. Then Duane said we should pray. Duane prayed and Anastasia translated. We had no sooner finished praying when Kostya got a call right there to say that they were freed and 43 children were on their way from captivity. …

There are children abandoned in Crimea with a terrible fate in front of them. When I get home I can write about another amazing rescue of Crimean kids that are here with us now. Duane felt led to read Isaiah Chapter 43, and although it is about Israel it seems it is God’s word to the work here in rescuing the orphans of Ukraine in this time of war. And it is war.

God bless,

Bruce

Epilogue: the entire contingent of children and their adult care givers did arrive safely in Kiev on 23 May. Father’s House scrambled over night to welcome the new arrivals, rushing to rent and assemble bunk beds, and prepare food for them. They are now staying as refugees indefinitely at Father’s House. We had the privilege of visiting them on 26 May, the day after election day in Ukraine.