“I have a dream, that children in Ukraine would not fear when they hear a loud noise and think it’s a bomb,” said Tamara, a Salvation Army pastor from Kharkiv Corps, Ukraine, at the recent retreat for Ukrainian pastors, church leaders and their families at The Salvation Army’s campsite in Latvia.

“I dream that children could look into the sky and not think about what objects might be up there—helicopters, planes or projectiles—that people in my country could live in a peaceful world. There is much more I could say, but this is the most important.”

“A Time of Rest”

The weary but faith-filled group enjoyed almost two weeks at the camp, which was hosted by The Salvation Army’s Sweden and Latvia Territory. The Australian Salvation Army International Development (SAID) funded the retreat.

Major Judith Soeters, head of SAID when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, who had previously served in the Eastern Europe Territory (EET) and knew many of the Ukrainian officers, immediately wanted to assist in whatever way possible.

“I was in touch with pastors in Ukraine—some of whom I had trained when I was training principal for the EET and had spent time with in Ukraine,” she said. “We just had to find somewhere where they would be safe.

“We could assist the leaders and fund a time of rest for them and their families.”

Time Together in Safety

“The retreat was designed for the families to have time together in a safe environment,” explains Major Elizabeth Garland, an Australian pastor serving as a development officer in the EET.

“The camp is close to the sea so they could go to the beach, there were activities they could all do together and the setting gave them plenty of time in nature. It was a time for healing and restoration. For more than two and a half years now, they have been living in extremely difficult circumstances, and it’s not getting any better. It’s actually getting worse.”

Captain Kathleen Johansson, another Australian officer who currently serves in Riga, Latvia’s capital, managed the Latvian administration of the camp and booked some excursions and entertainment for the Ukrainian families. These included visits to a museum and high-ropes park, and seeing a children’s entertainer and musician.

"The fact that they didn’t have to hear any air-raid sirens or be ready to run for cover at any moment was an immense blessing." CAPTAIN KATHLEEN JOHANSSON

Joy and Camaraderie

Kathleen welcomed the Ukrainians when they arrived and spent almost two days with them in the second week.

“A group of us from Latvia regional headquarters visited, including the newly arrived regional leaders and the manager and volunteer—both Ukrainian—from our centre for refugees in Riga,” she says.

“The adults and children both seemed to appreciate the peace and quiet. The fact that they didn’t have to hear any air-raid sirens or be ready to run for cover at any moment was an immense blessing. The bus trip here and back—32 hours each way—was long and arduous, but it was worth it.

“A highlight for me was being invited in the late evening during our visit to play a board game with some of the families. We sat up late and had a great time, despite me not knowing more than a few words in Ukrainian. Joy and camaraderie seem to break language barriers!”

Just prior to the group’s return to Ukraine, Major Irina Shvab, a Ukraine divisional leader, was asked whether she found it difficult to imagine that she was returning home the following day to a war zone. 

“Of course,” she replied. “But we know what we are going back to, and we go with God.”

Reprinted from salvosonline.org.au (Australia), September 19, 2024