Let’s not forget Ukraine

A few years ago I spent some time as a volunteer teaching English in Ukraine to the staff of an organisation now called ‘The Voice of the Martyrs’. All the Ukrainians with whom I had contact were just ordinary, good people, the same as you’d meet here.

One of them worked half time at the mission and half time at the very large secondary school nearby. She asked me if I would like to speak to the English class there and I was happy to agree.

The teacher was one of the best people I have ever met, and all the students loved him.

On my last day there I took them out to teach them how to throw a boomerang, the best thrower to win the boomerang. Usually it was a boy, but on this occasion one of the girls by the name of Sveta did a magnificent throw and was the winner.

In the last two years I have been able to contact her again, as well as the lady who was then vice principal of the school.

Since the war started they have both told me of their distress and fear as planes and rockets fly overhead almost every night and they hear bombs exploding, and all the people live in fear.

When this horrific and senseless war first started our newspapers and television reported on it in detail every day, but now we don’t hear about it nearly as much as we did.

However, my correspondents tell me that everything is just as bad as it was at the beginning.

So let us over here, who cannot comprehend what life is like for these people, never forget what is happening, and let us continue to keep the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers during this frightening, terrible, and freezing, time.

Len Martin, Ararat