A Chance to Do Some Good
April 9, 2022
I messaged Andriy in the early hours of Monday, April 4th, so heavy with the stories and images out of Bucha.
Andriy’s message, a few minutes later:
“We want to serve these people as much as we can and in any way we can. To bless them, hold them, evacuate them… For us this is a chance to do some good. And we have a huge desire to do this. Lots of people are praying for us as we are on the road, and there are many people like us who are helping, evacuating – we are a small, small group of people who are doing something. So, pray for us, we are again planning a trip to Zaporizhzhia, likely tomorrow. We are fixing some vehicles, because again they’ve broken down.”
He ends his voice memo with, “…Well, this is how it is.”
It’s kind of become a thing in our exchanges, ending messages with that little line.
So, they loaded up the buses with crates of fresh baked bread and other supplies, and sent the other guys on the team on this particular trip to Zaporizhzhia.
Pictured here is Sasha, one of the drivers who’s been on the team since the early days.
Andriy and Pavlik stayed behind this time to fix some of the vehicles. Andriy is also preparing the paperwork to purchase this big bus that he was offered for a very affordable price through some friends of friends. The network of people helping stretches far beyond Ukraine’s borders, and in all directions.
This will enable them to transport as many people at once–69 seats to be exact. And he is able to purchase this bus because of donations from so many that I am able to forward to him!
In fact, Andriy is in the Czech Republic right now, picking it up.
Andriy and his extended family talked about what else they could do. They decided to donate my uncle Mykola’s vehicle (the red one on some of the earlier photos) and one of Andriy’s own vans to people who are making trips into and out of Mariupol. The nature of that situation - Mariupol’s destroyed infrastructure, the risk of being fired at – means cheap transport is best, sometimes something that only needs to last for a couple trips.
They are also leaving one bigger bus there in Zaporizhzhia to be used to deliver aid to people in need in the area. War time, especially in places that are close to the front lines, means that the economy obviously cannot function as usual, and so it is difficult to keep earning money, especially for exceptional purchases like delivery vehicles.
Arrival & Delivery in Zaporizhzhia
The following are some photos of their team unloading some of their goods and putting it in safe storage, as well as loading up for distribution of items locally.
Lots of the fresh food is used by the church to prepare meals for the evacuees from Mariupol who stay overnight at the church until they have safe transport to other places. They also bring hot meals to those stationed at checkpoints who are working to keep the area secure and free from spies who try to gather information for the russian army.
Loading Precious Cargo
This rental bus that they’ve been able to use again was able to transport more than 50 people. Most if not all are from Mariupol.
Another Safe Arrival
Andriy stayed up very late to greet the arrivals, who pulled into town early in the morning on Wednesday, April 6th. They were taken to various homes or churches where safe, warm beds are waiting for them.
“…This is how it is.”
All of this is made possible by so many people.
People who donate money.
People who sell their vehicles for very cheap for this work.
People who feed those who are driving.
People who fix cars.
People who take care of the children while their parents help.
People who check in with words of support and encouragement.
People who pray.
People who share about this work and what is happening in Ukraine.
So much good is possible on the scale of individual people who care and work together. This is what gives me hope right now.
Thank you so, so much for being part of this “small, small group of people who are doing something.”
