Driving through a battlefield was the only way to escape war

Ivan and Anastasia stayed underground for four days before the explosions in Ukraine became too much. They knew they had to escape.

But escaping is much easier said than done, especially with an 18-month-old daughter.

The young parents spent several days in the basement with their extended family, watching the crisis unfold. Power went out almost immediately, and gas lines were cut off shortly after.

Missiles leveled their family business. Shrapnel punctured the walls of their garage. Bombs were constant, exploding right next to their house. Eventually, they ran out of food.

Refugees like Ivan and Anastasia are trapped in a nightmare. Their homes have been destroyed, and now they’re on the run without food, clean water, clothing, and more.

But your one-time gift can help provide these lifesaving supplies.

Watch this video to see Ivan and Anastasia tell their story:

Give $35 to help one refugee

Ivan and Anastasia knew they had no choice but to leave — but they also knew that leaving meant risking their lives.

Traveling to the Ukraine border isn’t a simple matter of packing a bag and getting in the car. Ivan and Anastasia’s neighborhood had become a battlefield, and it was two more days before they could safely leave their home. When they finally came outside, everything was destroyed.

“Bombs were landing on all the roads, in neighborhoods, and on the roads, too. Direct hits to houses in the town where we lived,” they said.

Without a GPS signal, the young family just drove and followed the road signs that were still standing, hoping they would find somewhere safe to stop.

It took three days to finally find a refugee center, but it felt like an eternity. They had no food, and finding gasoline was nearly impossible. As they drove past tanks, dirt and debris from artillery shells kept hitting their car, and they encountered numerous roadblocks.

Ivan and Anastasia said all they could do was keep driving and pray.

When they arrived in a refugee center in Lviv, they could finally get in touch with family. They learned that bombs had destroyed their house — if they hadn’t left when they did, they might not be alive now.

Ivan and Anastasia know they can’t stay in temporary housing forever, but they don’t know where to go next. Attempting to leave the country would likely result in Ivan having to stay behind and fight with the other men.

He and Anastasia are still trying to process what they’ve been through. All they know right now is that they need to stay safe for their daughter, Valeria.

They need to provide for her, but they need food, clothes, and other essential supplies to do that. More than anything, they need hope.

The good news is, YOU can help.

For $35, you can help one refugee like Ivan, Anastasia, or Valeria.

Displaced Ukrainians desperately need things like food and warm clothes to survive the cold winter. Just like Ivan and Anastasia, they’ve suffered unimaginable trauma and have had to leave with nothing. They don’t know how they’re going to survive this war.

Your $35 gift provides a week’s worth of aid like food, shelter, and clothing for a refugee in Ukraine or another high-conflict area. Your generosity will provide for their immediate physical needs, and you will also give them an opportunity to hear the Gospel. When you give, you will show a refugee that they are seen, loved, and cared for.

$35 provides a week’s worth of aid