Ukraine Ministry Trip – Summer 2023
Cheri’s Perspective on the Ukraine Project

I woke up today in Charlotte, North Carol

ina. A world away from Ukraine, where Rich and I were just a week ago. Why go to Ukraine now, you ask? I can only say, it was the Lord’s idea.

I woke up several months ago with the thought that my Ukrainian friends needed a rest. Maybe I should go to them, provide a “retreat” where they could refresh and renew both physically and spiritually. I’m quite sure God put this thought in my mind. I don’t normally volunteer for a mission trip to a war zone.

I presented the idea to two women, former co-teachers of mine at Kyiv Theological Seminary. The response was a “maybe,” so I decided just to pray about it and let them get back to me. One of them did, a month later: Natalia. She said, “We really need this. Let’s do it!” She volunteered to do all the organizational work inside Ukraine. She found a location in the “peaceful” west side of the country. She contacted 13 women we’d chosen to invite, and kept them informed of plans. She arranged their transportation.

God’s people here in the U.S. gave funds for this wonderful proje

ct, and we sent Natalia money by wire so she could put a deposit on the hotel/recreation center where we would have the retreat. Also some money for the ladies to come by train. They came from 3 cities across Ukraine, including Kyiv.

Oh, how wonderful it was, to meet with these Christian leaders! I hadn’t known what to expect. Would they want to sleep from weariness? Would they cry a lot? Would they be bitter about a war that was continually destroying Ukrainian lives and property? The answer to these questions of mine was NO.

They loved being together, away from the bomb sirens and random attacks. They shared their stories of FAITH and what God had done for them. They laughed often, hugged me and thanked me, and made me know that it was truly worthwhile to make this happen. I underestimated how hard it would be for me to go back to safety and leave them there. But as one woman told me, “We are stronger now. We have work to do for the Lord.”

I thank God and thank YOU for making this event a reality.

Cheri Strahm