Ukraine: Of Missiles and My Motives
Yes, there have been missiles, four or five heard and seen by members of our team today (31 Oct 2022). According to Aniel, our driver and guide, there were about 25 that flew past all told. We learned later that these were Russian rockets headed toward Kyiv following a massive attack earlier this morning, knocking out power, knocking out water. I’m not sure of the death toll.
Before we knew about the attacks as we headed to the site of our first medical clinic in a small village about 25km away from Odessa, all our phones began to sound loudly and in unison and this was the message:
One of our interpreters, Nastea, translated the Ukrainian for me:
Government of Ukraine, Region Odessa
WARNING
During 31 October there is a big possibility of rocket strikes on the territory of Ukraine. When you hear the air alarm signal, go to the safe shelter and follow the rules of the safety regulations.
We later learned of the rocket attacks in Kyiv and Kherson occurring at the time we received the alerts.
Okay. Enough of that.
We conducted our first medical clinic in a small village about 25km outside of Odessa today. We set up our main evaluation area in the small sanctuary of the church and our pharmacy in the nearby outbuilding.
There was an outhouse toilet.
It was perfect.
(I’ll refrain from posting any obvious identifying landmarks at this time.)
Because I was the nurse (nurse practitioners are nurses first!) of the team and because we were given the great gifts of a Ukrainian pediatrician and ophthalmologist to join us for the day, I helped triage patients along with DJ, our medic, and one of our wonderful interpreters from Moldova, Roma (short for Roman). I learned almost immediately that flexibility in roles is of the utmost importance.
Triage was wonderful because I got to greet every patient. There was a nice mix of ages.
I fell in love fairly quickly…
I took my compression socks off and gave them to a woman who needed them more than I.
And, because I was the nurse on duty and we heard of a man who needed help in his home because he was unable to come to us, I made a house call (three, actually, as I had to go back to the church for more supplies and medications a couple times). It was one of the two major highlights of my day. Nastea, our other interpreter and also from Moldova, came with me. She was such a compassionate and capable help. I am so thankful for her.
Nastea and I were taken from our patient’s home by their pastor (who watched over all of us all day) to join the team at lunch at a local restaurant. There were many contrasts between Moldova and Ukraine but one of the similarities is the tremendous amounts and deliciousness of the food we’ve been given. My scrubs are feeling a bit snug!
Right before we arrived, the team heard and saw the missiles in the sky from the restaurant.
Dessert was a bunch of these little bites of dumpling heaven filled with a sweet creamy cheese.
The pastor of the church served as our second driver and, on one of our drives back to the couple in their home, he told Nastea his story which she related to me. Do you remember from a previous letter that if Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 have three children at home they are exempt from serving in the war and may leave Ukraine? Well, the pastor fits this category and could have left as his third child was born in March, just as the war in Ukraine was starting. He had a very good trucking job lined up in Germany and many friends with whom he and his family could stay. He was in the clear and could be safe with his wife and children outside the war zone that is currently Ukraine. But, he heard from God who asked him to stay and take over as pastor of this village church. (The previous pastor had booked it to Canada and left the community.) This brave man said, “Yes,” and his wife agreed and they are here in Ukraine to raise their children in a country at war and to serve the precious people in this community…and to drive an American nurse practitioner and a Moldovan interpreter to a special home where a caregiver wife loves and honors her homebound husband with her life and he repays her by being one of the most joyful and sweet beings I have ever met. There is a lot of that honoring people with their lives happening in this little village outside Odessa, Ukraine.
As the day wound down, the second highlight happened. I will eventually post some background information but it is enough to know now that I plan to dance with children in every country of the world. And, today, I started with three beautiful young girls from Ukraine:
And Day 1 ended with another photo of all of us.
How marvelous to be part of this team.
More, please.
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This warms my heart! Blessings to you and through you, Beautiful One!💕🙏🏼
This is incredible! I feel like I'm right there with you and can hear the love you share w your patients. The man's hug that you visited in home oh my goodness! And the dancing!!!! I'm sure the angels had so much bliss with you!