OUTLOOK - Air raid sirens. Families forced into bomb shelters. Citizens taking up arms. This is now the daily reality for the people of Ukraine following the invasion by Russia that began Feb. 24. It is a situation made all the more personal for those from Ukraine who have made Canada their home, those with Ukrainian heritage, and those who have loved ones who now find themselves in a war zone.
Olena Shevchuk moved to Outlook from Ukraine two years ago. Her husband’s work had been taking him abroad for long periods of time so the opportunity to live where he was working meant the family could be together. “I didn’t know anything about this country,” Olena shared, “but it didn’t matter to me because I just wanted to be with my husband.”
Olena, Oleksandr and their 10-year-old daughter Varvara are happy to call Canada home. “I feel God has his plan for every person in the world, so I am grateful for his plan for me. He rescued me from the war. It’s a different country from my homeland but I really like the people here. They are very open and supportive.”
That support has meant even more to Olena, an educational assistant, these past few weeks. “Now in this hard situation I feel huge support from my co-workers and from the kids at school. I really appreciate their love and hugs.”
In the initial days of the invasion Olena was watching coverage day and night. “For the first five days I was crying all the time and watching news constantly. Every 30 minutes we put a call or message out to parents to find out if they were okay. For five days my phone was hot because I was calling relatives and friends constantly.” She was in contact with a friend who lives near the airport. “We could hear the bombs going off. I was counting bombs with her.”
Seeing and hearing it all made her grateful she was in Canada, but it also stirred feelings of regret. “I feel guilty that I am here and safe while my parents, relatives and friends are in danger,” she explained. “They are hiding in bomb shelters. Some have left towns that are now under Russian control.”
Olena is from Uman, a city in central Ukraine known for its tourism. The grave of a revered rabbi is located there, attracting more than 30,000 Jewish pilgrims every year. The first day of the invasion a depository of weapons was destroyed by Russian military, setting off an explosion that stretched over a 30-kilometre area. “The city has fountains and a beautiful downtown, a wonderful city,” Olena said. “I pray that my city can survive because some have been destroyed.”
Olena and her husband have a 10-year-old daughter who is very much aware of what is going on. “I don’t need to explain anything,” Olena shared. “She has very close relationships with her classmates from Ukraine. She’s still learning the Ukrainian curriculum and very often joins in a Zoom meeting with her classmates and teacher.”
One morning as students logged in they began checking in with each other but couldn’t reach their teacher, Natalia. When she finally logged in 30 minutes later, she told them how proud she was of the way they were looking out for each other. She told them they were brave for organizing themselves and making sure all were okay. Natalia now spends time each school day giving lessons on how to get through rough times and advising parents on what to do in bomb shelters when it’s scary, cold and dark.
Olena said it is hard being so far away. “I feel my body is in one place but my heart and my mind are in another place. That is how all Ukrainians are feeling who live now in safe places far away from Ukraine. My husband wanted to go back and fight. He said ‘give me a weapon’ and it’s not just him. I want to be helping, too. I could make protective equipment. I could cook for soldiers. I could do something.”
Finding a way to help from a distance led to a conversation with John McPhail about doing some fundraising and out of that was born the “Support the Brave People of Ukraine” dinner held March 12. She and her family also took part in the “Stand with Ukraine” rally in Saskatoon, where Outlook educator Andriy (Andy) Prokopchuk, was a featured speaker.
Prokopchuk, a new teacher at LCBI, holds many leadership positions within the Ukrainian community, nationally and provincially. He is president of the Ukrainian National Federation (UNF) Saskatoon, National Director at large for the federal branch of UNF, and Director at large for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Saskatchewan Council. He has family in Ukraine and says the invasion troubles him deeply. “I not only worry about my family’s safety, who are currently trying to flee to Poland, but all Ukrainians who are defending our homeland. The thing that gives me hope is the support from the international community, and Outlook and the surrounding area is doing their part. I’m proud to have moved to such a welcoming and caring community.”
That sense of community is also special to Loretta Lyons who has felt very supported by those asking about her daughter, Cheryl. “It’s just such an awesome place that we have called home for many years,” Loretta said with gratitude. “That has been especially evident in these last weeks. So many people have phoned, texted, and visited me, expressing their care and concern for Cheryl.”
Cheryl has lived and worked in Ukraine for almost two decades and has made the decision to stay, for now. “God has given her a very special love for the people of Ukraine,” Loretta explained. “She says so often she is doing what God has asked her to do at this time, where she is today.”
Currently Cheryl is helping out at a refugee camp in Ukraine, one she and members of her team helped transport citizens to. Upon arrival they saw the camp was very short of help so have stayed to lend a hand. They are working in the kitchen, doing laundry, and being there to welcome new arrivals that are coming quickly. “One day they were preparing for the arrival of 13 busses,” Loretta explained. “A big thing is listening to the people that arrive. They share tragic stories. Cheryl is able to talk and share God’s love with them and that’s really important.”
The camp is currently feeding 100-125 people each day, requiring the peeling of 50 kilograms of potatoes and five kilograms of carrots to keep up. Thanks to the financial support Cheryl has received they were able to buy much needed kitchen supplies and provide equipment to those who are working very long hours to care for all the refugees coming through.
It’s a hard situation and the stress is very real, but for now Cheryl plans to stay. “There are tears, certainly,” Loretta explained. “People are leaving Ukraine and Cheryl says that is right for them. She doesn’t know how long she’ll stay. She is not staying as a martyr but she is at peace and is thankful for the opportunities to share the love of Jesus.”
For her part, Loretta says she is not glued to news reports, preferring to get Cheryl’s updates instead. Although they can’t talk as regularly or for as long as they did before the war began, Loretta is grateful whenever technology allows for communication. “I have to be honest, I am concerned for her. But I have such peace about it. God is so good. He gives me peace that I know is not mine; peace that passes all understanding that only God can give. I know Cheryl is in God’s hands whether she’s in Ukraine, or Canada, or halfway in between.”
Though she wakes up to sirens, Cheryl sees her life on earth as temporal, believing that heaven is her home. She had to pack a ‘to go’ bag and Loretta asked what she was putting in it. Cheryl said, “Mom, I look around and see that everything in my home is precious, but nothing is worth anything. It’s what’s inside me that’s important to me; my relationship with Jesus.”
As Loretta awaits updates, she is amazed by the people reaching out to her. Something that surprised her was a delivery of a bouquet representing Ukrainian sunflowers that were sent by the graduating class of 1990, Cheryl’s class. “That really touched my heart,” she said.
Also close to her heart are the children she taught kindergarten to while spending time with Cheryl in Ukraine. “I think about the children. Some of the dads are serving on the front lines. The children are separated from their fathers. It makes it personal, and it makes me want to go over and peel potatoes!”
That urge to do something to assist in the effort is what gave Olena Shevchuk and the Ukrainian community in Outlook the desire to take on the ambitious project of a fundraising supper. An authentic Ukrainian meal quickly sold out and was enjoyed by a crowd who were encouraged to give to the Canada Ukraine Foundation, an organization with an ability to direct funds quickly to provide food security, medical assistance and shelter to the people of Ukraine. A silent auction supplemented the funds raised and in an emotional announcement, Olena told the crowd she was overwhelmed as more than $14,500 came in.
Olena paid tribute to her homeland by singing the nation’s religious anthem “Prayer for Ukraine” declaring God’s power and strength, and asking God to help the country. The official anthem of Ukraine was also part of the program and many of the lyrics poignantly expressed the hearts of those gathered.
“Ukraine has not yet died, not her glory, nor her freedom…
And we too shall rule, brothers, in a free land of our own.
Souls and bodies we’ll lay down, all for our freedom.”
Olena affirmed, “That is why we are fighting. My auntie and uncle live in a town surrounded by Russians. But they went without weapons and stood in front of the tanks. All they had was flags but they told the soldiers to go away, to leave our land. They are so brave. I want to do the same.”
Cheryl Lyons said, “I really feel that I’m walking in obedience to the Lord. It doesn’t matter where we are, as long as we have Jesus. His grace is sufficient no matter what we’re going through. Please pray, pray, pray.”
Andy Prokopchuk, who was born to a 4th generation Ukrainian and a 2nd generation Ukrainian, who grew up in the Ukrainian community in Saskatoon and attended the Ukrainian Bilingual program remarked, “This isn’t a Ukraine crisis, this is a global crisis. The people of Outlook have shown that they are not going to sit this out and instead, that they stand with Ukraine.”
