Most of us have been praying for the people of Ukraine. For Hope Force, this is especially personal. Here is a statement from our Hope Force International Disaster Services Director, Joey Stoltzfus:

"Laura and I have been watching in disbelief as we watch what is happening to a country that we once called home for 7 years as a family, and Laura called home for 17 years. The last apartment we lived in, we could look out the kid's bedroom window and see the Kyiv Perchersk Lavra (the golden domes on the Dniper River). How could this be happening? It is just so hard to believe this is unfolding before the world’s eyes in real time.


We have been in constant communication with our dear friends. Some have made it to Western Europe, and those still in country are serving the displaced people fleeing the conflict. We are challenged and encouraged as we listen to their stories of serving others as they battle through the fears and tears of the unknowns ahead. We are hearing from our friends that Ukrainians are more united than ever in the middle of this difficult situation…”   (Photo was taken from the Stoltzfus house when they lived in Kiev.)

The number of Ukrainian’s fleeing the country is now in the millions and that number is expected to grow to a staggering 5 million over the coming days.  This will be the largest refugee crisis in Europe in over 75 years.  

Through a series of relationships, HFI has connected with several indigenous Romanian ministries already actively engaged in serving Ukrainian refugees.  We have been invited to join them in their efforts by providing human and financial resources in support of existing ministry operations.  We anticipate providing medical assistance, emotional and spiritual care, assistance with feeding and housing initiatives and ministry to the many children that have come across the border.

A Hope Force assessment team is traveling to Romania this weekend to meet with partners in an effort to determine how we can provide assistance.  The goal of the team will be to identify needs and create a pathway of meaningful service for Hope Force Reservists and other volunteers.  We anticipate communicating with more detail the scope of ministry that Hope Force International will undertake once our assessment team has met with partners in Romania.

In the meantime, your prayers for wisdom, direction, support…and most of all – the Ukrainian people – are greatly needed!