After five days in Moldova, a series of flights to Vienna, New York and Atlanta brought them to family in America.
They have much for which to be grateful, though the pain of the ongoing war in Ukraine persists.
“It is my birthplace,” said Kuznetsova. “The atmosphere, the people – it was like a big family. The occupiers are trying to create something different there, but all they are creating is a big cemetery.”
Their path out also brought a bigger sense of God’s family.
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“I cannot explain the beauty of the people in Mariupol,” Soroka said. “It began with our church. We had a big choir and a lot of kind people. During our travels, though, we saw God’s mercy and His hands through those who helped us at all points of our escape. Christian people are throughout the world and are our family.”
The Lighthouse Church was inconceivable to them when the journey began – a church in America where the people spoke their language and sang their hymns. This is needed more than many realize, as her church in Mariupol no longer exists due to the war.
“I’m grateful that in this church (Lighthouse) I see my church family in Mariupol,” Soroka said. “God is everywhere and His family is so big. I praise Him for this country and this church that has become our shelter. Its name is Lighthouse, and it has become that.”
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
