January 2025
An ‘ordinary’ person makes an ‘extraordinary’ difference
Vera is a long-time member of the Bucharest International Church (BIC). She works on behalf of BIC as she provides support to the Ukrainian refugees who have come into Romania since the war with Russia began almost three years ago. Ukrainian by birth, Vera completed her university studies in Bucharest and has since made her home in the city.
The time in Bucharest is unique for each refugee. Some choose to make Bucharest their home. Others arrive for a short while as they wait for visas to move further west. Still others choose to return to the Ukraine and live as best as possible. All look for connection, for fellowship, and for community.
Ukrainian comfort food
Travelling on: saying good-bye
Vera assists with travel arrangements, accommodation, medical aid, translation, language studies, bureaucratic paperwork, and with whatever else she may be presented. She has welcomed many and helped them to accommodate to the city. She has prayed with many and said good-bye to those who have moved along. One of her joys is to cook Ukrainian food for the refugees so that they feel at home and welcome.
Gatherings prepared and hosted for youth
Medical aid
We talked with Vera last fall and the following are just a few of her stories from the last year:
A great ‘save’: Erik’s happy story
Erik arrived in Bucharest from the Ukraine shortly after the war began. Vera helped him in many ways: with language studies, High School and university applications, summer work. Erik thought of himself as Vera’s adopted son and began calling her “Mom”.
Flying from Bucharest to America to begin a new life chapter, Erik was detained at the Frankfurt airport. He was taken aside by the customs officials and asked to show his Romanian residency permit before they would let him travel onward. Unfortunately, several weeks earlier he had his backpack stolen with the permit inside. Fortunately, Vera had taken a photo of Erik with the permit when he received it. Erik called Vera from Germany. She searched her camera for the photo and forwarded it to Erik. The custom officials saw that he indeed did have a permit and so allowed him to continue his flight to the States. “You saved my life with that photo,” said a grateful Erik.
Erik and “Mom”
Marinka’s first taste
1st Time for Gelato
Though Marinka has lived in Bucharest for two years, like many of her Ukrainian friends she had never been to a coffee or an ice cream shop in the city. She simply couldn’t afford the extra cost. The young people do go out together, perhaps walk through a park, but they never make a purchase of non-essentials. When Vera realized this, she began setting aside some of her own money to treat the young people. Marinka was thrilled to taste gelato for her first time!
Walk and Talk
Taking a trip to the mountains, a three-hour train ride from Bucharest, gave Vera a chance to talk individually with the Ukrainian youth as they hiked along. Seventeen-year-old Anastacia began to tell Vera how her mother works with the Bucharest circus and travels constantly. She mentioned that she lives by herself and feels alone and depressed. Vera talked with Yuri, the Ukrainian pastor who gives oversight to the group. They both felt that being alone so much was not a safe arrangement for her. Yuri arranged for Anastacia to become better acquainted and integrated with his wife and children, who live close to her apartment. Taking time to plan a special event with the youth led to Anastacia having the confidence to open up and to receive the help and care she needed.
Mountain walk and talk: Pastor Yuri (front left), Vera (center), Anastacia (front, 2nd from left)
Should you wish to contribute toward Vera’s much valued ministry with the Ukrainian Refugees in Bucharest, you may do so through our PAOC link and mention ‘Bucharest International Church (EURO acct 7601) for Vera’ under Donation Instructions: https://paoc.org/donate/DanMacTavish