Inside Ukraine Pt. 2: Voices of the Responders

In this episode, host Kristy Graham introduces you to Samaritan’s Purse medical workers as they serve patients in Ukraine.

After an evening spent sheltering in place because of a bomb threat, staff members emerge from the bunker and continue operations at the hospital. Podcast correspondent Stephen speaks with doctors and a medical interpreter as they share what motivates them to serve in the midst of danger. Charge nurse Tallie describes the morning patient flow, and the medical needs after the occupation.

Next, we hear from Stephen, who joins the security manager in a drive-along through the recently liberated city. They describe the sights as they go: buildings left in rubble, homes destroyed, and an entire community decimated.

Because of the ongoing safety threats, Samaritan’s Purse staff worked cautiously. They left cell phones and all electronic devices at another location hours away. Their only communication to loved ones was through an encrypted computer. Stephen describes what it was like to be isolated from friends and family, and chats with medical information officer Brayden as he writes back home.

“It doesn't make sense for us to go into places like this without the hope of Jesus. The world would tell us it's not worth the risk. But by using their skills and showing the love of Christ, our teams are motivated during this deployment.”—Kristy Graham

Several other nurses share prayer requests, and what compels them to keep serving even in the midst of great risk.

“God brought us here for this time, for this reason. And if we can touch one life, it’d be worth it all.”—Nurse Bob

Another Ukrainian medical interpreter talks about the experience of working alongside doctors to serve her neighbors. She survived the occupation herself, sheltering for three months as bombs dropped around her city. When she heard about the hospital, she knew she had to help. “It’s just really brave of you guys,” she says. “It is courageous of you guys to be here, and we really appreciate that. It’s not taken for granted.”

Kristy closes the episode by sharing current updates from the field. Since the conflict began in February 2022, Samaritan’s Purse has been on the ground, loving and serving families in need.

Even though this particular field hospital is no longer active, Samaritan’s Purse is still serving in the war-torn country. We’ve distributed more than 120 million pounds of food and deployed over 600 staff members. The needs are great, which is why we’re providing winterization kits and wood stoves to protect the most vulnerable during the winter season.

“Jesus is our only hope. And as you've heard from our staff repeatedly, He's the reason that we have anything to offer. When I think of our team, I think of Romans 15:13 that says, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’”—Kristy Graham“Jesus is our only hope. And as you've heard from our staff repeatedly, He's the reason that we have anything to offer. When I think of our team, I think of Romans 15:13 that says, ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’”—Kristy Graham

Please continue praying for our Disaster Assistance Response Team members and the people of Ukraine.

“83 Steps” A poem by DART physicians assistant Mary Jo

The city surrounds us, burnt, nearly destroyed. The hollowed-out buildings, the pits to avoid, the curtains that flutter through broken out panes that let in the cold and the wet when it rains, remind us that once there were families inside with lives they were living and friends to abide. And then came the war with its bombs and explosions that broke all the windows with waves like the oceans; That caused all the people to huddle in fear, to cling to each other, to draw them all near in basements with nothing but honey to eat. to look forward to winter without water or heat. Eighty-three steps to the common room. A place of community joy, not of gloom, where lovers of God hope-filled stories relate of lives that are changed, of refusals to hate. Share stories of purpose, of gifts to be used for the good of his children, the poor, the abused. The memory of those they have loved and have lost to unwarranted war in its terrible cost weighs heavy on hearts that will trust in you still and hope in the good that we know is your will. For each one of us in our imperfect way will grow and love more as we trust and obey. And for us who have come to care for the needing, the sick and the dying and those thought past heeding in order to separate gold from the dross we pray and we care and we lead to the cross. And then while we hope that we're up to the test, we find that we're not so much blessing as blessed.