The Parish Magazine May 2022

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22 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> THE WAR IN UKRAINE 'With tears in my eyes and happiness in my heart…' Responding to the plight of millions of Ukrainians, Twyford resident Debbie Martin (above left), began organising donations of everyday items that could be sent to Ukraine in a lorry. As we went to press, lorry number 9 had arrived in Folkestone! Each lorry has between £50,000 to £60,000 worth of donations made by local people. On lorry number 8, which will be driven into West Ukraine — Lviv and Rivne — was the enormous collection of 'smiles in shoeboxes' (above left) that included gifts and toys for children. <strong>The</strong>y will then be transported on smaller vehicles and taken where they are very much needed. Here, Debbie tells the moving story of one of the gifts that had been sent to Ukraine on an earlier lorry . . . With tears in my eyes and happiness in my heart… Someone kindly gave me Polly during the early donations. Before Polly was sent to Ukraine, I wrote my email address on the back of the luggage tag asking if the receiver was able to let me know that Polly had arrived safely and had found her way into the arms of a child. I never thought in a million years that I would hear anything, but it is with so much joy I can share with you all that Polly is safely in the arms of Mariia. Below is the translation from the amazing letter Mariia has sent me. Hello dear friend! I am Nataly. Recently my niece received a gift from you and asked me to help her with sending a letter to you. 'Hi Debbie! My name is Mariia. I am 6 years old. I am from Ukraine. Thank you for Polly! I really like it. I named it Polina [Ukrainian version of the name 'Polly']. When the war is over, I will be glad if you come to visit me." Debbie, all Ukrainian people and I personally really appreciate your support and support from people all over the world. Thanks to such wonderful and careful people we are still alive and hopefully we will survive in this cruel and senseless war where too many innocent people are dying every day. I really hope that this madness will be over soon. Just let me know if some day you decide to visit Ukraine. We will be happy to show you our beautiful country. Stay safe and healthy. Best wishes from Mariia and Nataly Look at the difference we are making — it's never too late to donate and if anyone would like to donate a small teddy with a message on a luggage tag let me know! debbiemrtn4@gmail.com #westandwithukraine Left: Mariia's letter to Debbie Right: Mariia with Polina (Polly the doll) Right above: Polly before being shipped to Ukraine

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> - <strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> 23 Fleeing for their lives: ordinary people from Ukraine find themselves forced into becoming refugees. Nigel Beeton, who retired recently as an NHS radiographer, enjoys writing poetry. He is also editor of the parish magazine for St Mary with St Peter, Bury St Edmunds. Nigel writes: ‘Now our thoughts are overshadowed by the terrible situation in Ukraine. I looked at the masses of people on the station platforms, and I thought, only a couple of months ago, each one of those people had a life, a home, a shop to buy food, perhaps somewhere to grow daffodils, maybe a church to worship God, and their own hopes and dreams for the future. Now they are just part of a mass of people shuffling towards a westbound train.’ Here's one of his poems . . . <strong>The</strong> Refugee By Nigel Beeton Palinchak, dreamstime.com All that I was, I no longer am All that I have, I hold in my hand My home, my love, my world are all gone One among thousands, I shuffle along. Only last week I knew who I was All that has gone, and only because Someone in a land a long way away Turned life into hell one terrible day. Palinchak, dreamstime.com CHRISTIAN CHARITIES HELPING THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE Christian charities that are helping the people of Ukraine would welcome your support: Barnabas Fund: https://www.barnabasfund.org/gb/ Christian Aid: https://www.christianaid.org.uk Methodist Church UK: https://www.allwecan.org.uk Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk Transform Europe: Network: https://www.ten-uk.org World Vision: https://www.worldvision.org.uk Operation Mobilisation: https://www.uk.om.org/Appeal/ukraine-in-crisis He started a war, his heart icy cold He rained down his hell on the young and the old I ran for my life for I had no choice And nobody heard the fear in my voice. Everything’s gone, and all that is ‘me’ Summed up in a word – the word ‘refugee’. I have no control, no say in my fate Just one in a crowd, I stand and I wait. Waiting for what? <strong>The</strong> future’s unclear, For armed men have taken all that I held dear Along with my hopes, and all I had planned All swept away by the tanks in my land. One thing alone puts a smile on my face A far nicer stranger has come to this place; A bed for the night? A cup of hot tea? And – best of all – someone who sees me as me.