A home away from home

In May 2022, a little over two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Natalia and her family left the country, seeking refuge in neighboring Moldova, while the men in her family remained in Ukraine to join the army. “Since then,” she said, “my life has been torn in two.”

In Moldova, Natalia connected with Church World Service, which runs a center for Ukrainian refugees. Her children attend classes there, the family participates in social activities, and Natalia volunteers at a distribution center for incoming refugees. She is making a home for her family in a new country.

Lutheran Disaster Response supports the work of Church World Service and continues to accompany families throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including those in Ukraine whose lives have been impacted by the war.

Praying for peace amid ongoing war in the Middle East 

To observe the first anniversary of the current conflict in the Holy Land, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offered prayers for peace, healing and justice for all people in Palestine, Israel and the regions where the war has escalated. “We grieve this violence and loss of life with all people of the Holy Land — and with the Palestinian community of the ELCA, our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, and all who live in fear, pain and anguish. We believe the presence and love of God in Jesus Christ can always be found in the places of the cross. Wherever violence, injustice and death seem to have the last word, God is there and has not abandoned the people.”

Mission Personnel

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’” —Isaiah 6:8

A reflection from Sophie Warnberg, Horizon International seminary intern, Serbia 2023-2024

Upon my arrival in Serbia, I honestly did not fully comprehend the multiple facets of this atypical internship. Congregation members were Slovaks who had moved to Serbia; consequently, Slovak was the language of the church whereas Serbian was the language of the community, which multiplied the language barriers I faced. Still, I learned about the synod and Novi Sad through the grace of congregation members who greeted me with warmth, provided ongoing hospitality and supported my internship. At first, when I knew little Slovak, they had the patience to greet me and teach me, using hand gestures and sometimes pulling me along with them to show me what they were struggling to say. Conversely, they were tolerant when I did the same. As a result, over time, we learned together.

It was a privilege to form relationships with these folks, often over a cup of Turkish coffee. As we journeyed through the seasons, we learned how to maintain our friendships and embrace our diverse backgrounds. As they included me in their routines of daily life, we learned about our cultural commonalities and differences. Inclusion in celebrations and holidays, along with opportunities to visit other congregations in the synod, remains a highlight for me. My internship experiences ranged from youth programming to church finance to memorizing Slovak hymns to collaborating with the bishop’s secretary to facilitate events. Still, the essence of my experience was our commitment to accompany one another and live in community.

Get Involved

• ELCA World Hunger invites you into a celebration of storytelling through “Humming With the Word,” the theme for this year’s seasonal resources. Download or order the study guide and calendar for use in your home or congregation.
• Shop ELCA Good Gifts this holiday season to grow the church, end hunger and transform lives. In addition to popular gifts such as goats and chicks, new gifts this year include “safe birth,” “climate resilience kit” and “support a YAGM for one month.”
• We’re hiring! Apply to serve with our global companions as a teacher in Hong Kong, Slovakia, Japan or Madagascar; an ELCA regional representative in Nigeria; a seminary professor in Cameroon, Indonesia; and more. Visit the ELCA job board for global positions to learn more.
• Through the ELCA Advocacy Action Center, encourage your representatives to vote for a bill that provides funding for lifesaving international programs, including emergency humanitarian assistance, conflict prevention and peace-building programs, and protection of forcibly displaced populations.