Light in the darkness: Summer Camp in Ukraine

In Ukraine, 10-year-old Grygoriy lives with his parents and two brothers. For a long time, his little heart didn’t know peace.

“My father has been in the army since 2022, since the beginning of the war. He really wanted to protect us,” said Grygoriy.

“When my father was at the frontline, life seemed to stand still. With every phone call, my heart would skip a beat – what if something had happened to him? Even though I didn’t know everything, I felt constant tension. I knew my mother was crying at night. There was whispered news, and prayers before bed.

“I imagined how he would return, strong and smiling like he always was.”

But Grygoriy’s father didn’t return the same. Instead, he came home with severe disabilities.

“His eyes looked different. He seemed to be at home, but at the same time, very far away.

“It’s difficult for me to remember how I saw him for the first time after he was wounded and treated,” Grygoriy said. “His head was bandaged, he had no teeth, and there were scars all over his face. Later, I learned that during the battle, a shell fragment had flown into my father’s head and hit his brain. After his return, my father couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t even walk or use his hands.”

Although Grygoriy’s dad still has a long road to recovery, it was when MWB began to visit their family with support, that a turning point began.

Then, Grygoriy was invited to go to Summer Camp.

“It was my first Christian camp. My mother had to really persuade me to go. I didn’t want to leave my father. He needs my help,” Grygoriy said.

At first, Grygoriy struggled to adjust to the playful atmosphere, but then Summer Camp became the place of miracles.

“One evening, when all the children were sharing their stories, I learned about Grygoriy’s situation,” said Valentyn, Grygoriy’s team leader. “Since my father has also been fighting on the frontlines for two years, I can understand him at least partly. I feel so sorry that instead of a happy childhood, these children have been forced to learn what pain and suffering are, what loss and grief are.”

During the week, Grygoriy’s heart finally had a chance to surrender everything and open itself up to healing.

“Peace and comfort came into Grygoriy’s heart in particular,” Valentyn said. “He had many questions about God, justice, good and evil, and the desire for revenge. Yesterday evening he said to me, ‘I realised that I don’t want revenge. I want to be with those who bring light, those who support. I want to help my mum, hug my dad, and even… even forgive those who hurt him.’”

Grygoriy felt God’s embrace as he spent time with other children, singing, reading the bible, laughing over meals and playing in the sunshine. And when he felt sadness, they simply sat quietly together.

“In the shadow of war, a Christian Summer Camp becomes a sanctuary where children who have experienced loss, fear, and trauma can finally breathe again,” said Maksim, camp coordinator. “The simple gift of feeling safe – of sleeping without sirens and playing without fear – begins to heal wounds that can’t even be put into words.”

For Grygoriy, an invitation to Summer Camp was an invitation to know true peace.
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