Olya Skrypak, 44, a mother of 4, is a wife of a pastor in Kyiv, Ukraine. Although the family had a choice to leave to the United States, they made a conscious decision to stay in the capital with her family, in order to create a place of refuge for people in her church for those who have no other place to go, help the injured, and coordinate humanitarian aid to those in need.
“Since the beginning of this war I have been falling into extreme states, from animal fear to the greatest fits of courage and pride for my country, and my army,” says Olga.
“I am doing one thing at a time. Baby steps. Cooking, cleaning, cooking for soldiers in bulks, helping people find a safe place to stay, loving my husband, spending nights in the metro bomb shelter, reading my Bible, answering phone calls, sleeping on the church floor, laughing with friends while uploading and loading humanitarian aid, praying, drinking coffee, kissing the cheeks of my kids,” she continues.
“My greatest fear is to be separated from loved ones. My greatest home is to become stronger, more patient and tolerant, and not to get the heart hardened.”
Translated by: Lisa Skrypak, Olya’s daughter.