Quenching Thirst
Clear, clean water rushes from a tap outside a local church as Kateryna* carefully holds her multi-gallon bottle under the flow. Once the precious liquid covers the bottom of her plastic jug and quickly billows up its sides, the 66-year-old thanks God. Samaritan’s Purse is bringing fresh water to her community in eastern Ukraine after it was disrupted by the war. Even better yet, she met the Source of Living Water, Jesus Christ, during the conflict and now her soul is satisfied.
But it hasn’t been easy.
Kateryna fills her water bottle at the church tap.
In Difficulty, Hope
When full-scale conflict erupted in 2022, Kateryna was enjoying her retirement from the Soviet-era workers’ supply department by tending her garden and home and caring for her grandchildren.
Suddenly, her health declined: she had to be hospitalised and undergo surgery.
Yet during this critical season, caring people invited her to a local church where she placed her faith in Jesus Christ that year. She was baptised a year later, in 2023. Now she is an active part of this congregation.
“During these difficult times, I realised that only in the Lord is there salvation. I prayed sincerely, and He showed me His mercy,” Kateryna said.
Kateryna clutches a new jug of water, grateful for how God is quenching both her physical and spiritual thirst.
Though she lives alone in her home, which has so far survived the effects of the war, Kateryna perseveres through the hope and resilience of her faith in God, her Heavenly Father. He gives her the strength to keep going and find peace under difficult circumstances.
In Scarcity, Plenty
Samaritan’s Purse is committed to helping provide the basic needs of suffering Ukrainians. Delivering a freshwater supply to Kateryna’s village so she and her neighbours can gather all the water they need for drinking, cooking, and more, is part of that effort.
“This is such a great help for us,” Kateryna said. “Through it, we feel the mighty hand of the Lord. I am very grateful to Samaritan’s Purse, because thanks to their support, we now have the water our village so desperately needs. Their help not only saves lives but also gives us hope.”
Since 2022, Samaritan’s Purse has provided more than 34 million gallons of clean water to weary residents of Ukraine.
“The conflict impacted one way or another all the people in Ukraine,” said Vitalii Tupchiienko, our emergency water project programme manager. “Those who were not injured directly are carrying wounds in their hearts and their minds. This is where the role of Samaritan’s Purse in supporting the church in Ukraine is crucial. While helping people address their physical needs, it is the church that takes care of people’s souls, helping them find peace that surpasses all understanding, whose Name is Jesus Christ.”
Please pray that many of those receiving clean water from Samaritan’s Purse throughout Ukraine would also come to know Jesus Christ, the Source of Living Water.
*Name changed for security
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