What We’ll Actually Be Doing

Last post, I mentioned that one of the questions we had — and that others have asked — is what this kind of mission actually looks like day to day.

Because we’ve served two previous humanitarian missions, we had a general understanding of the work. What we didn’t fully understand at first was how this assignment would be different – especially that much of the work connected to Ukraine would happen remotely, since we won’t be able to travel there due to visa restrictions and our status as foreign missionaries. 

The simplest way to explain our role is that we’ll be supporting humanitarian projects that are already in motion, while also helping move new projects forward as they come through our humanitarian manager. We won’t be the ones seeking out or initiating many projects on our own, but we will help coordinate them, support them as they develop, and see them through to completion.

A big part of our role is helping organize and process requests so resources — like medical supplies, food, school items, and other basic needs — can move from where they are available to where they are needed.

We’ll be working with local organizations that already serve their communities. They know the people they’re helping and understand what is actually needed, and we help support that process from our side.

We’ll also be working closely with a humanitarian manager based in Ukraine. Even though we’ll be living in Moldova, some of the work we support will connect directly to needs there, mostly through communication, documentation, and coordination.

When we first arrive, we’ll spend about a week with the couple currently serving there. They’ll walk us through the projects they’ve been working on and help us understand how everything functions day to day. After that, we’ll take over those responsibilities and continue the work they’ve already been doing.

Most of what we do will be steady, behind-the-scenes work that help these efforts continue.

That’s our understanding of it right now.

I have a feeling that once we’re actually there, we’ll see it much more clearly — and probably explain it differently.