In less than two weeks I’ll be traveling with a group of dear friends to Hungary to help the Markey family – an American pastor and his wife who have been serving in Ukraine for many years. After the start of the war, they had to flee their home in Kyiv with their 6 sons. They now live in Budapest and are instrumental in taking care of the one million Ukrainian refugees living all over Hungary. For a long week, we will travel with them to different cities, distribute aid, play games with the kids, hold arts and crafts sessions for the adults (most of them are ladies), sing hymns, give them Gospel tracts, and share Christ with them (via Google translate).

FROM SHARON MARKEY: My 12-year-old son Peter spent much of the last 5 days writing this song, recording it, and making this music video. In all these months, he’s hardly talked about his feelings, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to help him process all that has happened. He’s found his way.

Lyrics
“I Miss Ukraine”
Verse 1:
I never thought that I’d leave Ukraine,
But now I’ve been gone such a long, long time.
Sometimes I can’t stand the pain,
But sometimes I feel just fine.

Chorus:
It makes me sad—why did everything change?
But I’ll fight my tears and hide the pain.
It breaks my heart—why can’t I be at home?
But I’ll push right through it, even when I’m alone.

Verse 2:
Now it has been almost one year,
Since the last time I saw my best friend,
Every day I wish he could be here,
Will we have a happy end?

Chorus:

Verse 3:
I hope and pray that Ukraine will win.
I believe that the tide will turn.
When it’s over Ukraine will rise again,
And then all her children can return!

Chorus 2:
It makes me sad—this is not what I want,
But I trust God, if I go home or not.
It breaks my heart—why can’t we all be free?
But I know God knows what’s best for me.