Hi,
I’m Boas Adolphi, founder of Children’s Embassy together with my wife Mirjam.
It was 31 years ago that we set foot on Ukrainian ground. The Soviet Union had fallen, and Ukraine became independent on August 24th, 1991. The first years were not so easy. I didn’t speak the language, and not many locals spoke English. I felt like I was a man from Mars. Someone told a story and everybody laughed. Everybody except me who was lost. Gradually, I started to understand a little, then more and more. I never studied the language, but it came in through my ears. I listened and I listened.
Today, I already communicate, and I even know when to laugh and when not.
Ukraine and Ukrainians took our hearts.
A tough nation that has suffered so much in its history
You can compare Ukrainians with the bumblebee. In theory, it shouldn’t be able to fly. Too big a body and such small wings. But it does fly! That’s how the Ukrainians are. Difficulties, famine, war… but they press on.
Ukrainian national anthem
Serious-looking pupils standing at attention while the Ukrainian national anthem sounds on the last day of the term in Pisky village school. I took the photo years ago and could not guess what was ahead.
Today, many soldiers who stood at attention are defending their country that Putin’s Russia invaded on February 24th, 2022. Actually, the war began in 2014 already, when Russia invaded Crimea and the eastern areas of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Ukraine has now been able to take back part of the areas in the south and east, with the help of new weapons from abroad. It feels good that the EU was determined and said: ”Enough. A power-greedy despot will not dictate how we live and under whose flag.” Unfortunately, many soldiers and civilians have had to lay down their lives in the horrors of war.
What can one say? Should we give up helping, supporting and comforting those who are grieving? Should we just sigh: “Well, that’s how it is, better try and endure.”
No, absolutely not.
We must continue the good fight and help those who suffer, comfort those who grieve.
Stand up for the good.
In the Book of Isaiah (58: 6-10), God gives us His guidelines:
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: “Here am I.” If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Help in war and in exile
We in Children’s Embassy are relentlessly helping children and families in Ukraine. In war and in exile.
We help those who sought refuge in Eskilstuna, Sweden. We continue together with our team in Pisky and Kyiv, Ukraine, to help the needy. We will never resign as long as the war is raging.
The road is hardly in condition after the Russian tanks ruined it, but they reach to the needy families in war-torn Ukraine.
As the Ambassador and founder, I am proud of our team in Ukraine and here in Sweden.
And with God’s help, His guidance and wisdom, we can accomplish what He called Children’s Embassy to do.
Slava Ukraini. Glory to Ukraine.
Boas Adolphi
Ambassador of Children’s Embassy
