A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3 NIVUK)

As a young girl one of my favourite books was Anne of Green Gables. I loved her vivid imaginings, her ability to innocently stumble into catastrophe, and of course there was also her handsome, lovely Gilbert Blythe. I must have read it a dozen times. But it was only as an adult that I came to realise that this brave and intrepid girl was indeed a child recovering from trauma. Martin Sheen who played Matthew Cuthbert in the 2016 adaptation says he was drawn to the film because, ‘stories about brave children matter’.

And matter they do. Since the start of the war in Ukraine 6.3 million people have been displaced, 90% of whom are women and children. Here at Echo International we are desperately trying to meet the growing need of these brave, but traumatised children, to have something in their lives that helps begin the first steps on the long road to recovery.

Thanks to your generosity we have been able to print copies of Lala’s Journey in Ukrainian as well as produce an audio version. And we are told that these are being used by mothers and carers as bedtime stories. It’s a small, but not insignificant start while we get mentoring teams up and running, language barriers are broken down and children settle into their new temporary homes. 

In the coming months we will bring you stories of some of the brave children with whom we are working, but in the meantime please remember these ‘bruised reeds’ in your prayers.

Jean Guest

Jean has recently joined Echo International as a part time member of the team. She’s British (hence the confounding spelling) but lives in Italy. She has two adult sons, loves books, theatre and music, but is passionate about cricket! 

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3 NIVUK)

Picking up the story of my childhood heroine Anne of Green Gables, the turning point in her story was finding the peace of a home and the security of two people who loved her allowing her to flourish.

Child psychologists know that ‘When children develop a sense of security, they will actually experience the benefits throughout many different areas of their lives. Security helps to develop emotional, mental, and physical health. We've mentioned that children who feel secure can feel freer to express their emotions.’(1)

Here in Italy and in many other European countries Ukrainian refugees have been able to join family members already settled here. Echo International has been able to help them by providing copies of Lala’s Journey in Ukrainian for children in Spain, Germany and other countries. I’ve become aware of how important this is. The cleaner of a friend of mine was able to welcome her sister, niece and children and my friend provided a home. On both counts it clearly has helped them to feel settled. The town has provided toys, clothes and books and the children have joined in with the universal language that is football (or soccer in the USA). On the surface all seems remarkably well for them. But Silvia* (the cleaner) reports that when the door closes the grief at their plight descends.

Natasha* is Ukrainian, but has lived in Italy for many years and acts as the local coordinator for the relief work, was speaking to our church on how refugees are already no longer front page news. We can’t as the church allow this to happen for any person who finds themselves displaced, marginalised or disadvantaged. Echo International is determined to be part of this Kingdom work, seeking to form partnerships and provide resources through the curriculum that will help nurture the ‘smouldering wicks’ of those caught up in the horror.

Please continue to pray for all the women and children made homeless by this conflict. Pray for the families welcoming them and providing sanctuary that they will continue to be able to do this. Pray for local and national governments that their policies will be fair, transparent and just. Pray for Amy and the Echo mentors as they deliver Lala’s Journey that it comforts and encourages children and their families.

Jean Guest

Jean has recently joined Echo International as a part time member of the team. She’s British (hence the confounding spelling) but lives in Italy. She has two adult sons, loves books, theatre and music, but is passionate about cricket! 

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3 NIVUK)

For many of us, observing from a safe distance the war on Ukraine, we possibly thought it would be all over by now. Surely the honestly farcical setbacks of the Russian advance would convince them to retreat; the bravery and resolve of the Ukrainian people would triumph; the international community would do…something. Sadly the war grinds on and the wonderful people of Ukraine continue to be brave and resolved. The war has displaced over 14 million people, most of whom are women and children. It’s unimaginable and may those of us who were quick to dismiss the conflict as a passing rumble be forgiven. The church has to ask itself what can we do? Most of us are thousands of miles away.

We can pray…

• Ask God to bring his justice to the situation.

• Be faithful in remembering the women and children that they will find comfort.

• Uphold Amy and all the mentors who are working with traumatised children.

• Give thanks for the power of Lala’s Journey to help stabilise hurting children.

• Join the Echo prayer team (here).

• Lament.*

We can champion the work of Echo International and Amy. We often find ourselves talking with friends and colleagues about world affairs, why not share some of the great stories of children helped by Echo - not least that we have managed to produce Lala’s Journey in Ukrainian. We can be generous. Every donation helps! But if we may, can we be specific with you?

$25 provides 5 books for children inside Ukraine

$75 provides online training for mentors

$330 provides a curriculum to facilitate Lala’s Journey

$1,000 provides translation of the curriculum into a needed language (like Polish, Romanian, and African languages)

www.FirstAidfortheSoul.org/give

As Christians we live in the tricky in between of ‘the here, but not yet’ promises of God’s Kingdom. He will one day fully in faithfulness bring forth justice, but he expects us to work towards that right now.

Thank you for your support, your prayers and encouragement.

*”Lament is not only for the suffering; it is for solidarity with the suffering. We love our neighbour when we allow their experience of pain to become the substance of our prayer.” Theologian NT Wright

Jean Guest

Jean has recently joined Echo International as a part time member of the team. She’s British (hence the confounding spelling) but lives in Italy. She has two adult sons, loves books, theatre and music, but is passionate about cricket!