Sirens sound in the darkened hall. Air alarm. All eyes turn to the screen. A cell phone rings. A small child calls her father, who is lying in the trenches. "Dad, I'm scared." The father tries to calm down his daughter. "I can't sleep," she says, and then, accompanied by her father's gentle voice, she closes her eyes and finally falls asleep.
How many children in Ukraine have experienced such traumatic moments? The number of children killed and abducted is enormous. The Prayer for Peace on the second anniversary of the attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2024, in the Adventist Church in Tübingen began with these thoughts. A varied program was put together by the group of Ukrainians who have found refuge in the Tübingen area. Through video reports, interviews, musical contributions, and prayer, those present were able to experience what the refugees have been through and what the Ukrainian population has been experiencing for two years. Even though they are now here in safety, they have not forgotten the many others who have remained in their homeland. We were delighted to welcome around 40 guests, who not only experienced a moving program but also received a message of hope. This was accompanied by seeds of hope - seed bags with sunflowers and cornflowers - in the hope that the colors of Ukraine may bloom in many gardens and windowsills this summer to remind us that we must never give up hope. God hears our prayers, even if we cannot always see what is happening. Our solidarity, prayers, and practical support for people affected by war will continue for as long as necessary, because "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Mat 25:40).