We are back in Kyiv

Right where we need to be

We returned to Kyiv on Sunday night. We stayed up late decorating for Justus’ fifth birthday party the next day, and in the morning I was back at UBI welcoming our students to the first day of the new semester.

It’s good to be home.

Two weeks in Germany was exactly what we needed. Removing ourselves from the center of this international crisis was an opportunity to reflect on the situation without being pushed into making drastic decisions in the heat of the moment. It allowed for different prayers and different conversations. And apart from visiting with the church on Sunday, we didn’t go anywhere. It was a strategic break, and we are so grateful to our friends Max and Rachel for taking us in.

Our time away helped us thoughtfully sift through the often-conflicting messages of the media. We were relieved to learn the White House decided it was going to stop using the term “imminent” because “it sent a message we weren’t intending to send, which was that we knew President Putin had made a decision.” ¹ We also were able to start seeing that even though a large-scale invasion is entirely possible, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely likely. Many are convinced that this will turn into a “forever hybrid war” of looming military presence on the border, games with energy flow to Europe, and constant cyber attacks. That is to say, “...it’s an extensive suite of tactics designed to destabilize the West. For Europe, the threat of war could turn out to be more destructive than war itself.” ²

Our two weeks away reinforced our conviction that now is not the time to leave. We are not here to be comfortable, and we will not let the fear of war keep us from doing what we have been called to do. We have a ministry here and we are part of a church. Choosing to stay is choosing to honor the faith and the values we teach and preach to others.

That’s not to say there won’t come a time when need to leave. We will not intentionally put our family directly in harm’s way or have our presence put Ukrainians in any kind of danger. We will continue to monitor the development of events and will be ready to leave at a moment’s notice if it comes to that. But it hasn’t come to that yet.

Thank you all so much for your love and concern, and for understanding that the reality on the ground always looks different from the news stories which are by nature isolated from the context of everyday life.

Please keep praying for peace in Ukraine, and keep praying that Katie and I will have the wisdom to see the opportunities God has prepared for us. We want to glorify Him in all that we do, wherever we are.

Until next time,

Brandon and Katie

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Rachel reading to Justus and Lilly. Rachel’s help with Justus was a real blessing. She gave Katie and me the time to rest and talk that we needed.

Max at the table with their camera shy 16-year-old, Pia.

Justus’ fifth birthday party was a blast. He finally got the big kid scooter he’s been asking for.

Pirates!

Five years old!

1. February 2, 2022 White house press briefing.

2. New York Times: Europe Thinks Putin Is Planning Something Even Worse Than War. See also Putin Is Operating on His Own Timetable, and It May Be a Long One.