Everyone bears a cross. In telling about the horrors and sorrows that have dragged on for almost 400 days, the emotions and feelings of surrealism about a brutal war are buried in a shallow hollow in their hearts. They have three months left before embarking on the cross-roads home. 

Their stories are unashamedly horrible. They tell of friends and men working at sea that have been injured beyond belief, that died, that lost their homes and many other unspeakable things. The things that are not spoken about became part of their everyday existence. The shrapnel of every rocket and every bomb that hits a home or building in the Ukraine, also hits them here, even though they may seem safe and sound, thousands of miles away in a safe harbour. It is so far and yet so near. 

You could be forgiven to think that the crosses that the two men, Alexi and Yuri carry with them are unjustly heavy. No one should be exposed to so much bloodshed, death and sorrow. "Eli, Eli, lemá sabagtani?", "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? This is a refrain, like a thread, searching through each aspect of their stories.

Every story also contains longing, a longing for mercy, love and peace. The unspoken undertones of telling the stories shout loudly and unashamedly. "We have thirst". It is an urgent and deep search for the peace that transcends all. 

For a short time Danie can help bear the crosses. He spends time with them. He listens, encourages, listens again, tells, listens yet again, prays and does everything possible to lighten the load for them, even if only for a moment. He does this against the background of the Cross and the Man that eventually, with the taste of sour wine in his mouth, before the escape of his last breath, said: "It is done".

Everyone bears a cross, but only one Cross, finished what had to be done. Eventually, tired of bombs, rockets and mutilation, we cannot but say, "Father, I give my life into Your hands". Hours later, the two men, knowing that Christ also died for them, they take the small steps to the quay. That gives hope.

We will continue, without pause, to share mercy, hope and love of the One that died for all of us, in a bitterly broken world. The message is a Light on a light stand, a light that will not give in to the dark. By supporting our work financially, you strengthen our hands to bring light to places where crosses are heavy to bear. Please consider supporting us in prayer and deed. 

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