Valentina (87)

April 8, 2022, Pruske. Day 43 of the war.

I have often encountered manifestations of faith in people fleeing the war from Ukraine. But no one talked about it like Valentina. She is not afraid because of her faith. As a child, she experienced World War II. Now she is experiencing another war. She believes that God is with her. And she believes she will return home.

"I told God to take me under His wings and protect me. Some time has passed and I have realized that God does not have wings, that it is just a parable. I thought I wouldn't paint and invent wings for God, I didn't deserve to be taken under His wings. I fell asleep. I had a strange dream. I opened my eyes and saw wings and a bright light. I closed my eyes, reopened them, and the wings disappeared. Instead, two angels came to me, one of them pointing at me with his hand. It was like a human hand, only softer, and it was spreading warmth. He touched my nose briefly, and then I realized that I should have asked God for completely different things. I have visions often. You have to be born with it. I have been experiencing it since I was 6 years old." 

"When I look around, I think that's what's normal, because no one knows the Bible. We live these times. I don't condemn anyone, that's how it should be." 

"We came from the Kherson region. The situation is tense there. A friend told me that they were bombing Marinske, which is 3 km from us. The enemy is close to us, bombing us, and making fun of us. Our young boys are only 16-17 years old and they protect us while in hunger, cold and dirt. We would definitely not leave if the situation at home was calm. But the bombings didn't do my daughter well. I left because of her." 

"God has given everyone the wisdom and strength. We must rejoice in what we have. I had a good life, and the work I did was good. I taught at an industrial school, I was the director there, I can't complain. I also loved taking photos. I don't have a husband, he's already dead. You can travel across the whole of Czechoslovakia and you will not be able to find such stories as I will tell you anywhere else." 

"I also took photos with me. Only photos of those who live. Granddaughters, children, I burned the others. Those photos don't mean that much to me. It is just a memory of a part of life lived. That's all behind me. I only have photos of the living ones to be with me." 

"Many thanks to the Slovaks for what they do for us. I really like this nation. You could say it was love at first sight. You are good, and you help. I fell in love with you Slovaks. I will pray for you." 

"I saw a rocket flying above our heads several times at home. I just threw myself on the ground and the bomb fell onto the house next door. I came to Slovakia with my daughter, my granddaughter stayed at home with her husband in the Dnieper, where she works. So far they are holding up, she is not afraid, she is still young." 

Her daughter joined the conversation: "We came here mainly because of me, because I'm scared. Just to survive, there is no other reason for us to be here. We can't work anymore, we're just a nuisance." 

"For God's sake, we are not a nuisance! I was not afraid of anything in my life. I read in the Bible - Don't be afraid of anyone but me! - this remained deeply rooted in me, so I was not afraid. It is also written there that - If you lose your body and not your soul, you will be mine, but if you lose your soul and save your body, you will not be mine! When you die, the soul goes to God. You know, not everyone believes that. And that's why people have problems in their lives, whether in families or in other areas. Many do not believe, they need evidence from God to prove their power and existence at this very moment." 

"We came to Slovakia on March 19th. We didn't know where we were going, we have no friends here. My daughter is 64 and I am 87 years old. Everything that is happening is just a proof that the world is corrupt and that humanity has gone far from God. We are here now, they take good care of us. We have everything. This is real Europe." 

"It seems to me that this war will not be over soon, we must be prepared. There will be great human losses. No one will help Ukraine, not even NATO. There are three countries in the world that will never go against each other: the USA, Russia and China. And other European countries are weak. They are only dealing with it politically, they will not help us. We already had several political regimes: slavery, socialism, now the capitalism is trying to prevail, but they will not succeed because it is not a given. And to those who are given the right, they rule the world." 

"I am 87, and I remember World War II also. I was 6 years old at the time. We lived in Luhansk. The bombs were flying over our heads. One of them flew close, it was like in a slow motion movie. We went to see where the bomb ended up. We found a lot of wood, blood and pieces of meat there. The bomb completely scattered those people. We hid in the basements during the raids. There were a lot of us there. I sat on my mother's lap and prayed to God. A little chicken appeared on the stairs and I told my mom that it was the angel who came to save us. Mom took my hand and ran to our house. When we left the house a week later, we walked around the cellar where we were previously hiding. There was only a crater. People told us that a bomb had fallen there a week ago. That small chicken saved us! I haven't been scared since, I just pray. I know God is with me." 

Daughter: "My biggest fear is the one of death. It brought me here. I couldn't sleep. I layed down, put my hands next to me, and I felt like my whole body was shaking. The fear drove me all the way to Slovakia. I really want to be at home. My daughter is with her husband in the Dnieper. I couldn't leave my mother there. I knew they would come and that there would be hunger, because that's how they do it. My mom would just lay down and fell asleep. She is not scared because she trusts God. I found a place in our apartment where there were only walls and I slept there because the bullets wouldn't get in there. My mom made a bunker under her bed, she didn't want to leave her room. We all just want peace, tranquility and love. Well, when you have God, you can do it."