A young widow bereaved of her newlywed husband walking hand in hand with her little daughter – lonely grandmothers urging us to dress warmly – nine year old boys and girls:  These tenderhearted people broke my expectations of who would attend a strenuous first aid class to save people from traumatic, bloody, and graphic war injuries. Yet, these are exactly the people we are currently training. People who have faced horrific loss are now braving our medical scenarios with gory injuries and imitation blood strewn together with absolute mayhem. Somehow, they are doing it – they are saving lives in these scenarios…but how?

‍     We can surmise that such determination has come from facing 4 years of one of the world’s foremost wars or perhaps their tragic and seemingly never-ending history of loss. Certainly, these are factors to consider and have influenced Ukrainian culture. However, I believe there is a more powerful factor at play - they are motivated by love.

    Why else other than love do everyday people with such sorrows show up to a four-day medical class that severely challenges their wits, nerves, and capabilities under pressure?  Honestly, I have a hard time imagining family from my context in the U.S. performing so well. I watched a Babushka (grandmother) with a hunched back drag one of our heavy actors during a scenario to save him. Truly, such strength comes from God’s kind of love.

‍     Every Ukrainian has seen or heard of others being killed and are motivated by compassion to do anything they can to keep families from losing more fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and babies. To them, this war is a story of personally seeing all of these family members wiped away. Tragically, 11 people died from a bombing in our area while one of our medical trainings was taking place.    

    Again and again students have thanked us for being with them when other foreigners were too afraid to come. Exceeding gratitude has been expressed for the realistic scenarios remarking how previous first-aid training from other organizations only gave them information. We give them experience and a sense of confidence to intervene with leadership in the midst of chaos.

     The training we provide gives first-hand, heavy scenario experience that actually puts theory to the test and provides previously ignorant bystanders the understanding to act with bravery and save lives. We are training Great Samaritans who now have an avenue to show the great love they possess for their people. We go because Jesus taught us not to abandon our neighbor.

    For as many graduates as possible, we give them a pack called an IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) equipped with everything they need to intervene in life-threatening bleeds of loved ones. It’s a hard feeling to describe – Fathers, mothers, young and old gratefully shaking your hand as they receive something that could save a life.  They never asked for this reality, yet they face it with dignity, courage, and with love.

    Would you prayerfully consider donating toward the purchase of these medical supplies and the success of this project?

For the weak and oppressed,

Caleb, Chazak Cadet Defender

To give toward this deployment and help us supply first aid training and supplies for Ukrainians, click here.

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