The IAFR Blog

Field notes, perspectives, stories, news & announcements

Safe Space and Cinnamon

Inviting smells, flavors, and warmth at the Sarajevo community kitchen

The kitchen is warm and steamy with the smell of the pulao my Afghan friend is cooking. Her deep-set eyes shine with the joy of cooking food from home. I know her family will enjoy eating it as much as she's found comfort in preparing it. And I know I'll also be invited to partake generously in the feast. That's how things are done at this community kitchen in a family refugee camp in Sarajevo, where I volunteer with my colleagues.

The Flavor of Hospitality

This kitchen is filled with smells, spices, and chatter from a beautifully diverse range of countries. This afternoon, I will also partake in Nepali lentils and flatbread with another refugee friend, cooking food that reminds her of home. A sponsoring organization provides essential ingredients like flour, eggs, rice, and lentils, and the families who use the kitchen purchase extras like meat or produce.

On another day, I cook food from my home in America to share with my displaced friends. When the sweet dessert comes out of the oven, my Turkish friend tastes the warm apples spiced with cinnamon and nods approvingly. The spices and fruit are familiar to her even though we don't share a common language to discuss the ingredients I used. The flavor of hospitality tastes like sharing food from home, even if we are from very different places.

Welcome can change the world.

As I watch families cook traditional foods that bring them comfort on my days in the community kitchen, I am struck by their generosity and gratitude. The gift of a safe space to cook is a gift that has helped restore their dignity. And I am reminded that it is important not to underestimate the power of offering someone a safe space, a space where they can be at ease, where they have dignity and purpose, and where they can feel seen.

Wherever you live or whoever you are ministering to, you can offer this same safe space - whether that's serving coffee in your living room, accompanying a friend to a difficult appointment, or offering to listen and be present in someone's pain. Creating spaces of hospitality and welcome can change the world, one person, one kitchen, and one meal at a time. I know because I have been welcomed just as I've been privileged to welcome others.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the work in Sarajevo here!

- Sarah Pollock with Rachael Lofgren

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Putting Everything on the Line

A military chaplain from Moldova shares at the RHP Europe Round Table in Warsaw.

It was 24 February 2024 – the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I was in Warsaw at a gathering of over 300 brothers and sisters from all over Europe. Many Ukrainians were in our midst.

Christians are putting everything on the line.

A Moldavian soldier (above photo) shared how he and other military chaplains are putting everything on the line to get people out of conflict zones to safety in Ukraine. He then led us in prayer.

A Ukrainian mother shares about life in Ukraine today.

A mother told us what it was like to say goodbye to her husband as he went off to serve with the Ukrainian military. As she and their children were trying to drive to safety, her husband got word to her that they were headed directly toward Russian troops.

Counting the Days

She shared how they began counting the days after the invasion began. At first they thought it would be over in a few weeks. But they are still counting. It's a heavy weight to bear. February 24th was day 730. She asked us to help carry the load and count with them.

The Need for Healers and Healing

She said that the trauma of war is devastating the people. Few are trained in trauma care and there is a shortage of resources to help people begin to heal.

She takes comfort knowing that Jesus is there suffering with them.

She led us in prayer for those suffering from invisible wounds afflicting their hearts and minds and for the healers doing what they can to help.

Orphans in Need of Homes

Another Ukrainian woman asked us to pray for the growing number of orphans in the country and led us in prayer asking God to put them in homes.

Top left: Ukrainian pastors led us in Communion. Top right: A Ukrainian band led us in worship. Bottom left: The Europe Roundtable. Bottom right: Tom Albinson opened the Roundtable sharing about the beginnings of the Refugee Highway Partnership.

A Ukrainian worship band led us in songs of worship that evening, declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness. Ukrainian pastors led a time of Communion during our final session.

It was encouraging to see how many churches, Christian organizations, and individuals are doing what they can to help our friends in Ukraine as well as those who have sought refuge outside of the country.

IAFR is among them as we partner together with churches in Ukraine through our partnership with a church in Slovakia near the border.

Thanks to our generous financial partners, we have sent over $190,000 in assistance to Ukraine since the war began. Most recently, we sent $20,500 in January. It is now helping get people out of conflict zones to safety in Ukraine. It is also providing food and medical care for children and elderly people seeking help from local churches in the country.

We are praying that we can send another $40,000 before the end of the year.

CLICK HERE to learn more about IAFR's Ukrainian Response.

- Tom Albinson

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