The armed conflict in Ukraine has been going on for several days now, and in the meantime, the whole world has mobilised to help millions of refugees. The Adventist Church, worldwide and in Europe specifically, is working hard through its humanitarian agency, ADRA.

Bulgaria, a small country bordering the Black Sea with Ukraine, is participating like many other countries are in the solidarity actions for the Ukrainian refugees. Here is a short but touching testimony of an Adventist leader in Bulgaria, which shows the great heart Bulgarian citizens, Adventist and non-Adventist alike, have towards people in need.

“On March 3, I went to the office for a Zoom meeting with the Inter-European (EUD) Communications team,” recounted Ivalina Ilieva. “I wasn’t supposed to work, as it is a national holiday in Bulgaria, but I felt I had to do so. During the meeting, I got a phone call from Petya Gotseva, a humanitarian aid coordinator, who asked me how long I would be in the office. A young lady from our local congregation wanted to stop by and bring some items for the refugees. Officially, the [campaign] was supposed to start on Sabbath with people collecting money and many necessary items in their churches. So, this was quite unexpected.” 

Ilieva continued: “Upon finishing the Zoom meeting, I got another phone call. A male voice told me he was in front of the union building. I went to open the door and saw a car with a young man inside.”

With a shy smile, the man told Ilieva he was bringing a donation for the Ukrainian refugees and asked her where he could put it. And then he started unloading a carful of goods: box after box after box filled with croissants, bake-rolls, biscuits, chocolates, muesli-bars, water, juices, and hand sanitizer. Afterwards, he said, with the same shy smile, “This is all we could do in a short time!” and then he left.

Thirty minutes prior to the end of the work day on Friday, Gotseva whirled in and announced, “Quickly! We need to prepare some food and drinks as a van is going to [the] Ukrainian border to pick up some refugees!”

Earlier that week, the Bulgarian Union had collected some money among colleagues at the union office, and now Gotseva had gone to buy some heavy blankets to be sent along with the food and drinks to people staying in tents at the border.

Interestingly, one of the Bulgarian national television channels broadcasted on Sabbath morning, directly from the Romanian-Ukrainian border, and a famous Bulgarian movie star was riding the Adventist Union van, sharing his pleasant surprise with ADRA’s activities. 

“I met the donor in church and thanked her for her generosity,” shared Ilieva, adding, “I learned her side of the story! Urged by her aunt, she was talking to her boyfriend (the young man who came with the goodies), sharing that they should probably do something for the refugees.

“He said, ‘Sure, get ready, let’s go to the retail store!’

“‘You mean NOW?’ she replied.

“‘What is there to wait for?’ asked the man.

“When they went to the retail store, she inquired how much they could spend. ‘We have €500,’ he calmly replied. The young men dug into their pockets and took everything they had: €100, another €250, and still another €150.

“They weren’t Adventists, but they trusted us,” concluded Ilieva. “They gave everything they had in their pockets. Thus, we are now praying not only for Ukrainian refugees but also for all the people in Bulgaria who want to open their hearts and give what they have for those in need, relying on the Adventist Church.”

This article was originally published on the Inter-European Division’s news site