Sergey and Irina Talalay, who first entered Moldova in 2008 as pioneer church planters, are leading the Moldovan church in sacrificial support for Ukrainians who have been flooding across the border since 24 February.

In the first two days after the invasion of Ukraine, Nazarenes in Moldova hosted 36 people. By 16 March, the small group of Nazarenes had assisted 700 people. Church members are working around the clock to help, and they have no plans to stop giving anytime soon. Some church families have even given up entire apartments to displaced families.

Like other Ukraine-border nations, Moldova is a meeting point for cross-national relationships. Sergey is from Ukraine and Irina is from Russia. Their two sons are Moldovans, having been born there during their church planting mission.

“Since I myself am from Ukraine, I have a lot of friends, relatives, contacts, and acquaintances from the Church of the Nazarene and other churches there,” Sergey said. “And, in this regard, on the first day of the beginning of this terrible war, I began to receive a lot of requests for help to which I, my family, and our church responded instantly and did everything they could and even more.”

The sudden flood of refugees requires an immersive response.

“For the first 10 days from the beginning of the war, my wife and I slept for a maximum of two hours a day, doing various kinds of assistance to Ukrainians fleeing the war,” he said.

At all hours of the day and night, Sergey and two other church members have been driving to different points along the Ukraine-Moldova border to pick up refugees and transport them to Chisinau, then work to find them temporary housing.

“From the first day, our people opened their houses to refugees; some even completely gave away their apartments after moving out to live with relatives,” Sergey said. “In the first week of the war, we managed to help more than 300 refugees from Ukraine.”

Currently, the church members are continuing to meet people at the borders, where long lines have formed and many people wait two or three days to be allowed across the border. Then, the church helps them find temporary shelter across the city or in the church building.

They are also helping people find transport, including sometimes purchasing tickets, so that some can travel further into Europe.

Food and hygiene support are among the most urgent needs, including diapers, baby wipes, and baby food.

“Moldova is a very small and very poor country,” Sergey said. “Therefore, it cannot cope with the flow of refugees who come here from Ukraine.” 

The Moldovan government hastily organized shelters for refugees in sports arenas, exhibition complexes, and other facilities, often cramming 300 to 500 people together.

While people are with them in Chisinau, the church is helping fill the gaps by providing food, medicine, and personal hygiene products directly to individuals since many fled their home with few belongings.

This is a selection from a story that previously appeared on the Church of the Nazarene Eurasia’s website. To view that full story and more pictures, click here.