March 27 -  April 5, 2022

Refugees from Ukraine arrive at housing provided by Latter Day Saint Charities

at Santo Pietro di Paolo in Milan, on March 16, 2022

Each week brings meetings with several organizations that help refugees, the poor, homeless, women, and children.  It seems like we get about 4-5 requests a week for Latter Day Saint Charities to help those whom they serve. It is very difficult to say no to any of them, but funds are not unlimited and we have a budget from Humanitarian Services, so choices are tough. One organization we met with, called AVSI.  AVSI assists young refugees, including those from Ukraine, in job training programs funded by Latter Day Saint Charities. These include job training in welding, carpentry, and catering, which helps refugees with long term solutions, self reliance, and integration, to help them and their families.  

Refugee children from Ukraine eat at housing provided by Latter Day Saint Charities 
at Santo Pietro di Paolo, in Milan, on March 16, 2022

Last week we met with a Priest named, "Don" Paolo in Milan.  Latter Day Saint Charities helped his organization, at Santo Pietro di Paolo renovate and furnish apartments to help house about 26 refugees. In the past, he mainly helped refugees from Nigeria, Pakistan, and other countries. As the renovations neared completion the first few days of March, he said he would look into whether any Ukrainians might arrive and need help.  On March 16, 10 days, later, he and his staff welcomed 18 refugees from Ukraine, including several mothers, children ages 1-16, and one father (who had heart problems, so could not serve in the military), with his 3 children.  A few days later, he welcomed another 8 refugees from Ukraine.  He and his staff and Latter Day Saint Charities, are delighted to be able to help these wonderful refugees.  We visited them and got to hear some of their amazing stories. Most housing for refugees only provides a single room, which can be depressing, as they may dwell on thinking about their father/husband and others who were left behind  Also, there is little to do.  Don Paolo, however, has provided  a large playground for children, a soccer field, places for the adults to sit outside, and a large room where they can all eat together. He also provides Italian language training and counseling. Other organizations have donated food, refrigerators and freezers, and even cards with money attached, so refugees can shop for needed items.  The refugees are so glad to be in a safe place.  We were so happy to see that these good people are well taken care of.  

                           

        Becky & Bryan visit with refugees from Ukraine at Santo Pietro di Paolo in Milan, on March 24, 2022

Last week we visited with 3 organizations just north of Florence.  One group, Vicofaro Parish, in Pistoia, is lead by a man named "Don" Massimo. At his parish, he only has room to house approximately 25 refugees.  However, because of his big heart, he cannot turn any refugees away. Therefore, he now houses about 170 refugees, either next to or actually inside his church.  Most are young men or families from Senegal and Gambia, on the west coast of Africa, which are lined up with Cape Verde, where we served our last Humanitarian Services mission.  40 families are housed on the 2nd floor of his church, above the pews where members attend mass and services.  A week ago today, one young refugee man had no place to sleep in these crowded conditions, so he crawled inside the dumpster outside.  Sometime during the night a garbage truck arrived and lifted up the dumpster, emptied it into the truck, then compacted the contents.  In the process, this young man was tragically killed. Don Massimo has the refugees cook for themselves, usually in groups decided by where they came from, such as from Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, etc. which allows them to cook foods they prefer most.  He also provides Italian language classes.  Many men make bags, hats, and other items to sew and sell. One refugee insisted that Becky choose and take a bag he made.

Above: Don Massimo & refugees from Senegal & Gambia, at Vicofaro Parish in Pistoia, on March 31, 2022

      Note paintings of refugees in crowded truck, and on a boat.  Also, young man on left is pointing to Senegal.

Above: Young refugee from Senegal poses next to art work he did at Vicofaro Parish, showing his hands tied by ropes, which was how he was bound as he was transported by boat, He also painted an amazing picture of refugees on a very crowded boat, with hardly no room to stand.  

 In Pistoia we also worked with a group called "Rays of Hope," which assists the homeless and refugees.  Latter Day Saints donated 50 sleeping bags to them, rated at sub-zero.  Others donated hygiene kits and other basic needs.  Each night a group of volunteer women prepare food for 50 homeless people, including refugees.  We also met with another organization in Prato, just north of Florence, which encourages women to not have abortions.  They provide counseling, housing, and help.  Latter Day Saint Charities donated diapers and baby formula to the women they serve.  These items were placed into bags by 40 Relief Society women and 10 young women from the Florence Stake, who contributed over 200 hours of service.  

"Don" (father) Massimo, at Vicofaro Parish in Pistoia, with Becky pointing to housing on 2nd floor of his church, where 40 families live above the meeting level/pews of the church.  By doing this and similar things, he houses 170 African refugees, even though he actually has space for about 25.  Becky wouldn't let me attach the picture of him holding up the lid of the garbage dumpster, where the young man died last week (see story 2 paragraphs above).  

We had the opportunity to attend one session of General Conference at our ward in Lecco with our Nigerian members of our ward.  At the end of the broadcast, we noticed a Caucasian woman and her baby on the back row.  We approached her and asked about her (Natalia).  She explained that she is a refugee from Ukraine, and just arrived in Italy last week. Amazingly, she said she is from Chernivtsi, a town in western Ukraine, only 40 km from the Romanian border.  We told her that we submitted a project a week ago to have Latter Day Saint Charities purchase a mobile kitchen, then operate it in Chernivtsi, to feed 3,000 meals a day to refugees either fleeing Ukraine, or who may decide to stay and wait in Chernivtsi, while they decide what to do or the war is over. (This mobile kitchen will stay in Chernivtsi for 2-3 years after the war concludes, to feed these "internal refugees," while they wait for their homes and towns to be rebuilt, and infrastructure to be working again.)  Natalia's mother is working in Italy, so consequently, she decided to come to Italy.  Her husband is now in Ghana, trying to renew papers to join her.  He was going to Medical school in Ukraine when they met at Church, and were later married. 

Pres. Russell M. Nelson, speaking to members in 48 countries in Europe

on Jan. 23, 2022  Please see his quote below.

On January 23rd, Pres. Russell M. Nelson (and Elder Bednar) spoke to members in Europe.  He said, "The Lord, in His wisdom, has reserved each of you--regardless of age--to come to earth at this crucial time.  He placed you in Europe because you have a mission to perform there.  Make no mistake about it: you are here on earth no precisely because you are needed here now.  You are perfectly positioned to find the children of Israel who are living in or are coming to Europe."  A month and one day later, on February 24, war broke out in Ukraine, and now, another 6 weeks later, 4.2 million refugees have left Ukraine.

We are so grateful to watch the hearts of the Italian people open up to the refugees and give them shelter, food, clothes and yes, job training.  We are seeing the best in people as we serve as Humanitarian Missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We are so grateful to be part of a world wide effort to aid those in need.

Bryan and Becky Gerritsen, Alzano Lombardo, Italy