Echoes of Home: The Mandrika Family’s Journey

Ludmyla and Serhiy Mandrika had spent most of their 65 years in the small, picturesque village of Osokhorivka, nestled in the heart of the Kherson region of Ukraine. Their roots ran deep in this landscape—Ludmyla, a former school librarian, and Serhiy, who had worked as a local agricultural worker, had built their life together in this tight-knit community that had been their home for decades.

The distant rumble of artillery had become a cruel soundtrack to their life. For months, they had watched their peaceful village transform into a landscape of uncertainty and fear. They had weathered countless storms together during their long marriage, but nothing could have prepared them for the war that would tear them away from the home they had cherished for decades.

It was a morning like any other—except it wasn’t. The explosions were closer now, more insistent. Ludmyla’s hands trembled as she packed their most precious belongings: a few photographs, some warm clothing, a small album of family memories. Serhiy carefully wrapped their wedding photo, the one taken when they were young and full of hope, tucking it safely into their bag.

“We can’t stay,” Serhiy had said, his voice breaking. The village they had called home for so long was now a dangerous shell of its former self. Osokhorivka, once a vibrant community of farmers and families, was now a battlefield, its fields scarred by conflict.

Their first refuge was with distant relatives in the Poltava region—kind people who opened their home but could not fully ease the pain of displacement. Ludmyla and Serhiy felt like shadows of themselves, uprooted and uncertain. They were survivors, yes, but the weight of loss hung heavy on their shoulders.

In winter 2024, the Mandryka family moved into Miracle Village.

In March 2025, Serhiy passed away, leaving Ludmyla to continue their journey alone. The loss was devastating—after decades of sharing every moment, every challenge, every joy, she was now facing the world without her life partner. Yet, the community of Miracle Village wrapped her in compassion, ensuring she was not truly alone.

Ludmyla would sit by the window where Serhiy used to rest, looking out at the community around her—families rebuilding, children playing, life continuing despite everything. She would prepare her modest meals, finding comfort in small routines that reminded her of their shared life.

She had lost much, but not everything. She had their memories. She had survived. And in this Miracle Village, she had found a home that promised safety, dignity, and a glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness.