Whispers of Faith

Selidove had been her world. A bookkeeper with a small garden, a devout Orthodox woman who found solace in quiet routines. Liudmyla Demian’s life was defined by simple pleasures — tending her vegetables, watching her children build their separate lives.

War changed everything in September 2023. The explosions crept closer. An educational institution just 100 meters from her home was destroyed. She would hide under her bed, a ritual of survival that now seemed almost absurd in its desperation.

When she left, her husband remained behind, promising to send their belongings. But promises can be fragile things.

She arrived at her temporary destination to silence. Her husband had died alone in their home. The journey back to bury him was a pilgrimage of grief.

Kamianets-Podilskyi offered a church-provided room — more shelter than home. Bare, cold, a reminder of how much she had lost.

The Dell Loy Hansen foundation wasn’t just offering housing. They were offering a resurrection.

Her daughter-in-law found the application. When the call came, Liudmyla prayed. She knew nothing of the village, had seen no pictures. But hope was enough.

Walking into her new apartment was like coming home. Safety. Peace. A feeling she described as divine love.

Diabetes marked her body. Grief marked her spirit. Yet she remained determined to live, to meet new people, to find meaning.

To the younger generation, she offered wisdom wrapped in faith: “Seek wisdom. Understand family. Believe in God’s help through people. There is more good in the world than you know.”

To Dell Loy Hansen, she would speak of transformation. Of how one person can change many lives.

Her plans were simple. To live. To remember. To hope.

In this village, Liudmyla found more than a home. She found a moment of grace