A Haven After Loss

For fifteen years, Nataliia Shavarina lived quietly in Myrnograd, Donetsk region. Life had already tested her severely — a tragic train accident years ago took both her legs, and later she lost her son and all her relatives. Her world had narrowed to a small apartment and friendship with a neighbor. At 69, with first-degree disability, she thought she had endured all of life’s storms.

Then in March 2024, gunfire reached her city. The “Vostok-SOS” volunteer corps helped evacuate her, a challenging task given her mobility needs, and by August, her home was completely destroyed. She found temporary shelter at a volunteer center in Dnipro, carrying the weight of her losses and disability with quiet dignity.

Hope arrived unexpectedly when the Hansen Ukrainian Mission team visited the volunteer center, inviting her to Chudo Village. On January 18, 2025, Nataliia moved into apartment 12.4A, finding comforts she “didn’t dare to wish for.” The fully accessible accommodation finally gave her the independence she needed.

When asked about her plans, she answers simply: “to live a little longer.” But her advice to young people reveals a deeper spirit: “Love Ukraine, don’t avoid service. Our youth are wonderful — so many volunteers helping and loving people.”

About Hansen’s mission, her voice fills with emotion: “I feel an endless flow of love here, and I understand it’s all thanks to Hansen. My amazement at his work keeps growing. I wish him health and success.”

In Chudo Village, this woman who lost so much has found something she never expected — not just an accessible home, but a community flowing with love and care, proving that even in life’s darkest chapters, light can still break through.