On a blistering cold night, Ivan*, a volunteer with Athletes in Action®, sat in a dark alleyway in Ukraine, on a journey that only God could have led. As he watched a large, bearded man approach his Volkswagen minivan, Ivan cautiously rolled down his window. His apprehension melted into a smile once he heard the greeting, “Peace be with you!”

This exchange with the pastor of a local church not only confirmed where Ivan would sleep that night, it also opened the door for Ivan to deliver food to hundreds of hungry people.

In partnership with Andrey, an Athletes in Action® staff member in Ukraine, Ivan has coordinated humanitarian aid drop offs to Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine. Ivan and his brothers frequently drove the route from their home in central Ukraine, while Andrey supplied him with food, medical supplies and vans.

One day, as Ivan made the journey to Kharkiv, he was stopped by a mother of three small children who had run out of food. Upon hearing this, Ivan hurried to gather supplies and return to help her.

With warm food and bottled medicine clanging around in his trunk, Ivan sped until his very last checkpoint. A mere 87 yards (80 meters) from the destination, he was stopped due to a curfew and told to return in the morning.

“I was outraged, honestly.” Ivan said. “I’ve driven this route countless times. I began asking God why this was happening when there was a family in need.” 

Within minutes, a policeman showed up offering to help. He led Ivan’s van down a dimly lit backstreet and instructed him to wait. All of a sudden, a pastor of a local church appeared at Ivan’s window.

Before Ivan could speak, the man greeted him warmly. “I was literally just on my knees praying for you, and here you are!” he said.