“There is no one like the God of Israel.
He rides across the heavens to help you,
across the skies in majestic splendor.
The eternal God is your refuge,
and his everlasting arms are under you. “
and his everlasting arms are under you. “
Deuteronomy 33:26-27
There are just some days that I wake up and I need a hug. Whether I’ve been woken with songs of deliverance sung over me, or I am believing the lies that won’t quit, some days a hug is just what the doctor has ordered… or several of them!
Growing up my mom told us that we needed 12 hugs a day to be healthy and happy. So on the days that we were extra grumpy she would give us several hugs in a row. According to research and studies done on couples and infants, hugs are good for your heart, they lower blood pressure, and reduce stress. Plus they’re just nice!
So now I’d like to tell you about Anna. Anna is a woman from the streets of Ukraine who just happened to find us and fill our hearts with joy. Although I didn’t meet her until the night we were leaving Ukraine, I don’t think I will soon be forgetting her.
She was spotted the first day in Ukraine by my teammate Alisa. Her wrinkled skin and many layers of clothing gave away her socioeconomic status. While no conversation happened, Alisa noted the way she was dressed and how she looked in need.
Later, when we were handing out food to some street people, Alisa and Sarah ran into her, gave her a bag and talked with her for a while. While they could not understand her words, they knew her heart as she spoke to them in Russian. She shared her stories with them and they listened with Jesus’ ears. As they were leaving, Sarah reached out to touch her, and she abruptly pulled back and strongly said “Nyet” (‘NO’ in russian).
Yet again we found her as we handed out food a second time, this time Sarah and Auston spoke with her. During this second meeting, Auston reached out to give her a hug and she again strongly said NO. But she would always stand and talk until we had to leave, showing us that she at least enjoyed our company.
Very obviously Anna needed a hug. She needed to be touched and each one of us felt it as we met her. Anna is a woman of strength and pride. She would not accept food without giving something to us in return. She wanted us to know that she was taken care of and did not need our help but just wanted to be with us.
The night that I met Anna was a cold and windy night in Odessa, Ukraine. We had just carried our backpacks the 6 or so blocks from our flat to the train station and I was focused on getting that bag off my back. As we walked I heard Sarah call out “Anna”. She ignored us at first but soon came up to talk as we waited for our train. She was quick to share everything that she had. She gave us some of the flowers that were in her bag and when we shared our bread with her she handed us some of her crackers.
She carried on in Russian and we attempted to understand what she was saying but weren’t too successful. Yet as we listened, I began to fall in love with this woman who smelled like an onion and had a mouth filled with broken teeth. As she talked and shared, I pictured her being someone’s mother and grandmother and I so badly wanted to know the story of her life.
And I really wanted to give her a hug! I can’t explain it. I just saw her wandering and sleeping alone in the cold streets and I wanted to hug her and give her a connection with another human being who didn’t want anything but to love her.
The call for our train came over the loud speaker and we knew it was our last chance to ever connect with Anna. So Sarah asked quickly if she could have a hug. She demonstrated what she meant by hugging Alisa. And she had to ask several times for the meaning to be made clear.
But suddenly Anna nodded her head and opened her arms to Sarah. Tears filled my eyes as I watched Sarah and then Alisa hug this beautiful woman who loved us so incredibly. I quickly wiped my eyes and started to gather my things. And even though she had just met me, I asked Anna if I could hug her too. She nodded and I felt honored as I wrapped my arms around her.
Anna, who gave when she had nothing and took care of us as we tried to take care of her, allowed me to give her all that I could give, a hug. I walked away with my heart filled knowing that it is the little moments that are big in this life. I won’t forget that hug and I won’t forget Anna because of her strength of character. And I won’t forget how God called a group of American nobodies to Odessa, Ukraine because He wanted His kid Anna to be hugged. We got to be His arms that cold, wintery night and we are so honored by His call.
