On May 3-7, the coordinators and volunteers of Diakonia, for the first time after the difficult period of the pandemic and forced online communication, had the opportunity to meet in Montenegro. Not many of us were able to find the time and energy to get out to there : yet the meeting turned out to be surprisingly warm and inspiring.

We have combined the discussions of current affairs and tasks of Diakonia with psychological training, visiting the sights of this amazing country, and just relaxing on the coast (it’s a pity that the sea was not warm enough yet :))

When it became easier with pandemics, the war has broken out. Most of our volunteers worked hard in March-April to help the refugees with sick children to get out of Ukraine and settle in Germany and other European countries. The new situation in the world requires restructuring of the work of Diakonia, an optimal choice of goals and priorities. Almost all refugees who arrived from Ukraine need not only practical, but also psychological help, the restoration of their souls from wounds and overwhelming trials. The possibilities of helping sick children from Russia have been significantly reduced: it is difficult for them to go abroad for treatment, it is difficult to raise funds for this treatment, and there is a lack of vital medicines. What can Diakonia do? Our discussions continued until late at night.

War is terrible even far from the battlefield and bombed-out cities. War sows hatred and division, kills hopes, devastates the souls of millions. The world has changed: how to live on? How to deal with those who reject your reality, do not share your values? How to help a person in deep grief, with a burned soul? And, perhaps, the main question: How to restore your strength, heal your soul, find a resource to help others? We have been looking for answers to these questions during a seminar on the topic “Conflicts and Resources”, conducted by a wonderful specialist, Suzanne K. The seminar took the whole day. Each of us got the opportunity to tell a personal story and share personal experiences, ask specific questions – and get the answers, sometimes unexpected ones. A beautiful feeling of community, empathy, mutual support arose during the seminar.

We have not forgotten the wonders of Montenegro. We were lucky to visit the heart of the Christian life of the country – the Tsetinsky Monastery, to bow to the shrines – the right hand of John the Baptist, the relics of St. Peter Tsetinsky. In a museum nearby, we came to the Icon of Our Lady of Philermo, that is, according to the tradition, was painted by Apostle Luke. It was necessary to stand in silence for a long time, getting used to the darkness and calming the soul, in order to discern the features of the ancient image and meet Her glance. We saw Kotor and the bay from the ridge – as if from the height of an eagle’s flight. Having descended, we wandered for a long time through the cozy narrow streets. We got to the mausoleum of Negosh on the top of Mount Lovcen – and we could see the whole country. There were also monasteries, astonishing paths over the sea, islands, a fresh breeze of new hope…

Our resource has been restored to 100%. We thank God and everyone involved — for this meeting, and we look forward to new ones.