This is a story about a journey – through war and escape, through uncertainty, perseverance and bold acts of faith.
When war came to her doorstep, Alina had no choice but to grab what she could and flee in the night. “We woke up from the noise of a bomb. Our windows were shaking, and we understood that we needed to leave immediately. That is how my life changed.” The Russian invasion of Ukraine shattered the life Alina knew. But even in those first terrifying hours, she found unexpected peace through her faith. “I believe I was inspired by Holy Spirit to sing the song ‘The Goodness of God.’ For a few hours, I cried and sang this song. And I think it was a reminder to me that in the middle of the fire, he was with me.”
As her children slept, she and her husband gathered their passports and a few clothes, praying the conflict would be short. “We thought maybe a few weeks and we would be back.” But the weeks turned into months. Displaced from their home in Odessa, they moved to a village near the Moldova border, then to England, seeking refuge wherever they could. Eventually, they made the decision to come to the United States – drawn by the presence of family friends in Austin, Texas and the opportunity to rebuild in a place of relative stability.
Resettling in the United States
In March 2023, under the United for Ukraine program, Alina and her family arrived in Austin with almost nothing. She shares, “We are on humanitarian parole. We didn’t receive any of the benefits that other refugees have. We were self-traveled. We didn’t know about any services so we didn’t expect any help from the government. At the time there was an informational vacuum. We couldn’t find any information about assistance.” Despite the challenges, Alina held to her faith. “I felt comfort because I knew that God brought us here and that he would take care of everything.”
Friends helped them find housing, even co-signing the lease. But adjusting to life in the U.S. meant starting from scratch. “Everything about my life has changed. I needed to learn English… I went to college to get a certification. I needed to start over in any field. We needed to learn everything” she remembers.
In Ukraine, Alina had a fulfilling career in law and was deeply involved in her church community – singing on the worship team, leading a life group and serving in ministry. “I really missed my life before. Our pastor really helped us. He encouraged us to just continue living and thinking about the future not about the past even though it had been really good.”
A New Beginning and Helping Others
Starting over in Austin wasn’t easy, but Alina was determined. And soon, she began noticing other Ukrainians facing the same challenges she had just walked through – struggling with paperwork, language barriers and a lack of information. So, she stepped in to help.
“I was motivated by the idea of how I could use my skills, my knowledge, to help other Ukrainians. I started a nonprofit organization to help the Ukrainian community here.” Her legal training and lived experience positioned her to guide others. “I started helping them with all the documents needed for social security, Medicaid, SNAP.”
As she became more involved in the immigrant community, she crossed paths with World Relief Texas in Austin. “That’s when I learned about World Relief. I applied for a job and I am so happy to be a part of this great team.”
Today, Alina serves as a World Relief program manager overseeing social services, refugee cash assistance, employment and medical support programs. She serves with compassion, not just as a professional, but as someone who’s lived through the very hardships her clients face.
“I believe that the main thing for our clients is to feel at home, to find peace. I say that not just as an employee; I have felt all this as a refugee myself.”
Through every stage of this journey, Alina’s faith has been her anchor.
“I felt I was in God’s hands because to leave my house, my church, my work, my business, it was really difficult but I know that God is with me. I’ve felt this all my life. He has provided everything I needed and he continues to take care of me. We have peace in our hearts, and I know that is grace from God” Alina shares.
From fleeing bombs to rebuilding her life from the ground up, Alina’s life speaks to the resiliency of people being displaced or envisioning a new life that is possible. Through World Relief, she now offers others the same support she once needed – proof that even amid devastation, God is still writing stories of restoration.
Stories like Alina’s remind us that rebuilding begins with compassion—and continues through action. Partner with World Relief by giving, volunteering or advocating today to ensure more families can find safety, stability and the chance to thrive. Learn more on our website.