I wanted a more permanent place to put some of my brief notes from the trauma counseling I’ve been blessed with. These are things my counselor says to me after listening to and analyzing my situations.

1. Realize that you are a victim of this war, too, you are not just a protector. Even though you are not technically a Ukrainian, YOU lost your home, your safety, your future, your life as it was, etc.
2. Protect yourself from people who don’t protect you, who attack or question you.
3. At church: Be specific about what you need.
4. People don’t perceive themselves as supporting putin and being anti-Ukraine, the way you perceive it. Realize the assumptions you are making. At best, they are unable to see clearly what is going on.
5. I didn’t realize, and most people don’t realize, that you see your entire life in Ukraine. Most missionaries go to the field for a period of time. People don’t realize how comprehensive this is for you. So, to to separate yourself from Ukraine as you, and allow God to help you find ways you can practically help and serve and evangelize Ukrainians as a mission field. It might look the same as before, but step back to seeing just the mission field. A lot of people are helping Ukraine, and you can, too.

This is some words from Victor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, that helped me see what this counseling is doing for me.

. . . . [I have] maladaptive behaviors rooted in false or distorted perceptions, often negative ones. It helps change erroneous beliefs, examine emotional responses, and foster decisions that better serve one’s needs and objectives.