Ukrainian refugees attending Orthodox Church in Minneapolis – credit American Service
Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network. So here it is in its entirety.
Recently Arrived Ukrainians in Minneapolis Head to Mississippi to Help Tornado Victims
The mainstream media is filled with headlines about how the United States is helping Ukraine, but under the radar is how some Ukrainians are returning the favor.
Having arrived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as recently as a few months ago, a group of 7 Ukrainian refugees has signed up for a 2,000-mile road trip to Mississippi to help with tornado relief.
Tornadoes tore a path of destruction across rural Mississippi and Alabama on the night of Friday the 24th. The nonprofit American Service is just one of several aid organizations heading to help the victims.
They quickly organized a team of volunteers and headed down to North Fork, MI, expecting to arrive on Tuesday.
American Service’s Director of Operations, Sofiia Rudenko, is a Ukrainian who has only been in the country since Christmas. Still, after receiving help settling in from American Service, she quickly dedicated her time to helping other new arrivals.
“Here in America, a lot of people helped me to establish here, and we have this kind of culture that we want not only to take but also to give back and to help the others,” Rudenko told MPR News.
“I found a group of people, Ukrainian, that is not working today and willing to go immediately, and now we’re packing and going. It’s so exciting. I hope we can do something great for this world.”
American Service has so far helped 80 Ukrainians like Rudenko find temporary housing, jobs, and a bit of community in Minneapolis.
Their first trip down to Mississippi is to bring water exclusively, and a second trip will follow based on whatever they discover is in short supply after the first trip.
The good news here is those who have been helped are repaying by helping others who need help. Today’s JohnKu talks about repayments. I hope your weekend is lovely.
Payback by John W. Howell © 2023
There are some who take,
With never a thought to payback . . .
Sowing yields reaping.
Fiction Favorites 
Wow, the mainstream media deciding not to show something positive and constructive that can actually be a unifying social commentary on the world? I’m shocked I tell you! Shocked!
Good thing for us we have places where we can find this great stuff, because we most definitely need to feed on some of the redemptive qualities of the human race, rather than the empty and wicked calories we’re getting on the regular. And good thing for us you’re here to deliver us a Friday soul story.
Great job Boss, as per.
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Thank you, Marc. This story has no legs for the media asshats. It doesn’t denigrate the US or any party. It just talks about grateful folks helping others.
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Imagine that!
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Well said, Marc. I couldn’t agree with you more.
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Very cool. Nice to hear.
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I agree.
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Another wonderful Friday story. We’re being trained to fear and despise aliens, but you have to take people one at a time.
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Also, these folks want to give back which is a different mindset.
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Good to hear. So rarely do we hear of people returning the favor of help.
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I agree. This is especially true of those who are here illegally.
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👍
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Wish there were more people like that. Or that we’d hear about them more. Thanks for ending the week with good news. Have a great weekend, John.
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Thank you, Staci. People giving back doesn’t fit media agendas these days so the stories are hard to find. I hope you have a great weekend as well.
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This is such a heartwarming story, John. I wish more of these stories appeared on mainstream media, but they’re too busy ranting about politics and forecasting gloom and doom.
Great news!
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These are very grateful for the help and want to payback something. That story doesn’t fit media agendas right now. Also the act of payback is so rare it could be seen as a fluke. Thanks for the comment, Joan. I hope you have a super weekend.
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Loving every minute of reading this post!
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I’m glad I could find it, Annette. Thanks. 😊
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I have been meaning to check out your Fri-Yay series for some time, John, but have been running so far behind, I haven’t made it over here, until this morning. I’m so glad I stopped by! This is just the type of news we need to hear more often. It might not be as common as the typical headline subjects, but it’s so important that we don’t lose track of the kind and caring folks in the world, who are trying to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Now that I’ve had to cut back on some of my activities, I’m being very careful and choosy with how I spend my time. I plan to check out more of your posts, overall, as I’ve always wanted to, and this Fri-Yay series will be where I start. (In fact, I’ll probably go back through some past posts to see some of the good news I’ve missed out on. Good news is GOOD, even if it’s a bit older.)
Thank you for this heartwarming story! 😀 ❤
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Thank you for your kind words, Marcia.So glad you enjoyed the story. I hoe you have a super weekend.
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You’re welcome, John! Only sorry I didn’t get here for this series sooner. And I hope you have a great weekend, too! 😊
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Thank you. I hope you do as well.
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This was wonderful to hear, John. Thanks for sharing!
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Glad you liked it, Jill. Thanks for letting me know. 😁
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Heartwarming and life-affirming, John. Thank you very much for sharing. My life’s work has been in service. I’ve seen things that haunt and taunt, seen the good and the evil. And I’ve tried to understand why – why do some reach out and others simply point or demand. I have no answers, but this story highlights a dynamic of gratitude, one that springs from a destroyed way of life. The Ukrainians knew safety, but it was taken from them, and now they’ve found hope. I wonder if that is the path before us all.
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Who knows if we will all experience the same, Gwen. I think only God knows.
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At last, a heartwarming story about refugees, instead of about law-breaking. Not surprised the press wouldn’t carry this – it doesn’t follow the “if it bleeds. it leads’ premise. I am so impressed by what the Ukranians are doing!
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I’m impressed by them as well. Thanks, Noelle.
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Impressive! Knowing my Ukrainian neighbors and observing their positive actions, it doesn’t surprise me.
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Every Ukrainian I’ve met has been wonderful.
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Good News, it is! ❣️
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Yes it is, Cindy. Thanks.
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🥰👏
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😁
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Thank goodness for peeps like you who choose to highlight the wonderful stories like this one. Funny how “those immigrants” are helping and not just taking, as media likes to share. Funny how they understand the give and take.
Beautiful Friyay story, John.
And a happy Friday to you !
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Thank you, Dale. Happy Friday to you.
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Thank you, kind sir
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😊
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Thank you, John — what a good story!
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It is. Thanks, Debbie.
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We can learn so much from their quiet compassion. Your last line says it all!
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Thank you, Pam.
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A great story, John. Warms the heart to know there is still a lot of human left in humanity.
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Yes it does, Bruce. Thank you
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Thank you for this good news post, John. After the past week of news, I’ve sorely needed something that would restore my faith in humanity.
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I feel the same each week so I need the stories as well.
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Uplifting! Thank you John!
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Thank you, Holly🌹
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🌷
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🍷
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Cheers 🥂
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😊
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This is very good new! Thank you, John.
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😁
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I missed the ‘s’ in news. Sheesh! 🙄
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It is okay. I knew what you mean.
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🙂
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I appreciate you sharing this story, John. Refugees are too often portrayed negatively when all they’re trying to do is survive.
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I agree on the matter of legal refugees.
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This is a terrific article, John. Thanks for sharing it. Hugs.
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Glad you liked it, Teagan. Hugs back.
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It’s wonderful, John.
Good karma is being sewn and reaped all around. It could manifest into a perpetual motion of good.
Your JohnKu speaks loudly.
OX OX OX OX
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I like the phrase ‘perpetual motion of good.’ OX OX OX OX 😁
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OX 💋💋💋
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Another feel-good story, John!
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Now that is one heartfelt story. Kindness repaid by kindness. Maybe more people will follow suit and help lift others. 🙂 Hope floats.
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I love that quote from John Irving’s book Hotel New Hampshire. Thanks for the smile.
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🙂
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That’s beautiful. So much good comes from helping others. It makes the world a better place.
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It does. Thanks, Betsy.
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