At a Texas church, tears and talk of bombs underscore the precarious circumstances for thousands losing their legal status.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
HOUSTON — Liza Sharii-Yukabovska fled her native Ukraine four years ago after Russia attacked its Eastern European neighbor.
In the U.S., the mother — who escaped with her daughter, Sophie, now 17 — connected with Houston’s Memorial Church of Christ and was baptized.
Liza speaks English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian and a bit of German and Italian. She found fulfilling work as an interpreter for a faith-based nonprofit.
But the Memorial church member recently lost her job.
Her legal authorization to work in the U.S. expired — a frightening reality confronting thousands of Ukrainians.
“We came here not because we were looking to stay here, but we were looking for safety for our kids,” Liza told The Christian Chronicle. “We lost shelter back at home. We wanted stability.
“And, of course, as everyone knows all over the world, there is an American dream,” she added. “I guess, somehow, you believe that it’s a country of opportunities. Unfortunately, nobody tells you that it’s very difficult to get to this American dream.”
As a handful of Texans and two dozen Ukrainians gathered for a midweek Bible class at the Memorial church, tears and talk of bombs underscored the precarious circumstances.
This story appears in the online edition of The Christian Chronicle.
Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.
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