Leopold, a monk from the Netherlands, has arrived in Chernihiv for the third time. A week ago, he and his brother John, with whom they serve in the same church, came to help Chernihiv residents.
This is reported by Suspilne.
They, together with the organization ”Because We Can", are rebuilding a house that was damaged by a bridge explosion during the Russian offensive in February.
"I'm trying to finish the wall. I don't know what kind of room it will be in the end. I lay bricks and learn how to do it because it's not my profession. It's interesting to learn new crafts at the same time," said Brother Leopold.
Leopold was in Chernihiv in April, then dismantled the rubble on Bobrovytsia in the summer. When he returned home, he told his friends about Ukraine, about people who start life from the beginning after the fighting. Monk John says that the first thing that surprised him in the city was a large number of destroyed civilian objects and housing.
"Where are these people now? What's happened to them? Many of them died. And how do people survive now? My impression of Ukrainians is that they are very active and practical. They find a solution in such a terrible situation. People survive here, and it's hard to look at. At the same time, it's amazing how they work as a team," said John.
In a house that is being rebuilt by monks from the Netherlands, a couple lives who are not able to build a new home on their own.
"As you can see, this has already been restored a little. Because there was no entrance hall, no wall, and the roof was completely blown off. They help with materials, and now, as I fell ill and have to stay in bed, I can't work, volunteers come to work," says Yevhen, a resident of the house.
John and Leo came here for the money that the parishioners of their church collected, so people want to help the Ukrainians.
They will stay here for a little more than a week, but they say they want to return to Ukraine again. Maybe it won't be Chernihiv. They plan to bring generators with them.