By CLAIRE SANT
BGSU Student Contributor
After six years away, Mila Buria is set to return to Ukraine in September, bringing vital medical aid to the war-torn regions from ongoing conflict.
Buria first came to the U.S. in 2015 in pursuit of higher education. Her friends and family still live in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she grew up. The last time she visited her home country was in 2018.
Coming to the United States was difficult without family, friends and an undecided degree. However, her adoptive family was helpful with the transition. She studied at Mercy College in Toledo, taking an accelerated route to finish nursing school in two years. She was planning on pursuing a degree in physical therapy and didn’t pay much attention to nursing.
“I never knew that I loved nursing. I denied going to nursing school twice,” she said. “But I was persistent in prayer.”
Buria explained how her relationship with God is what allows her to serve others, and how important it is to every new step she takes. She prayed for God to open the door to the right path.
She initially wanted to volunteer when the war first began, meeting a dead end without an opportunity. However, the chance arose after searching on the internet persistently, where she found Global Care Force.
“I started working at the hospital,” she said. “I felt like there was something else I needed to do. It’s not just get your degree, be happy, go to work and make money.”
Global Care Force [GCF] , a non-profit organization connecting volunteers to organizations in need, is aiding the recruitment of volunteers for the Ukraine mission. Not all organizations call for medical volunteers, but the Ukraine mission is a small group of medical workers.
The headquarters for GCF is located in Lenexa, Kansas, but volunteers are from all over the United States.
The handful of doctors, nurses, paramedics and EMTs, while working together in Ukraine, will not meet in person until they arrive in Europe. Because the volunteers bring medical aid, they can travel to restricted parts of Ukraine that are not available to non-military or medical personnel.
Medical personnel will be in Ukraine for two weeks. Volunteers will not be traveling to active war zones, but to several small villages not receiving medical care from elsewhere.
Brenda Poor, director of marketing and communications at Global Care Force, said GCF sends teams monthly, except for January and August, so that patients can have continuity of care.
The team will work to provide physical and mental care, bringing free medications that will be purchased through monetary donations. Buria, however, feels there is also a significance in nurturing spiritual care as well.
“I’m going to Ukraine, and on my heart, mostly to spread the good news,” she said.
She explained how she does not want to take credit for the work she does, and that it belongs to God who guides her.
“My nursing job … it’s something that is a reflection of him, and him working through me,” Buria said.
The dates for the mission are Sep. 2-15. Information regarding the organization [GCF] can be found at https://globalcareforce.org and direct information on Buria’s trip at https://globalcareforce.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/milaburia.
