A North Carolina man who often teaches in Ukraine, recently received a message from one of his students, asking him to pray for his family. Sister station WXII spoke with Herbert Burns, Jr. of Winston-Salem, who is a board member for the Triad Success Partners. Before the pandemic began, Burns and several members of the organization would fly to Ukraine to teach people how to run businesses every year.For the past seven years, he said people from different industries — recreational facilities, agricultural, medical, marketing, faith, etc. — would take part in his leadership and marketing programs in Ukraine.This week, one of his students messaged him amid the Ukraine and Russia crisis."At 3:25 am two days ago, I got a message from Elsey Pronin, saying please pray for us." Burns said. "I was almost in tears. It broke my heart."Burns, Pronin, and a couple of other good friends gathered on a virtual meeting to pray together. Burns said he considers Pronin as family. "I felt like a family member in need. Because he’s like a dear family member. He’s like a brother to me. If you have children, and your children get hurt, you know how you feel for your children. I felt the same way for Elsey and his family," Burns said.Pronin told Burns that his family and many others were in danger. "He said there’s going to be thousands of refugees coming from the east and they’re going to need places to stay," Burns said.However, instead of running away from danger, Pronin traveled toward it."He was getting ready to head east into the storm to see how he can help others. He was headed toward the battle to see what he can do to save other people," Burns said. Burns said he last spoke with Pronin through Facebook messenger on Thursday. However, Pronin responded with "I can't talk."Burns still keeps in touch with a number of his students in Ukraine, he said, and worries about many of them."I can't reach out and physically help him. It just broke my heart. I can't reach out and grab him. Let me hug you. Let me help you. What can I do?" Burns said.
A North Carolina man who often teaches in Ukraine, recently received a message from one of his students, asking him to pray for his family.
Sister station WXII spoke with Herbert Burns, Jr. of Winston-Salem, who is a board member for the Triad Success Partners. Before the pandemic began, Burns and several members of the organization would fly to Ukraine to teach people how to run businesses every year.
For the past seven years, he said people from different industries — recreational facilities, agricultural, medical, marketing, faith, etc. — would take part in his leadership and marketing programs in Ukraine.
This week, one of his students messaged him amid the Ukraine and Russia crisis.
"At 3:25 am two days ago, I got a message from Elsey Pronin, saying please pray for us." Burns said. "I was almost in tears. It broke my heart."
Burns, Pronin, and a couple of other good friends gathered on a virtual meeting to pray together.
Burns said he considers Pronin as family.
"I felt like a family member in need. Because he’s like a dear family member. He’s like a brother to me. If you have children, and your children get hurt, you know how you feel for your children. I felt the same way for Elsey and his family," Burns said.
Pronin told Burns that his family and many others were in danger.
"He said there’s going to be thousands of refugees coming from the east and they’re going to need places to stay," Burns said.
However, instead of running away from danger, Pronin traveled toward it.
"He was getting ready to head east into the storm to see how he can help others. He was headed toward the battle to see what he can do to save other people," Burns said.
Burns said he last spoke with Pronin through Facebook messenger on Thursday. However, Pronin responded with "I can't talk."
Burns still keeps in touch with a number of his students in Ukraine, he said, and worries about many of them.
"I can't reach out and physically help him. It just broke my heart. I can't reach out and grab him. Let me hug you. Let me help you. What can I do?" Burns said.
Source link
