MARGAO: Putting all faith in God, the family of Rachel Gomes was relieved when their daughter arrived in Goa on February 18 from war-torn Ukraine. What is interesting about her case is that she plans to return to Ukraine to complete her education in the country she has lot of attachment to.
Rachel was one of the Goan students studying medicine in Ukraine, and who had decided to leave Ukraine and reached back home safely before the war. She and her parents Dominic Gomes, and Jenny Fereira have categorically stated that her return is God’s miracle, as their faith in almighty God proved fruitful. Rachel and her parents are still praying for the safe return of all the other Goan students who are stranded in Ukraine.
“I am praying for the end of the ward at the earliest, as I definitely want to go back to Ukraine and complete my education”, said Rachel while speaking to Herald on Wednesday.
She further said can understand that what is happening in Ukraine is not good, but that does not mean everything is going to end permanently.
“I hope everything will be back to what it was, and maybe in a better way. Education is very important in today’s world, and hence wants to return back to Ukraine”, said Rachel.
Narrating her horrifying journey and the hardships faced in Ukraine she said in the beginning of February they got to know that there might be war in Ukraine, but nothing was sure.
“We were expecting that the officials of the University would ask us to return home. However, nobody from the part of University or from the student community took the intimation of war seriously. After February 10, things started getting serious, but still everything was under control”, she stated.
She further said that there was information that the Russian army may declare war against Ukraine by February 16, and hence they had to leave in an emergency.
“Finally we decided to leave, and at that point the junction officials from University told us that they will continue with the offline classes in two weeks, and there was confusion. Initially the dean of the University also did not allow us to leave the campus and the Ukraine”, said Rachel.
However, at last in February she along with a few others in February booked the ticket to travel by bus to Kiev, and thereafter to Sarahja and from there to Hyderabad (India) by flight. From Hyderabad they went to Bangalore due to no flight.
“I felt relieved when I came back to Goa. I was restless and very worried. Thankful I reached home before anything started. I feel very blessed in returning back to my home and joining my family. I felt relieved when I stepped back home and saw my parents”, said a young student from Davorlim.
Her father Domnic Gomes said that they were very much upset when they heard that troops of the Russian army lined up on the Ukraine borders.
“I asked my daughter to return back to Goa immediately seeing the situation in Ukraine going from bad to worse. I managed to send some money to her. I always used to pray for her. She is only our daughter”, he stated.
Jenny Fereira, her mother said they were very much worried about our daughter, and hence they were praying all the time for the safe return of their daughter, besides others.
“I am happy to see my child back home”, she added.
