Raifta's Journey

By William Daneliak

Raifta's Journey is about the life of Eva Daneliak. Raifta was only eight years old when she left the Ukraine with her mother and sister's to start a new life in Canada. The sadness of leaving her grandmother behind in the Ukraine, and her father's drinking, never waivered her ability to smile. She had been happily married to her husband Michael with whom she raised five children.

This story is a tribute to her undying love and commitment to her family, and to her love of life. It contains humorous stories, highlighting special moments in Raifta's life that will make you laugh. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Daneliak
• Release date: Mar 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201058265

William Daneliak

William Daneliak has lived in the Ottawa area all of his life and has worked in the financial services industry for the past 40 years. "The Arlingtron Gang", available on Apple Ibooks, Kogo, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Google Play, is the first novel published by this author. You can contact the author at: [e-mail].

Book preview

FOREWARD

I had decided to write Ryefta’s Journey last year after discussing with my brother Peter about the importance of family. I felt that the fact that my mother’s great grandchildren and those that would follow would have no knowledge of who their great grandmother had been and the effect that she had on her children, was important for them to know. Peter and I during COVID lost three older siblings and we were the two remaining. My brother Nickolas, my sister Jean and finally my brother John had passed away. None had COVID and their deaths were age related. Both Peter and I reflect on our life growing up with great pride in our Ukrainian heritage and on a life that was filled with an abundance of humor. The humor was a gift from my mother who loved to laugh. 

Our Ukrainian heritage was reinforced daily by my mother.  My father, when we were young, insisted that English was spoken at home so that he could learn the language of Canada. However we were surrounded by our Ukrainian culture and understood who we were. My mother’s loyalty to family, her love of her children, the work ethic that both my father and mother instilled in us and of course the Ukrainian traditions that were so important.  My mother’s cooking was the bond that kept our family together. So many memories of family gatherings and family reunions.

Now as I write this the Ukraine has been viciously attacked by Russia and many Ukrainians are dying for the right of freedom in their own country. Many estimated that the invasion would be swift and over within days. The resilience of the Ukrainian people and their love of freedom has proven them wrong. It is over four weeks and the resistance has been strong. Russia with its massive army is losing soldiers and not gaining much ground.  Putin is a dictator similar to Hitler and he will use any method necessary to take the Ukraine. Let Hitler’s cry of my last territorial demand wake up the free world to what Putin wants. He will not stop at the Ukraine, he wants more, much more.

History provides caution to those who will listen. Small countries have prevailed in the past against large nations. The French and Americans had learned that lesson in Vietnam. Iraq and Afghanistan are recent examples of people who would not give up. Russia was driven from Afghanistan also. The cost of lives was horrendous but the people prevailed. If Putin thinks that the Ukrainian people will bow to tyranny he is sadly mistaken.

My mother’s story is a tribute to Ukrainian women who raised their children to respect others, to love family, work hard and live in peace.

God Bless the Ukraine 

Raifta’s Journey

Raifta lived with her mother, Annie Andrusek, two sisters and her grandparents in a small village outside Chernivitsi in the western part of the Ukraine. Like most Ukrainians they were farmers. The country that she lived in had been Austrian, in later years it would belong to the Soviet Union.

She was six years old and on one spring day with the sun shining she woke up early and quickly dressed. She was on a mission. She was excited and a bit afraid. The birds were singing, and the sun had just risen in the East. It would be a warm day. Her baba would be up having made her porridge and the smell of baked bread was irresistible. Raifta was six years old, a small child with a smile that would warm your heart even in the worst of times. The year was 1920 and the world was slowly recovering from the darkness that had descended on the continent and lingered since 1914. Her family were Ukrainian farmers who were living in the Balkan territories previously ruled by Austria. Two years later it became Russian territory. Millions of people had died, and the pallor of grief still lingered in the tiny village. Those old enough were conscripted to fight in the Austrian army. Ukrainian farmers who wanted nothing more than to farm were swept up in the quest for victory and the acquisition of countries by the victors. None of this mattered to Raifta, she was going on her own quest after breakfast. She would tell no one.

Good morning Baba?

As her grandmother wiped her arthritic hands on her apron, she was surprised to see her little granddaughter up so early and not in her night gown but completely dressed.

What's this child? Do you have business at Mr. Tomka's this morning, are you going shopping for our meat?

Raifta laughed and as children often do, she did not realize that her grandmother was teasing her,

That's silly Baba I don't have any money and I couldn't buy anything.

So then why are you up as the sun rises child?

l could not sleep and I thought I would gather the eggs and feed the chickens early and go into the fields and pick flowers for you Baba.

Well I am surprised. What about your sister Mary?

Raifta laughed,

She is still sleeping. She says she needs her beauty rest and for me to go away.

Your sister works hard and helps your mother in the fields, she will be up shortly. Come and sit at the table. I have made fresh bread and porridge. If you are going to be busy you need to eat.

As Raifta ate her porridge with a piece of bread slathered with her baba's blueberry jam she hid the excitement of her pending journey. After all it wasn't every day that you were going to see God. The idea had consumed her when her baba told her fabulous stories from the bible filled with miracles and faith and her journey was based on a simple question that she had asked her baba one night as she was snuggled into the warmth of her mother’s body as they sat by the fire. As children often do an unexpected question was asked of her baba, as her mother was in the process of telling her about Daniel and the lion. She turned abruptly to her baba who had been listening to her mother telling her the story.

Where does God live Baba?

Her Mother Annie watched in amusement, knowing well that Raifta would not settle for a simple answer.

Why, in heaven child.

Where is heaven?

Her grandmother became silent as she tried to formulate an answer that a six year-old child would understand. She knew Raifta was well versed in the teachings of the Bible but she knew her little babushka wanted something more concrete.

Raifta, you know God is everywhere, he watches everything you do and protects you child.

Yes Baba. But where does he live?

Child you know where God lives, he lives in heaven.

l know that Baba but where is heaven?

Above the clouds, far above the mountains my child. Do you not see him on a beautiful day when you look to the mountain tops behind our farm? The sun shining so beautiful as the clouds go dancing by. He is in those clouds Raifta watching over us.

Raifta accepted the answer as children do and listened intently as her mother told her about God's love for Daniel and how the lion did not eat him. She was glad, it would be terrible to be eaten by a lion.

After her breakfast she fed the chickens and returned to the kitchen to tell her baba that she would be going out to pick flowers in the