THE speaker at the October meeting of Pembroke Ladies Probus gave an account of hope arising in the ashes of a war-ravaged country.

Pastor Rob James provided an interesting and illustrated talk entitled Miracles in War-torn Croatia, which highlighted the horrors, devastation, injuries, and shortages which beset Croatia’s inhabitants in the early 1990s.

As part of a refugee convoy he made numerous trips and was able to relate countless examples of how time, money, and help, given in so many different ways, helped the population during war-torn years.

Light shines through the darkness with something as simple as a bar of soap, a quarter of a million bars of which ended up on one lorry simply because it was the wrong colour pink to sell in a particular store.

Amazingly, on one mission 25 tons of Pembrokeshire potatoes got through despite the negative reservations of a UN representative.

From building materials, used false legs, through to teddy bears, even the seemingly insignificant can bring hope to someone who has lost everything, as a fellow aid worker pointed out: “Big doors swing on little hinges”.

Sandra Thompson thanked Rob for his moving story which was appreciated and would be remembered for a long time.

The next meeting is November 21 at Lamphey Court Hotel.