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Dear Friends,
Over the last few days, there have been lots of wonderful positive stories to report which I share with you below. However, as always, the team really do appreciate all your continued prayers during this time and there is also much heartbreak and devastation still taking place. We have included a list of prayer items at the end too.
Thank you again for your support and prayers once again. It really does make a difference.
On the 30th April, the team held a church service, alongside also delivering some fantastic puppet show performances and preparing lots of fun activities at the centre gathering too. The puppet shows performances and planned activities offered some much-needed light relief to both the new families in the area as well as those that are living in desperate need in the region. It was also an opportunity to bless the families with food bags too.
Whilst they were all sitting down in the service, the youth came and gave out the food bags to each family. People were truly grateful. Please see some of the great photos below. What a gift this centre has been through the war. We are so grateful to those who had the vision to see it built – for such a time as this!
During the gathering, it was also a wonderful opportunity for all the young people to play some games and have some fun!
The team are continuing to travel around the town and surrounding cities and areas.
In fact, the team were recently able to successfully complete an aid run and arrived back just in time for the curfew. Thankfully it was a safe journey, however, the roads are still extremely dangerous with a large majority of infrastructure now destroyed or severely damaged. All the bridges were broken, and the team were met with diversions and hours of waiting in line at the checkpoints. However, they were able to unload all the supplies and the humanitarian aid will be key going forward.
The team have been able to support the practical needs of the community. In fact, our Mission Director and another team member recently visited an extended family of thirteen who had arrived from a region further away. They had absolutely nothing with them from their journey and they received blankets, pillows, pillowcases, mattresses, pots and pans, food, and other aid. They were so grateful. Please pray for the team to continue to support the practical needs of many desperate families around them. Alongside helping to meet the practical needs of the community, they are also sharing Bible-based literature too.
Our Mission Directors wife is expecting another child and unfortunately over the last few days she still has not been feeling great. She has also been recently feeling quite weak. Please pray for her strength, both physically, spiritually, and mentally during this time and for the safety of their child.
The team have been able to support the practical needs of those further away and complete food aid runs, however, because of the worsening fuel situation (which is not currently getting any better), they are deciding to focus on doing more activities and gathering at the centre.
Whilst this creates a fantastic opportunity for more families to gather and for the team to support them at the centre, please do join us in prayer for the provision of fuel which they will still need for important visits and urgent travel.
Currently, one of the regional hubs for fuel distribution in the Poltava region was bombed so supplies are just not happening. In Lebedyn there is simply no fuel. This could hamper us in getting more aid to the region unless it can be delivered to the centre directly, but it also affects the work that is done in the outlying areas when aid, medicines and food is taken to those stranded.
While they have fuel, they will help but it is running out fast. Our Mission Director has therefore asked for prayer that a solution can be found for this as he is really concerned about this situation now.
I am so grateful for all your support. As always, our Mission and Music Director, alongside all the rest of the team send their thanks and greetings on behalf of the team and the church there.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
