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Dear Friends,
We were thrilled to be joined by Bohdan and Sergey on Saturday for our Trustees' board meeting, followed by a prayer service. It was such an amazing time to be able to hear directly from them about the situation in Lebedyn and Sumy, and to meet so many people who have been faithfully supporting the work. As you can see from the photo above, although there is sadness in what they see, they can still smile, and indeed have a laugh on several occasions. They were so pleased to see the many that turned out at various parts of the day and considered it “pure joy!”
This week has been our week of prayer leading up to what will be the second anniversary of this terrible war. The prayer points PDF can be downloaded from here if you would like to take part in the remaining days. We have been enormously encouraged by the many participating. Thank you!
Following the meetings on Saturday, I received a text in the night from Bohdan to say that loud missiles and bombs could be heard. The family were scared, and it was the loudest they had heard so far. It has started another increasingly difficult week with growing military activity and more shelling than ever before. Bohdan has said for the first time you see planes flying over whereas before it was just the missiles. Many people are getting scared again, and families are fleeing the area to head to safer ground. Many to another country.
The infrastructure within Ukraine is creaking with pressures on all medical services, especially the hospitals as they treat the injured impacted by the war and medical staff are on the front line, leaving services in hospitals very stretched. This was only too evident this past week. Victoria is a young lady aged 14 who has attended the camps we have held, and is part of the youth club. Her mother was taken ill and admitted to the hospital. Sadly, through a medical mistake, she died. Victoria does not know where her father is, so she is effectively orphaned by this situation. Her Grandmother lives in Lebedyn, and for now, Victoria is living there. Please pray for her.
At the same time the team continue to do what they can to help as people are arriving as people leave! Large batches of bread have been baked and handed out with what little aid there is.
There is a lot of sickness around, and all schools in the region are closed for quarantine purposes. It is a sickness bug which is acute and leaves people very drained. There has been speculation that it might be water borne as it is so virulent, but this is unfounded although many are affected by it. At present, we are allowed to hold the children’s and youth clubs at the weekend, but Bohdan is not sure how many will turn up.
On Wednesday, amidst heavy snow, air raid sirens and missiles flying over, the team were able to help some families that have been displaced from the south. Fighting is very heavy there, and many of the soldiers come from Sumy region. They have been telling people to flee the area and go to Lebedyn where there is a centre who will help them! Families are asking for nappies and hygiene products, so Bohdan is going to try and source some of these things locally. This is encouraging as it shows three things. Firstly, their resilience in times like this is amazing, Their reputation – even the soldiers on the battlefield are recommending their work, and their generosity – willing to share the gospel and God's goodness in so many ways.
Another church in the area also asked for help. They took bread with them but were asked for a Ukrainian Bible as people are refusing the Bible in the Russian language. They could not believe it when Bohdan left them 80 Ukrainian Bibles, which we obtained through the Bible Society, Children's Bibles and other literature. As Bohdan said to me – we thank God that we have this opportunity to share.
Yesterday, Bohdan met with some directors of schools to see what they can do to help, and met a person that has promised to give us flour so bread can be continued to be made. There are never ending things to do!
Bohdan also informed me that there has been one small victory and a great joy! Miroslav, his middle boy, had been entered into the county chess championships and he came 3rd! We have sent our congratulations.
Whether it be the bread to eat, or the bread of life to study, you all have made this happen is some way. Thank you for your continuing support and prayers. As we have found out this past week, they have been so appreciated.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
