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Dear Friends,
From it being quieter last week, this week has been the opposite. Some of you will have seen through news reports, that Sumy has been hit hard, yet as we write this update, Lebedyn stands untouched.
The land within 5-10km of the Russian border has been flattened and totally demolished. In Samotoivka where Pastor Andrew and his family still work, they are finding things tougher than ever. Wednesday night was particularly rough, Bohdan wrote to tell me that they were up all night with air alarms and not knowing whether they should flee for safety. It transpired that large missiles were launched and came over Lebedyn, probably on their way towards Kharkiv. The night sky was illuminated minutes later in the far distance from the explosion. Military movement through the town is a common occurrence and now Ukrainian fighter jets fly overhead. We continue to pray for safety.
All this affects daily life. A few weeks back it was mentioned that Bohdan’s grandmother was involved in a nasty fall requiring stitches. On Tuesday, Bohdan took his grandmother to Lebedyn hospital to have her stitches removed, but found they had closed as it was too dangerous to be open. Bohdan said that everyday life is getting harder.
Meanwhile, the camp for the older teens started on Monday. They too really struggled Tuesday night as they are in tents within the Centre complex. “Farmer” Sergey said to me that the girls particularly were very scared, but by the morning they were altogether having breakfast and enjoying each other’s company. The numbers of this camp were always designed to be low as it is a new concept which Valentine had planned. You can see from some of the pictures below they are having great fun as well as some very deep discussions.
“Farmer Sergey” explained that every family represented at the camp have all lost relatives in the war. Sergey himself has cousins fighting on the front line. One of them, aged 26, went to the front line after just two months training, and three months later went missing. This was back in 2022, and they do not know whether he is dead or captured.
This week, homegroups have still happened, and Pastor Sergey has held services for people arriving in the town. Bohdan has taken a few days off to be with family. Svitlana is away in the south visiting her family for two weeks, and everyone is taking some time to recharge – except Farmer Sergey and Valentine who are running the camp.
Earlier this year the team extended the plot on which they grow fruit and veg. They have had a bumper crop of potatoes and just recently we sent funds to buy storage jars to preserve some of the food grown ready for winter activities. More flour has also been purchased for the bakery thanks to donations sent in for this purpose.
There is still no further news on Farmer Sergey’s university entrance exams, so please can you continue to pray for this situation. He is going to have to close his business down as Sumy city is empty and desolate, and devoid of any customers. Please also can you pray for extra helpers for the church work, within the Sunday School and children’s and youth work, as many of the previous helpers have moved to safer regions.
Please also pray for Bohdan, as this time of year he suffers terribly with pollen allergies which are quite extreme, and medication for it in Ukraine is not as readily available as it would be here in the UK.
Many thanks again for all your continued support In so many ways that enables this amazing work to continue. support.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
