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Dear Friends,
We start with the good news that the Autumn Camp finished well. Bohdan said it was one of the best yet. Throughout the week they expected sirens and even bombs, but once again there were none through all the time they were together. At night, there would be activity, but thankfully this did not put off parents sending their children.
A short video showing you some of the fun and activities of the children can be found by clicking on this link which takes you directly to our Hope Lebedyn YouTube channel - I'm crafted - Autumn Camp 2024 - Hope Lebedyn
This week the team have had a quieter week as many have gone down with seasonal colds. Away from Lebedyn, the Sumy region, and especially the village of Samotoivka, have been hit badly. There is constant noise of bombs exploding. The fighting along the border is getting quite fierce and dangerous. Bohdan has been asked to go towards the border, under escort, to visit soldiers that are fighting on the front line to pray and give encouragement. We cannot report as to when and where for obvious reasons, but please do continue to pray for Bohdan as he reaches out to help.
The new badges that have been made have arrived and been given out as you can see above (faces must be blotted out when showing pictures of soldiers in uniform).
The team have also been helping military families with aid which has been much appreciated.
Within Ukraine, and not just in Sumy, there has been a growing problem and concern as to how people are conscripted to join the army. There are disturbing stories we are hearing, where unofficial roadblocks by mercenary bounty hunters will stop vehicles and take those men who are of the right age to train and fight, even if they have proper exemption papers. They will try to then extort ransom money for release, and they usually still end up handing them over to the army.
Another organisation who we link to have reported just this week of such an event happening. I will call them Sergey and Anna, to keep anonymity. They were heading to another city to teach, but they were stopped by one of these groups en-route. Sergey is a theologian/Pastor, and he and Anna are newlyweds. They were about to be inducted as a new pastor of a church near Kyiv this Sunday. Sergey had his papers with him proving his exemption, but they could/would not verify these so took him away to a secret holding place with no phone or anything to contact his wife. They then demanded money for his release. They have a lawyer and many other prominent people trying to help, but recent information is that he has been transferred to “repair tanks” and then possibly the front line.
Sadly, I report that Bohdan too has been caught up in this action this week. He had Monday as a day off and walked up the road to see a neighbour on the street where they live. A police car pulled alongside to ask for his papers. He had them at his house a few yards away, but they would not let him go back to get them. He was taken to Sumy City to the army headquarters/military commission to be processed to go and fight, but he knew some of the military people there as he had helped them and their families. Because the police said they caught him on the street he was charged with being out without his papers, and must go to the military court on Thursday. Svetlana, the lady I wrote about in the summer in a report, who owns the local bakery and is also a lawyer, offered her services to help Bohdan and their hope was that he would be able to walk free, or probably have a fine of around $400. However, just last night, I had an update to say that Svetlana knew all the procedures and the people who detained him. She wrote to them firmly to say that if they were to continue with a prosecution she would take them personally to court over this and she would win! Apparently her reputation goes before her!! They wrote back to her yesterday morning to say that they would forgive Bohdan not having his papers on his body as his papers were in his car for when he went out.
We have one relieved and thankful Mission Director, along with me!! So, normal service resumes but it shows how dangerous and unsafe it is to be out and about.
The roofer who has been contracted to fix some holes and water damage caused by bombs at the start of the war did not turn up for work after he started last week. It transpires he too has been whisked off, and Bohdan thinks he will be on the front-line in two weeks.
Generators have now all been installed so the Centre can be fully functional when power cuts out. There are two generators as below that work off gas or conventional fuel, and one solar powered generator that powers the office.
The work within the sewing team goes from strength to strength. Bedding has been taken to both Lebedyn and Sumy hospitals, and to a local orphanage which had very little bedding left.
Some better news to end this update with. For many months Lena (administrator volunteer within the Centre) has been struggling with her son having been killed in the war, and her husband struggling with cancer. Two months ago her husband was transferred to Sumy Hospital as he was told he had just days left to live. He had been bed bound for many weeks. Bohdan visited them over the weekend, and to his surprise, found he was up and about, so they went out for a walk together. He was weak but he is getting stronger day by day!
Gala was someone else I mentioned, as she too had been diagnosed with cancer and awaiting an operation. That has successfully happened, but she now must go through a chemotherapy course. She has three young children, the youngest being just 2 years old.
We have mentioned in recent updates about Vladmir who too is unwell, but able to get out now. Over the weekend he was driving to Okhtyrka, but his car broke down. Being weak, and it being quite a dangerous area, he did not know what to do. Some soldiers were nearby, but they are not supposed to help. He got out of the car to chat to them and the young soldier said to let him have a look as he knew about car engines. He managed to fix the car. Vladimir thanked him and the solder said, “No - thank you! I recognised you when I saw you get out of the car. You are Vladamir?” It transpired that this young soldier grew up in Lebedyn and came to one of the camp weeks held at the Centre, and Vladamir was helping and on team then. The camp must have been many years back, but a bond was forged and this soldier was able to help him in his time of need because the camp had a deep impact on his life.
We do not know the full effect the camp weeks have on the children. These are an oasis of fun, laughter and friendship as children of all ages gather together. They will also hear of a hope that is not found in guns or war. We now press on to plan for the Christmas programme!
Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
