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Dear Friends,
This past week has been one of the most challenging for quite some time. Even when talking in our meeting on video on Wednesday, drones were being shot down in the background.
Russian troops entered Sumy region as reported on the news, making Lebedyn more accessible to attack. The air space above Lebedyn is used to send missiles to the larger cities on the east side of Ukraine, which also keeps things noisy. Tuesday was the noisiest all day and night. Bohdan sent me the map below showing in grey where villages and towns are being shelled and attacked. It is worse nearer the border. Where it says "CyMH" this is Sumy city, and the blue dot represents where Lebedyn is.
Samotoivka is southeast of Sumy city, and this week Bohdan has been talking and praying with Pastor Andrew, assessing if it would be best for them to leave as a family in these worsening conditions. Please can we pray for Andrew and his family.
He has 2 sons fighting and one of them is missing in action. Andrew is not well, and is losing lots of weight, is very thin, and looks very ill. We spoke of ways we can help, as before they had planned for Andrew to use a scheme provided by the USA to help those living on the borders to have “respite” care in the Carpathian mountains for a month. This funding has now been pulled. He wants to stay, as so many of the elderly people in his church depend upon them. Bohdan found some aid, some bread and hygiene items for him to take back to help people.
I am always amazed that despite the difficult conditions in which they still carry on with their work and ministry with passion and purpose. There has been a cry for help from the soldiers and families nearby, as food is now becoming short and they are complaining of being hungry. They took bedding for the families and for those that need treatment in hospital for their wounds, and baked bread, pastries and pies all sealed to last longer. They were so grateful - see pictures at the top of the page and below.
As you are aware, we currently have 26 children as part of the puppet theatre. Over the years, the standard has always been high and pre-war awards were won by them. This past week, the National Puppet Theatre competition still took place, albeit online, with over 30 theatre companies, and they could enter up to 2 entries. They are judged on the quality of the content, its originality, and of course the puppetry. Musical Sergey entered 2 shows, performed by 2 separate teams. Excitingly, they came away with 2nd and 3rd prizes. This just shows the quality of their work. Both teams had refugee children as part of them, and much change within the team had happened because of the war. Both shows, Musical Sergey had written as adaptations of Bible stories set with music. They were the only Christian puppet theatre involved. Musical Sergey is now finishing off a new show for Easter which will have to be learnt and performed in about 6 weeks’ time by the children. The rest of the team are preparing for the Spring Camp now.
Pastor Sergey was transferred to Kyiv hospital last Friday, and upon arriving had an emergency operation to fit stents into the heart arteries. He is still in Kyiv resting with his son, but already found a church to preach in!! He is doing remarkably well all things considered.
Bohdan met with Larisa to get the food and medical supplies she needs for the children today. She is grateful for the help that can be given. Over the weekend, all the clubs and activities as usual are planned to go ahead, although as I write this Bohdan has said today (Thursday) everything has had to close as military activity is so great. They also plan to do a special gathering for just for the girls tomorrow, Saturday.
Aid is on its way and we are hopeful it might arrive this next week. We wait expectantly. Bohdan has been asked by a local charity organisation for help with the refugees in the town as they really do not have anything. Families are arriving with nothing apart from the clothes they are standing in and just need help, but there is none anywhere to be had. The aid cannot come soon enough.
Bohdan’s quest to get his official papers is still ongoing. He went on Wednesday for his medical, and although the 2nd appointment of the day, he was delayed due to the doctor being very drunk!! He had to go back but on Thursday he couldn’t due to everything being closed.
Each week there are little gems and nuggets of information coming through that inspire hope. Dasha is a young lady who, as previously reported, has lost both her father and grandfather in this war. She helps to look after her grandmother and comes to the church, and loves her homegroup. She became a Christian at one of the camps. She has been bringing her grandmother along to everything, and she has been helping within the kitchen and bakery. Dasha wants to be baptised and her grandmother, Svetlana, wants to become a Christian and be baptised with her also. Bohdan asked us to pray as this family have gone through so much hurt in the past year or so, and now they have hope for the future, and a happiness and joy they did not have before.
We remain grateful for all your prayers and financial support through these very difficult times. The so-called peace talks seem to have only heightened the war efforts between the two countries. We need peace as soon as possible, so we continue to pray!
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
