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Dear Friends,
With little change to the current war situation in the region, the team have been busy planning for this autumn season.
Larisa, who is now running three orphanages in both Sumy city and Synivka, as well as Austria, sent workers to get some urgent help from Bohdan. Fresh food supplies are hard to get, but through new relationships with food wholesalers, he was able to buy produce in bulk at a much lower cost. The team were sent back with a car full of supplies, including some clothes and more mattresses – the last of everything we had.
Larisa’s orphanage is full to capacity as new children arrive regularly with little or no belongings, so she is trying to work with the government to extend her building to accommodate more children. At the Sumy orphanage, children are in their city centre site which has been previously bombed, but at night they stay in safe houses outside the city.
Refugees are still coming in volume into Lebedyn and many come by the Centre for help. As usual, the bakery is in operation, giving bread to those in need at the refugee centre, and to soldiers' families. Aid is desperately required and the good news on this, is that in the last few days we have had confirmed more will be coming. Medical aid has left the Christian Medical Association's depot and is in transit to Lebedyn. All kinds of things for the hospital and for the general public have been sent to help with health needs, which is so encouraging.
Also, we heard on Wednesday that Ukraine Relief are happy to send another truck of aid to Lebedyn. There are things which are desperately needed for children and adults. New, or nearly new clothes, shoes and food is required, and one of the most urgent things is nappies for larger babies and incontinence pads, both L and XL sizes. These are hard to get and expensive when they are available. If anyone has any contacts with manufacturers and suppliers here in the UK for any of these items we would love to hear from you - please let us know using the Contact Us page. Sometimes large quantities of clothing through end of range clearances are available, and these would be good to send out. Please let usknow if you could give any information to help us. We hope that the lorry will leave to arrive mid-October.
Through a recent large grant, we have been able to buy additional food bags for households that are struggling. We will hope to feed around 650 families for a week with these bags. Sadly, this seems only a drop in the ocean to what is required.
When talking with Bohdan this week he told me that they were quieter than normal to give the team some rest, but also to have time to plan for the future. Although when he told what they were doing, I was surprised how much was still going on and reaping great rewards.
One lady, called Nina, has been attending our mid-week services. She came in desperation, looking for help, and the team responded giving her practical support. This week, she became a Christian and she is a changed person. She is trusting God for all her needs, and Bohdan told me that the change in her life has been amazing.
Pastor Andrew, Veronica and their family have decided to settle in Lebedyn. With all that has been going on in the church and Centre, we have needed to expand the team and, as a result, the hope that they can stay has really lifted Bohdan and Alla. However, getting a property to live in is proving a real challenge and Bohdan has asked if we can specifically pray for this, and that a house will be found soon.
Other items for prayer include:
Thank you once again for your ongoing support and prayers which enables all of this and much more to be done. This next season is starting, and plans are ambitious to keep helping people within Sumy both physically and spiritually.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
