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Dear Friends,
After days of long power outages in Lebedyn due to the war, relief efforts resumed on Tuesday when the team was finally able to bake over 300 loaves of bread at the Centre.
More than 150 internally displaced persons (IDPs) attended a service at the Centre, and each received a loaf of bread. The remaining bread was distributed to elderly residents and those with special needs. Driving out was difficult because the roads remain treacherous. Black ice has made travel even more hazardous, causing cars to skid unexpectedly. In addition to the bread, annual seed packs were also given out, enabling people to grow their own food and helping them sustain themselves throughout the year. Another charity donates these seeds to the work in Lebedyn each year, and the packs are invaluable to those able to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
All the food destined for the food bags arrived earlier this week, and on Wednesday the catering team came together to assemble them with great care. Many people in outlying villages are desperately waiting for these food bags and kindly ask for prayers for safety as the team prepares to deliver these vital supplies once the driving conditions improve. Aid has also been given out to those in need and arriving in town as refugees.
Following the success of the teen camp earlier this month, all the youth clubs and meetings over the weekend saw a huge increase in attendance, whether at the social gathering or the Bible study groups. Great friendships and support networks are being created, and together they kept warm in the dark as they met with no power.
The team are doing well, with Pastor Sergey recovering from his bout of flu. Although not part of the team, Valentina’s son is making slow but positive progress from his war injuries. Valentina is trying to get Vladislav to Lebedyn hospital as currently he is in Kharkiv.
Despite the challenging conditions caused by snow and ice, Bohdan travelled to Sumy to collect some of the Christmas shoebox presents for the community. Unfortunately, he was only able to retrieve a small number of boxes, as the queue was very long and the container with gifts was already half empty when it arrived. The situation was made even more tense by the presence of missiles overhead during his wait, which made everything feel distinctly unsafe. Bohdan and Andrew were therefore very grateful to have made it home safely.
In addition, Bohdan shared alarming news regarding the situation in Kyiv, which is reportedly nearing collapse. The public is being advised to evacuate to safer areas due to escalating dangers. There has also been a significant exodus of young men from Ukraine, with over 500,000 males aged between 18 and 23 fleeing the country to avoid being drawn into the conflict. This mass departure poses serious concerns for Ukraine’s future.
Amidst all that is going on, we continue to see so much that the team can do, and see God at work. If you are available, please do make a note of the 21st February at 4pm when we will be gathering at Victoria Baptist Church in Eastbourne to mark the 4th anniversary of the start of the war. Please do join us if you're able, to pray for Ukraine and the work done by the team. We will hear first hand from the team in Lebedyn, via video, about what more we can do to help. We look forward to seeing you there if possible, and thank you for your ongoing prayers and support.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
