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Dear Friends,
This week, I travelled with a van of aid to our partners, who will transport it with other items on to Lebedyn. They have done an amazing job helping to source much-needed items and we hope this delivery will arrive by the end of the month. Once the aid reaches Ukraine, the UN helps deliver it, so we must wait for one of their escort slots.
This past week has been especially difficult for the team, and particularly for Bohdan.
On Sunday, Bohdan travelled to collect vital resources from a town west of Kyiv. Because of the bombing, the journey there and back took a day and a half. Roads and infrastructure are being targeted, and Bohdan saw the road he was driving on being bombed. At that moment, he feared for his life. Thankfully, he made it safely back to the Centre with everything he needed.
The team are concerned about the winter, as the Ukrainian government has advised everyone to stock up. Shelves are emptying quickly, creating shortages in some areas. Large shopping malls in Sumy city remain closed and empty, as they have become targets in the war.
Please remember the team in prayer, especially Sergey and Valentyn, asking for their protection and safety during this difficult time.
Everything is running again after the two-week hiatus. The children’s work continues, although more help and volunteers are needed because some people have fled to safer regions. Home study groups are growing, church activities are getting under way, and the bakery will restart as soon as supplies arrive. Many of the young people who remain in the area have very difficult family backgrounds, with some coping with the loss of parents because of the war and many facing extreme poverty. The team are doing all they can to help and provide a safe space with others in similar situations, which the young people greatly value.
With food on so many people’s minds, we were able to create 150 emergency food bags. The church held a service for refugees, and everyone received a bag, for which they were extremely grateful.
Despite everything they are facing, they continue to live with great hope and are already planning camps for the autumn. I will share more news about this in the coming weeks. This week they will be harvesting a potato crop ready for winter on land within the Centre. Then next week, we should see the solar panels installed to give continues energy at the Centre.
Thank you to everyone who is praying for and supporting this work in whatever way you can. Each week I am amazed by the team’s ability to find new ways, even in such difficult circumstances, to do what is needed to help others. It is truly humbling.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
If you would like to donate to Hope Lebedyn or support any of our projects, please visit Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
