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Dear Friends,
After being away last week it is good to back updating on so much that is going on.
Many of you will have seen reports of the intense bombing and fighting across Ukraine during the past two weeks. The Sumy region, like many others, has been badly affected.
None more so than Larissa’s orphanage in Sumy as it was struck by a missile last week, causing extensive damage, as the photographs above show. Tragically, a 16-year-old girl, Katya (pictured), was killed while running for safety when the missile hit the orphanage grounds.
This is the second time the orphanage has been hit, and the government has now said it will not fund the repairs. As a result, Larissa is urgently seeking a new base for her work. Alongside caring for older children in Sumy, she is a specialist social worker supporting children who have experienced severe trauma and vulnerability. Her office provides a safe place for consultations, assessments and essential support – these facilities are all gone. After Larissa began boarding up the windows, the neighbouring school was struck the following day, claiming another young life. The blast shattered her building again.
At the orphanage in Synivka, (her second site) Larissa has begun installing a wood-burning boiler because there is no gas supply. Continued Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure have disrupted utilities and other essential services. The children are already feeling the cold, while seasonal illness is increasing the need for medicines and medical supplies. Bohdan has delivered all the aid he could find, including more than $300 of food to ensure the children have something to eat, and we are looking for medical supplies. We hope to provide substantial support for Larissa and the children throughout the winter. Several individuals are already fundraising, and some schools are also raising money for the orphanage. If you can help us keep these children fed, warm and cared for this winter, we would be deeply grateful.
On Sunday, Bohdan travelled to the Mission Eurasia offices in Korosten to collect urgently needed supplies. During the journey, a bridge outside Kyiv was struck by a ballistic missile. Bohdan had crossed it only two minutes earlier and felt the force of the explosion as he drove away. On his return, local women were directing vehicles in single file around the enormous hole in the bridge, allowing people to continue their journeys across what remained. Bohdan said that there was not much room and it was a scary drive!!
Meanwhile, activities at the Centre continue to flourish. Youth, teenage and children’s meetings and clubs are all running, with attendance growing as people gradually regain confidence to gather despite the war. Church services have also been well attended, and the bakery is again producing bread for those in need. One photograph below shows a group of elderly people with whom Musical Sergey has worked for several years. They originally joined a computer workshop, but now joke that, despite all the lessons, they still cannot use computers! Instead, they simply want to keep meeting to share stories, fellowship and testimonies of faith. Encouragingly, many of these older women have come to faith through Musical Sergey’s faithful work over the years.
We also have encouraging news about the Centre’s electricity supply. The solar panels have been installed and the cabling is being completed. We expect to begin generating electricity next week. This will reduce the Centre’s dependence on the national grid, and its vulnerability to attacks on power stations and other infrastructure.
The team has also been visiting communities where aid and practical support are urgently needed. The refugee centre for internally displaced people has again requested help. This week, the team delivered freshly baked bread to those staying there. Growing numbers of mothers and young children are arriving and need additional support, particularly nappies and other baby essentials. We are also awaiting a lorry carrying humanitarian aid, which appears to have been delayed near the border, that has many of these items required for the people we are helping. Please pray that the delay is resolved and the much-needed aid reaches us safely.
The team is also preparing for two weeks of camps—one at the school in Hyrntsevo and another at the Centre—offering children and young people activities, encouragement and fellowship. They are also renovating the dining room ready for the children to arrive.
As temperatures fall and evenings darken, many people in Lebedyn and beyond are increasingly anxious about the coming winter. Reports suggest that Russia may continue targeting power stations and other essential infrastructure, making it extremely difficult for people to stay warm through the harsh winter. It is hard to imagine what life will be like for them.
Despite these challenges, the team continues working tirelessly to bring practical help, encouragement and spiritual hope to the surrounding communities.
Thank you for your continued support, generosity and prayers. We are deeply grateful for everything you do to sustain this vital work.
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.
