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Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continuing prayers and support. The situation for this last week has been much the same with air raid sirens daily, children being sent home from school every day after being in bomb shelters, and explosions heard when missiles and drones intercepted. The disruption to daily life is immense and tough for those living in the area.
In good news the local hospital in Lebedyn have reached out for help. They are planning to adapt an area to look after children through the day. This will be for children that are requiring ongoing treatment, but will also act as a safe place for young children to be when parents are working in the hospital. It will also host children who have been abandoned and not yet assigned care, as otherwise they sit in a ward all day with nothing to do. They would like the team to help run activities, perhaps with the puppet show performing regularly, as well as to be part of the team running this area. It is an amazing opportunity to help reach out to many children and families, and at weekends many of them will come then to the Centre for all that we host there. We will also be able to give aid where it is most needed. We are waiting to see how much this will cost, but to be of help in such a way is amazing.
Bohdan has been having many meetings this week, especially with soldiers and families who are very concerned about what is going on. Bohdan is able to pray and support, and do as much as he can to help, but before soldiers go back to the frontline there are always high emotions as you can imagine.
Attendance at all the clubs at the weekend maintain their high level, and the team have been giving out aid where they can. Aid is running dry and we are still trying to get more.
Sadly, we are going to lose Alla (Children’s worker), her husband -Tolik, and their children. They have decided to leave Lebedyn and go to Germany, where they have friends from Kharkiv. There are many reasons for this. They have struggled to find accommodation to live as a family, and with potential new laws starting, it could be that Tolik is called up to the army, but he has a disability and they are not keen for this to happen. An Easter camp is planned which they will help to lead and they will then leave immediately after. Alla has been amazing and will be greatly missed. Her work with the children and even the young teens has been exemplary, and she is always willing to do any job to ensure the mission work is effective. Tolik, although not officially part of the team, has been helping with the music, training young people to play and to lead worship. We now look for a new person to come into this role and also to help with the music.
Obviously, Alla’s sister, Luba, will be sad to see her leave but the good news from her is that she is pregnant – another war time baby! We will pray for her through this journey in the months ahead, and as she juggles this with leading the teenager’s work.
Thank you again for your support and prayers. It is so appreciated.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
