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Dear Friends,
The camp for the teenagers went off as planned this week. Over 70 teenagers arrived all keen to be with each other and to have fun. Bohdan has said that the mix of teens this week seems harder than usual. There are more orphans who carry much hurt within, children with behavioural issues largely caused by the trauma and effects of changed living due to the war, and parents handing over some children and saying, “just do something with them!” Despite all this the children have been fantastic. They have been receptive to the talks, to their mentors and leaders, and have enjoyed just having fun as children of that age should do.
There have been some major logistical challenges since the last update in getting ready and through this week. The heatwave we have seen reports about in our news is still as strong as ever, making conditions hard to work in. The highest temperature was over 40C.
Supply of food to feed the children has been difficult. Fresh food is becoming scarce, and with ongoing power cuts, shops have had to throw much food away as fridges and freezers cannot cope with the extreme heat and then no power to enable them to work. Previously, the team have been able to pre-order food in the local supermarkets for collection each morning, but this year the local shops will not do this as they cannot guarantee supply. Cost of food is also going up daily as demand grows.
This past week they experienced a power cut at the Centre for 24 hours. The camp still went ahead, but they lost all the food in their fridge and freezer. It was an expensive disaster to replace the food for that day.
Thankfully, the sirens have been relatively quiet which again means no visits to the bomb shelter. Below are a few pictures from this week and the end of last week for you to enjoy!. More will follow in due course.
Food is not the only thing in shortage. Fuel for the vehicles is in short supply, and often there are waits for 3 days to get a vehicle filled up. Many suppliers are saying it is too dangerous to come to Lebedyn area. The new military laws are already being amended which gives more power to conscript people, and the age is dropping again from 25 to 23. Bohdan has specifically asked for prayer for this as it does affect Valentine and “Farmer” Sergey. Sergey is waiting to hear about his exam results to see whether he can continue in study, which will help him not to be called up and to be around still. Please do pray for this.
As a result of the ongoing situation in Sumy region, Bohdan believes that many women and children will flee the area in the Autumn for safer places to live. The men will not be able to leave as they will be called up to fight. During these busy weeks, as the children have been out playing in the grounds at their camp weeks, the church has still been holding services, and many have attended on Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays. Many women come to pray for their sons who are fighting on the frontline. The team help where they can.
Aid is still required, and we are hoping for a small delivery in the next week or so. Bohdan believes food will be short for the Winter, but some of the crops we have grown on site have been really good to help sustain the work. There will be enough potatoes to do all work through the Winter, and they are just investing in storage bottles to keep fruit in store, but not in a freezer. Flour and yeast are now needed so we can bake bread for distribution when the camps are finished, and that will be ordered this week. We hope to get 3 months’ supply.
The above picture is of Dr Eduard Borysov. He is a leading professor at the Kyiv Theological Seminary (KTS) and did his masters in Aberdeen, Scotland. Eduard was Bohdan’s main lecturer at Bible College at KTS, and they used to play football together in happier times. This past week Eduard was walking down a main street within Kyiv and was taken there and then to fight in the war. He is 52 years of age. There was no time to go home and to get things - it was instant. Already, with no training, he is heading to the frontline. Eduard has text Bohdan to ask that we pray for him and his family at this time for safety, but also that he has a great opportunity to share the hope in Jesus where he will be.
Bohdan and all his family are struggling with sore throats, coughs and colds even though there is a heat wave! Please pray them also for strength at this busy time.
Next week, the older teens will meet as planned. They are also planning more baptismal services at the river, and their energy seems never-ending in what they are doing to reach out to help so many in the community.
Thank you for your ongoing support both with finance and prayers. We are so grateful to you for standing with the team at this time with the work they do for the children. Next week, God willing, they start again and meet with the teenagers.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
