If you would like to support us financially you can do so below. Remember, if you are a UK taxpayer, please confirm that you would like us to claim Gift Aid on your donation. This will add 25p to every £1 you give.
Dear Friends,
I start the update this week with a special moment to celebrate. 25 years ago I was invited with my father-in-law to Moscow for conference with 650 pastors of churches who had led churches through much time of persecution in the former Soviet Union. It was there I was introduced to Pastor Sergey, and the rest is history! Today, we commemorated this moment with a special certificate recognising this milestone. Bohdan did the presentation, as you can see above, with me on video. It was an amazing time catching up and hearing more about the work, some of which formulates the information below.
Pastor Sergey shared that he is not enjoying this time and is ready to leave this earth. He is tired of the war. His contacts within the community are as great as ever and he shared that this year’s harvest was the worst one that they can remember. Poor weather, plus effects of the war in the region which left fields unharvested, mean that this will have a huge impact on food supply and prices. Salaries are decreasing and yet food prices continue to soar. One egg now costs the equivalent of 25 cents. Before the war it would have been only 3 cents. Bread prices similarly have increased, which makes the work done in our bakery even more important.
Sergey is concerned for his children and grandchildren. He has 9 children, soon to be 22 grandchildren, and a great grandchild on the way. He fears of what life will be in the days ahead. His granddaughter is training to be a doctor, but it is likely that once qualified she will have to go to the front-line. He told me that as Bohdan runs much of what goes on, he spends time walking the streets of Lebedyn to see which people need help.
This past week has seen increased power cuts, but less sirens which is better news. This has meant that the Lebedyn school has opened its door once again to rotating numbers, with the youngest being there more often. The maximum time is generally 3 hours, but they will only take around 40 children as this is all the bomb shelter can take. I asked Bohdan if numbers at the school had decreased with many families fleeing the area. Surprisingly, he said that if anything they had grown as more refugees come into the town, and village schools have been closed. Schools that are open are educating through the online learning system, even those who have fled to another country as officially they are still part of the school.
This week the bakery team had a week off as they are tired and they know that the coming Christmas period will be extremely busy. It is a well-deserved break.
Last week I reported that Egor’s stepfather, Oleg, would almost certainly lose his leg from the injury sustained when all his colleagues were killed. The good news is that a new doctor arrived at the hospital and tried a new treatment which has resulted in his leg being saved. What an answer to prayer!
Bohdan also did his trip to Mykolaivka to the small conference where children’s and youth workers met. It was around a 160km round trip which was tough at times with the state of the roads, but they had a good time. Previously, you would expect nearly 200 people attending, but sadly only 12 people were there this time. This shows how few are doing the work we are with young people in the whole of the county. They are coming to Lebedyn to meet next time, and every one of the leaders have asked for the puppet theatre to go and visit schools and institutions over Christmas. Bohdan is working out how this might be possible.
The other good news is that some aid has been delivered thanks to our friends within Mission Eurasia. 300 hygiene buckets and blankets arrived, which will be so useful especially for families and refugees arriving. The hygiene buckets have everything from toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soaps, sanitary wear etc. for a family. See pictures below.
I have also mentioned that Larisa and the orphanage have struggled in their new building. I can update that new windows have been purchased by another church in the region, and she has been able to find all the insulation required which is great news, but it needed to be fitted. Bohdan and the church motivated a team of 12 people to install it all at zero cost over 3 days. Bohdan has purchased food for the children which will supply enough fresh food for the next 2 months. They also delivered the bedding to the orphanage and will be making extra sets as more children are being given to her week by week.
This next week Bohdan will be taking aid over to Pastor Andrew in Samotoivka. This is now a dangerous journey, but we trust and pray for safe travel.
Below is a picture of Igor and his wife. They have an 8 month old baby. Igor was originally called up to fight with the army in the first part of the war back in 2014. He regularly attended the Centre until he was posted away. Recently he returned due to having a contusion to the brain because of a missile attack. He was deemed unfit to fight so was released from the army and sent home. Sadly, in 2022 when everything escalated, a bomb in Lebedyn destroyed their lovely home. The government have given them a tiny bungalow with barely a bedroom and little heating, and it is in poor repair. Bohdan said it is not good. The government are not paying him anything for his injuries and have stopped all pay. They are finding life very tough at the moment, so Bohdan has got alongside them and is helping them with aid, nappies etc. The new shipment of aid came in just after they had visited, so Bohdan has told them to come in to collect some of the new aid available. Here they are below.
Sadly, Igor's story is one of many more like this. Thankfully, the team help where they can and try to make a difference, which is why getting aid is so important right now. We are still working on getting further supplies.
Still one of the greatest opportunities we have to help is through Christmas. The team are busy planning and preparing for this busy season with camp weeks, children’s parties, puppet shows and visitation within the town.
Thanks to your help and financial support we can do so much, and if you would like to donate to help with the presents, the camp, and now the visits to other schools and villages in the region, please do check for the details on how to give on our support page by clicking here.
Thank you for your support and prayers
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
