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Dear Friends,
Sadly, the start of this week saw Lebedyn being bombed.
The clear up operation has begun in town. There has been bad weather with high winds and rain, but this has prevented drones flying, and therefore it enabled the camps to start on Monday with all the children registered attending. At nighttime, the Sumy region has been under heavy attack, meaning not much sleep has been had due to the noise of missiles and military activity. Lebedyn itself has not been hit again.
With everyone on site there are around 100 people this week enjoying the camp, but it has not been plain sailing in its delivery. Power cuts have been frequent, with Victor and Bohdan working on the issue using generators so they could cook food and feed the 100 people. There are also problems with water supply, and for much of the time Victor and team have been carrying buckets of water from standpipes and a local well to use, especially for a big clean up after each day is finished. However, all of this did not affect the atmosphere at the camp.
Bohdan text me to ask that we “continue to pray because it is difficult to hold a camp in such circumstances with military planes flying over and shelling is happening in the region every day, But even in this situation the Gospel message is perceived in a special way”.
He also requested……."Please also pray for the children especially as when they hear the sound of a military plane, or even a loud bang, some of them start to have a “panic attack”. This is something they have not seen at this level before. The leaders are having to calm down, hug and talk to the children to help pacify and encourage them to react differently. The team leaders seem very calm and do not panic and this has helped both the children and parents".
Whilst the camp has been going on the team have also been helping those in need within the town. Mothers and young children in particular, turn to them for help and supplies which we have for the moment, but with supplies running low. Food bags are being distributed especially to the refugees and to those affected by the recent bombings as you can see in the photos below.
With the increased activity in the region, Pastor Andrew returned to Samotoivka to see what people are left in his church, and to look at the village and damage done. The government have issued a evacuation advice so, with heavy hearts, it looks like this week they will pack up as much as they can and will relocate to Lebedyn for now. The decision has been made easier following the return of their son Ruslan in a prisoner exchange at the end of June. In the Sumy region, 220 communities have been issued a warning notice to evacuate, of which 80 communities are now left desolate and ruined.
Over recent weeks we have been praying for Lena who has worked on the team in the past. She has experienced much heartache due to the war, having had a son killed, another missing in action presumed dead, a grandson die due to unsafe bombed buildings collapsing on him, her husband becoming an alcoholic and suffer with cancer, plus numerous other things. Sunday’s bombing brought another challenge as her son-in-law was in the military commission building when it was bombed. He was not killed but has suffered multiple shrapnel wounds. This is the story of one family, but it is repeated a million times over around the nation such is the hardship people are going through. The difference being that her faith remains strong, and the team and church are giving much support.
There is much to pray for currently but thank you for your ongoing support for all the team are doing in such difficult conditions.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
