Update 25th July 2025

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Dear Friends,

Despite the noise of war, this week’s summer camp went ahead as planned. There have been 85 teenagers every day, with many of them coming from refugee families in the area. Power, gas and water supplies have been intermittent, making the preparation of meals a bit of a challenge, but so far things have gone to plan.

Because many of the children are new to the area they have not experienced a camp like this before. Several of the children have come from villages near to the border to Russia that are very rural communities. They cannot believe how they are being cared for, fed, encouraged and loved. It has become an oasis and relief for these young people.

There is much fun, but also there is a spiritual time where they are hearing the Christian message and singing new worship songs. Within 48 hours they have picked up the songs and have joined in. Wednesday evening was a special time, as some of the new young people said they wanted to do a performance piece which was spoken word. Bohdan was taken aback by this, but with some nervousness, allowed this to happen. The teenagers titled their piece – What is Paradise? They explained that living in Ukraine where there is fighting is like being in hell, but there is always hope for something new and heaven gives that to us. However, you can only get there by having faith. Bohdan did say that some of the theology may need some work on it, but where they got to was so encouraging in just a few days. We continue to pray many will find hope in faith.

Next week sees the start of the youth camp – the last of the camp weeks. Numbers will be intentionally lower as the older youth will be camping on site. This camp week starts next Monday through to Saturday morning. Bohdan has asked for us to pray that this goes smoothly as there some risks in holding this camp, but the older young people cannot wait to be together.

Other news and things to pray for:

• Each week, two outreach services are being held where people can hear the Christian message and receive aid at the same time. Every service can have numbers from 70 to just over 400 at the highest. Many are searching for a meaning to life and for hope during this war. Many have lost so much and some, everything. Even when the camp is running the main Centre is cleared, the service held while the children are playing, and then returned back to being a camp venue. Please pray for those that attend. Quite a few have become Christians and are now attending baptismal classes.
• Baptisms in the river will take place very soon. There will be 10 people at the moment being baptised, but already new classes are being held as some of the young people have become Christians.
• The cold virus that has been present with the team still is affecting some of the team. Sasha is now suffering with this quite badly. Please pray for health and strength for this next week.
• Medical aid has arrived at the Ukraine depot of the Christian Medical Association in Lviv, so we can now work out what will be delivered. Please pray for smooth delivery.
• Please continue to pray for the global situation affecting this war, and that a peaceful resolution can be found.

Thank you for your continued support. We have had a number of gifts sent through recently for which we are extremely grateful, but we do not know how to contact you to say thank you and to see if your gift could be subject to gift aid, boosting your donation by 25% if you are a UK taxpayer. Please do contact us if that applies to you!

Every blessing

Peter Martin

Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn