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Dear Friends,
It has been two weeks since my last update and much has happened in Lebedyn and the Sumy region.
The last of the camps finished last week, with the older youth camping on site. Many had never experienced anything like it before and took time to settle in, but they soon felt at home and thoroughly enjoyed everything that was happening.
Camping overnight under canvas was a challenge. Bohdan and his family joined in, but Thursday and Friday nights were extremely noisy, with bombs and drones striking targets in Lebedyn — it even made the BBC news. Bohdan said that, although it was frightening at times, prayer united them through the night. The attacks also cut power to the Centre, so the team built wood fires and the kitchen team cooked all meals this way for two days.
Click the image below to watch the video made for the youth camp.
Both the teens and youth were keen to meet again, so they gathered again at the Centre for a full day. The youth will also camp for one night by the river.
The situation in the Sumy region is deteriorating rapidly. The main city has become like a ghost town, with many buildings flattened by constant bombing. Sumy hospital is closing departments because it is no longer safe to remain there, and cancer patients now have to travel to another hospital further inland from the border. Many people are trying to leave Sumy, only to arrive in Lebedyn where there is no accommodation available. On Wednesday night, I received a text from Bohdan to say that they were standing outside for safety as over 20 drones attacked Lebedyn. I have video that Valentyn filmed from the Centre where drones attacked so close and it is quite frightening. Petrol stations and associated power supplies were the main target, but amazingly the power was on the next day! Thankfully, all were safe the next morning, but it is a stark reminder of the extreme danger this team are working under .
Although the kitchen team should have been off this week, they came in at 5:00 am to bake bread for those in need. On Tuesday they held a service for refugees, attended by more than 100 people. On Wednesday they are visiting the old college, where many are temporarily housed, to give out bread. They are also taking bread to villages where poverty is widespread, and visiting Samotoivka, where a small house church now meets to help others.
Power supply is likely to become an increasingly serious problem through the autumn and winter as power facilities continue to be targeted. As a board, we have told the team that we will invest in solar panels so they can become fully self-sufficient. Bohdan wept when he heard the news. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this project so far — it is deeply appreciated. We still have funds to raise for this, but we believe this is vital to continue the work and ministry of the Centre when power stations are being targeted.
For your prayers:
To close, I want to share a lovely story about Bohdan’s son, Miroslav. Every night Bohdan spends time with his family reading the Bible and praying together. During one conversation, Miroslav asked, “Why should I believe in Christ?” Bohdan explained, and Miroslav began to cry, unable to hold back his tears. Bohdan suggested that he pray, and Miroslav accepted Christ into his heart. Bohdan wrote to say it was a beautiful moment for their family. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Bohdan, Alla and their family.
Thank you all for your continued support. If you have made a recent gift into our UK bank account and you are a UK taxpayer, please remember to gift aid your gift so we can claim a further 25% from the government. We will happily send you a form.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
If you would like to donate to Hope Lebedyn or support any of our projects, please visit our website on this link Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information
