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Dear Friends,
There was a great finish to the camp week that has just ended.
Clearly, the children loved it and engaged fully, not only in all the fun activities but in the Bible stories as well. It is evident that the children are struggling with the trauma and effects of the war, which in turn can affect their behaviour, both positively and negatively. Grounding their behaviour through the stories they share enables them to learn more about how to live in a good way, showing love and respect to others and engaging in good, positive communication.
At the end of the camp, the parents once again commented on how they are seeing positive changes in their children’s behaviour and demeanour. They also said that this is the only place where their children find love and care.
Thank you to all those who prayed for the safety of everyone throughout these two weeks of camp and school visits. Bohdan told me that it has been the quietest they have known it since the summer, with no sirens or trips to the bomb shelter. In fact, for a week, it felt as though there was no war. We are so thankful.
These events help the team to engage with local people and find out how they are coping. There is a growing sense of anger developing amongst the people as they feel the impact of this war on their lives. There is the destruction and devastation of everything around them, food and medical shortages, the conscription of loved ones, and the loss of many family members who have died either serving in the armed forces or because they could not get the medical aid they needed. Even those who are left working in the region, such as power workers, firefighters and medical teams, are short-staffed and are now being targeted by Russian drones as they repair power lines or attend emergencies. People are becoming increasingly agitated by this, as well as by the corruption they feel they are witnessing. As Bohdan has said, there is only one hope through all of this, and that is Jesus.
Winter has set in, and snow is already falling, which is really early. Only a few weeks ago, temperatures were in the 20s, so it has been a big shock to the system. Some children are attending school, but it is so cold there. Bohdan and Alla’s daughter now attends pre-school, and she comes home so cold.
As well as the camps, all the home groups and youth clubs are continuing. Each Sunday evening, around 30 young people meet to have fun and hold their own service. These numbers have not decreased, even though many of those attending are new, as others have had to flee the area with their parents.
The big truck of aid is now hopefully on its way, having reached Lviv, where it is awaiting delivery by the UN. We also have good news that a refurbished 4x4 vehicle, full of aid, will be arriving in December, thanks to another charity here in the UK that is partnering with us to support the work being done through the Centre. This will contain heated gilets with power packs, portable cooking stoves, power banks and a few EcoFlow solar batteries, amongst other things, to help keep vulnerable people warm and provide them with some power. Bohdan plans to take these supplies to the villages that are more likely to be affected by extreme conditions.
Yesterday, Bohdan visited Larisa to see how they are doing and what continued help we can give to the orphaned children. The team will then begin planning for the winter and Christmas season, which will start in less than a month’s time.
Please continue to pray for the team working in the bakery. For the past two weeks, they have been going in to cook at 5:00 am and not leaving until 5:00 pm. These have been long days, as they have been cooking for all the children and baking bread for those in need.
This past week, we have commemorated those impacted by war through Remembrance Day and services held over the weekend. Four serving soldiers who are members of the Lebedyn church were given leave to come home, and all attended Sunday’s service. Tears were shed as people greeted them.
Bohdan shared with me this story about Alexander*:
‘Alexander, our brother in faith from our church, volunteered to sign up and go to war. He is fighting locally, protecting the Sumy border with the Kursk region.
Recently, he needed to retrieve two of his fellow soldiers from the battlefield. The location was under heavy and constant fire, and drones were swarming overhead. The commander would not order the retrieval of the fallen soldiers’ bodies, fearing further casualties, which they could not afford. (The Russians do not allow the bodies of fallen soldiers to be retrieved.) Alexander insisted that they must recover the two bodies and attempt to save the wounded man. In the end, the commander allowed him and a colleague to go.
As always, he knelt and prayed. He also asked the church to pray for a miracle, as this was a very dangerous mission.
They advanced under heavy enemy fire, and as they did, a very strong wind picked up, throwing all the drones off course and away from their intended targets. They successfully brought back both the bodies and the wounded soldier.
At first, the other soldiers mocked Alexander because of his Christian faith and his prayers, but now they show him respect when they see him kneeling in prayer. Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.’
(*Not real name)
Thank you again for your continued support. It is so appreciated and encouraging.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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