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Dear Friends,
After being away last week it is good to back updating on so much that is going on.
Many of you will have seen reports of the intense bombing and fighting across Ukraine during the past two weeks. The Sumy region, like many others, has been badly affected.
None more so than Larissa’s orphanage in Sumy as it was struck by a missile last week, causing extensive damage, as the photographs above show. Tragically, a 16-year-old girl, Katya (pictured), was killed while running for safety when the missile hit the orphanage grounds.
This is the second time the orphanage has been hit, and the government has now said it will not fund the repairs. As a result, Larissa is urgently seeking a new base for her work. Alongside caring for older children in Sumy, she is a specialist social worker supporting children who have experienced severe trauma and vulnerability. Her office provides a safe place for consultations, assessments and essential support – these facilities are all gone. After Larissa began boarding up the windows, the neighbouring school was struck the following day, claiming another young life. The blast shattered her building again.
At the orphanage in Synivka, (her second site) Larissa has begun installing a wood-burning boiler because there is no gas supply. Continued Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure have disrupted utilities and other essential services. The children are already feeling the cold, while seasonal illness is increasing the need for medicines and medical supplies. Bohdan has delivered all the aid he could find, including more than $300 of food to ensure the children have something to eat, and we are looking for medical supplies. We hope to provide substantial support for Larissa and the children throughout the winter. Several individuals are already fundraising, and some schools are also raising money for the orphanage. If you can help us keep these children fed, warm and cared for this winter, we would be deeply grateful.
On Sunday, Bohdan travelled to the Mission Eurasia offices in Korosten to collect urgently needed supplies. During the journey, a bridge outside Kyiv was struck by a ballistic missile. Bohdan had crossed it only two minutes earlier and felt the force of the explosion as he drove away. On his return, local women were directing vehicles in single file around the enormous hole in the bridge, allowing people to continue their journeys across what remained. Bohdan said that there was not much room and it was a scary drive!!
Meanwhile, activities at the Centre continue to flourish. Youth, teenage and children’s meetings and clubs are all running, with attendance growing as people gradually regain confidence to gather despite the war. Church services have also been well attended, and the bakery is again producing bread for those in need. One photograph below shows a group of elderly people with whom Musical Sergey has worked for several years. They originally joined a computer workshop, but now joke that, despite all the lessons, they still cannot use computers! Instead, they simply want to keep meeting to share stories, fellowship and testimonies of faith. Encouragingly, many of these older women have come to faith through Musical Sergey’s faithful work over the years.
We also have encouraging news about the Centre’s electricity supply. The solar panels have been installed and the cabling is being completed. We expect to begin generating electricity next week. This will reduce the Centre’s dependence on the national grid, and its vulnerability to attacks on power stations and other infrastructure.
The team has also been visiting communities where aid and practical support are urgently needed. The refugee centre for internally displaced people has again requested help. This week, the team delivered freshly baked bread to those staying there. Growing numbers of mothers and young children are arriving and need additional support, particularly nappies and other baby essentials. We are also awaiting a lorry carrying humanitarian aid, which appears to have been delayed near the border, that has many of these items required for the people we are helping. Please pray that the delay is resolved and the much-needed aid reaches us safely.
The team is also preparing for two weeks of camps—one at the school in Hyrntsevo and another at the Centre—offering children and young people activities, encouragement and fellowship. They are also renovating the dining room ready for the children to arrive.
As temperatures fall and evenings darken, many people in Lebedyn and beyond are increasingly anxious about the coming winter. Reports suggest that Russia may continue targeting power stations and other essential infrastructure, making it extremely difficult for people to stay warm through the harsh winter. It is hard to imagine what life will be like for them.
Despite these challenges, the team continues working tirelessly to bring practical help, encouragement and spiritual hope to the surrounding communities.
Thank you for your continued support, generosity and prayers. We are deeply grateful for everything you do to sustain this vital work.
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 Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
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 begin this update with the sad news that one of our directors, Eddie Lyle, passed away unexpectedly last Saturday following complications from heart surgery. A fuller tribute can be found here. We will miss Eddie so much and the input he gave into the running of the charity. Please do uphold his wife, Christine, and his son, Adam, in prayer.
The news was also a real shock to Bohdan, as Eddie had been a great encouragement to him and to the work in Lebedyn over recent years.
This week has been much quieter in the town, although bombs continue to fall daily on Sumy city, where many people are being killed and injured. Utilities appear to be among the targets, which is especially concerning given the buildings near the Centre that may be at risk in future. Understandably, this has left some parents anxious as they send their children to the various clubs.
Despite this, the children’s clubs restarted at the weekend, though numbers were lower than expected as several families have left the area because of the obvious dangers. Those who came thoroughly enjoyed their time and were reluctant to leave when the sessions ended.
In other encouraging news, a very large truck of aid has now left the UK for Lebedyn. It will make several stops before reaching Lviv, where it will wait for a UN escort to help ensure safe delivery to Lebedyn. There is still much paperwork and logistics to complete, so please pray for everyone involved.
The bakery is also operating again and producing many loaves for distribution. As the pictures below show, the queue for bread was quite long. Any remaining bread will be taken to the refugee centre and to others in desperate need.
The team hopes to visit schools and orphanages this autumn with the puppet theatre, although every journey carries risk. The resolve and resilience of the Ukrainian people is truly remarkable, but we also long for them to remain safe.
This past Sunday was the Harvest celebration where many turned up to give thanks for crops that been harvested. Bohdan sent a lovely family photo that you can see at the top of the page. Please continue to pray for the safety of the team and the Centre, for Pastor Sergey’s health, and for the preparations for next month’s autumn camps.
We see from the news that world leaders are once again meeting to discuss peace. There is understandable scepticism about whether peace can truly come to Ukraine. The people deeply long for it, of course, yet such moments can often bring an increase in the intensity of the war. Let us continue to hope and pray for lasting peace.
Thank you once again for your continued prayers and support. They are deeply appreciated. There will be no update next week as I will be travelling..
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 Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
One of our trustees, Eddie Lyle, died on Saturday 19th September 2026, aged 73. He passed away in Oxford, surrounded by family and friends, following complications from heart surgery. He is survived by his wife, Christine, and their son, Adam.
Eddie joined our board in 2022, when Hope Lebedyn became an independent charity after separating from Essential Christian. He had previously met Pastors Sergey and Bohdan while serving as President of Open Doors, and made a profound impact on their lives.
Born in Northern Ireland, Eddie became a Christian as a young man and left his work as an air cargo specialist to serve with Youth for Christ and Release International, now known as Voice for Persecuted Christians. He joined Open Doors in 2005 and, alongside his wife, dedicated two decades to the charity.
Eddie travelled widely to places where following Jesus came at great cost, from secret house churches in communist Vietnam to refugee camps in northern Nigeria. He returned to churches across the UK and Ireland to share what he had seen. Open Doors said he had a natural gift for listening, Bible teaching and storytelling, using these gifts to encourage others and share Christ’s love for the hurting and broken.
For the past four years, Eddie served on the Hope Lebedyn board, where his wisdom was evident. He did not always speak, but when he did, people listened. His contributions were thoughtful, considered and impactful. Eddie was an encourager and motivator who recognised the gifts and strengths in others. He loved seeing what was being achieved in Lebedyn, a small town in north-eastern Ukraine, where the charity is making a significant difference in communities devastated by war.
His passing came as a surprise to us all, and our prayers are with Christine and Adam. May God grant them strength and peace as they grieve.
Eddie may have been small in stature, but in faith and service he was a giant. He leaves an extraordinary legacy, and we trust he is hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Hope Lebedyn Trustees
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,
This past weekend, the team hoped to spend the day with teenagers who had attended the summer camp. Sadly, Lebedyn and much of Sumy came under some of the most intense attacks yet. Many children returned home, while others sheltered at the Centre. After a while, activities were able to resume, and the 45 children who stayed had a wonderful time once things had calmed a little.
Sumy’s power grid has been badly damaged by the bombing, so our Centre is now connected to a special power line from the Poltava region. Soon this should be less of a concern: thanks to your generosity, solar panels are being installed this week, giving the Centre its own power source.
At this week’s trustees’ meeting, Bohdan shared more about events and rising tensions within the community. Anger is growing, fear is widespread, and people are facing another difficult winter with limited supplies and little or no power or heat. Around 75% of young men below conscription age want to leave the country, creating serious social and economic challenges for Ukraine. The older members of the team are also struggling as Pastor Sergey’s health deteriorates, along with Luda’s — Musical Sergey’s wife and chief cook. Please do pray for them.
At our meeting we were sadly missing one of our trustees Rev Eddie Lyle. Eddie went into hospital for significant planned heart surgery which was a success, but sadly another issue has materialised making him quite seriously ill. His wife and family has requested that those that are able willing would pray for Eddie and his full restoration.
As the new academic year begins, Musical Sergey continues to press on. He is putting together three new puppet-show teams, as many of the original team members have either left or grown too old to continue. His material is excellent, presenting Bible stories in a contemporary way and incorporating new music. Many children are eager to join, and the puppet shows will be taken to hospitals, orphanages and schools across the region.
This weekend is the church Harvest Festival, and on Saturday the team will bake bread to share with everyone attending, as well as with refugees. A few people in Samotoivka celebrated Harvest last weekend, but most stayed home as drones fell on the village. A few gathered after the service to eat together – see picture below. We hope and pray for a quieter weekend in Lebedyn.
The team remain undeterred and resolute in their vision and work . They are, of course, concerned for their families and loved ones, but their commitment to helping others is as strong as ever. Two more camps are being planned for the end of October, and further support is being arranged for Larisa and her orphanages, as Bohdan has more food to provide. Each week, many people come to services and special events, where they value being together, and finding help and support during this difficult time.
None of this would be possible without your financial and prayerful support — thank you. Please keep praying for safety and for peace to be restored to Ukraine.
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 Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
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,
This week, I travelled with a van of aid to our partners, who will transport it with other items on to Lebedyn. They have done an amazing job helping to source much-needed items and we hope this delivery will arrive by the end of the month. Once the aid reaches Ukraine, the UN helps deliver it, so we must wait for one of their escort slots.
This past week has been especially difficult for the team, and particularly for Bohdan.
On Sunday, Bohdan travelled to collect vital resources from a town west of Kyiv. Because of the bombing, the journey there and back took a day and a half. Roads and infrastructure are being targeted, and Bohdan saw the road he was driving on being bombed. At that moment, he feared for his life. Thankfully, he made it safely back to the Centre with everything he needed.
The team are concerned about the winter, as the Ukrainian government has advised everyone to stock up. Shelves are emptying quickly, creating shortages in some areas. Large shopping malls in Sumy city remain closed and empty, as they have become targets in the war.
Please remember the team in prayer, especially Sergey and Valentyn, asking for their protection and safety during this difficult time.
Everything is running again after the two-week hiatus. The children’s work continues, although more help and volunteers are needed because some people have fled to safer regions. Home study groups are growing, church activities are getting under way, and the bakery will restart as soon as supplies arrive. Many of the young people who remain in the area have very difficult family backgrounds, with some coping with the loss of parents because of the war and many facing extreme poverty. The team are doing all they can to help and provide a safe space with others in similar situations, which the young people greatly value.
With food on so many people’s minds, we were able to create 150 emergency food bags. The church held a service for refugees, and everyone received a bag, for which they were extremely grateful.
Despite everything they are facing, they continue to live with great hope and are already planning camps for the autumn. I will share more news about this in the coming weeks. This week they will be harvesting a potato crop ready for winter on land within the Centre. Then next week, we should see the solar panels installed to give continues energy at the Centre.
Thank you to everyone who is praying for and supporting this work in whatever way you can. Each week I am amazed by the team’s ability to find new ways, even in such difficult circumstances, to do what is needed to help others. It is truly humbling.
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 Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
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,
As the team takes some time to rest and prepare for a busy autumn schedule, this week’s report is shorter than usual.
Life at the Centre still has people arriving needing support. Mid-week services continue to grow, and requests for help are increasing. Although things are quieter, another 150 emergency food bags have been packed this week for refugees coming to the Centre. As a reminder, each bag costs around £27 and feeds a family of four for one week.
The team also supported people without heating by providing four wood stoves to homes where people are living in extreme poverty ahead of winter.
Many young people are still meeting together, and Sergey and Valentyn continue to encourage them. All activities resume fully next week, alongside the start of the academic year. I know Bohdan and Alla are finding it hard to face the prospect of long, dark nights and children learning from home — a reality many parents are facing right now.
Please continue to hold the people of the Sumy region in your prayers. The situation there remains very serious, with Russian soldiers continuing to make incursions into Ukrainian territory, though thankfully they have been repelled so far. On Tuesday alone, around 70 cruise and ballistic missiles and drones landed in the region. In the nearby town of Trostianets, Ukraine’s largest chocolate factory was destroyed. As the area’s biggest employer its loss will be deeply felt by many families with it resulting in many people now leaving their homes in search of safety.
This week, Bohdan travelled into Sumy city and, while there, had to take shelter in a shop as Ukrainian forces defended against an attack nearby. Bullets were flying through the area, and finding shelter quickly in a nearby building was essential. It is a sobering reminder of the danger people are living with day by day, and of the courage shown by those who continue to serve in such difficult circumstances.
In the midst of this, the team continues to serve with courage in extremely dangerous conditions. Please pray for their protection, strength, and peace as they care for those most in need.
We have been blessed with many gifts to help cover ongoing costs, especially the provision of solar panels to power the Centre. Thank you all for your generosity. If you have made payments directly to our UK bank account and are a UK taxpayer, please let us know so we can send you a Gift Aid form and make your gift go a little further.
Thank you all for your ongoing support and prayers.
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 Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
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,
The team is taking two weeks of rest before the Autumn season begins after an incredibly busy summer. Pastor Andrew is still meeting with refugees, and with Pastor Sergey continuing to help, they have kept the Centre open. Bohdan and Alla were able to spend four days away with Zoryana, while the boys attended a camp in the Carpathian Mountains. Because of the nightly attacks, Zoryana has been experiencing night terrors, so a few nights in western Ukraine, away from the bombing, were truly refreshing.
Once again, Sumy has been the focus of heavy attacks this past week. Even during a video call on Wednesday morning, drones were flying overhead, and there seems to be no let-up. The good news is that, with our partners Ukraine Relief Aid, we have secured another truckload of aid for delivery in September. This is very encouraging, and will bring much-needed relief to many people suffering in the Lebedyn area. We also hear that many medical facilities, including hospitals, are moving whole departments to safer towns, making it increasingly difficult for people in and around Lebedyn to access basic medical care.
Larisa, who runs the orphanage, is finding life extremely difficult at the moment. Government funding continues to be reduced and staff are looking to move to safer areas, even though the main building has already been relocated to Synivka. Recruiting staff is a major challenge because only low salaries can be offered, as well as living so close to the front-line. Bohdan and the team have been able to give further help: in addition to buying fresh food as part of our three-month commitment, they also supported the rebuilding of the storeroom, with Lebedyn church purchasing the necessary building supplies. Please pray for Larisa as she carries the heavy responsibility of caring for these orphaned children while their numbers continue to grow.
Olga, the head teacher at the school where we held a camp in Hryntsevo, continues to be connected with the church. Valentine returns each week, even during the school holidays, to run a youth club for the children who attended the camp, and new young people are joining every week. Olga came to the church in Lebedyn on Sunday and spoke at the end of the service, thanking everyone for the help given to the school. She also shared that she wants to reconsider her faith and its relevance in her life.
Following the recent attacks, several senior members of the church are in hospital with heart issues. The fear and stress of everything happening around them has had a serious impact on their health.
As the team rests this week and next, please pray that they return refreshed and ready for a busy Autumn season. The government has apparently announced that all schools will offer free meals from September, but as Bohdan pointed out, this is of limited use when most children still have to study from home. The whole team was tired, so this time to recuperate is much needed.
Thank you for your prayers and financial support.
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 Support us - Hope Lebedyn for more information.
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,
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
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,
The teenagers’ camp went very well. Attendance remained strong, and there were no bombs or power cuts during the week. Sadly, the same was not true in Sumy city, where parts of this once-beautiful city continue to be destroyed daily. Fuel and energy supplies across the region are still being targeted, causing many shortages.
A full report of stories is being prepared, but one story especially stood out. Zlata is a special young lady, though she found it difficult to attend at first. Her grandmother brought her each day and collected her afterwards, but Zlata was hesitant to come. This may have been partly due to shyness, but also because she disliked going out while the war continued around her. As the week went on, she became fully involved in every activity and listened closely to Bohdan’s daily talks. On Friday, after speaking with Bohdan, she prayed with Sophia a beautiful prayer to become a Christian and shared deeply with the team. Please continue to pray for Zlata as she begins her journey of faith.
At the end of the camp, many tears were shed because the teenagers did not want the week to finish. Several had meaningful spiritual encounters and asked for Bibles before leaving. They also want to keep meeting and have already begun doing so informally, while Bohdan is arranging a special day for them the week after next. A similar day is also planned for children with special needs, after the local centre that teaches them requested it because of the positive impact of previous camp support. Valentyn is also travelling weekly to Grintsevo to run a new youth group there following the camp.
You can see more of what the teenagers got up to in this great video on our YouTube channel - click the image below to watch!
Next week is the final week of Summer Camps, with a residential camp for older youths. They will be camping on site in tents, so please pray for their safety throughout the week as night time is normally the busiest for military activity.
Although there have been conversations about aid, very little is currently coming through, so we are having to explore other options. Last week I mentioned Larisa’s orphanage and its need for food. Thanks to people’s kindness and generosity, we have been able to send enough money to buy fresh food for the next three months. Thank you.
Finally, I want to mention a practical issue. Each week I seem to refer to the challenge of running everything through the Centre while dealing with power supply problems. Bohdan has met with the head of the local power company and has their support, but power stations remain a main target in this war. He has been warned that winter will be difficult, with power likely to be off more than it is on. This will seriously limit what the team can do, not least baking bread to provide people with this basic necessity. After much research, Bohdan has found a potential solar energy solution through a reputable local company. For $21,400 (£16,090), it would provide enough power for both of our large buildings, including three-phase power for all the kitchen equipment, and would support up to two full days of operation. This would allow the work to continue and significantly reduce future running costs. The panels would be placed on the ground rather than on the roofs, making them less noticeable and improving distribution between the two buildings. As trustees, we believe this is the best option for continuing operations through the winter, so we will be raising funds towards the cost. If you feel able to stand with us on this project, we would love to hear from you, while also recognising that many of you have already been incredibly generous.
There will be no update next week as I will be on annual leave.
Thank you again for your continued support and prayers.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
P.S. It costs around £35 for one child to attend a non-residential camp week. This covers two meals, drinks, snacks, and all activities. We need to send $25,000 to meet these costs, so if you can contribute in any way, we would be very grateful. This link can show you more info……Hope Lebedyn's page | Stewardship
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,
Military activity has escalated in the Sumy region and Lebedyn over the past week. What was meant to be a quieter week of preparation for this week’s teenage camp became frustrating and difficult. Supermarkets in Sumy were hit by missiles, followed by drones that prevented firefighters from tackling the fires. Educational book suppliers were also targets with 1.5m books destroyed in July so far across Ukraine. Power stations and petrol stations were also targeted.
Bohdan visited Sumy city and was shocked by what he saw. Fuel was unavailable and everything was closed. He heard there might be fuel in Romny, about an hour’s drive away, but while he was queuing there, air raid sirens sounded and the station had to close. With too little fuel to get home, Bohdan was stranded. After two hours, he pleaded with the owner, who discreetly filled his car, even though it should not have been done. The round trip took more than four hours.
Power cuts in Lebedyn are constant. Concerned by the situation, Bohdan arranged a meeting with the CEO of the power company. They agreed to do all they can to keep power supplied to the Centre and support its work. Of course, if there is a major strike, no one can prevent the consequences, but it is encouraging to have such goodwill from local leaders.
In our meeting, Bohdan looked and sounded exhausted, but he said the team remains in good spirits. They were able to get everything they needed in the end, and the camp began this week.
More than 90 teenagers came, even though only 75 had booked. All have been affected by the war, which is showing itself in a range of behavioural challenges. By the end of Tuesday, clear boundaries had been established and the young people were fully engaged. Bohdan’s wife, Alla, is serving as a team leader for the first time. Many of the children had wanted to be on Sergey’s or Valentine’s team, so being placed on Alla’s team was not initially popular. By Tuesday evening, however, her team was leading the points chart, and everyone wanted to be with her!
We have been working to secure more aid for Lebedyn. People are already anxious about a long, difficult winter with little or no power or fuel, and limited food supplies. We need to find several sources of help, so please do pray for this.
Larisa, who runs the orphanages in Austria, Synivka, and Sumy city, has returned from Austria. She had hoped to build a large bomb shelter in Sumy, but the government has now withdrawn most funding for the orphanages. As a result, she has had to abandon that plan and focus instead on raising funds simply to feed the children. Fresh supplies such as fish, meat and milk are hard to obtain. Bohdan immediately took food and other supplies from what we were able to provide, and we are committing funds each month for the next three months before reassessing the situation.
Bohdan shared more about what Larisa is facing. Despite cutting funding, the government continues to send her more children to care for, so numbers are rising. The situation is especially difficult for the children in Sumy city. Although they should be living at the orphanage centre, conditions are so bad that they are not allowed to sleep in their bedrooms. Instead, they must spend each night in an overcrowded hospital that is also under constant attack. Every evening they are taken there, then collected early the next morning to be fed and cared for before the same routine begins again. Bohdan does not understand this decision, and it is taking a heavy toll on the children and Larisa’s team. It seems even more concerning when cancer patients are being moved to Zhytomyr because Sumy is considered unsafe for them.
With political unrest at the top of Ukraine’s government, tensions are rising, but the team is doing all it can to reach as many people as possible at this time.
Please pray for aid supplies, food for the orphanages, and the camps taking place this week. Next week will be a week of rest before the final camp of the summer the following week.
Every blessing
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
P.S. It costs around £35 for one child to attend a non-residential camp week. This covers two meals, drinks, snacks, and all activities. We need to send $25,000 to meet these costs, so if you can contribute in any way, we would be very grateful. This link can show you more info……Hope Lebedyn's page | Stewardship
