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Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support and continued prayers for the work of Hope Lebedyn and especially the team in Lebedyn. As there was no update last week there is some extra information for you within this update.
I spoke at length with Bohdan last Wednesday, and the situation locally is not great. In the previous 24 hours there was no water and power has been intermittent once again. This is a result of much bombing following Ukraine pushing back and going into Russia. The number of bombs fired have been much greater than normal and going deeper into Ukraine territory. A nearby village called Okhtyrka, where we helped plant another church a few years back, was hit badly. Schools are once again struggling to stay open, with teachers saying it is not safe to go there.
Meanwhile, the team continue to do their work, and reach out to the local community and beyond within the oblast of Sumy. The Sunday before last, Bohdan and his family went over again to support Pastor Andrew who is in Samotoivka. This village is very close to the Russian border. There are few men as previously reported, so the community leans heavily on the small church there. Bohdan was able to take food to give to those really struggling. There are still families living in that area and in the summer Pastor Andrew wants to run a summer camp so the team from Lebedyn will go over to help do this for the 40 children that will probably attend.
Another sad outcome of war is the impact on families and especially children. Many are being abandoned and Larisa’s orphanage is nearly full again with Larisa still over in Austria! Pastor Andrew recently took in 2 sisters, Zhenya (12 years old) and Sofia (8 years old), to live with the family. The girls had been abandoned by their mother who is an alcoholic and was beating the children. Lives are so heavily scarred by the trauma of war. Below are a couple of photos and you can see Bohdan’s boys playing on an old, demolished tank. Sadly, war has become a normality for the young children.
Last week, we were very kindly offered another 6 tons of food aid with the iCare food boxes from our friends, Mission Eurasia. However, Bohdan had to go and collect them, so he found a man with a lorry and travelled to Zaporozhye. This is a city at the heart of the war and where Europe’s largest nuclear power plant is. Bohdan made it back safely, but was on the road for nearly 20 hours. It was a dangerous drive, and whilst there, he could hear bombs continually exploding. Food has been distributed to those they have heard about who are desperate for food, including taking them to Pastor Andrew, and in Okhtyrka, and to those whose homes were bombed.
We have been promised a further 4,000 kilos of food from another charity operating in Ukraine so we hope that this comes through in the next week. We still need clothing and are looking out for this.
I mentioned a few weeks ago about a German charity that was going to help build the new playground. The base has been funded through the UK, but the all the equipment was coming over from Germany. Sadly, this charity has now said that they cannot help as Lebedyn is too dangerous to visit and so they have given this equipment to another centre in the west of Ukraine. This was a real blow to Bohdan and so we will now have to buy the equipment, and the team can install it themselves. We will now have to raise funds to be able to fulfil this. Play is an important part of a child’s development and we think it is important to have this facility in the future. It will be great for all the camps that we do, and it will be a safe space for families to come and use. Public parks are not really safe any longer.
We have a number of team down who are quite unwell. Luba, who works with the young teens, is in hospital, seriously ill. She is in the early stages of pregnancy and has found that her blood and that of her husbands is not compatible. With limited access to medical help she is in Sumy hospital in quite a serious condition. Also Luda, who is musical Sergey’s wife, is quite unwell with what appears to be heart problems. She oversees the kitchen and bakery work which is vital to have operational for the summer activities. She came back for one day, and was ill as a result. Pastor Sergey also has very high blood pressure and having to take life easy, Please remember these people in your prayers.
However, we are excited that Svetlana will be joining the team mid-June to help run the children’s work. With at least 4 weeks of camps in the summer the team will be busy preparing as they start in just 4 weeks. This has meant that the children’s club had it’s last meeting until the camps start to enable the team to prepare. Many children came along with their parents and enjoyed the puppet shows, bible stories, and were given food to take home where it was needed. Some pictures are below.
I can only give a sample and brief overview of all that is going on each week at the Centre. Many lives are being impacted both spiritually and physically through the team's faithful work and love for the people. Many have come to faith, many found help where others have abandoned, and many have been able to find people to welcome them with a smiley face and to give some normality in a desperate time.
There are lots of projects that we wish to be doing, and some we cannot mention for security purposes. Over the next week I will give another update about some of the funds we need to raise. I will be keeping these types of updates separate from the regular posts as these are to keep you informed for prayer, news and update.
Please hold the team in your prayers and thank you once again for your continued support.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
We are now approaching 15 months of war in Ukraine. As you will have seen on recent news bulletins, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine and in our region of Sumy there has been much new damage inflicted. Bohdan told me that the bombs currently being used are larger than before, but there is no damage in the cities or towns, just in the areas around them.
Children have not been back at school this week as sirens sound all through the day. On Tuesday, there were 6 coffins returned to Lebedyn from the frontline to be reunited with family members based in the town. With this, and after 15 months of war, Bohdan stated that morale is getting low. The human cost is rising and families are grieving from losing loved ones. It makes the work the team do even more important.
Many might remember me talking about Pastor Andrew in a church in Samotoivka, which is close to the Russian border. He has reached out to Bohdan for some help as they have little food, and all the males of his church have been called up to fight. He only has 2 very elderly gentleman in his church, but the work is still growing and help is required. Bohdan is going over to see how we can help in the best way, but this is a dangerous trip so please pray for safety.
There have been some amazing things happen recently. Previously, I mentioned that we have been preparing the ground to put a new playground within the Centre grounds as all other public playgrounds are closed. We looked at the cost of all the play equipment and it was very expensive, and rising daily. Yesterday, a German mission organisation was recommended to make contact with Bohdan as they specialise in constructing children’s playgrounds. They agreed that they could install a playground during these next few weeks ready for all our summer camp activities, and they will fund everything!! Such an amazing gift and so timely, and out of the blue as well. An amazing answer to prayer. The pictures above and just below are of another playground installed for another church in a different region, but will give you an idea of what they do!
Other good news is that the Kyiv Theological Seminary is opening back up again, which means that yesterday they contacted Bohdan to say that we can start up the Bible college at the Centre once more. We plan to start the new term in Septemeber at the beginning of the new academic year.
We are still struggling to find aid. There have been promises of help, but so far they have not been forthcoming. We especially now need food and clothes to help those that have been displaced and have so little. The last of our foodboxes were taken into the villages to help some very poor and needy children.
In the meantime, many of the ladies are great at sewing so we have been able to purchase material to make into clothes but demand is higher than supply. We have also been able to purchase a limited supply of some foods, and we have been abe to help families with that food and supplies, especially those where the men are serving in the military, or have been injured and incapacitated as result. We still continue to bake bread, but the cost of power to run the bakery has become very expensive. It is around $40 per day to run all equipment. At the start of the war it was just $1.75 a day.
Bohdan sent me pictures of the road journey on his way to the office everyday. The roads have deterioated badly but out in the villages many bomb craters block the way still. As we look for new vehicles to help them in their journeys, please pray for safe travels and wisdom to find the right vehciles.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
Some of you will have seen in international news bulletins that the military activity in Ukraine has gone up a notch. Sadly, this is true is the Sumy region also. Bohdan reported that large cruise missiles exploded in between Sumy and Lebedyn, missing towns and large areas where people live. Sirens over the weekend and through this last week have been non-stop again, affecting all walks of life, raising fears of what might be in the days ahead. The children were not in school last Monday and Tuesday, and then on Wednesday when I was speaking with Bohdan the sirens were activated once again, meaning he had to go and collect his children from school. Everyone is now feeling the frustration of this way of life from the youngest to the oldest. There is no normal and children are missing out on vital education.
Education is a big issue as the government have changed their teaching curriculum but have not issued any books for the children. This means it is all online. This brings a massive problem as power is still erratic in its supply, so no internet when power is down. Generally there is only one computer per household, so if you have more than one child, who gets to use the computer? If you do own a computer then in most areas of Sumy you are blessed. Many children are now not getting the rightful education they should be getting. Bohdan has asked that we could pray into this so a good way can be found.
War fatigue is definitely rising and many are fed up – quite understandably. This can change behaviour patterns which in turn creates more tensions. The work that the team do through the Centre helps to diffuse these and brings love and normality through all they do. The bakery has been good for this, as the team each week give out hundred’s loaves of bread to the many that are struggling. We have just purchased enough ingredients to buy all the flour and yeast for the next 3 months. Supplies are increasing in price, but thankfully are still available.
This week, the team have been doing preparations of the grounds for the many summer activities planned. We have started to build a new playground, so there are safe spaces for children to find “normal life”. All other playgrounds are closed in the town, but because these will be in enclosed grounds and the area is secure, parents will be able to bring their children to play. There will be hedged boundaries so people cannot see from the outside what is going on, protecting the families. There will even be portable toilets there! This project has been part funded so we will be raising further funds to complete this.
The team have planned more camps. We know the success of these and four will be held through the summer. Two for younger children, one for the youth, one for older children early teens, and one for those with severe disabilities. Given all the military activity recently, this is a bold and ambitious plan but the team feel that this is the right thing to do. This is a time when all will get fed well, they will have fun, see the puppet theatre, and they will also hear stories from the Bible, with practical help on how to cope with life. The spring camp was such a huge success that we want to ensure as many young people as possible can be part of this amazing programme in the summer.
There is also good news in that we have been able to replace Alla who has now safely arrived in Germany for a new life there with her family. Svetlana will be joining the team on June 1st to help run the children’s work at the Centre. Svetlana is studying child and military psychology at Kharkiv University (online), which will help to give training to children on how to cope with the trauma of war. She is a gifted musician and runs a children’s gospel choir who are in a competition soon. She comes from Dnipro which is at the heart of the battles in the south. Her father is a pastor of a church down there and is known to both Pastor Sergey and Bohdan. We need to find her accommodation and this is a big problem as most spare accommodation is full of displaced families. Please pray for this to have a quick resolve.
Lastly the team have still been out into the surrounding villages taking aid, bringing help and showing love. Here are a few pictures…..
Thank you for your continued support. Whilst the war continues to rage there some ambitious plans to help and reach people through this next season, and without your prayers and support we could not do this. Thank you!
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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 week the sirens have been a little quieter, making it possible to get into some level of routine. This has meant preparing the grounds ready to be used with all the activities the team do. We note that the war is not in the news as much at a time when more is happening on the ground in Ukraine. In talking with Bohdan, the people living close to the border are not united in their thinking and support for the war. This is causing growing tensions. The fighting is heavy in the south and still along the border with Russia in Sumy not that far away.
At the weekend there were families that came for refuge from Bakhmut (see first two pictures). They literally arrived with nothing, so the team found all that they needed to settle into new accommodation in the city. Also, the team went around to some of the villages and gave out food through the iCare boxes and the bread that has been baked. This was also given to the children and young people where we knew there was much hardship.
Bohdan texted me on Tuesday alerting to a major problem in the south where medical aid in particular is needed. Some friends and pastors of churches have said that things are dire, and that hospitals are overflowing with injured and sick people, with many sleeping on floors. There is just not enough help for them. Subsequently, we have been able to connect with another charity that specialises in medical care and aid, and they are going to see what they can provide. We fear that this will be a growing problem.
Back in Lebedyn, fear is growing that many more men will be called up to fight as Ukraine prepares for the much reported “offensive”. Students have been told that they could be no longer be exempt from fighting as will many other men with key jobs. Mission Eurasia, who have been amazing partners with us during the war, have had their Ukrainian Director called up. Women too are starting to sign up to join the war effort. Some of these are mothers as well, so that might bring new problems in the days ahead.
The work done by Bohdan and team with the local soldiers is still much-admired within military circles. Many have been asking for prayer and the team have been able to do this. They have also produced their own insignia/badge
This means “The Lord is my Strength and shield. He is my salvation.” Many soldiers are taking this and sewing it onto their uniform, declairing their protection.They are also given a gospel of John which they keep in their jacket pocket.
There is still much tension between the Orthodox church and many of the people, including the established Christian church. Bohdan shared stories which are of a sensitive nature, but it shows clearly that the Orthodox church is being used for Russia’s political gain. He has asked us to pray for this situation.
Thank you to those praying for Alla’s replacement as children worker. A young Lady called Svetlana, aged just 18, and daughter of another Pastor in the Dnipro region, is at Bible college studying to be a children's worker part time, and she is keen to join. There is another meeting this weekend because there are things that might stop this from happening, including finding accomodation, but again Bohdan has asked for prayer with this as the college and her local church speak very highly of her.
Plans are pushing ahead for the summer camps and activtiies. The team want to do more than ever so we are just costing that out and seeing what that means.
This weekend will see all the usual activities taking place, with children’s and youth clubs, and we plan to visit the other orphanages either this Saturday or next. Bohdan also plans to visit the frontline to see soldiers.
Lastly, some months ago we reported that Misha who lived as a caretaker in the Centre apartment had several strokes. I am pleased to say that he is now home. He can now walk unaided but very slowly but this is better than a few months ago. Sadly, some of his memory has gone which does not help his speech. He has been given disability status so they will get some government support. We are thankful he is back home with his family and we pray for continued recovery.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Bohdan sends his greetings to you all, and is grateful to those who are regularly standing in support with them as a team.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
In Lebedyn, the last week has been spent preparing for their Easter activities across this weekend. There has been more stability in military activity locally with less air raid sirens. In the north of the region and near the Russian border, there is still much activity with daily missiles being launched, much of it still focused on the infrastructure.
The Easter camp finished well and the children had an amazing time. Most of the children were younger than previous recent camps, and it was great to see them enjoying themselves. Around 80 children had fun, food and for most of them heard the Easter story for the first time. The photos in this update show all of these things and more.
The team have been quieter this week after a busy previous week and weekend. But now they plan a weekend full of activities to reach out to the community. Maunday Thursday (13th) was a day of prayer and fasting, with a special service for mums currently living on their own, as husbands and partners are fighting.
They have had more nappies delivered, so will give these out as well as any aid that is required. Good Friday saw church services in the morning, and in the evening a special Easter gathering for the teenagers. For Easter Saturday all the children of the town were invited to a special Easter event and they expected large numbers to attend. Easter Sunday again saw services in the morning, and a special evening event for the youth. All in all a busy time connecting with many hundreds of people. Loaves will be baked and given away, and aid given whereever it is needed and where it is available. Please pray for all that is going on and that air raid sirens do not hinder all that is planned.
Last week I mentioned that Alla was leaving. Today she is still on route to Germany having spent some time saying good bye to family in another region of Ukraine. We still need to find a replacement for her in her work, but not many are willing to move to Sumy as it is so close to the Russian border and deemed unsafe to travel there.
Bohdan reported that they have found 2 more orphanages operating close by in Shtepivka and Ulyanivka. They plan to visit them over these next few weeks to see what help is required and how many children are left in the orphangae. The orphange in Ulyanivka is going to be difficult to get to as the roads are treacherous and not all are passable. They will work out the best way to get there. They have also heard of a few other orphanages they used to visit are back up and running, but they are in the north of Sumy and Bohdan hss said that it is too dangerous to go there at present. Please pray for safety and wisdom for the team as they seek to help the children in this way.
The team are now planning for what they can do for the children and youth in the summer. So far, their plans are extensive and they will be doing more than ever before to help the young and vulnerable. We are now just costing out what this means, but the heritage of the past summer work has brought much success, and many of the team today are doing what they do having been in the same situation as those we will be reaching.
This week Bohdan has had several parents come to him who are unknown – one even knocking on his house door – to say a massive thank you for all they are doing with the teenagers and children.
The team wish you all a very Happy Easter (in Ukraine time), and once again thank you for your love and support through this terrible season of war.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
Last weekend was full of military activity with lots of sirens, no school on the Friday, and on Saturday a massive bomb in the area in a small nearby village. This bomb killed several people, destroyed the school, the hospital and power infrastructure. Once again, a reminder that the team in Lebedyn are working in very challenging conditions in their region.
This week has been Easter camp week. I will bring more news in next week’s update, but the camp is full and children are loving all that is going on. Games and activities, exploring the Easter story and enjoying time with friends, along with delicious bread that has been baked in the bakery are just some of the highlights. What has been a real answer to prayer is once again there have been no sirens in Lebedyn during camp at the time of me writing this update. Given recent months, this is the longest time this year there hasn’t been any and has meant the camp has been able to run smoothly. That is until Thursday morning!!!! Unexpectedly all the water shut off and there is no water supply to the Centre which is not helpful. We pray that this will get fixed and sorted quickly.
We had an unexpected last-minute visit from new friends that are part of several mission agencies working together. They bought gifts, comic books and things for the children at the camp and have access to aid which will be helpful in the future.
Even though the camp was taking part, Bohdan, “Farmer” Sergey and Rosie visited Larisa’s orphanage where numbers continue to grow with children that have been either abandoned or orphaned due to death because of the war. There are now over 20 children in Sumy and 55 in Austria. Bohdan and Rosie took sweets and gifts for the children. Bohdan also took some funds in to help put in a new boiler as the old one had totally given up. When you see the picture below your heart goes out to these casualties of war. The picture below with the children under blankets is when the air raid siren went off in Sumy whilst visiting. There have been requests for other help for the children from Larisa for things such as hygiene kits (toiletry basics), food and general help. We will do what we can and they plan to take the puppet show back there soon.
At the weekend a team from the Centre visited the village of Budylka. There they held a service and gave out seeds and Christian literature giving as much help as they could to the locals there. There is no doubt that the villages are feeling the effects of the war in far greater ways than in the cities. Food supply is tough and community is virtually gone. The team had a great welcome.
On top of all of the above the usual activities continue. Teenagers are still hungry to study and last night all the Teen bible study groups happened. (see below). Soldiers have been visited, helped and prayed for. There is never a quiet moment and the team are just amazing with the energy they give everything.
Once again, thank you for your continued help and support. Next week we are planning to see how we can reach out into the villages more effectively, and we still need to find a source of aid to help the people.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
Thank you for your continued encouragement and prayers. There have been quite a few positive comments this past week or so from information in these emails which has been uplifting for the team.
The general situation in Lebedyn has not changed significantly. There have been less explosions in the area, but still many air raid sirens and today schools were closed, yet again.
As always, the week has been busy reaching out to many people. A lot of soldiers have been in contact and Bohdan has been connecting and praying with them before they go to the front line. Sadly, this past week has seen many funeral processions in the town as the bodies of those killed on the frontline defending Ukraine return for final farewells from family. This seems to be a growing occurrence which is quite concerning, especially to the military families based in Lebedyn.
Bohdan and Musical Sergey were invited to speak at 2 separate conferences, one in the city and the other a regional event. Both were for teachers who lead extra circular activities after school and are based within the arts. This means dance, singing, music, painting, acting and even chess. They were asked to explain the meaning of Easter and its relevance to the arts world. Bohdan explained that it would be great to see Ukraine win the war, but the greatest win was when Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death. This is why we have so much to celebrate at Easter. He was encouraged by the response they gave at both events. There is still one more meeting to do this week. As the picture above shows, all who were there were handed packs of seeds to help them grow food, as all of them stated they are finding food is difficult currently.
The bakery is now up and running, and on Thursday baked 150 loaves of bread to give away to families. This number will grow. (see picture above).
Many of you remember Larisa who runs the orphanage we have helped in Sumy. Bohdan still visits regularly as the number of children who now live there continues to grow. This week Larisa has been in touch quite a bit to say that firstly, the children are very unsettled and wanting to go home. They found that 3 children escaped from where they were staying in Austria trying to get back home to Ukraine as they missed it so much. They are all safe now. Secondly, the orphanage in Sumy has had several problems including their boiler breaking down and needing replacing. It is a large boiler but without it there is no hot water or heat. We have agreed to send funds to have this replaced. It is Larisa’s hope that they will return to Sumy from Austria in the autumn. It was a year ago this last week she escaped with the children.
I have mentioned in the past few updates that aid is getting harder to obtain and many have been praying for this. This week I was introduced to an amazing lady working with several mission organisations who distribute aid. They have agreed to come to the Centre on Monday with vans of aid, to visit the villages and area to distribute more help. They hope to have medical supplies and a doctor on their team as well, so this is a massive answer to prayer.
Next week will be very busy as it is our Easter camp week. Just under 100 children are booked in and they will be fed, looked after, and told the Easter story. It is their first week of school holidays. Please pray for the team, for all the preparations, and for safety through the week.
The work still grows with the children and teenagers. The extra Bible study homegroups have grown so much they are now running two, with one run by Alla. Alla will be leaving us and going to Germany on April 10th with her family, so please do pray for the team as we need to find a replacement fairly soon. We have now 8 people being baptised over Easter which Bohdan is encouraged by.
Over recent years we have had a large minibus to use for getting things around. Such vehicles are not great now as the larger the vehicle, the greater risk there is for it to be attacked, and it therefore has been largely sitting in a garage unused. Laws changed and we only have one person that can drive this and that is Pastor Sergey. This is not ideal, so we have decided to sell this and try and obtain a smaller minibus, plus another large car (7-seater) to help with the work. We need to have the right vehicles to get us to the outlying villages to provide the help and ministry. We are costing this out as it is not an ideal climate to buy and sell vehicles, but we need to change what we have to make us more effective. Getting this right will mean we can do so much more.
Finally, Bohdan has asked if we can pray for his children, especially Lubomir and Zoryana. Lubomir is down with a stomach virus as most of the school are. However, Zoryana has not been sleeping well at all for some time, and they went for her 9-month check. They are sending Zoryana to a specialist paediatric cardiologist as they seem to think she could have a heart problem. Please can we continue to pray for the family.
My thanks again for your continued support and prayers.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
Thank you for your continuing prayers and support. The situation for this last week has been much the same with air raid sirens daily, children being sent home from school every day after being in bomb shelters, and explosions heard when missiles and drones intercepted. The disruption to daily life is immense and tough for those living in the area.
In good news the local hospital in Lebedyn have reached out for help. They are planning to adapt an area to look after children through the day. This will be for children that are requiring ongoing treatment, but will also act as a safe place for young children to be when parents are working in the hospital. It will also host children who have been abandoned and not yet assigned care, as otherwise they sit in a ward all day with nothing to do. They would like the team to help run activities, perhaps with the puppet show performing regularly, as well as to be part of the team running this area. It is an amazing opportunity to help reach out to many children and families, and at weekends many of them will come then to the Centre for all that we host there. We will also be able to give aid where it is most needed. We are waiting to see how much this will cost, but to be of help in such a way is amazing.
Bohdan has been having many meetings this week, especially with soldiers and families who are very concerned about what is going on. Bohdan is able to pray and support, and do as much as he can to help, but before soldiers go back to the frontline there are always high emotions as you can imagine.
Attendance at all the clubs at the weekend maintain their high level, and the team have been giving out aid where they can. Aid is running dry and we are still trying to get more.
Sadly, we are going to lose Alla (Children’s worker), her husband -Tolik, and their children. They have decided to leave Lebedyn and go to Germany, where they have friends from Kharkiv. There are many reasons for this. They have struggled to find accommodation to live as a family, and with potential new laws starting, it could be that Tolik is called up to the army, but he has a disability and they are not keen for this to happen. An Easter camp is planned which they will help to lead and they will then leave immediately after. Alla has been amazing and will be greatly missed. Her work with the children and even the young teens has been exemplary, and she is always willing to do any job to ensure the mission work is effective. Tolik, although not officially part of the team, has been helping with the music, training young people to play and to lead worship. We now look for a new person to come into this role and also to help with the music.
Obviously, Alla’s sister, Luba, will be sad to see her leave but the good news from her is that she is pregnant – another war time baby! We will pray for her through this journey in the months ahead, and as she juggles this with leading the teenager’s work.
Thank you again for your support and prayers. It is so appreciated.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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,
Another week has passed where the chaotic life living through the war disrupts normality. Every day drones and missiles are being intercepted with loud explosions nearby. Wednesday night was exceptionally bad, with many explosions and sirens going all night. Children are attending school often only for an hour, to spend 2 hours in a cold, unheated bunker then sent home. It is all very distressing for parents and many are planning to leave and emigrate to other safe havens. Lebedyn and Sumy is safer than down in the south, but is becoming a very transient town. People are arriving and leaving at the same time.
Through this past week many came along to all the clubs for the teenagers and children, as well as for the many other meetings. The Centre has been a hive of activity. As shown in the pictures above and below, the team have been out once again delivering food to those in nearby villages, and who live locally but are vulnerable or have no means to support themselves. Many family members are coming back from the frontline without limbs and with serious injury which is creating new issues.
When speaking with Bohdan, he told me that many families are struggling to make ends meet now and food in some areas is scarce. He also told me a story of how the war is affecting his family and his boys. Ratmir (Bohdan’s middle son) has a close friend in his class at school. This boy’s father has been fighting in the war, but has been sent home with very bad injuries and has had to have his leg amputated. He is still not well and now they are saying that he might have to have his other leg amputated. His mother is struggling financially, because if the father is not fighting he is not getting paid, and there is little or no social care. So, Bohdan and team have delivered, aid, food and clothes to the family and in the picture below you can see Ratmir’s friend reading the books and bible that was put in. Let’s pray for him.
Valentine looks after the older teenagers and youth. He has been invaluable over this past year and still continues his studies part time at the Ukraine Theological Seminary during the war. He is just 22. Yesterday he received news that his mother had died. Valentine, like so many children before the war, was abandoned by his parents after his parents divorced at just the age of 3. His Grandmother and Aunt Ola took him in and cared for him. Not long after, his Grandmother passed away leaving all the care to his aunt. It was a happy place, but he would very rarely see his mother. His aunt in looking for things to do, came to the Centre and sent Valentine to the children’s and then youth work. They both came became Christians through the work of the church and this made so much difference in their lives.
Valentine said he does not know how to grieve as he doesn’t have any memories of his mother or father. He has immersed himself into the work and when everything is back to “normal” wants to work in colleges and senior schools to show young people there is another way to life.
There is another lovely twist to this, as sometimes he was sent to another Aunt, Alla (yes another Alla!!) in town for some respite for his main caring aunt. He has been encouraging her to come to the Centre during the war so as to be prayed for, and a month or so ago she too became a Christian and now wants to be baptised. It is an amazing story of God’s grace on a young man who had nothing but gave everything to Jesus! Please pray for Valentine at this time as his Mother moved to and lived in Russia when she let left him, and so he cannot even attend his mother’s funeral.
The team continue to plan for the Easter/Spring camps for the children. The puppet show plays a major part in all the camp work. Thankfully, “Musical” Sergey, after a period of sickness, is now back to work, but because so many families are leaving, many of the children that performed in the puppet show have gone, leaving him to find yet another new team.
Thank you for your continuing support and prayers.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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Dear Friends,
Firstly, a big thank you to those that came out to our service of prayer and thanksgiving on 25th February to mark the first anniversary of this terrible war. It was great to see such a large crowd gathered to pray for Ukraine and for the team in Lebedyn. To have some of the team present, to hear Bohdan speak, and to see baby Zoryana was a special treat. It was also a joy to welcome so many Ukrainian nationals to the meeting who joined us trhoughout. The service was recorded and we have a link to the recording if anyone is interested.
I spoke with Bohdan on Wednesday and there is a level of stability in the region due to the fact there is more power available to all. The villages in the region of Sumy, close to the border to Russia, lie empty and uninhabited with the destruction of buildings evident. Fear of a Russian attack has meant the people have fled from these more remote parts. The area commander has said that small incursions akin to scouting groups have come across the border, but so far they have not penetrated through the defences. Daily the sirens echo out, and even today the schools are closed, with gunfire being heard, sirens ringing out and drones flying around. Just on Wednesday night, a huge explosion rocked Lebedyn. Air defence brought down a large bomb on its way south.
The team in Lebedyn have been asked to do more for the families of the soldiers fighting. Many in the church and associated to the mission centre have family members that are fighting on the frontline. More services will be held, more aid sought, and more specialist first aid given. One couple that have been coming to the church regularly have their son in hospital seriously injured from the fighting. I have said we will pray for this family.
A few months ago I asked for prayer for Alla’s (children’s worker) mother-in-law. She was captured due to her role as chief administrator to the Mayor down in the south of Ukraine where the fighting is at its most severe. She was released a little while back, too traumatised to talk, but Alla visited her last week in Kharkiv where she is staying with her sister. When she was captured a hood was placed over her head and she had to wear this the whole time of captivity. Food was scarce and what she did have tasted foul and “off”. Prisoners were only allowed to go to the toilet twice a day; there were 20+ people crammed in a cell with only 9 beds, so most nights were spent on a cold, dark cell floor with no heating and sub-zero temperatures outside and in! When the time came for her to be released, they heard stories that when people left they were filmed walking out to prove their release and they would then be shot in the back. Thankfully this did NOT happen. Instead they were told to walk off across the fields to get to the Ukraine army. It was very dark with no light or even moonlight to direct her ways. Prisoners all split up and went across several fields. She could hear explosions so she knew she was close to safety as that would be near where the battles and Ukrainian army were based. When greeted by the Ukrainian army, they were astonished to see her, and they told her they did not understand how she was alive. The fields the people had been directed to walk through were mined, and the explosions heard were fellow inmates stepping on land mines. Alla explained that many people had been praying for her safety. Alla’s mum is not a Christian, but she is thankful for all the prayers. No wonder she was traumatised. We thank God for answered prayers.
The bakery is now getting going, and the team are learning how to bake as you can see from the pictures above and below. They bake for all the children’s and teen work, and for the parents that bring them. All of this is very well received.
The work in the area continues with all the clubs for children and youth. Aid is being given out where we can get hold of it. The work seems like it never comes to an end and there is always more to do at the end of the day than at the beginning.
Bohdan has asked that we pray for both Musical Sergey and Sasha. Sasha is down with a flu type virus which Bohdan had. Because his immune system is compromised there are always concerns when he gets ill.
Musical Sergey is recovering from his operation but still without much energy. He tried to do something at the Centre this week, but was sent home. He also asked for prayer for four young people that over this past week or so, have become Christians and want to be baptised. They are Sofia, Camila, Alexei & Vadim.
Again thank you for your ongoing support and it was great to see so many of you on the 25th February.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
