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Dear Friends,
Bad weather is hampering the work outside of the Mission Centre. They have had quite a bit of snow and lots of rain, which is then freezing the roads making for treacherous journeys.
At the Lebedyn school where Bohdan’s children attend (sirens permitting), they have had so much rain that the bomb shelter is flooded with over 30cm of water. The Director of the school has asked Bohdan and team for help, so they have put in a water pump to help drain water away. It will then freeze when pumped outside. It has been as cold as -12c, but Thursday was only -5c. It does mean that when sirens sound parents must collect children immediately as the bomb shelter is out of action. The school closed for two days this week alone!
Below is a picture of Zoryana that Bohdan shared, all wrapped up in the snow!
Bohdan explained that travelling in the region is getting dangerous for other reasons. Checkpoints are getting quite aggressive. In the past they would give a glance over papers and wave him through, but especially near Sumy city the past few times he has been quite forcefully interrogated, asking why is has not been called up – even though he has exemption papers. Many younger men, and even some of our team, are therefore fearful about going outside of the city limits for fear of instant “call-up”.
Despite this, Bohdan has been asked to take the team over and help in a school in the village of Hryntsevo (its where Inna taught part time when she was on team). This area has become very poor and there is much need for help, so they will visit with aid – sirens permitting. They visit today (Friday) or Monday. Also, on Tuesday, they are visiting people they know from the church in Okhtyrka taking food parcels with them. Aid continues to be hard to get hold of but thanks to the generosity of Hope Lebedyn supporters we hope to purchase some large quantities of basic food staples so this can be given out in January. It will take time to source the large quantities required.
This past week they have updated equipment for the bakery. The dough maker was not robust enough so a new one arrived yesterday so that many more loaves can be made for free distribution.
Christmas preparation is being made. The presents are being purchased and a plan of action is being created on how to best distribute them. The team will visit 2 hospitals, orphanages, and a school where possible and if deemed to dangerous due to the checkpoints, they have invited many children to the centre.
As yet, we still cannot find the correct minibus for use. The friend of Bohdan searching on our behalf has now been called up to fight, so we start again. This is getting frustrating for the team as there is nothing left in Lebedyn region of any quality to purchase.
Over these past few weeks there have been greater pastoral needs within the youth. Many of the youth that went away for a while have returned. Fear of conscription as they get older is growing. Broken families where children and youth are not able to live as one is taking its toll, emotionally, spiritually, and physically in many situations.
But, there are some really encouraging stories as well. Edward is a young man whose family has been broken by the war. He came along to the Centre to the Bible study and became a Christian. He now wants to study and work within the church, and Bohdan has a one-to-one session with him every Tuesday to encourage him. Edward is not the only one that is growing in his faith. However, too often there are stories the team are confronted with from the young people which are tragic and full of trauma. Life is so difficult for them as they struggle mentally with all they see and hear.
For your prayers Luda, who is the wife of “Musical Sergey” is quite ill in Sumy Hospital. She struggles with diabetes, and it appears that the insulin they are using is not of good enough quality. The hospital are trying to stabilise her sugars, but have found it hard to do so. Luda heads up the catering team at the Centre which means she is baking lots of bread and many meals when a camp is on. She is desperate to be fit and well to help with all the Christmas activities. You can see her hard at work in the picture above!
Please continue to pray for the team and all they are doing and our appeal fund is still open for those that want to still donate.
With a heavy winter, the sounds of war around them, and many sirens still sounding every day, it is tough for them all. We are so grateful to you for standing with us and for your ongoing 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,
Another week has bought its own challenges. Bohdan has been laid up with a throat infection, and the winter cold has suddenly arrived with temperatures at -12C and with snow on the ground. Bohdan has had to get winter/snow tyres fitted as you'll see above!
There has been no let up with what is happening in the region, and the sirens continue through the days and nights. Yet again yesterday, Bohdan had to rush and get his children from the bomb shelter at school. He said this is now becoming a problem as the school shelters are inadequately heated, and the children keep going down with colds and infection and giving them to him! Over in Samotoivka, where Pastor Andrew is based, the village itself has not been harmed any further, but all around they hear the sounds of war. Many people are taking extreme measures to try and escape and flee from the region, but with the cold weather here it makes it more of a challenge.
Because of the ongoing threat and situation in the region the new Bible College was unable to open on the 18th. Everything was set to go, but at the last minute the lecturers from Kyiv felt it too dangerous to go to Lebedyn. Bohdan is now thinking and praying through how to get this open, and up and running.
Preparation for the Christmas activities are going well, with contents for the presents arriving ready for wrapping. Bohdan was excited to share that for Christmas this year Inna, who ran the children’s work for many years before moving away to look after her sick mother, will be coming back to help. Sadly, her brother was seriously injured in the war fighting on the front line. He was near a bomb blast and it shattered his leg and broke his back. After two operations he is on the mend having had several operations, including two shattered discs removed. It will take him time to fully recover, but doctors have said these injuries should not have too much effect on future living. With the increased work planned around Christmas it will be good to have Inna on team.
Aid continually is a struggle to get hold of. The team this week have been buying and creating their own aid food boxes to add to things left over, and they have 200 now made - each one should feed a family of four for a week. Once these are given away, the aid stocks are very low or non-existent. We have heard of a delivery coming at the end of January which is great news, but there will be much need in between. A few weeks back, we launched our Christmas appeal which many people have generously donated to. We have stated that if there are any funds over and above what is planned to do, it will buy food for those in need. We also have just sent funds to buy three months supply of ingredients for the bread making. Production at the bakery is growing, and bread is given out after the main service on Tuesday. It is also distributed during the work done with families on a Thursday, with extra treats like muffins being baked for the children that come through kids and youth clubs over the weekend. We are also sending out $700 to fund a very large dough mixer so as to help with the increased production of bread.
Bohdan shared something of concern of what is happening all around and in Lebedyn. The army are keen to draft as many into the army to fight. There are now scouts going around in groups, and if they find men they are serving their papers there and then. They have the authority of the government to do so. This means that many men are now not coming out from their homes in fear that they will be targeted. Even those with disability are being targeted. As they approach another tough winter, Bohdan said that war has changed, and continues to change, daily living. It is getting harder to live in such circumstances and to see your family enduring this. We must continue to pray for peace.
I want to finish this update on a beautiful note. Below is a YouTube link to a video made out in Lebedyn.
Over the course of this war we have been blessed by many gifts, and support from individuals and trusts. The team wanted to say thank you to the trust that holds the copyright of the hymn “How Great Thou art” written out in Ukraine, and who have donated funds to Hope Lebedyn, and so they recorded this version.
It was filmed out in Lebedyn, partly in the newly refurbished bomb shelter, and in the town. All the music was arranged and performed by “Musical” Sergey, and features children who come to the Centre. It is in English, and the children learnt the English in just two days, so some of the words have an interesting pronunciation! This is sent to all to say thank you! Please do share this with your friends and family.
This video is also on our Facebook page, which you can find here.
Please continue to pray for the team and all they are doing and our appeal fund is still open for those that want to still donate.
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,
It was good to have a long discussion with Bohdan on Thursday where he spoke about conditions in the Lebedyn area. This past week has been a very difficult week. The intensity of sirens continues to increase, with Wednesday having very little break from the sound of them.
What is evident is the increased number of funerals. One of Bohdan’s close friends, Edward, was killed this week down near Avidiivka. This region has been in the news a lot as it appears to be the epicentre of the heaviest military activity. It is where we believe most of the soldiers that come from Lebedyn are fighting currently, thus the increased number of funerals. Bohdan text me when this happened as he was struggling to come to terms with the loss of his friend. They have been friends since school. He leaves behind two very young daughters, the youngest of which has never had her photo taken with her father.
As the cortège went from the main Orthodox church in the town centre through to the cemetery, people line the streets and kneel out of respect to those that have given their lives. Bohdan himself has seen friends, ex-classmates, and over 60% of his class from Bible college, killed since the start of the war. Please do pray for Edward’s family at this time, and for Bohdan as he mourns a close friend.
Bohdan added that the economic fall out from the war is now hitting hard, and is made worse as winter is looming fast. Inflation is rampant on everything. A loaf of bread is nearly 300% more than the start of the war. Bohdan also said that the size of loaves people buy have reduced from 1kg down to 400g, so in real terms inflation is much greater. They have been distributing 100 loaves every Thursday, but now they have added a free loaf every Tuesday in addition, and this week gave away 180. On Thursday, they baked 200 loaves and so production will be at 400 loaves per week, such is the need. They will also be 1kg in weight.
There are no jobs available at the moment as many businesses have closed due to the war. There is little help from authorities, and many do not want to take what there is as it means if they register they will be called up to fight. As Sumy is a rural area there are many families hiding away in villages as they live in fear of being called up to fight. The breakup of the family is rising fast due to the length of separation of those fighting, and families having fled the country. The toll this war is taking is immense. The team are doing all they can to help those in need.
Good news is that we have heard from the German charity that provided over 30 tons of aid early in the war. They have agreed to send another large lorry of aid to the centre. Sadly, this won’t get to the team until the end of January, but it will be good to have this when winter is at its worst.
The team continue to do all the other works within the Centre, and visit people in the surrounding areas. Over this next week, the team are planning the Christmas activities and have started to buy the presents to give to the children. Another centre run by Svitlana’s parents have an award winning theatre company, and they have agreed to come up to Lebedyn to do 2-3 days of shows for free for the people in Lebedyn around Christmas. The Christmas Story will be told in a unique and contemporary way. Thank you to those that have donated to the Christmas appeal to make this happen.
Lastly, below is a report from Svitlana, Lyuba and Bohdan which tells of the spiritual impact of the Autumn camp. If you have a moment to read it I know it will encourage.
My thanks again for your faithful support and prayers at this time. There is not much being reported about the war in our press, but in many ways there is more activity than ever. We keep pressing on to support the team out in Sumy where it is so tough to live!
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
We never cease to be amazed at God's grace and greatness, because despite the war, we again had the opportunity to serve the children of our city – to hold an Autumn camp which had the theme "Good and Evil". God gave us 74 children. There would be many more of them, but in our city, not all schools were on vacation at the same time. But God knows what He does, we had enough "soil" to sow God's seed. The war is gaining momentum; air raids are becoming more frequent and longer, so it was important for us to prepare a shelter for children. The shelter itself became a good place where children opened up and asked questions that were in their hearts, or questions that they heard during the conversations of their parents. A girl named Maria could not comprehend how God is the Creator, and we all belong to Him, He is our master, He is a good God, but we are at war, and so many people are dying. These are complex and difficult questions, not childish at all. On the one hand, it is difficult to give an answer, but on the other, it is an opportunity to continue to speak the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the only hope.
About 20 children were in the camp for the first time. We gladly gave them Bibles. There were children from poor families. One girl asked our cook what was in the middle of these buns, to which the cook replied, "condensed milk". The child's follow-up question struck the heart of our cook, who has been preparing food for children in the camps for more than 15 years. The girl asked what condensed milk was, she had never eaten condensed milk. For some children, our camp was an opportunity to taste various sweets that they had never eaten.
A girl named Veronica, 10 years old, was in the camp for the first time. She and her parents moved from a big city during the war. She had never attended church, and she didn't know how to pray. At the end of the Bible lesson, she approached the leader of the group, and said "that she really wants to thank God for the wonderful camp and such good leaders, but she does not know how to pray", the leader (Tanya) very simply tried to explain that God does not need any memorized prayers, God hears everyone who comes to Him with faith and gratitude. Interestingly, the next day, Veronica said that the first thing she did when she went home was to teach her parents to pray. This is a wonderful testimony to how the word that is sown in children's hearts continues to be passed on. We pray and believe that one day we will see a great awakening among our people.
It is a big challenge for the team to tell the Gospel to the children of war, to the children who lost their homes, to the children who lost their parents, or their parents are in captivity and nothing is known about them. It's hard emotionally, it's a new reality for us that we can't and shouldn’t get used to.
Honey. This girl started attending our church through the camp. She goes to the puppet theatre, computer lab, kids club, and Sunday School, and sometimes sings at Sunday morning service. It's very cool that she spends her time in the church. It shows great potential that needs to be developed. Of course, she, as a child, has her own difficulties with character, she said it herself when I asked, "What would you like to ask God to fix in your life?" She said, "I want to have a better character." Sometimes I used to notice this "childish trick" in some situations, but now it is changing, and I believe it is God who is changing it. At the end of the camp, she asked Jesus to enter her heart and change her character. Please pray that this girl will stay in the church and glorify the Lord with us in the future.
Daniel. We have known this guy for a long time, because it is not his first time in the camp. We remembered him when he was very young, but now, Daniel has grown up a lot, began to understand a lot of things, and be an adult. Before the camp, by the way, our Valentyn noticed him in a clothing store, and he was sitting alone on the stairs and playing on the phone. It was raining outside and Valentyn asked, "why are you sitting here?". He replied "my parents said go for a walk, don't be at home". Of course, I was surprised, because at first he said that he was kicked out of the house, perhaps of course he was "exaggerating", but I don't know how it really is. Daniel liked the puppet shows, he became active in our ministries, he even agreed to learn the text and sing for our video. After the camp, he began to attend a puppet theatre. This is a good place to start to get to know Jesus in more detail.
Elvira. She is an Internally Displaced Person from the Donetsk region. Her mother and grandmother accepted Jesus as their Lord through our ministry, so she and her family attend our church. This girl has specific character traits, perhaps due to the trauma of war. Always during the camp, she sought attention. This can be seen in the fact that she always comes up to hug and stand next to us. But, at the same time, she has a very complex character. She can be offended very easily, even when she herself is wrong. She can provoke children herself and then cry. Therefore, our team has a special relationship with Elvira and a special approach. We tried to tell everything as clearly and gently as possible. This girl loves to pray. And to visit our camp, according to her, this is the only place where she is truly loved.
Thank you for your support.
Svitlana, Lyuba and Bohdan
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Dear Friends,
Greetings to you all! If its any consolation, Lebedyn is suffering heavy rains and winds just as we are experiencing here in the UK at present. However, they have an element of joy around this as wet and flooded fields stop the march of Russian soldiers.
The Autumn Camp finished well, with the children thoroughly enjoying themselves. The team felt the children were getting used to war, which is sad on one hand, but on the other there was laughter in the room as they enjoyed all the activities. As is usual, at our camp weeks we have compiled a very short video so you can see first had what has been going on.
During the camp, the sirens sounded only once while everything was going on. Children took shelter in the refurbished bomb shelter (see pictures below plus a team photo) Given all that has happened before and since the camp this was a real answer to prayer. Thank you!
Meanwhile, in the community this week the reality of the war hits home hard. Two young men from Lebedyn who had been called up for military service were sadly killed. Bohdan and the team knew both men. Their funerals were on the same day, and people lined the streets to create what Bohdan said was a “living corridor” to pay their respects and mourn as a community. There is no doubt the more instances like this that happen, the harder hearts get.
The team visit a local home for the elderly, many who have physical and medical needs. Incontinence pads are hard to get in the shops but at the Centre we still have supplies so we can take them to them.
At the Centre numbers grow, with people needing help, but supplies of aid are getting harder to obtain. The team did a service on Tuesday and hundreds of people turned up, and all went away with some food help. As usual the bakery was used, and again hundreds of loaves were given out.
Today, I was also able to spend some time with Valentine as Bohdan had to collect his children from school again due to the sirens. I asked how children and teenagers now view the war. He said that things have changed. In the beginning they were all afraid, but now that has changed. Small children only remember the war so it is normal for them. Teenagers have adapted, and if they do not have to go and fight they seem at ease, and want to be together more regularly. However, he said that for families of those serving in the military it is very different. Many are suffering with extreme anxiety, depression and fear. Some will just sit shaking when they meet and talk. The war for them has bought new levels of poverty and family separation, with a big fear of the unknown.
One thing to pray about is the changes in laws being made which means anyone can be conscripted. Already the exemption which was given by the local military commander for Bohdan to not have to be called up for duty is no longer valid. Nobody really knows what this means until they are fully law, but Bohdan has asked for us to pray about this and for all the team.
The team continue to faithfully serve the community, and thank you for all your support in making this happen.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
Watch the highlights video of the Autumn 2023 children's camp.
What a joy to see these children having fun!
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,
Christmas is fast approaching and is a time that is celebrated all around the world. But for some, like those in Ukraine, this season holds little hope. By Christmas, this tragic war will have been going on for 22 months and there is little hope of any peace. Young children do not remember such a time.
For Ukrainians in the Sumy region, air raid sirens still fill the air daily. Missiles, drones, land mines and artillery fire are a constant hazard of daily living. Supplies of basic foods are in short supply, and inflation means that many goods are simply not affordable. Power cuts occur most days exposing them to the winter cold. As we witnessed through our camp and club programme during this year, children and families have been exposed to the atrocities of war with all knowing people that are missing, away fighting, or sadly, that have passed away. Every child seems to carry a trauma. With 70% of all families in Ukraine displaced since the start of the war, Christmas is a bleak time.
We would like to bring a little hope to the children and young people this Christmas. We plan to hold a Christmas camp for around 100 children in Lebedyn. We estimate that there are at least 600 children in the local area, and more within the wider county. What if we could help others and visit the hospital and local orphanages and give each child a present along with the Christmas story? We could share some love bringing them Hope for Christmas .
To hold the camp costs £35 per child. This means we need to raise £3,500 for this activity to happen.
We would love to reach 1,000 children with a gift as well. £12 will buy a Christmas bag full of treats and basic needs. There will be colouring pencils, pens, notebooks and items to help with schoolwork, hygiene products like toothbrushes, sweets, some small toys, a children’s Bible, and many other things to bring some festive cheer included. To reach these children will cost £12,000.
If we do all the above we will need to raise a total of £15,500. Of course, if you can gift aid your gift then this helps enormously. Perhaps you can encourage your friends, family and churches to help as well? There is so much need around the world currently, but hopefully in our little way we can truly make a difference into the lives of the children in the Sumy region. Any extra funds will be used to help buy food for those in need.
If you would like to donate to this project please click on one of the buttons above, or visit the Support Us page on this website where you can find details of how to donate. When giving via Stewardship please include a note with your donation that it is for the Christmas Appeal 2023. If giving via another means, once you’ve made your gift, please email info@hopelebedyn.org so we can acknowledge the receipt of your gift, and if you can make your donation via gift aid we will send you an appropriate form. Thank you!
If you would like to speak further to me or any of the team please do email us at info@hopelebedyn.org
Hope Lebedyn supporters have been enormously generous through these past 21 months of this war. You can see from the weekly updates that so much has been achieved to help the people in the needy region of Sumy, Ukraine. Thank you for your support and your consideration with this project.
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,
It has been a very busy two weeks in Lebedyn. Getting aid, planning, and starting the Autumn camp, and still holding the many activities within the Centre and throughout the region has been challenging but good.
Last week, Bohdan text me to say the intensity of the sirens was still growing and now they could hear bombs and shelling in the distance. Current reports say that the shelling throughout Ukraine has been at its worst for nine months. Sadly, these things are not getting reported now in the main news bulletins. Also, food supplies are getting harder to obtain, power cuts are starting to happen to conserve energy, and there is a dread of what winter might bring.
We managed to find some aid and sent lorries to Mukachevo and Zaporizhia . We expected them to come back full but sadly the trucks were only filled to 50% capacity. There was still around five tons of food and supplies, but most of this has already been given out. Last Thursday, they invited those they knew were needing help to attend a church service at the Centre. Here they were given some refreshments, and received food packs with over 200 people turning up. Over 300 families in total have benefited from this help as some were visited in their homes. We were also given more flour to help the bakery to produce more loaves for distribution. Some pictures follow.
The aid gives huge support especially to the poorest in the region. Many families are living on one meal a day and even that is very basic. The more you travel into the rural areas, Bohdan says the poverty seems worse. When the team visit they bring hope as well as food. They share about their hope in Jesus as Christians and people are keen to listen. One such young man is Ilya. He is 24. and lives in a rural area on the outskirts of Lebedyn. He has some physical disabilites and is isolated with no family around him. When the team visited he had no food. They gave him some aid , chatted with him and gave him a Bible to read. Ilya has become a Christian as a result, he comes to all the services, is a transformed character and loves being part of the church family!
Two weeks ago the team were again invited to go into Lebedyn hospital to help and visit the children. Valentine, Lyuba & Svitalana took gifts and shared stories written by the team for the puppet theatre. Many of the children waiting in the room below need on-going treatment, or have simply been abandoned or orphaned, and they wait in hospital until an orphanage or home is found. The hospital want us to do more work with these children.
The bomb shelter was finished in time for the autumn camp which is going on this week. It now has heating, ventilation, a toilet, and bomb-proof doors! See pictures below.
The camp has gone very well, and the children seem to be in much better spirits this time around. The sirens before the camp were as intense as ever, as I mentioned above, but so far they have only happened once, briefly, 10 minutes on Wednesday. This is an amazing answer to prayer as they were fearful that the camp could not proceed. There will be a fuller report on the camp in the next week or so but there are a few pictures below to enjoy.
In my conversation with Bohdan on Thursday morning, it was evident that Ukraine is shifting in some of its stances around the war. New changes to laws will make it harder for people to be exempt from active service. Many of those that have ongoing medical conditions are having those ignored to grow the army reservists. There is also talk that studies will have to stop for young men, and this could have a significant impact on our team as a result, so please can you pray for this matter. This amazing work and ministry needs to carry on, and we need the right team to be able to achieve this.
On Tuesday, I sent out details about our Christmas Campaign “Hope for Christmas”. Can I thank those of you that have already donated and given to this campaign as the support has been amazing thus far. If you didn't receive the email and would like to know more, please visit our Hope For Christmas Appeal 2023 page.
Thank you all for your faithful support in so many ways.
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,
Already another week has passed!!
This past week seems to have had more sirens than ever before. There have been big explosions, especially on Tuesday on the outskirts of Sumy citym which was reported in the news. When sirens sound, life stands still. Schools are still not open, banks close and all retail outlets must shut. So with sirens sounding more and more, it becomes difficult to plan and do anything.
Whilst this happens rules and regulations change weekly. Banks now limit the amount of cash you can draw out daily, which makes it hard to operate in Ukraine. Most people want $US Dollars, as these can be traded if they must leave the country. You can only draw out $2,000 a day, and that is if they remain open. With the problem with sirens sounding much of the day, banks are closed with long queues to get money out. When buying in bulk, all traders want Dollars, so life is getting tougher there.
Sumy hosts a large medical college and quite few members of the church are training there. New rules state that no medics can leave the country, and if sirens sound then they must carry on with studies as they are trying to rush training to have them working ASAP. Bohdan highlighted that many medical staff have been either killed or injured on the frontline helping people, so they need replacements.
Bohdan said that the schools have been shut for many days now, and children are frustrated with this. Half term has been moved to try and save money. Next week, the temperature is mild, whereas the first week of November it is forecast to be much colder. So, to save on heating, they are delaying half term for a week – not that they have been at school much anyway! This means that the Autumn camp has been delayed to the first week of November, but WILL go ahead. Please do pray for this week as we are expecting many children to come along. The bomb shelter refurbishment is going well, and having this extra week means that it will be finished in time for the camp week.
Please can you pray for Vlada. I mentioned her a few weeks back. As a young teenager, her father has been killed in the early stages of the war, and her mother has abandoned her to move to Europe, leaving her with her grandmother. She is experiencing deep depression, and in addition it appears a loss of memory also. Bohdan is going to see her grandmother this weekend to see if the team can help in any way. She had started to get better, but mental health is so unpredictable and they have witnessed her going downhill fast.
Over last weekend Svitlana’s parents came to visit from the Donetsk region. They run a group of churches in the area and do much of the same things as us. They held a special meeting with the youth which saw many new people come. They young people really enjoyed this so Svitlana’s parents are planning to come back again before Christmas for a weekend.
Every day the team are reaching out to the poor and needy. This Tuesday, Bohdan invited in people for a meeting from the local “Inclusive Centre”. All have many types of disability. They had a great meeting, with food and were sent home with food packages.
In other good news, we have been able to find some aid through our partners with Mission Eurasia. There is a long drive to several western cities in Ukraine to get to their depots, but we will be able to get around 5 tons of aid per trip. The first runs to get this have been very kindly sponsored by Rotary District 1120 Kent & East Sussex and their international arm. We are extremely grateful to them.
Please do remember Bohdan, Alla and family and all the team in your prayers. There has been some illness and some issues to have to deal with caused largely by the war. Everyone is really not looking forward to a very hard winter season.
Next week there will not be an update due to travel both here in UK and in Ukraine. However, please keep an eye out for news of our Christmas campaign and activities. It is ambitious, but we all feel it is right to do! We will need your help along the way if it is to be successful. We plan to reach out to children in all the orphanages we know, plus those in the region's two hospitals, plus those that will attend the camp and other special events.
Thank you to all that continue to support and pray. 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,
Yet another week where the impact of the war has been heavy within the region. For the past two days the sirens have been non-stop, with people advised to stay in their homes, no attendance in schools, and the need for help still grows.
In Lebedyn, there have thankfully been no bombs, but within the region there have been many. Pastor Andrew in Samotoivka has been hit particularly hard. They hear bombs continually, and feel that they are getting closer to where they live. His wife, Veronica, is now getting quite scared. There is a school just outside of Samotoivka which was bombed this past week, with children and staff in it, and many were injured and a few killed. There seems little defence along the border, and there have been many reports of non-uniformed Russian soldiers coming across the borders and killing families. All this is witnessed by the people there. Most of the deaths are done with knives or weapons that are silent. All of this makes for uneasy living in the region, but still the team continue to do their work and help as many people as possible, and support Pastor Andrew in his work.
Help has not been forthcoming from the Ukraine government for the people. This is because you can only be classed as a war zone if the Russians are occupying the territory. This is creating hardships and poverty.
At the Centre, the new computer and English classes have started. Numbers were lower than hoped, but that was because sirens were sounding before they were due to arrive and the advice was to stay at home! The teenagers that came really enjoyed these groups and they all learnt something new!
The renovations for the bomb shelter are going ahead now the inspection has been done. There is a lot of work to be done including four new internal special doors that are also fire proof, wall panelling throughout, a new boiler for heating, installation of a toilet, a water sink and boiler, fire extinguishers and specialist first aid kits, and a ventilation system. They want to complete all this work within two weeks so they can hold the autumn camp then. Thank you to those who have already donated so generously for this to go ahead.
We appear to have found a source for some of the aid, but we must get a large lorry to travel to the west of Ukraine to collect it. This is challenging both logistically and physically as it will be a 20 hour drive each way to the depot that can help.
All the weekly help and activities still are taking place. The puppet theatre’s three teams have been in the Centre rehearsing new shows which tell the Christmas story ready for later in the year (see pictures below).
Services are being held within the church and many are attending. As usual, bread and food is given out where help is required. Many are telling stories of loved ones lost or injured, as the effects of this war continue to impact every community. In the Youth meeting and Bible studies the young people remain hungry to study the Bible deeper. One teenager called Lily arrived at the Centre with many issues in her life. Valentyn welcomed her to the service where bread was being given out, and he suggested that she speak with Bohdan. Her needs were great, but through reading a Bible that was given to her and going to the teen Bible study group, she has become a changed person. The team will work with her to help as best they can.
Please continue to pray for the team as they continue helping and reaching people in every walk of life in very difficult circumstances. Each week different people are connected with, and each has new stories and heartache.
Thank you for your continued help and support.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
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Dear Friends,
Another week passes with sirens sounding and much military activity still in the region. Once again our video chat had to be cut short to pick children up from school as they had been sent to the bomb shelter. During this past week both Bohdan and Alla have been unwell, but are recovering now. They send their thanks and best wishes to all those that are praying and supporting them regularly with the amazing work they are doing.
During this last week, all the usual activities took place, and some went smoother than others. Baking bread has been an issue, as last weekend the power station that feeds Lebedyn was bombed, and therefore, there are random power outages ongoing. They always seem to be on Thursday, so they have a problem baking the bread, but despite this they managed to have a long enough window last week to be able to bake and not waste all the ingredients.
Children’s and youth clubs carry on (see pictures below), with the youth meeting over several days with different young people.
We have been updating the computer area where computer classes will now be held. The new laptops arrived on Wednesday, and then these computers will also be used for the new Bible college when opened.
After more details from the local inspector, work has been started on the bomb shelter. We are waiting for all the costs to come in, but for some of the internal doors we have been able to access these on eBay for just $20! It is amazing how resourceful these guys are. We need this up and running by the end of the month to be able to do a camp for the autumn.
We are spending quite a bit of time planning for all the activities over Christmas. As with previous years, we want to give a nice present to all the children who remain in the area. Ideally, that will be 750 children with contents of the presents locally sourced to help the economy. However, our research to find the right gifts and to be able to obtain the quantity of goods required is not going great, so there is much planning still to do to source all that is required. We hope to launch this project in the next 2 weeks.
As with all weeks, the team never stand still for long. They continually help the families of military personnel who are away serving. Whether it be nappies, food, or just a coffee and chat, the team help where they can. For this winter, Bohdan predicts there will be a shortage of shoes, and therefore, we need to try and source some aid that will help with this need.
Artem is a young lad who had to flee the Kharkiv region around a year ago. He arrived in Lebedyn with his mother traumatised, full of anxiety and fearful of any new situation. Loud bangs, whether it be a door closing or someone dropping something, would send him into a panic attack. This family sought help through the church and the Centre, and Artem started to come to the various youth clubs and camps. At first, he would run away as he could not bear to be in public spaces with others, such was his anxiety. Siren’s sounding would see him cover his ears and eyes, trying to hide from what was going on around him. Today, through the work, friendship & prayer of the Centre, he not only comes along, but contributes in a confident way. There has been an amazing transformation in his life. This is one young man out of many young people who have had to cope with fear and trauma of the war. This is replicated thousands of times over.
Those children that live in the Lebedyn area who are refugees and attend school (when possible) have similar issues. Whenever sirens sound they panic, as they have seen the devastation the bombs can have. Many have seen or have witnessed the impact of loved ones being injured or killed. In school this is a major problem that is occurring for the teachers.
We hope in coming months to be offering counselling and help with the trauma these children and youth are having to cope with. For over 2 years with Covid, and now the war, there has not been any regular school, college or university. Life is tough, but the team in Lebedyn do what they can to help in their small way.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Every blessing,
Peter Martin
Founding Director of Hope Lebedyn
