219 Days of War in Ukraine
On this last day of September, we have moved into month eight of the war in Ukraine. If you have kept up with the news, you know that Putin has called up 300,000 new soldiers to be conscripted into the Russian war machine. You may also know Putin is working to annex the Russian-occupied lands in Ukraine to become Russian territory, so they can call any Ukrainian attempts to take back their lands “attacks on Russia.” If that happens, the threat of tactical nuclear weapons weighs heavy on Ukraine.
We have had so many amazing things happen since I last wrote in mid-August. The incredible Ukrainian Ballet Benefit held in Orlando on August 27 was a world-class event. The venue had every seat filled, and the Ukrainian Ballet Troupe put on an incredible night of emotional performances. The total monies raised for Ukraine was over $800,000. It was a complete success. Our own Vika Konchoskovka and Sergii Golubnychi led the singers and symphony for the performance and returned to Ukraine several days later.
Our opportunities to send aid to Ukraine have gotten easier as one of the banks we use has raised its threshold of how much we can send. Knowing the winter months will be extremely cold with very limited gas and electricity available, we have contracted a Ukrainian company to provide a blanket and furry sheepskin slippers to more than 420 individuals. We will distribute those within the next few weeks.
The ministry at Stara Basan is back to normal, even with Oksana P. still in Germany. Pastor Ruslan, Viktoriia, and Sasha have heard the horror stories of the Russians occupying the orphanage twice as they sheltered in the basement with little food. We now go twice a month to provide aid, Bible lessons, and trauma care to the children. As you can see in the pictures, the children rarely smile now; some still look like they are in perpetual shock. There is much work to be done with the children.
We hired a new assistant pastor for St. Paul’s Church to serve as the small group’s pastor, help in the growing children/youth programs, and assist in our ministry to families with autistic/challenged children. His name is Yuri Amelin, and he has preached at St. Paul’s Church several times while Pastor Ruslan was away. He will become part of the regular Stara Basan team and help in our widow’s Bible study program. We are happy to have him join us in the mission to disciple people for Jesus.
We have been in contact with a ministry providing prosthetic limbs for men, women, and children who are in Kyiv for those in rehabilitation. We believe this is an area we can have a great impact in helping supply the prosthetics and rehabilitation not covered by the Ukraine government. We will share more about this new opportunity in the coming updates. One of the businesses providing prosthetics is here in Florida. How amazing that is!
We have also been to the town of Markariv and the villages of Zabyannya and Lypovka (not far from the west of Kyiv). You can see from the pictures the damage done to many homes. Most families have left or are staying in the modular dormitories provided by Poland’s government. We are connecting with the village councils and local churches to bring aid and hope to these devastated communities. We are working with the people who were in the attacks in Bucha and Irpin. Those were the areas the global news networks showed all the destruction and loss in the early days of the war.
Our widows/pensioners Thursday Bible study group and voucher distribution are happening every Thursday. We needed to split the group up because of how large it is, so each half meets every other week. You can see a picture of this week’s women’s prayer group at our office with former MMK staff member Natasha Shevchenko (Dr. Vadym’s mom) there on a visit from the US. The Friday meeting of the families with autistic/challenged children continues to be well attended. St. Paul’s Church services are also going very well.
I am happy to report most of our singers returned to Kyiv at the end of August and are back at the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus rehearsals. They are preparing for a big concert in Kyiv in October. They are also preparing for a US Tour we hope to have in the early months of 2023. This would be a big opportunity for more people to hear the KSOC and the opportunities to partner with us in the growing work God is giving us.
Pray
For the annexation of the occupied territories and for the restraint by Putin to use any type of nuclear weapon.
For the widows we still are ministering to in the Drushivka area, as they are dangerously close to the occupied territories.
For our staff and families separated from us and living in Europe.
For the new opportunities we have to make a greater impact in real ways for the people we serve.
For God to open good relationships with the spiritual/civil leaders in the three communities we are pursuing.
For the growing number of wounded soldiers and civilians being treated in Kyiv.
For the KSOC rehearsals and the upcoming concert to be a light of hope in Kyiv.
Give
ONLINE: You can give online to musicmissionkiev.org
CALL: You can still call our U.S. office and donate with your credit card. Our office phone number is 407-699-7172.
CHECK: Send a check payable to Music Mission Kiev, PO Box 161849, Altamonte Springs, FL 32716.
Contact
Please take the time to contact your government officials. Remind them we need to do more, and we need to do it now.
Greg
CEO | Music Mission Kiev