37 Days of War in Ukraine
The director of the Stara Basan orphanage contacted our staff member, Oksana Polivechenko, with an update that all remaining children at the orphanage have evacuated to a relatively safe place. He sent the photo (below) of four of the children receiving some of the food we had delivered. This is the third food package we have been able to get through to the orphanage, and the director was very grateful.
Today, Serhiy Basarab spoke with the orphanage director and learned the Ukrainian army had regained control of Stara Basan from the Russians. This is an answer to our prayers and worthy of great celebration. The area will need to be cleared of land mines before the children can safely return to the orphanage.
Please continue to pray for Oksana’s brother, Volodya, and his unit as they serve on the front lines.
We also received updates on several members of our widow’s food program. Viola Y., Olga H., Olga S., and Irina R. are still in Kyiv. We are grateful to Oksana for this update, as she continues to contact widows as well as the orphanage from her location in Germany.
On Wednesday, Serhiy spoke with Ira Donchenko and confirmed she safely relocated to a small town in Germany. She is about two hours from where Oksana and her family currently reside.
Today, Vika Konchakosvska reported a growing calm and peacefulness in the part of Kyiv where she resides. She and Ruslan continue to make deliveries around Kyiv of food and medical supplies to those in need. The two pictures below show deliveries Ruslan made in different areas of Kyiv.
The above photo is of two widows in our program staying in one of our offices. The lady in the pink jacket always gives me a framed needle point picture to bring back to my wife Donna whenever I am there to visit. It always amazes me how those who have so little always find beautiful ways to give and bless others.
This photo is of the famous scholar, theologian, and author, Prof. Dmitro Stepovik (on the left), and other pensioners from his building receiving needed supplies. Some of you may remember Prof. Stepovik was the first vice president of the Ukrainian Bible Society, and he helped us become part of the group. He also served for a time as an MMK staff member in the Kyiv office working in communications. In recent years he has helped translate the Bible into the Ukraine language.
The MMK staff in Kyiv are now meeting every Wednesday at 10 A.M. by Zoom to check in with each other. Reconnecting has been a needed encouragement.
We will resume our weekly devotions via Zoom with the Kyiv and Orlando staff this coming Tuesday. This is a treasured time together led by Pastor Ruslan as we grow together in understanding more of God’s Word. Our hearts are always rejuvenated when we spend time together as one staff, and we are thankful for the technology allowing us to do so.
I also joined Vika and the KSOC members for their new weekly Zoom meeting this past Wednesday for those who were able to join. I hope to sit in on more of their meetings in the coming weeks. It personally reenergized me to see their faces and talk briefly with them.
Pray
Pray for the Ukrainian soldiers as they continue to fight and sacrifice for the freedom of Ukraine.
For the bordering countries as they have received more than 4 million refugees and are working to provide humanitarian aid to mostly Ukrainian women and children.
For the safe evacuation corridors to be honored by the Russian soldiers for those fleeing their homes and cities.
For strength, courage, and resolve of all of Ukraine as this war moves into week 6.
For the US and European countries providing the needed defensive weaponry to have an urgency in getting the aid to the Ukraine fighting forces.
For the cities being decimated by the Russians to be spared from any more destruction.
For the churches and organizations doing the good work of providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Give
ONLINE: You can give online to musicmissionkiev.org
CALL: You can still call our U.S. office and donate your credit card. Our office phone number is 407-699-7172.
MAIL: 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. Even if you have already called or written them, please do so again. I cannot overstate the importance of our influence to have our government do more.
Greg
CEO | Music Mission Kiev