72 Days of War in Ukraine
It is hard for me to write and admit the war in Ukraine has been underway for 72 days, and there does not appear to be an end in sight. My last update was two weeks ago, and much has happened. I will share several of the highlights and challenges.
On April 28 and May 5, the widow’s Bible study resumed with Pastor Ruslan doing the spiritual lessons. Lena, Ira, and Oksana are taking turns preparing written Bible lessons taken to the homebound widows and pensioners. At the end of the lesson, they receive their food vouchers and are given vouchers some of them will deliver to the homebound with the printed Bible lesson. Vika, Valentina, Sergei K., and Igor (Zak) are taking care of all the logistics needed to make it a smooth program for everyone. I am grateful for their dedication and loving service.
St. Paul’s Church will move from its weekly Zoom church service to in-person gatherings again this Saturday, May 7. Pastor Ruslan and Vika have worked together to prepare for a great time of worship and fellowship for the first time since the invasion on February 24.
Retired Lt. Col. Vasily and Valya Khimich have been the leaders helping pioneer a military chaplaincy in Ukraine and visiting the war front with Ukrainian Special Forces. We are privileged to count them as one of our partners in ministry in Ukraine. MMK provides financial support for his war-front evangelism. His recent update revealed how Vasily continues to visit Ukrainian soldiers and gives them prayer cards and MP3 players with recordings of the New Testament.
He and Valya lead the military widow’s program we are directly connected with through Oksana. They have been supplying the military widows with bags of food and visiting their church members who are in the military. He recently visited soldiers in the East, where the fighting is the most intense.
In the past three weeks, Vasily had a short but blessed time together with 30 Baptist chaplains in the city of Zhytomyr, where they renewed relationships and shared their ministry experiences during the war. They concluded their time together with Holy Communion, and everyone left feeling renewed and encouraged. We are thankful for the ministry the Khimichs continue to lead.
This week, during Pastor Ruslan’s Bible study with our (Internally Displaced Persons) group from Puscha, two soldiers on leave came to the study. One young man is the son of Varvara, a widow in the group. The group showered these young men with love and encouragement because they were leaving in a few days and going to an area in Ukraine currently experiencing the most intense battles.
Pray
Pray for God to bring closure to this war sooner than later.
For the damaging trauma happening to the emotion and mental health of the young people.
For the plans to harm Ukraine to be completely foiled.
For the separation anxiety many families are experiencing.
For the renewed hope and faith to replace the growing weariness they are experiencing.
For protection for the people traveling evacuation corridors.
For the concerns with gas rationing, they are experiencing in Kyiv, making it hard to continue to make all the deliveries.
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. Even if you have already called or written them, please do so again. I cannot overstate the importance our influence can have on our government to do more.
Greg
CEO | Music Mission Kiev