Day 13: War in Ukraine
On this thirteenth day of war, we received some great news. More of our staff, widows, and chorus members are getting out of Kyiv to either a safer area of Ukraine or to the countries of Poland and Hungary. This is a great relief, but it also heightens our concern for the widows, especially those widows taking care of disabled children.
We lean into our faith at this time. Even though most of us do not “feel” like anything good is happening, it is. We claim power from biblical passages like Isaiah 10 and 17.
The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end. But my love will never disappear. My promise of peace will not come to an end,” says the Lord who shows mercy.
So no weapon that is used against you will defeat you. You will show that those who speak against you are wrong. These are the good things my people receive. Their victory comes from me,” says the Lord.
These are not just empty words to us. It is why we pray over them, “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God.” Our people are sending communication back to us with their thanks and how much they are encouraged by the support they are reading about on a daily basis.
We have personally heard from Ukrainian soldiers, who tell us the Russian soldiers have run out of food and gas and are fighting among themselves. The Russians were not prepared for a prolonged resistance. Many of them are giving up, and some of their explosive rockets and missiles are hitting and not exploding. How does this happen? It’s because these are the very things many of you are praying for along with us. When the Russian soldiers began raiding homes, the Ukrainian soldiers fought harder to dissuade them from pillaging and causing greater civilian casualties.
Communications with our orphanage have been cut off. We believe it is because the Russian soldiers are confiscating all phones and computers, similar to what they are doing in other villages. Unspeakable horrors happen to children during wartime, and we are praying for their protection.
I have been told by multiple individuals as they are fleeing the capital city, Kyiv, of how they are seeing dead bodies everywhere. I cannot fathom the horror and how it is impacting them. The good news is more of our staff and widows are getting out of Kyiv today or tomorrow. They claim it is a little calmer in Kyiv on day thirteen, but today’s U.S. intelligence is claiming it is about to get much worse.
Our staff is renting private vehicles and drivers to take them, their families, and pets to safer areas in western Ukraine or to the borders of Poland or Hungary. We are covering their expenses and staying in constant communication.
We continue to have concerns for 15 of our chorus members who are either staying in Kyiv to fight or because their husbands and sons are there to fight. Many have aging parents who refuse to leave.
Yesterday in talking with Lena Sagun, Oksana Polevichenko, and Ira Donchenko, who all said they are trying to work through the required paperwork for refugees in the country they are now staying—it's quite overwhelming. I cannot imagine the complexities they are facing, but I'm just relieved they are safe for now. Each of them has expressed their desire to return home.
Pray
For our orphans still at the orphanage in Stara Basan. We have stopped hearing from them because we have been told the Russians are confiscating phones and computers to stop the flow of information. We are gravely concerned for the 18 orphans still there.
For the Ukrainian soldier’s protection in divine ways in the heat of the battle. They are defining what it means to be willing to sacrifice their life for another person. There is no higher example of love.
For the peace talks to be effective and for a cease fire order immediately.
For the civilians still trapped in the different cities who need food, water, and safety.
For the relief workers, foreign and domestic in Ukraine to be protected and successful in their humanitarian efforts.
For safe evacuation routes for the people fleeing the fighting in every city.
For Russian soldiers to continue to give up and their equipment and supplies to fail.
For the Russian army to stop the crimes against civilians.
For Russia to have their eyes opened to the Truth, to rise up, and overthrow Putin and his government.
Give
Thank you in advance for any ways you are stirred to give. Our financial support is working. We are being directed on how to support the needs they have at the moment. We continue to ask for your gifts to go “where needed most” so we can use them anywhere needed in Ukraine. Our whole focus is toward the war and staying in touch for their specific needs, and our banks continue to be open.
Take Action
Please contact your congressional leaders or write the President and demand we do more, and we do it now before it is too late. Thank you if you have already contacted them. Please contact them again. The enormous number of lives being lost is going to haunt us all.
- Greg
CEO | Music Mission Kiev