The most recent update on the crisis in Ukraine focuses on the wonderful responses being received for collections of the family buckets.
If you would like to fill a bucket please see this link for suggested items that need to be sent: http://www.kachelman.com/documents/family_buckets.pdf
In addition to the items on the list you might want to put in a small toy for the children as well as some school supplies.
Earlier today I sent out the wonderful news that the Lord’s Church in Ivano-Frankivsk has received its legal registration. This is a wonderful blessing after years of discouraging difficulties. The report read: “It is the only non-denominational church of Christ in the Region and in the city with the population of almost 300,000 people.” As my good brother “Arky” Ed Berry remarked, “solva boga!”
An urgent reminder…in every disaster you will find those callous enough to exploit the suffering and tragedy for their personal gain.
Yesterday I talked with a brother who was called by someone in another State (I forget where but TN seems to be the State mentioned). The caller was raising money to “help those suffering in Ukraine.” The brother receiving the call has worked with me for a number of years and is very knowledgeable of the situation in Ukraine. He told me that he listened to the caller’s solicitation and then asked some basic questions, but the caller had no idea what was really going on in Ukraine—the caller just wanted money! Those of us who have worked the disasters of tornadoes and hurricanes and floods have seen this all too often. It is reprehensible. But…greed is a reality of life and evidence of Satan’s actions.
Let me caution you—urgently caution you. Please realize…
- There is a real war going on in eastern Ukraine and the situation there is NOT safe. The general population has been told for several weeks to leave the area but some are unwilling to leave and choose to believe the Russian propaganda that citizens will be safe. What is not being told is that Russia’s plan is to keep as many citizens as possible because they offer a human shield. Those who do not leave are making a choice that is deadly—they can be arrested and forced into a para-military organization to fight Ukraine’s military; they will probably be locked up and beaten and starved until they are willing to submit; they can be killed; they can be sent to Russia; they can be forced into a slave labor division. It is NOT safe.
- There is no real security in the eastern Ukraine Regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. Anarchy has ruled for months. Anarchy has a devolving pattern—it only degrades; it only becomes worse. The Anarchist IS NOT your friend. The inevitable end of the Anarchist is death and those who are around the Anarchist will die. With anarchy reigning there is no real security for person or possessions. Consequently…
- There is no secure way to send money to those in the hostile regions. NO WAY! If someone solicits money from you saying it is going into Donetsk or Lugansk they are not being truthful with you. If someone tells you they are sending money to the orphans in Lugansk and Donetsk they are untruthful. Most of the orphanages that existed before Anarchy are no longer there—most orphans were taken into Russia against their will. The orphans that were relocated early in the crisis are living in IDP locations other than Lugansk and Donetsk. NO ONE can truthfully tell you that they are collecting money to help the orphans in Donetsk and Lugansk now or after the war is over—NO ONE! The only secure way to get urgently needed relief items to those struggling is to have access to the IDP locations and the resources to accomplish that distribution with integrity.
Please understand these urgent cautions!!! Please pass this information on to as many as possible.
John
