When we first began efforts seeking assistance in our Ukraine relief effort, Linda Greene from Impact With Hope (Perrysburg, OH) called. She said the Farmers were willing to donate a container of enriched protein rice meals. We began working on that donation and then Linda said the Farmers would donate two cargo containers. Now the donations is many times more and includes new clothing for children, laundry detergents, canned meats and hygiene products! AMAZING GENEROSITY! The photo to the right (and featured photo) shows a group of ladies at various stations as they pack the meal bags.
The activity associated with our relief effort continues to be hot and heavy. There are a great many positive developments but also some of the negatives continue to dog us. We WILL persevere!
A number of you continue to press for the USAF to be allowed to transport our relief items (keep contacting anyone in Washington D.C. that you can!). So far there has only been obstruction and empty words from the DOS, DoD, and USAID. They claim they are following orders.
Even without the government’s support and help, we continue to do amazing things!
Monday we hope to have TWO air cargo pickups: (1) six pallets of urgently needed medical supplies for triage and ER application out of Montgomery, AL, and (2) six pallets of children’s aspirin from Columbus, MS. (Charita has a load of medicine in NJ and is waiting for clearance from Poland because a few have narcotic elements.)
Our first relief container is to arrive in Poland on March 7! (We pray the shipping lines are on time). This was sent by the brethren at Holly Springs, MS.
This week we load TWO cargo containers of food from OH; ONE cargo container of miscellaneous medical supplies out of Montgomery, AL; and THREE cargo containers of family buckets, clothing and hygiene products out of Holly Springs, MS!
Charita says all shipping companies have been super responsive to our requests for containers. We REALLY need airlift authorization because that would immediately send these commodities!
The amazing story (among many amazing stories)…a shipper of heavy duty construction equipment also ships for a food producer. The Heavy Equipment corporation told the Food Producer of our efforts. Consequently the Food Producer said he would donate THIRTY CARGO CONTAINERS of food for the relief efforts! Charita is conferencing this on Monday so I’m anxious to hear. What a blessing this much food would be for those who are refugees from Ukraine!!
Searcy, AR reports on buckets & bags
Hi John,
As you probably know, most of the churches of Christ in the Searcy area are gearing up to collect things for Ukraine. The news coming from there is just heartbreaking. I keep praying that things will change but so far that has not happened.
Dr. David Hatfield, a recently retired ENT doctor, has been invited to speak on Wednesday of this next week. He said he needed very clear instructions to give them about where and how to get the hygiene bags to the right place, etc. I am giving him your email and phone number, I hope that is O.K. Harding is on spring break this next week but after everyone returns, we hope to get the entire student body collecting items for Ukraine.
Thanks so much for your help. Continuing to pray for Ukraine.
Janice
Some email correspondence with a friend in Kyiv, Oblast:
Hi Tatiana,
John
It is so good to hear from you. Where are you now? We are shipping in humanitarian supplies Tanya is in Poland assisting our efforts there please contact us for more details on what you are doing. Thanks for the needs list.
Tatiana’s reply:
Dear John,
Tatiana (in Kiev)
Thank you for your efforts and response. I am now in Boryspil, Kyiv region, at home with my parents and relatives, we are staying here. Together with those who cared, they united in a volunteer center. We weave camouflage nets, sew ammunition and prepare food for our defenders, volunteers, territorial defense, our men who guard and guard our cities and homes around the clock, help those who are left alone in this war. Now the situation is difficult throughout the Kiev region, we spend the night in cellars and sirens are constantly heard. We suffer from chaotic air strikes, you never know where the next projectile will fall and it’s awful. We are not afraid of pleasure. We are all united and stronger than ever. We pray. I am very glad to hear you, congratulations to Tanya, you are incredible! Thank you for your work, hug.
She shared this video put together showing some of this work done by Ukrainians as they join together in the effort to stop the Russian aggression. I thought I would also share and embed here if you would like to watch.
The Blessings of the Lord’s Church in Poland
As another Lord’s Day has come to an end, I can’t help but reflect on the wonderful blessings we have in being part of Christ’s body. I know that as I worshipped in Columbia, TN that my church family in Montgomery, AL was also worshipping…and thousands of other congregations were gathering together as well. It was so good to hear how those of our Ukrainian family that fled were able to join together with those in Worclaw, Poland! You are always home if you are together with the family of Christ.
Hi John!
Tanya Zozulina
We are back from worship and had a great time there. It was wonderful to worship with the brethren in Poland. Even though we speak different languages our unity in Christ binds us and makes our communication possible and encouraging. The brethren in Wroclaw gave us such a warm welcome and mentioned us and Ukraine in prayers. The preacher was in Gdańsk and preached online. We sang many hymns. We know some of them and sang in UA. Later on, one of the sisters told me that when she heard multilingual singing she was so touched and said it sounded awesome.
Our Polish brethren have been so helpful ever since we arrived here. They have helped us with money, food, shopping, and offered lodging. They brought us some cooking pots and pans a there was nothing here. They have shown so much love, concern, care, and hospitality.
It is truly a wonderful blessing to be a part of Lord’s Church where everybody is loved. No matter where we are, you are never alone because God’s family is everywhere.
It is interesting that there’s a Ukrainian family that are members here. They moved a few years ago. Julia and Anya know some members of the Church they used to attend in Ukraine. We took pics afterwards and I’m attaching one here. Thank God for our family in Christ all over the world. It’s a great blessing!!!”
The Church in Ivano-Frankivsk
The Church in Ivano-Frankivsk is still meeting and actively working during this crisis. Tanya sent this word, “Church in Ivano-Frankivsk met at my place today because the way to the usual meeting place of the church was blocked. I’m thankful my apartment could be used in that way.” Continue to pray for our family in Ivano-Frankivsk as they work there as they can with those in need!
Media coverage of our efforts
Charita has done a super job of involving the Ukrainian population in the USA to help our efforts. Here is a FOX news report from the Houston, TX area on how our action is impacting that city: CLICK HERE TO WATCH
We plan to alert the media in Montgomery, AL area about our loading on Tuesday and the work we are doing with the buckets and bags. We will keep you posted on any coverage so you can share with others! We just want to spread the word and get as many involved as possible…and bring the glory and honor to the Lord’s Church in hope of opening doors of evangelism and support in the months and years to come.
Outpouring of Support from Christians EVERYWHERE!
We continue to be astonished at the reach and support of our relief efforts! Not only are congregations in neighboring states joining in with us…but as I traveled home to Montgomery today, we received call from Ontario, Canada! And there is a load of buckets coming from the New York Avenue congregation in Arlington, TX next week (see pics below)! The love and support of the Lord’s Church is amazing…and if it teaches us anything, we should continue to grow closer together and enjoy that unity found in Christ Jesus. Keep the brethren that are traveling with these loads in your prayers! We have so many pitching in and working. For that we are truly thankful to God.
Thank you for being a part of something bigger than ourselves that will touch the lives of thousands around the world. May this all be to the glory of God and His Church and bring souls to the saving gospel message.
Please keep Ukraine in your prayers tonight and tomorrow!
John Kachelman Jr.
(Montgomery, AL)
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