Update – 3/07/2023

BUCKETS! BUCKETS! BUCKETS!

On almost a daily basis I receive requests for more buckets. Last week I was talking with a contact in Ukraine who has been a significant help in the distribution of our shipments. He said, “Do you have more buckets to send? These are very helpful!”

Here are a few of the distribution photos that Ivan and Ruslan have sent regarding those receiving the Family Buckets that you have sent.

NEWS FROM IVAN

Greetings, dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are forever thankful to God and you for your prayers and support of Christians in Ukraine.

The month of February was utterly stressful psychologically as the Russians would threaten us all the time with attacks from Belarus and would bomb Eastern and Central Ukraine. Several bombs hit even Western Ukraine. With the constant pressure and rockets/bombs destroying buildings, there are so many displaced people that there is no way to provide lodging for all of them. So, people live in various constructions that are often not meant for that and they do not have any conveniences there. We try to support them physically, psychologically and financially. We have opened rooms for the displaced and are working to make more rooms available.

We distribute humanitarian aid, invite people to Church, give away Bibles and other Christian literature. People see the injustice. Such injustice sure causes doubts towards those in power. But we explain to people that injustice will be there all the time. Because many do not know God and do not care for even civil law.

It breaks your heart to hear what some of the people have gone through having lost their family members and all they had. This is a stressful reality and I never thought I would be facing it. There is an indescribable need for the Lord’s Church and Gospel.

We continue assembling on Sundays and Wednesdays. We study the Book of Exodus on Wednesday and the Gospel of Matthew on Sunday. Our men take part conducting services. Sveta teaches children and gets together with women for Friday prayer session. Our Sunday attendance averages from 18 to 25 plus 9 to 11 families worship with us online.  Many Christians leave the country.

Two women from Toretsk started coming to worship—Inna and Olena listen to sermons and study the Gospel. Besides we have two men, both named Andrew who continue to study the Scriptures. At first, they would come for the buckets but now they study the Gospel and help unload containers. Also, we distribute humanitarian aid together.

Our dear brethren, with your great help we can preach salvation to people. It is so wonderful to hear people thank the Church and Christians for supporting victims.

We received the container with wipes and 2 generators the day before yesterday. THANK YOU very much for your help. We sure will give them to the children’s home we promised them.

We love you, our dear brethren. May the Lord keep all of you safe. Preach the Gospel to all near and dear ones and, please, pray for us.

Ivan, Svitlana, Anna, Ruslan, Masha, Timofiy, Davyd.

Individual people and families are so thankful for buckets. We gave some buckets to social workers in Ugornyky. Lubov Zinovievna sent her thanks and love to all brothers and sisters for such a generous support, for those good items they found in the buckets. The contents of buckets are those basic things everybody needs in housekeeping. Some people received letters with Bible verses and were as excited as little children. Everybody loved those gifts.

These pics are from: 

• Nadvirna Central City Hospital
• Bohorodchany community (for the displaced)
• Orthopedic supplies went to Bakhmut
• Perinatal Center on Chornovola Street in Ivano-Frankivsk
• Khryplyn children’s home

The other day as I was talking with Ruslan he asked to let you know that we do not need wipes any more. The whole country has a great surplus of them and sanitizers.

Tanya

ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM IVAN

Greetings, brother John!

Big thanks to you for help and humanitarian containers that you ship here. They provide good opportunities to help people and hospitals, which builds up the good reputation of Church of Christ in Ivano-Frankivsk and the region.

We have the church bus registered and it is being used constantly. At times we use the bus to deliver aid. For example, one of the pics shows the delivery of family buckets to Ugornyky. We also use it to take our members to Church assemblies. It is very convenient for us now. It is SUPER! Such a great help that helps us save money.

We have talked with Lubov about the work in Ugornyky. She is willing to help us. To my mind, it would be good if Gif, Jared and Whitney would go to Ugornyky. Besides, Perry will have things to do in the village Zelena and here with us since we have new people who are not baptized yet. You will meet with doctors and the administration, both civil and military. We would like for you to teach at Church.

Everybody is very thankful for support. We would like to ask this trip to focus on Ivano-Frankivsk and Ugornyky. What do you think? Mayors Andrew and Anatoly are sending you greetings.

The Germans are helping us and the Church in Wrocław, Poland is also helping. Marilu said that she would get canned goods and all necessary warm things for the people. As soon as possible, I will try to take it all away. The two smaller generators that you transfer are greatly needed. We know for a hospital and an orphanage, if you do not mind.

Look forward to having you here. We thank God for you and for all the good work that you do. 

Thanks for all. God’s protection and help from our Lord Jesus Christ.

I love and respect you,
Ivan

RUSLAN SENDS GREETINGS

Greetings dear brothers and sisters! We thank God for relatively quiet situation in this Region so that we can go on working and assembling for worship in safer conditions. My dad will give you more details on the current situation. My family has been sick this month and so have I. Thus, I have had to give more time to them. There have been a lot of wounded, killed and those that still flee the horrible realities raging in the East of Ukraine. Please, pray for those who fight to protect this country. If has been a year already and everybody is worn out. Lots of greetings on behalf of the Christians here. Those receiving humanitarian aid also send their big thanks. May God be with you as you strive to help us and our county. Thank you!

Ruslan Skoleba

APPLAUSE TO CHARITA Shteynberg!!!

For over a year we have been consumed with actions in Ukraine. A significant part of the successes the Lord’s Church has experienced is attributable to Charita’s logistical expertise. You look at the massive volume moved and it is incredible. As a result of this success we have become a visible entity that attracts attention. This has allowed us to become involved in a number of actions that previously were unavailable. This allows our reputation and recognition to touch amazing opportunities. Here are just two of the most recent developments that will bring wonderful results to our efforts. THANK YOU CHARITA!!!

FIVE 53-Foot TRUCKLOADS OF GENERATORS!

The Rotary of Tennessee is donating truckloads of generators for Ukraine. Charita estimates that these will overflow the containers being loaded because the containers are only 40-feet long. Rotary wants to give us the leftovers for shipments into Ukraine. These are in Jackson, TN and will be loaded there but we will bring the leftovers to Columbia, TN for shipping in a container. Rotary is excited about the work we have accomplished and wants to help us in a number of ways including paying for transportation.

Here are the shipment details for the first container:

• 203 units
• 42 pallets
• 33,000 pounds

A BLOOD MOBILE DONATION from Bedford, TX

My name is Ken____ and I am a volunteer for “Ukraine helping Common Man for Ukraine” (Plymouth, New Hampshire Rotary). I have found a blood collection bus for Ukraine. Please see the below email and please contact me because I am frozen on the project without your answers to the questions necessary to begin transporting the bus. Please, I need dates, the port location, and answers about whether the bus can be loaded with additional donations of clothes and possibly medical and dental supplies. The blood mobile is 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, 12 feet tall with a ground clearance of 9.5 inches from the lowest point on the bottom of the bus; the registered weight of the bus is 25,950 pounds.

This will be transported and eventually arrive in the Kyiv Region.

Currently, the bus has 105 boxes of donated clothing. Two-thirds of the bus remains available for additional donations and I have an offer for medical and dental supplies. Photographs of the bus and the clothing donation in the bus follow my closing signature.

Thank you for your continued prayers, financial support and willing work in so many locations. I am preparing to deploy to Ukraine in the next few weeks. Schedules and arrangements are already being confirmed. Continue praying for our efforts. Continuing praying that God will open more doors of opportunity so the gospel of peace can be received in a world of war!

John L. Kachelman, Jr.