Kharkiv Village Relief

PHOTO: The Church bus sits in the parking lost after unloading portions of the relief supplies that will be taken into the Kharkiv Region’s villages where no relief supplies have been delivered. We have a secure route that is validated by a number of people eager to assist.

In my last update I reported on the shocking fact that in the Kharkiv Oblast there are some villages that have not received any relief shipments. The reason is because they are on the frontlines and the constant bombing from Russia. Ivan had learned of the situation and, through trusted contacts we have, he had arranged for the Church to help those in this desperate predicament. Here is a report just received making our efforts…

THE BACKGROUND COMMUNICATION

From Tanya… Hi! Ivan told me that there are some villages and small towns in the Kharkiv region where people don’t have anything to eat and eat whatever they can find—cats, dogs, and even rats! These are places hard to get to and not many volunteers know about them, can get there or have arrangements to do anything. We have access because there’s this girl that is now associated with the Ivano-Frankivsk Church of Christ. The Church in Ivano-Frankivsk is collecting funds. Have a great day overflowing with blessings, smiles and good feelings! T

From Ivan…I followed up this by asking Ivan to give me some further details. He replied…with the subject line: “Допомога!” (Help!)

Greetings, brother John. At this point the church in Ivano-Frankivsk is raising funds to help the disabled and the elderly who have not been able to leave the war zone. They were not able to move out due to their health issues or because they did not have family to help them move out. All of these people have been under overlapping crossfire in the areas where it is next to impossible for volunteers to get to. But the Lord has helped us find an option. We have worked with this girl by the name of “N” for over a year. Her mother lives in one of those villages and the troops let “N” go there and take food to those who are left in that zone. The situation there is horrible—there is no water or food. It is so bad that people had to eat rodents (rats) to survive. We sent them water and food earlier and plan to send more from the containers that you just loaded. We cannot take big trucks because Russia will destroy them. All has to be sent in small vehicles. We can take the dry foods but there are no perishables available to these places. If some brethren there can help raise funds to buy such perishables for them, we’d appreciate it very much and will take the food to the places with living people. They live in damaged houses and try to make the best out of what they have left. But winter is coming, and they are in need of so many things as well as heating to be able to survive. We are doing all we can and use every minute being busy. Please, continue praying on our behalf asking the Lord to extend Him mercy and end this war. Thank you! We love you. May God keep you and your country safe.

THE BEGINNING ACTIONS

Ivan sent this update to Tanya…

“Greetings, sister! Once again big thanks for the financial support. We did very well shopping today and bought food and detergents: rice, buckwheat, cookies, canned meat, halvah (paste made of nuts, sugar and oil), soap, shampoos, washing powder. We’ll put all things together tomorrow and will add 20 Bibles for there’ll be food bags for 20 families.”

Ivan Skoleba

The first delivery was for 20 families. More will follow! THANK YOU to all who continue to fund and offer support in this mission. Rest assured that the words spoken to Habakkuk so long ago, echo in our ears, “I am accomplishing a work in your days—You would not believe it even if you were told!” (1:5).

John L. Kachelman, Jr. Ukraine Missions, P. O. Box 3085 (send mail here), 3740 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109

Be sure to notice the storks on the Church building!