Report 10

Featured Photo: The Church of Christ assembles in Ivano-Frankivsk for a mid-week Bible study period.

Our day has been slammed over here. I am with Gif and Tanya in Lviv and Perry, Chip and Inna are in Ivano-Frankivsk. On our location, today we had three significant meetings. During the day we also had constant phone calls regarding containers that are arriving.

We had loaded a container out of Judsonia (Searcy), Arkansas with critically needed items for the flood victims who were displaced when Russia blew up the Kherson Dam. The container has 15 mattresses and Kherson were expecting 100+. With all of the other emergency items, we just ran out of room for mattresses. The Kherson administration had been excited about receiving so many mattresses because of the huge influx of flood victims. Now we need to reschedule and raise funds to ship another container out of Judsonia that will transport the needed mattresses.

Another container is coming into Lviv that is filled with canned goods donated by a food manufacturer in southern Indiana (about 45 miles north of Louisville, KY on I-65). These boxes of canned goods will be distributed into the Kherson, Kharkiv Regions where there is widespread hunger. Thankfully we have a trusted distribution network that can deliver. This container was to have arrived today in Lviv but it was delayed until Monday.

Each day begins with a plan and that plan is solid until we get our first phone call—then it is a “Fruit basket Turnover”! Trying to specify a consistent schedule with an accurate timetable is like playing whack-a-mole. My beloved brother Tommy South made this observation after reading of our fluid schedule, “I am enjoying your reports and keeping you and your co-workers in prayer. Glad that everything is going well. Your opening paragraph reminded me of what I have told groups going to Ukraine with me for years: ‘We plan carefully, then go and see what happens.’ Blessings, brother. Tommy.  I “amen” Tommy with a😊!

Conference in Lviv

Having left the situation in Ivano-Frankivsk in good hands I made my way to a meeting

In Lviv to discuss a number of issues involving our shipments. Mykola Ivanovych, my very good friend and partner in a number of adventures since 2008, helped arrange the gathering with others involved in distribution. We had a good number attending from these areas in Ukraine: Dnipro, Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk, Donetsk, Hostomel (Bucha), and Truskavets. We have had successful actions in a number of these areas. It was good to get together and receive updates on the actions in the areas. I wish I could share all of the strategic plans and immediate implementations of projects discussed and the positive developments that are occurring.

I appreciate the consideration shown during this meeting. No alcohol was on the table and I was asked to offer thanks for the wonderful food that we enjoyed.

As the all-day meeting closed, several present observed that we were, in those meetings, setting a legacy for the nation.

The report paused…Let me ask you to consider the legacy the Lord’s Church is being offered! The Lord urged His disciples, “I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35).

A tragic historic failing of the Lord’s Church is how the focus turns “inward” instead of “outward.” The emphasis becomes what can be done for the saved. All concerns, financing, and energy is focused only on pacifying the saved. Consequently, the mission of the Church is compromised and misdirected!

The outreach becomes minimal, if any. The vision becomes “inward” to please “us.” The balance between edification and evangelism is skewed. To counter such compromise the Lord urges “Lift your eyes up and look!” Again, Matthew 9:36-38, “Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast…He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’”

It is more comfortable to sit among the saints instead of reaching out to the sinners. It is easier to be vocal about what “we” need instead of actively delivering what the lost must hear.

This point is applicable to the local as well as the foreign efforts of the Church! God planned His Church to be populated by those who are salt, light and leaven—when those elements are confined and isolated, they are useless! This sobering point is often conveniently excused by congregations as their “evangelistic attention” is focused only on the saved. Search and read “the parable of the life saving station.”

…OK, off rant and back to the report…

In the photos below you will see me with Andrew. He has been involved in evac actions. He has personally delivered babies during hurried evacuations. On one occasion he delivered a baby in MINUS 20C. The mother had died from a missile strike but Andrew quickly delivered the baby via caesarean delivery. The baby lived and was adopted. A note on the idiocy of bureaucracy…since the baby was not birthed in a “maternity hospital” it was not legally recognized!

Today, a vanload of food and supplies left Ivano-Frankivsk destined for those villages in Kharkiv Region that have not received any relief items. Food is a critical need and through our contacts we are able to continuing a supply run that offers some assistance to those in great need. Ruslan loaded the van and is coordinating this mission. The vanload will be “whittled down” until eventually it is transported by car loads which is the only possible means to get the supplies in to those in desperation.

Chip

I finally got a well needed long restful night and awoke to a beautiful blessing of a sunny day. Remember how I have mentioned in previous reports how “flexibility” is a required talent for mission trips? Well it happened again today! The plan changed between the time when we went to bed and then when morning came—totally changed! We were to meet with some military personnel and make some flag presentations but pressing needs for them changed the plan. War is kind of funny that way!

But, the silver lining is it gave Perry and me more time to work on the plans for these upcoming meetings during the afternoon before Wednesday night class.

Ivan had asked me again to lead a presentation at Wednesday service tonight and it was on the good ground where seed was sown and the thorns which also grew and choked the good seed growth. I was sharing Perry’s translator and there was a transportation mix-up and she arrived 15 minutes late. Our good brother and minister from Lysets, Vova, stepped in to translate until Inna arrived and took over.  I’m sure he enjoyed translating my Southern English drawl.

We had a nice group present. The meeting was live streamed to some other locations by Ivan’s mobile phone.

I forgot to mention in the beginning of this report but Brother John K left Perry and I alone last night to take care of some other business so it was up to Perry and I to sink or swim. I believe we did him proud in the faith he placed in us!

Remember to keep praying for the future harvest to come from our sowing as well as our continued safety!

Perry

Ivan called about 10:30 and said there was a water issue at the building needed fixing & that he’s was unable to reach the major of the military base. We had a free day which worked out well. I was able to buy a suit and work on my sermon for Sunday. Chip did a good job recapping part of the lesson from Sunday regarding the thorny soil with much discussion. We met with Ivan to discuss today’s plans. We meet with Lubov this morning to discuss where we will meet for each evening. Ivan still believes we will go to the base later.

One of the urgent priorities is assisting families to recover and reunite from the horrible evils that war brings. I cannot forget the young woman that told me, “My husband is gone and the one in his body is a monster.” We are actively working with professionals in all fields to assist as possible. There are multiple actions underway to help. The recovery process will not be simple or quick. Some require prolonged counselling care. The medical professionals are asking for our help. Some require medication to assist recovery. I received this note from Charita: John, Cipla Pharmaceutical offered a full load of antidepressants and medication for schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, including PTSD.  I need to find a sponsor for shipping. Is it possible that some reading these reports can assist in donations that will help us get these medications moved and into the professional hands that can use them properly?

Remember our mission in prayers asking God to grant us success and to open doors of opportunity! Colossians 4:2-4

John L. Kachelman, Jr.

Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine