Report 18

FEATURED PHOTO: Gif and I are visiting with the group from Zaporozhe who travelled to meet us since it was too dangerous for us to go to the city.

A group from Zaporozhe arrived by train early this morning and are spending the day then boarding the return train at 10:00 pm for Zaporozhe—a full day because they wanted to meet about the work and see us. So, Gif and I were up and going by 4:30! They arrived on time and we went back to the rented apartment where they reported on all the good they are doing. They are about to receive the third container that we shipped to them. This container is from CURE in Ft. Smith, AR and is filled with critically needed hospital furnishings.

They have also been very busy in the aftermath of the Kherson Dam destruction. They said that during the first days of the dam’s destruction each day presented new urgent needs—one day they needed boats but not the next day. The dam’s destruction has made drinking water scarce. In fact, any water is scarce.

While we are positioned better for the approaching winter, there is still an unknown anxiety about what will happen and if the freezing winter will kill many. Last night we met with Nicholi who has been helping children ever since Russia invaded in 2014. He has just located a sports center in the west (Ivano-Frankivsk Region) that will accept 500 children for the winter. Nicholi is now searching for bedding and food supplies to help these children. We hope to be able to send a container of fortified rice meals to this location.

The flooded areas have been totally destroyed and many are unlivable. One briefing report that I read said the dam’s destruction was actually worse than a nuclear bomb because it caused total devastation. The containers of food and medical supplies that the Churches of Christ shipped were a great help and are still being distributed. I also had wired funds to several of the NGOs that are trusted and they were able to take immediate action to assist as well.

Once again, Gif and I heard nothing but praise for the Family Buckets. Inna did suggest that the tops of the liquids be taped because some had opened and leaked.

The group presented us with special beadwork that elderly ladies, helped by our shipments, made just for us.

Because we have been able to keep supplies going, this group has been very busy. They have helped 43,000 registered Ukrainians and countless who are unregistered because their documents were destroyed in the flood.

Gif’s Thoughts…

We have had more good days of meetings. A group from Zaporizhia travelled by train to see us and to discuss how their humanitarian aid work has been going. They have been able to do a lot with the Church’s help, but that area has been ravaged and mostly forgotten by American helpers because of the lack of news reporting. They have a lot of people who need help and it will only continue to worsen as long as the war continues. One thing they mentioned was their love for the family buckets we send and the practical nature of what is in them (Inna said the buckets were “full of wonders” – they are “buckets of wonders”). This is a resounding theme from just about everyone we meet that tells us an important thing: we need more buckets!

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