Report 21

Featured Photo: The Lord’s Church after morning worship assembly 24 September 2023.

NOTE FROM JOHN: The following are the monthly reports from Ivan and Ruslan. These were sent earlier in the trip but so much was happening in other reports I have delayed until now.

IVAN

Greetings to you dear brothers & sisters. We have lived through another month with God’s help. This month has been filled with special joy because we are blessed to have guests from America. Brothers John, Perry, Chip and Gif have come to visit us. Together we have had wonderful meetings with Administration, doctors, school principals, teachers, and other individuals that receive humanitarian aid from Churches of Christ. All of these people are very thankful for aid to Ukraine during this time. Especially we have been impressed by meeting with Alexander and Victoria. They fled the war in the part of Kharkiv that was shelled more than any other places in Kharkiv.

Their homes were destroyed and they fled at night with only what they were wearing. Alexander became very emotional and with tears in his eyes thanked the Church for clothing and new shoes from the Church. They study the Bible now and thank God for help. Alexander and Victoria also help distributed food and clothes to displaced people. Right now, Alexander lives in Yaremche. In this city there are 12,000 IDPS that have come to live. There are many women and children among them. Andrew Ivanovich, the Mayor of the town told us that it was a great burden for the town. He thanked American Christians for their support. John and Chip presented the Mayor with an American flag and the flag of Alabama to the Mayor. Besides this, there was a meeting with a military unit where Chip presented the soldiers with another flag and coin. This was a great encouragement and support for the troops. With great joy the Battalion Commander, expressed thanks expressed to American people for their support and unity in spirit that we share. It was so wonderful to see the happy eyes and faces of those in the military unit.

On Sunday, Chip taught a very good Bible class about the Sower and four types of soil into which the seed falls. Besides, brother Perry taught a very good Bible class on Wednesday talking about the Church as a Body. After classes we had fellowship meal and a prayer.

We are very thankful to you brothers and sisters, especially are we thankful to brother John for support and arrangement of joint activities.

We thank God and all of you for unity, support and encouragement. We are proud of our brothers for being so bold to come to this country at such a dangerous time with constant air raid alarms but you and we are together in spirit.

May the Lord keep all of you safe. We pray for you, your country and your families.

In Christian love, Ivan & Svetlana

RUSLAN

Greetings brother and sisters, another month has passed but th month was very joyful because our brothers came and brought your greetings and love. We had meetings with Mayors, with united communities and with Heads of different institutions who received humanitarian aid from us. We are always happy to see a group from America to come see us. They are already as our own here. We thank God for such fellowship and encouragement. We continue building the Church meeting house. John and the team are astonished (impressed) with everything we have done since their last trip in spite of the war in this country. Big thanks to all who help our brothers come here. We are especially thankful to our God for His mercy and grace. Heartfelt regards to all of you. God be with you.

Ruslan

Further words on our assistance to the Ivano-Frankivsk congregation…

Brothers and sisters, thank you for your financial assistance. We bought and installed handrails on the stairs for the disabled which was necessary. We also distributed food for poor people, the rice is very tasty, everyone is grateful for the food. This shipment of food is a big help. At present all people’s money goes to harvesting firewood for heating homes because the heating and lights will be turned off due to the war. Thanks to the rice you sent, people will be able to spend less on food and buy firewood, diesel and gasoline for generators. We have also sent rice to Kharkiv and Kherson regions to provide for those who are desperate for food. We have secure way of getting food into those locations. A photo will be sent to us later. May you be blessed with God’s protection and we send a big THANK YOU!

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.

Warclaw, Poland