NOTE: The photos shown in this report (and all other communications) are NOT to be forwarded or published in any way! The environment and censorship requirements mandate that I make this point.
Featured Photo: “First photo (guy with sunglasses and three buckets) is distribution from Kherson.”
A Simple Fact…
The watchword (serve/servant) for the Lord’s Church is summed up in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” The focus of the Church is to be that of its Head. Christ did not consider Himself—He focused on others! The success of His Church is singular—only as the Church looks outward and serves others is it successful! Once a Church turns its focus inward, it begins to regress; its decline becomes apparent, and that fuels anxious thoughts about how WE can focus more on ourselves and not decline further. It is a vicious, destructive cycle. The success of a Church is not found in worldly wisdom but in spiritual focus! (Revelation 2:10). The Church, wherever it is located, must ask uncomfortably, “Am I here to be served or to serve?”
A cultural daily event
Every day at 9:00 am, an announcement on the loudspeakers brings people’s attention to focus on the war and those who have served and died opposing Putin’s evil. After a minute of silence, the national anthem of Ukraine is played. When you are out on the streets, sitting in cafes, etc., people stop and silently stand, and when the anthem is played, they join in singing it. This war has been going on ever since Putin first invaded Ukraine in 2014, immediately following the Sochi Olympics! In 2022, Putin launched his full invasion of Ukraine.
A Container Arrives!
Upon arriving, I was given updates on some of our shipments. On March 26, we loaded a container out of Montgomery, AL, bound for Ivano-Frankivsk. This one container held 1,382 pieces, weighed 19,740 pounds, and had a USA valuation of $1,476,109.00! A report on this loading was posted, and the link is: https://www.kachelman.com/ukraine/blog/2026/03/28/update-march-28-2026-buckets-are-locked-loaded/.
A special THANK YOU to many reading this report for your funds that help us pay shipping costs!
This container arrived and was unloaded in less than one hour! The distribution began almost immediately and has gone to many locations (Kherson, Chernivtisi Military Hospital, and locations in the east that I cannot list). Some photos from the distribution are passing through censors, and I am waiting for approval to post.
The success and instant distribution of the container are solely dependent upon the consignee receiving the container. Sadly, in the past, our containers shipped to Ivano-Frankivsk sat for months in storage, and distribution reports trickled out. But now! Thanks to Gif and Perry, we have a fantastic and reputable consignee.
Prattville Youth at the warehouse!
Just as I was wrapping up the final critical to-dos for this trip, JARED KELLY arranged for his youth group (from the Prattville Church of Christ). This group worked hard and completed tasks that will make our next container loading go well. They sorted clothing, restacked pallets of miscellaneous medical supplies, put labels on buckets, and did several other tasks. They finished quickly and were hungry for more! I appreciate Jared’s hard work, compassionate service, and evangelistic vision. Jared and Whitney just returned from Ukraine, so they know firsthand how critical these efforts are to the Church’s community impact.
Photos from the Prattville Church of Christ youth group work are below.
Again, I ask you to remember my trip in prayer with the Apostle’s request in Ephesians 6:19, “(O)n my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”
John L. Kachelman, Jr., UKRAINE MISSIONS, Dalraida Church of Christ, Montgomery, AL
