{"id":11709,"date":"2026-01-21T07:03:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T13:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/?p=11709"},"modified":"2026-03-25T18:55:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T23:55:35","slug":"update-january-21-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/2026\/01\/21\/update-january-21-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Update 1\/21\/26 – Serving in the Snow"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Snowfall is being recorded in the Zakarpattia and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. If the intensity of precipitation does not decrease in the coming hours, there is a risk that traffic on public roads may be halted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The new year has begun with a lengthy list of critical to-do items with seemingly insufficient resources! Most of these actions focus on our efforts in Ukraine. The Russian invasion continues to destroy the nation\u2019s structures and decimate the nation\u2019s population. We continue to be offered commodities to ship, but the shipping funds are very limited. To illustrate the offers we are receiving, see the offer below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is news from Gif! This is compiled from email exchanges over the past few days. This is followed by various reports of events that I\u2019ve selected from the many different ones I have on record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick news from Gif (compilation)\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll tell you, we have had more snow in the last two weeks than we had all last winter! This weekend, the highs are 18 and 19, and the lows are 9 and 10. I\u2019m going to have to watch the roads on Saturday and decide if it\u2019s safe enough to drive out to the building on Sunday. I was already sliding on some ice last nigh,t coming back from Bible class! We have a foot of snow and more to come! Deep freezes all weekend too\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had quite an event of snow over the past few days. Nearly 14 inches on the ground now. I went out to the church building on Saturday to see if the roads were clear to drive for Sunday. They had about 1.75 of the 4 lanes cleared, and I could drive, BUT all the snow that they have been clearing has been piling up on the side of the road. So, all down the shoulders of that road, there is just basically a huge mountain of snow. Between that and the snow on the driveway itself, it was impossible to get into the building, because there was nowhere to park the van. Imagine Moses walking through the Red Sea with the walls of water on both sides\u2014that\u2019s what the road is like right now, but with snow. I asked Denys if we could meet in the Galaxy Center on Sunday, but he couldn\u2019t get to Ivano-Frankivsk from Tysemenytsa, where he lives, to open it for us. But, Vova offered to let us use his PT parlo,r which is a great option! Then, we decided we would go ahead and use that again next Sunday because there is not a single day this week that\u2019s supposed to get above freezing, so we\u2019re expecting the snow will still be piled up next week. I thought I could spend a couple of hours there every day this week shoveling, but there\u2019s still the problem of parking\u2014the only place to stop the van is in the middle of the road. So, we\u2019ll just have to wait for some of it to melt. That being said, everyone loved meeting at that office, and they even seemed excited to do it again next week. Vova said to everyone, \u201cThis would be a great time to invite your friends, because it\u2019s so easy to get here.\u201d I agree! So, assuming it continues to go well, I might just ask Vova if we can continue to meet there on Sundays, and might even offer to help with the rent some, because for me, it\u2019s SO much nicer. But we\u2019ll see how it goes first\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We shipped all gifts for orphans last week and should soon be getting an update from the receiving locations, so I\u2019ll be sure to pass that along to you once I get it! \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh man, are we cold\u2026more snow! This coming Sunday night will be 3 degrees, and we are up to about 16 hours of blackouts! \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The snow has finally stopped at 15 inches! But we haven\u2019t gotten above freezing yet\u2014over the weekend, one night was even -6. I do not recommend swimming in this weather. We\u2019re also up to about 15 hours per day without electricity, so learning how to make hot cocoa has become a vital new skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A CRITICAL PLEA\u2014Family Buckets Are Needed!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We have been asked to ship more Family Buckets to Ivano-Frankivsk and Zaporozhe. The Montgomery warehouse is collecting filled buckets for Ivano-Frankivsk, and the Searcy\/Judsonia warehouse is collecting filled buckets for Zaporozhe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We plead for all congregations near Searcy or Montgomery to collect buckets and help those in Ukraine who are in dire circumstances. These buckets are constantly requested because they supply basic items that are needed but unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please help us with this plea!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download Bucket List<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commodity Donations Continue to be Offered!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is just one of many offers that Charita and I receive weekly. We have offers from all of the 48 contiguous States of our union! Food, medical, hygiene, and many other categories of NEW commodities are being offered to us. We ship as many as possible with the limited funds available. The ratio of shipping value to shipping cost is amazing\u2014for $10,000, a container valued at $400,000 can be delivered, distributed in the name of the Lord\u2019s Church, and open amazing doors of opportunity for preaching the Word of God. Look at this offer\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe have the following load available for pickup from our OKC, OK Warehouse\u2014please let me know if you want it and if so, I will send you the pickup and scheduling instructions. Load Available for pickup: 8 pallets assorted food; 5 pallets assorted hygiene items; 8 pallets schools supplies. Thanks, and please let me know as soon as you can!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kylin<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor this ministry of service is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The war has displaced, separated, and orphaned countless children. Various families have embraced these children and brought them into their homes. I am in contact with a number of these and often visit on my trips. One of the homes is that of Eugene and Lada. I have written about them in a number of reports. Someone who read these reports sent special funds to help this family as they are constructing another building to house more children (now 29 children are in their family!). You can search the website and read the previous reports. Here is the latest news I received from this special donation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cGood afternoon, our dear friend brother John. How is your health, how are you doing? Everything is the same here, they are bombing us, there is no electricity, no water, and no heat in the apartments, and Kyiv is freezing. But we hold on to hope and faith in God that soon everything will end and there will be peace in the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is our final report on the $5,040 (donated by a brother for Eugene and Lada, reported on my last trip<\/a>, caring for 28 displaced children). We will continue to collect a little more for them, because we want to buy a refrigerator and a water heater for them. We bought food before the New Year because there were pre-New Year discounts and we will deliver it to them in early February. Another boy has been added to Lada’s family, and Lada has agreed to take him in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you for your kind hearts and your help. May God reward you all a hundredfold. We are waiting for peace. We always look forward to your visits and are very happy to see you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With respect and best wishes,
Mykola and Galina<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet us not become weary\u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Galatians 6:9 is a foundational text for our ministry. The word \u201cweary\u201d is an agricultural term used to describe those whose grasp on the reaping sickle has weakened and become slack. They are fatigued and exhausted by the constant labor. The application to Christians is clear. \u201cWe are all very apt to tire in duty, particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and guard against. Only to perseverance in well-doing is the reward promised. Here is an exhortation to all to do good in their places. We should take care to do good in our life-time, and make this the business of our lives. Especially when fresh occasions offer, and as far as our power reaches\u201d<\/em> (Matthew Henry).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our resolve must be that stated in Judges 8:4, describing those who were \u201cweary yet still pursuing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please join with us as we continue \u201cweary but pursuing\u201d!<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Please Note:<\/strong> When donations are sent to Dalraida, please designate them for \u201cUkraine Missions.\u201d A significant EOY donation was received and not designated, and it creates issues since Dalraida has several mission works it oversees and supports. If you sent an EOY donation, please verify it was for Ukraine mission efforts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John L. Kachelman, Jr.
<\/em><\/strong>Dalraida Church of Christ
UKRAINE MISSIONS
P. O. Box 3085
Montgomery, AL 36109.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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