{"id":12521,"date":"2026-10-22T05:39:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T10:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/?p=12521"},"modified":"2026-10-22T05:39:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T10:39:24","slug":"trip-report-15-the-light-shines-and-the-darkness-has-not-overcome-it-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/2026\/10\/22\/trip-report-15-the-light-shines-and-the-darkness-has-not-overcome-it-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report # 15\u2014 \u201cThe light shines, and the darkness has not overcome it.\u201d (2)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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John 1:5: \u201cThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Photo: Children at the St. Nicholas orphanage in Ivano-Frankivsk receive Family Buckets, clothing, shoes, and food from the Lord\u2019s Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thoughts on the geopolitical propaganda machine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Matthew 24:6 identifies the devilish propaganda campaign that ensnares mankind. \u201cRumors\u201d are devastating and manipulative. They serve only one purpose\u2014to foment unrest and insecurity. The devilish propaganda machine works 24\/7\/360 and involves every aspect of man\u2019s life on earth\u2014personal, spiritual, vocational, political, and especially in military settings. Misdirection fueled by lies and deliberate deceptions has brought ruin and defeat in personal lives, congregations, and the stability of many nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This propaganda war utilizes the anxiety\u2013producing power of information untethered to faith. God is \u201cforgotten.\u201d The cunning strategy is to misdirect trust away from God and onto Self (Isaiah 31:1 addresses this failure). And whether you are in the bomb shelter, the front lines, or watching today\u2019s political messaging in the comfort of your home, it works very well! Christians are commanded, \u201cDo not be alarmed!\u201d The same verb \u201chear\u201d that engenders faith can foment fear. The difference is the hearer\u2019s relationship to Christ. How does the Christian\u2019s faith address the geopolitical shenanigans in our corrupt world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspiration has a simple answer. It is practical. It works. The answer is found in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Be a Christian citizen upholding biblical morality. Pray for governments and political leaders to submit to God\u2019s rule. Promote peace and seek divine justice based on biblical principles. Uphold God\u2019s standards even when the efforts seem futile. God expects His People to continue working the Almighty God\u2019s purpose on earth. God\u2019s sovereignty will absolutely be exalted. God\u2019s justice will absolutely triumph. The evil will absolutely be punished. History validates our faith!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St Nicholas Orphanage in Ivano-Frankivsk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We loaded up Sergii\u2019s vehicle and took supplies to another location where orphaned children are living. We had understood there were 11 children. From our shipments and money to purchase perishables and other items, we had a full car. Sergii had put together 11 backpacks for the children. Upon arriving, we were told that from the time Sergii had contacted the Director to the day the items were brought, the number of children had increased from 11 to 27! This was in a 24-hour window! The 11 backpacks were given, and we left with a promise to bring the additional 16 quickly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update on Trip Report #12\u2014when children are \u201celiminated\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The wonderful news that closed yesterday was that $6,000 has been committed to helping Mykola supply food and essentials for the children we are evacuating from the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions to safer locations in the west. We need a threshold amount of $10,000 to provide for the children during the winter months. These children are being placed in family homes, and the money is needed to help that effort. Most of these children have been \u201cshattered\u201d by the Russian invasion and occupation. Most have never known life without war!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we are getting close to the threshold amount! Please reread Trip Report #12 and do whatever you can to help these children!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update on Trip Report #10\u2014the blood mobile!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The action of moving the donated blood mobile from the USA East Coast to Ivano-Frankivsk is progressing. Here is the latest email:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHello, guys! Thank you for this offer and for adding me to this conversation. I am happy to meet you. Please let me know if you need any information from me or if you would like to have an online meeting. Thank you again. Looking forward to hearing from you. Wishing you a good day and a good rest of the week. Dr. Stanislav Onyshchuk\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing Thoughts\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Satan\u2019s cunning propaganda war against our trust and confidence in God takes too many captives! Let all reading this take courage and renew determination from the words in Psalm 91:4-7; 121:8: \u201cHis faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you\u2026The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will be the last trip report posted until I send a brief report saying I am back in Montgomery, AL!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I close by thanking everyone who is a part of this amazing effort! All have a significant and critical role in the successes. The truism says that \u201ca chain is only as strong as its weakest link.\u201d In our situation, the \u201cchain\u201d is very strong because each link is doing what it can do! \u201cThe whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love\u201d (Ephesians 4:16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An absolute truth concludes this trip\u2019s reporting: \u201cThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough your prayers\u201d (Phlm 22), this trip HAS seen multiple successes as \u201cdoors of opportunity\u201d opened (Colossians 4:3)!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for your constant prayers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John L. Kachelman, Jr., UKRAINE MISSIONS, Dalraida Church of Christ, Montgomery, AL <\/p>\n\n\n\n