Our daily task assignments continue to be fluid—there is a general plan but that plan is almost always pre-empted by critical issues that pop-up. At times it is like playing whack-a-mole! The only problem is that I cannot whack some of the moles as hard as I want!
Worship in Wroclaw
The congregation here is small in number but big in heart and devotion to the Lord. Assembling with them was a joyful event as we sang hymns in Polish, Ukrainian, Russian and English! I had the opportunity to preach and used the time to offer a summary of Habakkuk’s message that God gives absolute hope in times of hopelessness! The preacher and his wife in Wroclaw are Szczepan (in the good ole south we would call him “Steven”) and Anna Czerski. You will find pics in the slideshow below of the Christians in Wroclaw and our worship together.
Szczepan told me an interesting history of the Church in Poland. His great-great grandfather had gone to the USA prior to WW1 to begin farming. While in the USA he heard the gospel and obeyed it. His farming enterprise flopped and he basically lost everything. But he decided that he needed to return to Poland and share the gospel message he had found in the USA. So he went back to Poland and preached the gospel. At that time, you will remember that portions of present-day Ukraine were under Polish control (the western parts). So, he settled and began preaching the gospel in parts of Poland that are today’s western Ukraine. Szczepan family has a long heritage of preaching the gospel. His Grandfather and father preached in Wroclaw and now he is preaching here as well.
Amazing to consider that a failed farming enterprise was used by the Lord to introduce the gospel into Ukraine/Poland in the early 1900s!
Worship in Ivano-Frankivsk
The brethren left in Ivano-Frankivsk gathered at their usual meeting place Sunday. There was a large number present for the assembly. The men of the congregation are active in assisting the local government and community in relief efforts. About 40,000 IDPs have flooded the Ivano-Frankivsk Region. Ivan, Andrew, Volodya, and Ruslan are to receive permission to cross the Polish border and bring relief supplies back to Ivano-Frankivsk. Ivan received his approval on Friday and the others hope to receive their approvals on Monday. They are bringing a large transfer truck to take back canned foods, hygiene items, medical supplies and other relief commodities donated by the Churches and individuals in Poland. Most will remember “Volodya” the young man who was attacked and thrown down a stairwell and was paralyzed. Volodya was immersed a couple of month’s ago. Volodya was evacuated to Poland. It is possible that Volodya can have surgery in Poland that will help his paralysis to a limited extent. That is being investigated.
Delivery of relief items going to Zaporozhe
We continue to benefit from the network Charita and I, providentially, wove together during the first days of this trip. It is really amazing that we landed here with one plan and then suddenly doors opened for a much more effective plan.
Yesterday we received a call that an empty 20-ton truck going to Zaporozhe from Lviv. We were asked if we had items to send to that beleaguered city. With only a few phone calls we had the truck loaded with items just arriving and on its way. This sounds simple but there were a number of security hurdles, vetting of drivers and securing armed escort, but it really did work smoothly (Recall the satisfied quip, “I love it when a plan comes together!”).
The Church in action
There is no adequate way to describe how the Lord’s Church has arisen and stood together to make these immediate relief projects possible. Almost minute-by-minute I receive emails about our efforts. Charita is also receiving constant emails. Here are a few snippets that I want to share with you.
Church, I wanted to thank each of you for the effort to help me make connections across the world, and for your desire to show the love of Jesus. It’s so encouraging to see the body of Christ moving as hands and feet toward a single purpose. I am praying for each of you and the brothers and sisters who are helping and being helped. I pray for the love and power of almighty God to overwhelm this situation, and that efforts can move to helping people return, restore and recover.
Philip (elder at Central church of Christ, Clarksburg, WV)
Peace be with you all.
Info from Polish Churches…
Three congregations are actively involved in serving Ukrainian refugees – Sopot, Warsaw & Wrocław. In our congregation meeting in Wrocław, we are trying to help with rental costs, groceries, clothes, household goods and would like to assist with school supplies the children may be needing soon. We have also gathered some items that were requested by brethren in Ukraine and plan to send these, as well: sleeping bags, sleeping mats, warm blankets, warm socks, flannel sheets, filtering water bottles to clean dirty water, canned foods and some basic medical supplies.
We ask for many prayers on behalf of our Ukrainian sisters for their families still in Ukraine (for safety, health, and well-being), and for peace to arrive soon. Please also pray for all the Ukrainians in Poland, for the Polish churches as they minister, and for all the families in difficult situations (feeling hopeless, discouraged, afraid).”
From Villa Rica church of Christ (Georgia):
“Our young families packed 200 2-gal ziploc bags today after church with the items we collected! We also have additional items that were leftover that we plan to bring as well as some ‘random’ donations (like paper towels, pull-ups, diapers, sippy cups, etc).”
Deanna Johnson (Villa Rica church of Christ)
From the Church of Christ Sylacauga, AL (https://www.sylchurchofchrist.com):
“Here are pics of the crew who helped load out buckets of love from the Sylacauga Church and Clay County Government Departments. There are 97 full ones with 3 more partial and some more to load after service that came in just before we started. Kristie and I will get a big workout when we get back to Dalraida tonight to unload so Freddie can have the trailer tomorrow morning for the food bank run. Please let the folks know there is a lot of love and compassion coming their way!! God is good!! To God be the glory!!
Chip McEwan
From Alma School Road church of Christ in Chandler, AZ (https://asrcoc.com/).
Today we passed out these family buckets and Hygiene bags today. We have collected money and have a large donation from a foundation. We will send a check to Dalraida church of Christ.
Keith Shepherd (Minister)
NOTE: This good congregation has been our partner for many years and Keith has brought many loads to the Judsonia, AR warehouse from the AZ brethren.
From Sun Valley church of Christ in Gilbert, AZ (https://www.sunvalleycoc.org):
We started with 50 buckets today at church – all were taken including 50 hygiene 2 gal bags. We did not have enough, getting 25 more tomorrow (of both). Also will be contacting Home Depot corporate tomorrow about buckets for humanitarian aide. They have large programs for things like this. Will start contacting all congregations in a large area.
Glenn Mabley (elder, Sun Valley church of Christ)
We have already had inquiries from outsiders wanting to get involved. Will keep pushing.
Dysfunctional Government
On another note, in stark contrast with the effective mobilization, shipping and immediate distribution of the Lord’s Church, is the “dog-chasing-its-tail government”: I heard back from the State Department on getting airlift support for humanitarian aid. They again referred us back to USAID. Basically, what they said was, ‘We have it covered. Don’t need private groups to be involved.’ (My interpretative words.) Haven’t heard back from DOD. Be Safe, Mike”
Romania
I have included John Durham’s reports of the awesome good that the Lord’s Church in Romania is doing. The brethren are still working to get the redirected container out of Port. We are getting close as brother Ady’s email states.
Good morning, I have submitted the paperwork for the container last week, I hope to have some news today or tomorrow, the problem is that there are thousands of containers in the same or similar situation (redirected to Constanta from Odessa).
Ady Lupascu (Romania)
I am not able to share any details on the political or military side of this situation. BUT I can share the wonderful news of how the Lord’s Church is responding and many contacts from all over the globe are being connected in our efforts. This is news that you will not read in the main stream media but it is really encouraging.
As Julia Ward Howe, reminds us, “Our God is Marching on! … Glory, glory Hallelujah!”
Continue to keep us all in your prayers! And say a special prayer of thanksgiving today for all the Lord’s Church is doing today.
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
(Wroclaw, Poland)
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