If you want an amazing statistic look at this—since March 8 we have coordinated 33 shipments via sea going containers or air cargo! The total weight and value will be forthcoming. But remember the airlift of the medical supplies and pharmaceuticals is well over $8-million so the total value of what we have done thus far in ONE-MONTH is really amazing.
We continue making an impact–today I received word that Slovenia has offered to assist us in our efforts. The Slovenian Ambassador had some very encouraging words.
Our activities continue to focus on various aspects of the relief assistance being shipped and distributed in response to the Russian invasion. Today (Wednesday) we loaded two containers (Nashville and Columbia).
From Nashville, TN:
The container is loaded. All that is on it is 2,205 buckets. The boxes of PPE would not fit. Weight is 33,000 LBS. Paperwork and pictures to follow once the container is picked up.
Joseph Smith
From Columbia, TN:
We did the 2nd load today! A storm is coming in and so it was VERY windy. It wasn’t as smooth as the first load because we had several different things we were putting in the load this time. Hopefully everything will go fine with the load’s transport.
Rachel (Kachelman) Townsend
The kids got to be there today (except Tucker), so I was glad they could be a part of it.
In addition to these there was various activity over here (Poland) that helps us maintain the necessary integrity so we will answer as good stewards of the funds given. Here are two different topics I want to share in this update.
Current anecdotal military notes
Bad battle strategy…The Russian attack strategy was to blow up fuel depots in the early strikes so Ukraine’s military would not have fuel reserves. BUT this left no fueling options for RU tanks & vehicles except a long supply line back into RU. Consequently, many tanks & vehicles have run out of gas resulting in some comical results that have been published in many media posts. Any victory attack strategy must factor in sustaining supplies from the nearest points (This is “War 101”!). A long supply line is historically a contributing factor in military campaign loss (Moscow should know this better than anyone having been saved from Napoleon and Hitler by this very mistake that they have now committed).
Reward incentives…Ukraine’s government has offered a bounty on any captured tanks and RU supplies…actual truth, one RU tank rolled into a village outside of Kyiv. The villagers feigned hospitality in welcoming the tank crew and offered them a meal and lots of vodka. When the tankers were sufficiently inebriated and docile, the villagers bound them. The villagers took the tank and the captured tankers to the nearest Ukrainian military position. They said, “OK! Here is the RU tank and we claim our reward of one-million grievnas.” The Commander could not give them one-million but he could give them one-hundred thousand. The villagers agreed and said they needed the reward money to purchase fuel for their tractors because planting time was coming. They said they would accept the bounty on the tank and throw in the drunken RU tankers as a bonus. The villagers were paid and returned home with plans to do it all again if opportunity presents itself.
Delivery of shoes we purchased in Switzerland
We have been able to develop a reliable network for delivery inside Ukraine. Here is an edited narrative of how we were able to get a shipment of shoes from Switzerland into Kyiv, Odesa and other locations. Hopefully this will help you visualize the challenges we face in trying to bring basic relief and assistance to those who are suffering. What would usually take 1-2 days has become 4-7 days now. Here is a summary of communications tracking this shipment:
“Good morning, attached is the photo of the boots ready to be shipped from the warehouse in Switzerland. Please, let me know if there is any information about the payment. Per Oksana, total 1,500 pairs of boots were loaded to be sent to Ukraine to different groups. The truck will arrive to Lviv and she will be able to send photos. I am sorry maybe they don’t provide all necessary documentation per your requests, but country is in war right now and we can only imagine what is going on there, it is total mess and people need help…
“Oksana’s group delivered food today for total 9,000 Hryvna. And she helps a lot for our nation’s citizens. I personally sent her my own money and my relative’s money who were willing to help so she can buy necessary stuff…
“The driver from Kyiv is on the way to Lviv to pick up boots. The inconvenience was the curfew as each city and region has own rules and whenever curfew starts, the driver has to find a place to spend the night…The curfew in Kyiv is every night from 8 pm to 7 am…
“The driver just picked up boots in Lviv and headed back to Kyiv. They will send more photos and thank you letter when they will be packing boots in Kyiv to send to Odesa and other places…
“The driver is driving almost in the Kyiv region already. If he doesn’t get in Kyiv before the curfew starts he would have to stop for the night in Fastiv or Bila Tserka (Bila Tserkva has more options for him where to spend the night). It is already 6:40 pm there right now and the curfew starts at 9 pm (they moved curfew for 1 hour later since yesterday)…
“Good morning, the driver arrived to Kyiv and boxes were unloaded! The photo attached. Tomorrow they will start sorting and labelling the boxes to send to different regions of Ukraine. They will send more photos tomorrow along with thank you letter.”
Step back and look at the scope of this amazing work. It is really phenomenal (Ephesians 3:20-21).
John L Kachelman Jr
Wroclaw, Poland
You must be logged in to post a comment.