Photo: Children of the Church of Christ in Ivano-Frankivsk, display their chalk art outside of the storage/distribution center at the Church building.
There is no one doing what you and Churches of Christ and World of Connections are doing in such a large capacity except huge organizations! And they are delayed by their bureaucracies. Your group gets things done. THANK YOU from Ukraine.
Nikita
Actions on this side of the Atlantic…
…continue at a feverish pace. We continue loading and shipping cargo containers of critically needed commodities. These go to the general population, the medical communities, and to anyone in need. Thankfully we have a dependable network established that can deliver even to areas that most avoid. Here are recent loadings:
August 23—Montgomery, AL
August 24—Montgomery, AL
August 24—Enid, OK
August 25—Rock Hill, SC
August 25—Enid, OK
August 31—Ft. Smith, AR
September 6—Montgomery, AL
We continue scheduling loads and PLEADING for more Family Buckets to be collected. The Sherrod Avenue congregation (Florence, AL) is a collection site for that area. If you need to deliver things please contact BECKY TERRY. We also have on-going collections in Holly Springs, MS; Columbus, MS; Ft Smith, AR and Searcy, AR. We are to receive 29 pallets of new medical supplies in Montgomery on Monday. The Church of Christ at Dalriada will host a bucket stuffing event this Sunday afternoon at 3:00!
A SIGNIFICANT BOOK—Helping Children of War”
Ever since Russia invaded in 2014 we have had actions focused on the “lost children.” At first we were trying to move them out of the orphanages as Russian troops carved out occupation in Luhansk and Donetsk. With February’s invasion the actions ramped up more as Russia claimed it was “rescuing children” as troops emptied orphanages and homes of young children. Untold thousands were taken into Russia. The personal stories of these children will tear your heart apart. When Tommy South sent me the below communication I was delighted at the resource Theresa provides. Read about it…
Hey, John, A good friend, Thereasa Winnett. Has written a book called “Helping Children of War.” She is a child specialist with experience in Ukraine. The book has been translated into Ukrainian and is now being printed. If you would like some copies for Ivano-Frankivsk or various refugee centers, let me know how many you will need. I think the book has great potential, both for helping kids and as an outreach tool. It will undoubtedly be useful in postwar Ukraine. Hope all is going well with your work. God bless,
Tommy South
Theresa replied back…
Hey! Tommy South asked me to send you a copy of the cover. I haven’t seen it yet, but the photo is what we’re using for cover art. It was drawn by a little girl from Mariupol. We’ve named the book for printing to Helping Children of War. I am headed to Poland this week to do seminars for parents based on the content. Each family attending will receive a tote bag with some of the materials needed to do the suggested activities. Another group I work with in Ukraine is having me do something similar online and I will probably try to ship bags to them. Let me know if you would like me to do something similar for you. (At no charge, assuming I can continue to find funding.) Blessings,
Thereasa Winnett
And now look at the actions on the other side of the Atlantic…
Greetings, dear brother! I always pray to the Lord for strength and wisdom so that all of us can be better servants in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus. We are doing all we can to get the building ready for winter as soon as possible. Besides we do a lot of work at church and outside it as we work with different people.
We have very good news. Two Andrews started attending. You know one of them – Nataly’s husband. Nataly used to be a Supreme Rada Deputy’s Assistance. Andrew and Natalie started reading the Bible and Andrew wants to be baptized. I have one-on-one classes with him. Natalie used to be defiant. But she was diagnosed with cancer and began praying and reading the Bible. She’s had a surgery and chemotherapy and is doing fine health wise. She thanks God in owe. Prayers for people and their salvation are so powerful. Thank you for prayers and help. Jesus Christ is our Lord and our strength! May the Lord protect you and your family. Love you, brother Ivan
Ivan Skoleba
Church Building update…
The construction continues as funds allow. Thankfully the brethren have been able to finish several rooms that are used for assemblies and classes. We have shipped over various furnishings for the new building. The Church is using rooms to offer a place for the displaced to live. Here is Ivan’s report on a widow from the east that was displaced by the war.
There’s more news to share. Valentina Vasilievna, moved to our church building. Valentina used to live in another place and there was a woman that mistreated her. Valentina fled the place and brought her things to us. We gave her a bed in one of the rooms in our church building. She is happy now and says that she can sleep her fill now, which she couldn’t do for many days. Thanks to you and all brothers and sisters for chairs and bedside tables. Sveta cleaned them and prepared them to be used by the displaced. Thank you for this aid which is so timely.
Ivan Skoleba
Brother Michael Lawson just returned from a trip to Ukraine. He sent a report that included this thank you from Kharkiv for the delivered shipment of critically needed hospital supplies from Bulgaria! This is from Mariia who lives and works in Kharkiv where shelling and cruise missiles are a daily occurrence. Your support enables her and others like her to save lives and provide comfort to all in need.
Her Message:
Finally, doctors of Kharkiv and the region will receive such necessary surgical tools.
Didier Liebermann and Eustadia da Silva in cooperation with the French Ukraine Support Association Aide Médicale & Caritative France-Ukrainе namely Novomed Group… sent 16 pallets!! of surgical instruments and medical supplies…all this time they have been tirelessly providing a lot of help to Ukraine, especially Ukrainian hospitals. Thank you so much for this.
Mariia
Mariia concluded her message with these words…
Many thanks to Charita Shteynberg director of World of Connections and Church of Christ, Michael Lawson, for organizing the transportation and its payment.
Thanks to the efforts of all these people, our doctors will receive high quality surgical tools.
Thank you on behalf of every patient whose treatment will be improved.
Mariia
The devilish cunning that fuels the suffering…Bricks in food boxes…
Kherson has been occupied by Russian invasion forces since early in the war. The destruction and deprivation are unbelievable. We have been able to ship relief commodities in but not to the extent needed. This week we have designated one full container for Kherson and have finalized a plan of delivery. One heart-breaking story was relayed to us this week. There had been promised a large delivery of food from a source in Europe. (This move was NOT connected with us.) The truck driver risked his life in negotiating the perilous route. When he arrived, the boxes were unloaded. As the boxes were opened it was discovered the food had been taken and bricks had been put into the box! The driver was in tears over the situation and his personal risk. Such is sadly the events orchestrated by evil. This is not an isolated situation. Especially is this prevalent in the “large humanitarian aid relief” organizations. These publicized heart-wrenching photos boasting of what hey do, but in reality, donations are carved out by the “administrative fees” and graft is controlling in every facet of the action. This is true in the large governmental organizations (like UNICEF) and even in large religious organizations. DONORS BE WISE AND EXPECT AND DEMAND HONEST ACCOUNTING!
Thank you for your continued donations that keeps us able to shipment these critically needed relief commodities!
John L. Kachelman, Jr Montgomery, AL
You must be logged in to post a comment.