Fall Mission Trip Report 15

Photo: Distribution of the container loaded at the Chase Park Church of Christ, Huntsville, Alabama. This container was received in Poland. Distribution was accomplished through our partners in these areas: Kharkow, Kharkiv, Zaporiza, Dniepro, Cherkasy, Rivne, Kyiv Region, and Kropivnytsky

Beto has returned back and sent this message:

After an arduous trip from Kiev to Warsaw (6 hours at the border), I made back home (via Paris and JFK airport) I am still jet lagging! I went to Church at Nolen Hills and one of the elders took his time at the pulpit to give a report to the congregation of the effectiveness of “the buckets” in Ukraine for many reasons. He also highlighted the story of the brother soldier who is distributing Bibles in the front line. They are happy with what Ukraine Missions efforts are doing at this time.

Beto Santiago

The remaining three (me, Gif and Perry) are involved in wrapping up actions. I will leave for Lviv and have several meetings there. Then I go back into Poland at Wroclaw, Warsaw and possibly other locations. Perry will be involved with the construction and he and Gif will be visiting several locations plus doing some final housekeeping chores at Church.

This trip has been amazing in a number of ways and it is not yet over, so more opportunities will be presented.

The Chase Park Church of Christ (Huntsville, AL) quickly volunteered to be a collection, sorting, packing and loading site for a container going into Ukraine. All was prepared and a container was loaded in May. A special THANK YOU to Will Tucker for coordinating this action. Here is a photo of the loading crew that day.

We partnered with a group of volunteers to distribute this container throughout Ukraine. The group is comprised wholly of volunteers. They have been a wonderful resource for us in many ways. Our primary contact is Marta Małecka in Warsaw. Marta and her group carry a simple message—Even if you are only one, “You can be a hero” in opposing evil and consoling the suffering! Their motto is encouraging all to stand up and be active. These volunteers transverse the nation of Ukraine and have been targets of snipers, missiles, and IEDs. Many of their vehicles are pockmarked with damage from enemy fire.

Here is Marta’s explanation of the distribution.

Dear All, Charita, John, Tatyana, 

Sorry for lack of response. For last 2 months beside dedicated all of my time to support Ukrainians who decided to stay in Ukraine – I had my own private battle that ended up with two surgeries. But we have not stopped supporting Ukraine. Just when I had to cut some duties – I was not replying on mails in timely manner.

I am very sorry for that. I hope that this report will be enough for both you and donor. The Buckets and hygienic products were excellent and delivered on time as we were struggling with hygienic products. Now we are delivering also MRE’s and there is huge need for thermal clothing, sleeping bags, blankets. I must say I am very afraid how will we be able to support people in Ukraine who lost their homes, in areas where they do not have utilities etc. It will be hard winter.

Were the commodities of the quality and type that you anticipated?

• Very good and efficient – buckets were given to families north east Kyiv region where Russian army ruined cities and villages, smaller packages were given to civilians in need
• Yes, these hygienic products (and buckets) were amazing and more than expected.
• Yes, this are a very good quality products, both buckets – that are large, and allows to survive those who has lost everything and hygienic products set are phenomenal.
• Better than expected, great to have both:  large buckets and small packages with small hygienic basic products.

Who benefited from this donation?

• Families and singles in need, small military teams located in the countryside, units in the frontline.
• Zaporizhzhia, red zone, grey zone and temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region.
• Ukrainian men and women who were forced to leave their homes and moved to the city of Zaporizhzhia, residents of front-line settlements and those settlements that will constantly come under shelling. People living in temporarily occupied territories.
• Donbas/Donetsk region
• Civil people close to front line in villages and towns that are under constant shelling. We support also army.
• East side of Kyiv – Chernihow, Sumy, etc.
• Civil people who lost their homes or whose homes were ruined, people with disabilities, older and sick, also we support families with kids. If possible, we support Territorials – military units.

I hope you are amazed at the scope of one container’s distribution! Thousands of individuals were benefactors of your kind Christian love! The message of the Family Buckets spread throughout the nation of Ukraine bringing hope and solace!

We are begged to send more buckets!

THANK YOU for choosing to let the light of Christianity shine through your works in sending these containers to those so far away who are struggling to survive evil’s attacks!

On this trip I have heard a number of individual citizens, State officials, and military speak highly of the impact the churches of Christ have made throughout Ukraine. This impact was made at perhaps the most emotional time in today’s history and as such it will become a deeply held memory.

Evil still persists. One of my dear friends from Zaporozhe called and described the missile attack Russia made on a highway filled with cars. These cars were taking citizens away from the war zone. So far, the death count of that attack is 51. This only shows the claims that Russia made (to free Ukraine citizens) is a blatant lie. Russia began saying it wanted to protect Russian speaking people, BUT Russia has murdered more Russian speaking people than anyone else (except for Hitler).

THANK YOU for your financial support that makes this trip possible.

John L Kachelman Jr Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine