Featured Photo: The youth groups from the Dalraida Church of Christ and University Church of Christ sorted clothing for Ukraine. The clothing was packed so we could stuff the voids inside the container. They packed an amazing 487 bags of clothing that are going to an orphanage in Pustomyty, UA!
From Gif
Gif was marooned in Lublin, Poland 37 days waiting for the approval of an extended VISA. He finally received the needed document and has returned to Ivano-Frankivsk! He has been busy catching up and going forward with actions. He has sent a number of emails discussing his work since returning. Here is a compilation of some snippets that will give you an idea of his work. To some it may be a long read but remember this is a condensation of communication and MUCH more was done. Thank you for the prayers that have helped, and continue helping, Gif! THANK YOU TO GIF FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE LORD!
“Having now been back a week, I thought I’d let you guys know where we’re at on some things. “First, with the visa: the saga is not quite over yet. Now that I’m here, we have to write a letter on church letterhead to the Religious Department requesting the longer stay. Then, the Religious Department gives me a document to take to the local immigration office, and they should give me the full-term card. We met with the lady in the Religious Department yesterday and she says it’ll be no problem, she’s happy to grant her part to me once I get her the letter. I’ve already contacted Tanya with the example letter and asked her to copy it and she says she’ll do that this weekend. The Religious Department head is on vacation till the 9th, but she says we can go ahead and bring it to the office and she’ll do her part first thing when she’s back. So, still some steps, but at least they’re active steps and not waiting around in Poland steps. We had a good meeting with the Religious Department Head and I think we kicked off a good friendship.
Most of the conversation revolved around my visa and also her “interviewing” me – basically, she wanted to know if I would be cooperative with her and any of the denominations in town. I told her that there are certain lines I won’t cross because I believe the Bible draws those lines, but that I would be friendly and respectful to anyone who disagrees, and would even be willing to have calm discussions with them about any disagreements, because even if we disagree it doesn’t mean we can be friendly. She seemed to accept that pretty well.
In church news: Pasha is super thrilled that I’m back because he was pretty much out of material and I couldn’t transfer in enough money to Inna for him to buy more. So, we have enough money now for him to finish the section he’s working on, and then he wants to know where to start next. My recommendation would be the auditorium – now that the rest of the first floor is done, I think that should be the main focus as the bedrooms upstairs aren’t really high priority until much later.
This past Sunday we had John Durham in and he invited several people to worship. We had three doctors, one medical student, one English student, and one English teacher with his wife. Pretty amazing what can happen when you make friends with people and just invite them! The doctors themselves did not seem very interested in the church, but the medical student really was, and over lunch he and I talked for an hour about the church. In the evening, the English student met me and Anya for coffee. I think there’s potential with both of them! We’ve already got plans to meet with them in future days.
A point of clarity about the congregation’s internet that Vova is working on – he is not working on a website but a Telegram channel, which will be significantly more functional for people in the city than a Facebook page or traditional website. To access it, a person would have to have the Telegram app and an account, as well as an invite from one of us. Nearly everyone in Ivano-Frankivsk has a Telegram so it’s significantly more functional. That being said, I’m not sure how accessible it will be to the people in the US when it is finished, because it’s not really meant for them. And, we would like to limit accessibility to anyone who’s not a member so it’s not flooded with needless stuff. All that being said, Vova hasn’t been able to make any progress because some of the functions are tied to my account, so he needs to use my phone for the next step. Since I wasn’t here, that was impossible. It has been on his mind because he mentioned it every week I was in Poland, and already reminded me yesterday that we need to do it, so we are planning on it next week.
Met with the manager of the English dept at the university today and he’s already got me set up to interview their new students next week and assess their English levels before classes start. Then, they’ll figure out how my classes will fit into the schedule. He also wants me to assess all of their teachers as well… Going to be a long day that day, but I figure more exposure isn’t a bad thing!
I think that’s the main stuff for now. Already feel much more positive about life here than in Poland. But, after 37 days of eating at restaurants, I never want another meal outside of my kitchen again. Gif”
Mike Lawson’s Update
Brother Mike Lawson continues to be involved in various aspects of Ukraine mission relief. He has funded a number oof food containers that we have shipped. I sent the container that shipped the firefighting equipment to Kharkov (reported in a previous update), to Mike’s consignee who assisted in the distribution. That container had medical supplies and equipment that were distributed by Mike. He recently sent a report on his work. Here is his brief note and then his PDF report follows.
Mike-Lawson-UA-Missions-Update-Sept-2024Dear Friends of Ukraine Missions, Attached is an update for the medical supplies delivered into Kharkiv. Thank you for your contribution to our efforts. In His Service, Mike
Loading container for Pustomyty, UA
Bogdana Krivogorsky has partnered with us in sending relief assistance into Ukraine. She lives in Minnesota and has successfully contacted a number of congregations in that region. She has been working with orphanages in several locations but specifically in Pustomyty. I have visited that location with her and have seen the good results. Doors are open in that location but the workers are few! There is an orphanage and a special needs hospital for children that Bogdana is helping. Some years ago she asked for some of the special needs equipment and supplies in Ivano-Frankivsk to be given to Pustomyty but her plea went ignored and the items were soon missing and we lacked the proper follow-up. Gif’s presence has assured us of the integrity of distribution based upon need. We promised Bogdana a container for the special needs children and that promise was kept as we loaded a container for Pustomyty on August 27.
We were joined in this effort but C.U.R.E. (WestArk Church of Christ, Ft. Smith, AR) who is a constant help in suppling items that we ship. This is also the container that the youth groups from Dalraida and University worked to stuff the almost 5000 bags of children’s clothing! And, we were joined by many unnamed donors who provided shipping funds for this container! We also had a group from Faulkner University who came to assist in the loading but unfortunately the load was postponed and they were unable to help, but their photo is below! THANK ALL INVOLVED!
This container was loaded with:
- 16,600 pounds of relief items for a children’s hospital and orphanage
- 967 items loaded (clothing, shoes, hygiene, baby beds, cribs, etc)
- 29 crippled children’s assist equipment
- $262,945.00 total value!
We will be updating this container’s delivery and distribution in future reports. THANK YOU to those who have donated so the shipping costs can be paid! Without your donations these children would not have the items in this container that they desperately need. We continue to be offered amazing commodities but we are limited by available shipping funds. Shipping a container cost $5,000-$7,000 depending on the fluid shipping charges. Please help us contact individuals and congregations who are willing to help!
Here is a slideshow of actions described above:
John L. Kachelman, Jr. Ukraine Missions, Dalraida Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109
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