UKRAINE Writing from N Ireland

Lviv

It is nearly 10 months since the commencement of the war in Ukraine, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake. Let’s please continue to remember the millions of Ukrainians who mourn the loss of loved ones and miss so badly other loved ones who have been evacuated to many different countries including Ireland, where the latest figures from the UN confirm nearly 60,000 refugees.

We are in constant contact with the believers in Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk to encourage and chat, and much prayer has ascended to the throne of Grace for them as they constantly live under the threat of missile attacks and fear for their life and that of their families. In the last month, as winter conditions unfold with temperatures subzero, hardship continues, with no electricity or water for prolonged periods as Russia destroys the infrastructure of the major cities.

We have heard of other activities that have taken place in different parts of Ukraine often told to us by relatives who are refuges here in Ireland. Speaking with Ruslan in the last month one evening – he seemed quite down and unusually quiet. It was not too long until we understood why! Earlier that day he had attended 3 funerals of comrades all under 30 years old leaving wives and young families. He also told us that another 90 comrades had been brought back from Donbas to Lviv army hospital badly wounded. Ruslan has been given leave on various occasions to visit orphanages with humanitarian aid, supplies, calendars, and second-hand clothes. We thank God for their courage and service to the Lord as he and Tanya distribute financial aid sent to them via us from the Lord’s dear people.

We were delighted to hear of Sasha and Tanya’s daughter, Sarah from Ivano getting saved, a great encouragement for all in Ivano. We keep in touch with Dan and Dima as they serve the Lord together in Street work and Gospel outreach, with several refugees who have fled from the East attending the Gospel meeting. The Ukrainian Gospel calendars we designed and had printed in NI have also been printed in Lviv by brother Lubchic and shared with the believers in Ivano for distribution. Please pray for blessing on God’s eternal Word.

Ukrainian refugees

Over the last few months, many new contacts have been made with new arrivals and more NI citizen’s willing to open their homes and take in these fleeing families. In September, Noel and Caroline Brown received a family of 5 into their home to live. Amazing to think that one morning there was 4 at the breakfast table and the next morning 9! We were invited to have a meal with them and converse a little to help make them welcome. After finding out names and ages of the 3 kids, we enquired what part of Ukraine they were from. It took a few moments to process their answer – LVIV! They were living less than 2 miles from our apartment in Lviv in an area called Vinicky. At the end of November Noel and Caroline arranged a Ukrainian thanksgiving evening in their home. Twenty-four were gathered for a nice meal, 13 Ukrainians and the rest Irish folk. There was a glorious opportunity to read the Scriptures and share the Gospel.

At the end of October, we took delivery of 4,000 Ukrainian Gospel calendars, but to our surprise there was an extra 1,000 at no extra cost. ‘God is good and doeth good’. Our thought was to encourage by placing the Gospel texts and Word of God on pictures of their homeland, like Lviv, Kherson and the Carpathian Mountains. Many refugees have commented favourably and were delighted to see pictures of their own country.

Please continue to pray for all in Ukraine, believers and unbelievers. Also, the thousands who have been displaced and have found refuge in Ireland and other countries. We sincerely thank you all for your interest, prayers and support over the past trying months.