News from Ukraine March 18, 2023

March 18 (Day 386)

It was a good week, we had so many things done. The highlight of the week was a seminar that was very helpful. Yesterday we had a zoom meeting with our counselors and they all looked so relieved and positive and shared stories about he conference. When Roman, Vika and George were coming from Odessa to our town they were stopped at the checkpoint and asked about the purpose of their trip. Because of the ruined bridge that connected our town with Odessa we use another longer road now the part of which goes through Moldova, that is why they check thoroughly the people going there. Our counselors were going through the check point a different time and when they were stopped each of them told that they were going to the church for the seminar and they told it with such an enthusiasm that the man who was checking them got curious about it and told George who was the last that they sounded as if they were going for some kind of celebration.

Yesterday it was Vova’s birthday and we congratulated him. Our counselors Vova and Angela live in Montpellier, France. They went there a year ago when the war started with their elderly parents whose health was not good. Vova’s mother died few months ago. Angela’s parents are doing well. Their landlord told them they can stay in his apartment till the end of spring and they are looking for a new place to stay. Angela’s mother feels worried because of this. Vova found a job and it’s a good support for the family. And they both do counseling online. Vova keeps contact with the soldiers whom he has been helping since 2014. Angela works with Ukrainian women in the city, she organized a women’s club and they meet every week. We miss them here, we especially felt their absence when we all met at the seminar. But we keep contact and communicate a lot through Zoom. We know that God is using them at the place where they live now and is spreading our ministry.

We were glad to have a call from Dr. Anya yesterday and to know that she came home for one day. She joined our Zoom prayer in the evening and it was so nice to see her. Their medical unit is going to be moved to another place soon. Anya’s husband Vitaliy is recovering from kidney surgery after discharging from the hospital he will have a few weeks of vacation before going back to his service. Illya, Anya’s brother who was wounded few months ago is doing much better after rehabilitation in sanatorium, he walks with a cane and is waiting for the medical conclusion which will show if he can go back to army service.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support. It means so much for us.

In Christ,
Lyuda

P.S. There are photos of Dr. Anya and other workers of her medical unit and the photo of Vova, Angela and Angela’s parents at the pro-Ukrainian meeting in Montpellier, France