News from Ukraine May 17, 2023
May 17 (Day 448)
News from Ukraine
Dear brothers and sisters,
Thank you for your prayers and support. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time. We thank all countries that help us with weapons and many other things that give us the opportunity to resist in this battle. We thank for giving treatment to our wounded soldiers. It’s amazing how the world can unite in the battle with evil that is still so strong.
This week we often have alarms, especially at night. The missiles that fly at us are very insidious. They can fly in one direction and then change course. Therefore, the alarm sounds in many areas, warning of the danger of attacks. Last night there was a massive attack on Kiev, this night Nikolayev was a target of the attack.
Everybody is talking about counteroffensive and we lay so much hope on it though we understand that it will not be easy and it will take many strong efforts. Paul Lukoshkin wrote us last week that he will have three days off this week and will come home. We were expecting him with great joy but he wrote yesterday that something changed and he won’t come. We understand that it’s a busy time and keep all our soldiers in prayer.
Alex, the guy that we were counseling last month after suicidal attempt, is doing well. He is not far from the front line now and his group is preparing to go ahead. It’s so nice to know that he reads the Bible and prays. We correspondence with him and with his commander.
Sergey is in Kiev today for the Presbytery meeting. All pastors of our denomination are gathering there for a meeting. It’s good that they have this opportunity to come together, exchange news, share their struggles, support each other and pray together. Sergey will also see our son Vlad who lives in Kiev.
In joyful excitement, we took possession of the building where we plan to open a center for refugees. Right now we are estimating the costs of renovation we want to make and other things to do in short terms to receive several families to live there. Our counselor Vika plans to come from Odesa to plant the flowers and do some decorations of the yard. We want to do it together with our refugees, they will enjoy doing it. Our church is also very happy about this new place and our church members are ready to help and volunteer.
We are glad that the refugees of our group became a part of our church, they participate in all our events and are ready to serve. Alina, the lady from Kharkiv joined our refugee group last August. She and her son Ilyusha are very happy to be in the church. This Sunday Aline taught her first Sunday school class for our children in the church. She says she feels God is calling her to work with children. Her son Ilyusha helps with sound equipment and is an active member of our youth group. We thank God for His wonderful work in the hearts of people. It’s such a joy to see it.
Please, continue to pray for our ministry and for our country.
In Christ,
Lyuda
P.S. There are photos of our refugees. Alina is a lady in a red coat, Ilusha is a young man helping to move the boxes with humanitarian aid in the church.
