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November 12, 2024 (Day 993)
The short autumn days have become cold and rainy. It seems that the worsening weather is connected with the worsening situation at the battle field. Our military is retreating in the Donetsk region, leaving the enemy with cities that they had previously liberated. We keep close contact with many soldiers who are our church members, relatives and friends of our church members and with those whom we met during the war. Our warriors are holding on with all their might, but there is no way to resist the enemy, whose forces are much more numerous. We try to support our fighters as much as we can, we communicate with them a lot on the phone when there is a connection, we write them messages and send them parcels. Our women in the church knit warm socks and we buy them warm underwear. We want to support them at least with such small things.
A couple of weeks ago Paul came home for a few days. He is not talkative and it is obvious that he does not want to be talked to, so it was nice to see him, hug him and just be near him. Our Dr. Anya received an invitation to a ten-day rehabilitation in Sweden, but at first she refused it in favor of her driver, who came under fire and, being wounded, was able to drive the team of the ambulance out of the danger zone. The commander insisted that Anya go and gave the same invitation to the ambulance driver. Anya said that for her it was an opportunity, first of all, to get some sleep because on the front line she slept only a few hours a day and sometimes did not sleep at all. Anya has returned to service now, her group is on rotation not in a relatively safe place but in 2 weeks they will go to the front line again.
In our region now it is also very unpeaceful. Odessa is attacked every night. Every night drones hit residential areas. People don't always have the opportunity to go to the shelter at night. Because our military is retreating a new wave of refugees has arrived in Odessa. But because it is not very safe in Odesa, we are planning to take some of the refugees to our town. We have already moved one family, an elderly couple from a city in Donetsk area that no longer exists.
Despite the fact that there is a lot of depressing and difficult news right now, we have some very plasant experience. A real joy for us is visiting an orphanage. We became friends with the children, we developed close relationships and they share their news with us, tell us their stories, share their dreams and plans. They listen to Bible stories with great interest, ask questions, and reflect. We also see changes in the teenagers from our church who have expressed a desire to do this ministry with us.
We are also glad that our counseling center is expanding. Our volunteers who have been helping us in our work since the beginning of the war have grown very much professionally and spiritually. Some of them have started studying and we see how their service is gradually turning into a profession and permanent work. We thank God for each of them and are glad to be one big team.
Our counselors continue to work hard. We now do a lot of counseling for people in grief, experiencing separation from family and loss. I do a lot of counseling with teenagers in our church. I am even a little bit overwhelmed, they all want to talk to me. They share everything: relationships, problems with parents, conflicts. It is nice that young people are drawn to the church. All their problems are also aggravated by the war, which prevents them from living a normal life and which leaves a painful mark on everything. It is good that they find warmth, understanding and healthy fellowship in the church. This will help them to endure and cope with their problems.
Last week all eyes were on the elections in the USA. People in Ukraine were very interested in news about the elections, as was the rest of the world. Elections are always a victory for some people, and a disappointment for other people. And although my country is a young democracy, we have already experienced both. It's great when people can choose but different opinions can lead to conflicts, divisions and confrontations, which can make the country weak and vulnerable. We hope that your country will always be an example of democracy and unity for the rest of the world. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance” Ps 33:12
We are praying for you and, please, continue praying for us.
Please, send your donations to Pathway Ministries
E. Langston Haygood,D.Min.,Ph.D.
Pathway Ministries, Inc.
288 Huntington Parc Circle
Birmingham, AL 35226
(205)835-3325
http://www.pathwayministriesinc.com
In Christ,
Lyuda
P.S. There are photos of our activities with the kids in the orphanage and the photos of Odessa night attacks.