Ministry News
Onward Christian Soldiers
"Onward Christian Soldiers" -- This hymn has been around for over 150 years, and most of us can hum it right now. In fact, it might already be stuck in your head, and probably will be all day. That’s ok. Let it be a reminder of the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers defending their country for the 89th day of war. We continue to pray for these brave souls and equip them with what we can. Prayers for peace, First Aid Kits, food, medical supplies, military clothing, and protective gear are the most requested items – in that order.
Our Drivers Have God’s Protection
Over the years, many of you have gotten to know our dedicated Coordinator and Child Advocate, Inna! Inna is Hope Now’s eyes and ears in Ukraine, and much, much more. We strongly encouraged Inna to get her driver’s license a few years ago and she gladly agreed, saying “Sure, anything to be more useful to the ministry.” This has been a vast understatement – especially in these past 2 years of pandemic / war in Ukraine. Since February, Inna has been in Europe helping us with the young women, orphans & moms we evacuated to Sweden and Romania. She longed to go home to Ukraine to be with her family, but she did not want to do this at the expense of anyone, and certainly if it was not convenient.
Do You Really Want to Sponsor Ukrainians?
For all of you folks who wrote to us last month, asking if you could host Ukrainians in your home – the time has come! The USA government has launched “Uniting For Ukraine.” This program allows Americans to apply to sponsor Ukrainian evacuees. Once the American hosts are approved, the Ukrainians will be able to create a profile online and if approved, will receive permission to travel to the USA. THERE IS NO COST TO APPLY. However, there is paperwork!
Happy Soldiers…Is there such a thing?
These days, our newscasts are overflowing with countless gut-wrenching photos of Ukrainians – civilians and soldiers alike, suffering terribly. We continue to lift up the country of Ukraine in prayer and ask God for His protection and peace. We send life-saving medicines, support housing & meal programs, deliver food and clothing, and even send supplies to the military. Does any of this make any difference? Does any of it alleviate any suffering?
Camp for a Day!
Zoë & MaryJane’s main mission was to personally deliver 500 pounds of valuable medical supplies to our volunteers near the Romanian / Ukrainian border. Even though they had several fiery darts thrown at them during the 27-hour journey to Romania, God smoothed their path at each turn and brought them and all the bags to safety. After handing off the financial donations and bags to our Ukrainian volunteers, Zoë & MJ started a long zig zag journey across the country (through the Carpathian Mountains) to the other side of Romania. Once they arrived, and were a little bit rested, they were ready to spend some time with our kids and moms there
Pills, Pills, Pills
The 7 duffle bags that Zoë and MaryJane brought to Romania were quickly handed off to our volunteers, who then crossed the border and drove them to Cherkasy in central Ukraine. Once there, no time was wasted. The large bottles of vitamins, sleeping aids, antihistamine, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen were divided into smaller amounts, and delivered in the middle of the night to our Pastor, Anatoliy who was waiting to take them to Bucha and Irpyn – suburbs of Kyiv that have recently been destroyed by invaders. Desperate people were waiting. Waiting for food, water, and medicine…they have been suffering for weeks!
In Our Family, We Don't Travel Light!
When I was a kid, occasionally my mom asked me to run down to the store, to pick up a gallon of milk. Of course, I would oblige as this was something fun to do – a little adventure. Now that I have children of my own, I also ask them to run errands from time to time. So, Zoë wasn’t surprised when I asked her to go to Romania for me…and could she please bring a sizeable amount of cash and 500 lbs. of essential supplies for Ukrainians? Since Zoë has been going to Ukraine since she was 12, and she just came back from teaching in Ukraine and sheltering in Europe, her reply was “Sure, Mom. When do I leave?”
Today's Good Samaritans
Food and medicine are what is needed in Ukraine today. And we have an entire team of Good Samaritans who are willing to bring these much needed items to the sick and poor. One of our dedicated mentors, Luda and her husband recently bought food with your donations, and made up large food parcels to give out to the least of these in their community. Many of you in the USA also sent our Atlanta office lots of great over the counter medicines, which we brought overseas, and in turn sent into our volunteers in Ukraine. So, Luda and her husband were able to bring medicines to those that can distribute it to people in need, and they could bring food to those that have none. You are Good Samaritans, all of you!
What makes a Grown Man Cry?
Lately, our ministry efforts have turned from evacuating orphans to providing humanitarian aid for starving civilians and giving life-saving medical help to soldiers defending Ukraine. In these stressful and emotion encounters, for sure, there are many tears. Apart from describing the horrors that most soldiers have seen on the battlefield, in the village square and in the wheat fields, do you know what really makes a grown man cry? A first aid kit.
Preparing for Easter
Tomorrow is Easter in America! What a wonderful day for us Christians to celebrate the greatest story in history – Jesus’ resurrection from death! In Ukraine and in many other countries around the world, Easter won’t be celebrated for another week, as they follow the Orthodox calendar. However, our family of 14 in Madrid is celebrating tomorrow, so today they were busy coloring eggs. This refugee family was happy to have eggs to color, even though they look much different that the kind they usually made at home in Ukraine.
This is Ukraine today – shot with our own cameras
One of the big differences of working with a huge, global NGO and a small, focused charity like Hope Now, is that we can tell you (and even show you!) where your donations end up and who they are helping. Take a few minutes and click on the video above, to see how your donations make their way across the border, into the hands of desperate Ukrainians trying to survive in the bombed-out city of Chernihiv.
“Humanitarian Aid” has a Face & a Name
We usually think of Humanitarian Aid as sort of anonymous. Who does it really come from, and who does it go to? We usually never know. However, when you give financially to Hope Now, or order something off our Amazon Wish List, YOU are providing Humanitarian Aid and we can tell you exactly who is receiving it. That’s because our own volunteers sort, pack, ship, and hand deliver it to people who need it, in Ukraine. You are being the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need in a war-ravaged land. Vitalina and Zhenya are some of the orphans who received food parcels this past week, along with others from Shpola Orphanage.
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