Kevin on behalf of Edik and Liana – Ukraine

It is one of our great joys to be able to draw attention to the good works of Edik, Liana and the church family at Rock of Salvation Church, Uzhgorod. If those of us outside of Ukraine are becoming war-weary, then it can only be wondered how the people of Ukraine continue to find the internal resources from which to embrace each new day.

This month’s Ukraine update continues to profile Edik and Liana’s ministry and their support to refugees in Uzhgorod, but in addition to this, there is also a heart-warming story of the distribution of school items to refugee children – something approaching normal in a context of crisis.

As a result of the Newfrontiers Ukraine offering, the Lighthouse Community was able to apply for $3500 USD to support refugee children, as well as a further $13,500 USD to support the ongoing ministry of supporting and housing refugees as they settle in Uzhgorod. We are grateful to our wider church family for this support.

In these days of global upheaval – the ongoing war in Ukraine, a North Korean ballistic missile fired over Japan, the persecution of Iranian women and the growing economic crisis, faced by us all (just the headlines from today 04/10), it is easy to become insular. But we serve a servant King and the example he leaves is one of sacrifice and servanthood. And so as we take a glimpse into the world of Edik and Liana and their ministry, let’s also be personally inspired to shake off weariness and to embrace Jesus afresh, for our own neighbours and communities (Gal 6:9).

Edik writes: Hi dear Emma, we are very happy to hear that you are well. We are also doing well, if I may say so at the moment. We pray that there will be no nuclear bombing by Russia. There are even rumours that they can hit the Carpathians with a nuclear bomb to cause shifts in the underground layers. Looking at this madness, we can expect anything! Our work for Septemeber looks like this:

• we paid $150 each for 17 refugee families to stay in hotel rooms
• we also made weekly payments to 38 people at an average of $100 for the month for food and basic items.
• we bought and distributed $1,200 worth of food parcels to about 50 families.
• we also provided financial assistance to three churches for $500 each.
• we were able to pay the $500 rent for the church meeting hall and also the cost of utilities, $400

Thank you so much for everything you do and for your prayers for us. We love you all and thank God for you.

Edik Writes: We are also purchasing school items now and we will be distributing the first batch today. Thank you Newfrontiers for this money!

Edik has also recently some personal bad news with regard to Lyudmila, his 73 year old mother. She continues to live in the Donbas (in the Russian-occupied east) and very tragically, she fell and broke her hip! In order for her to be able to have an operation, Edik’s family had to raise $6000 USD, as the operation needed to be paid in rubles and the price of rubles now is very expensive. Edik’s family raised $3000 USD between them and the Lighthouse Community was able to pay the rest – thank you to all those who contributed to this.

Edik Writes: I also send a photo of my mother after the operation. Thank you very much for this help! She is already walking around the ward with the help of a walker. The doctor said not to stand and not put a load on the sore leg for 7 months. We believe that everything will grow together well and my mother will walk freely!