Three Years of War behind Us: Deepening Concerns for Our Ukraine Team and Reasons for Joy
Watch our short video about our response to the war in Ukraine here
Sometimes I sit and wonder how people who don’t have faith and a relationship with God get through life. In our individual lives, each of us has different challenges, illnesses, battles, sorrows – not to mention the suffering of the world around us, with injustice, wars, and natural disasters. Where do people turn when their own resources are exhausted and there is no hope?
Nearly three years of war in Ukraine have caused unimaginable personal and national tragedies. Many Ukrainian men are on the front lines where hundreds of thousands have already perished.
Mission Possible’s teams in both Ukraine and Russia have suffered the loss of loved ones, homes, and homelands, just like all their fellow citizens. Yet despite their tragedies, they are determined to help others. They know the power of God and prayer, and that is why they have not only temporal help to give, but also spiritual encouragement and a message of hope.
Three Years of War behind Us:
Deepening Concerns for Our Ukraine Team and Reasons for Joy
The last few months have been difficult for our team. The husband of one of our newly married team members was deployed, and two other families face the likelihood of deployment as well.
There have been a lot of air raids in Odessa, so our workers have sought refuge in basements. Thanks to the solar panels installed last year, we have been able to cope with power cuts better than before.
Christmas gifts for 23,000 children
Much of childhood for Ukrainian children has passed in the shadow of war. In December and January we organized a traditional Christmas gift campaign to bring joy and hope to children and families. Presents were distributed by churches all over Ukraine.
Encounters and prayers
The reason for our joy in the midst of such difficult times is that people are opening their hearts to the gospel and our team has led many to salvation in Jesus! Children’s Bible clubs and women’s groups continue in several locations. Through regular gatherings, sincere relationships have been established with the local residents.
Visiting Sergey Andreevich
Sergey fled the war in Transnistria more than 30 years ago and settled in a small village in the Odessa region. The young working man was never asked for his identification papers, and now in old age he still does not possess them.
Thanks to the people who gave him a little room to stay in, he has a roof over his head. Social workers sometimes bring him food but he rarely has visitors. Sergey was very happy to welcome us in and gratefully received the aid and the Bible we offered him. We had good conversation and prayer together before departing.
Our team member Dima prayed with Sergey and many others as she purposes to bring help and the gospel into their homes.
“Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. I ask You to forgive my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for my sins and rose again, and I confess Him as my Lord and Savior. Jesus, come into my heart and help me to live in Your strength.”
