It is hard to believe that two months ago people were still living here and did not expect the war to reach them. Without electricity and without water, food is prepared outside today between fire breaks. Very unusual pictures of the city: a cemetery between the skyscrapers. With a small car, the brothers managed to reach the city of Mariupol via dirt roads. There they visited the brothers and sisters in faith.
The Lord gives us the opportunity to support the local brothers and sisters.
Pictures from the city of Mariupol:
Destroyed house of brother Andrei V. near the city of Melitopol.
Elder Pavel D. of the congregation in Mariupol, preaches in the prayer house destroyed by rockets.
Video of the brothers from the city of Chernigov.
Today, the city of Kharkov is severely affected by the war. Many residents of the city of Kharkov seek shelter for weeks in subway stations and basements of high-rise buildings. Svetlana goes there with orphaned children to give comfort to people. Everything she finds somewhere in the city to buy (food), she distributes among the refugees. With her bus (which was donated to her) Svetlana drives through the city to distribute bread and the Gospel to the people.
A rocket that hit the house of Sergey D. (elder of the Kharkov community) did not explode. Behind the wall of the room was the brother's family of six. All of them were spared from the impact of the missile. Thank God.
A year and a half ago, the young family rejoiced over their newborn son Efrem. A gift from heaven. On March 9, the young parents Mihail & Inna I. (both 30 years old) were out of town with their son, a tank shell ended their life here on earth. Little Efrem was not found in the process. Please pray for the relatives. May the Lord comfort them.
A smile on the face of the brother Vassili I (69). He perished while trying to fetch water for the people holding out in the basement. A fatal shot ended his life. Before that, a rocket destroyed their house. Please pray for the suffering people in Ukraine.
Brother Nikolai B. (70) was killed by a bomb near Kharkov. A terrible event. He wanted to save his family from the shelling, but unfortunately perished himself. Please pray for the family.
Update 21.10.22
The desire for peace, for a life without fear, without destruction, remains for the time being only a dream in many regions of Ukraine. Destroyed houses, abandoned home, uncertain future, without work, without money. The employees of the Hilfsdienst - Freundeskreis are looking for ways to help such people in their emergency situation. Thanks to the support of many giving hands, transporters from Germany are allowed to travel towards Ukraine again and again. The relief supplies, especially food, are in greater demand today than ever before. We witness people crying while distributing the relief goods and searching for words to express gratitude.
The goal of such actions is to bring the Gospel, the message of salvation, close to people's hearts. Such trips are always connected with great danger. Please pray for God's guidance and protection, and peace for Ukraine.
