Voice of Ukraine

From Lyuda (Day 250): Dear brothers and sisters, It’s a new week and a new hope. We had a very blessed weekend full of good events. We had a good worship, it seems that our music group sounds better each time. They work hard, they have learned many new hymns which are very suitable for our situation now.

Sergey preached on Psalm 23 about “ Fullness of life during trials” . This psalm answers our basic needs – safety, love and dignity. It reminds us that we are never alone, even in the most difficult situations.

After the worship Sergey suggested to go to the river and have some relaxing time there. It was a warm day and we were sitting on the bank watching ducks and swans. It was a peaceful day and we forgot about the war. It is impossible to put together two completely different states of being – the beauty of nature, tranquility, peace and war with its horrors and terror.

Odessa port is full of ships with grain. Because Russia violated the grain deal, there is no safety for our ships in the sea any more and they all stay in the ports. Many African countries can’t receive the grain now. It’s very sad. When the war happens in one part of the world it influences the whole world.

In the evening we went to the church again. Our church is never empty these days. There are always people doing something. There were our men connecting a new generator that is more powerful to enable us cook and use some electrical appliances during electricity outages. Besides cooking the food for the soldiers, our women decided to cook every day for our church members who come to the church. They are busy with different ministries and work – making food packets, preparing parcels for the soldiers, some people come and work in the church yard and do many other things.

There was a surprise waiting for us in the church, Paul Lukoshkin, our youth leader who is bravely fighting now got few days off and came home. And of course the first thing he did he came to the church. It was so nice to see him! We talked a little and he was anticipating to know our news, how the church is doing. We also asked him to tell us how the artillery works at war.

While we were talking I was watching the man that we’ve known since he was a little boy. He is the same Paul we know with a good sense of humor, strong and stable. But there is something different, it’s the impact that war makes on us all, especially on soldiers. He is constantly in our prayers.

We wish you to have a good week!

In Christ,
Lyuda