Voice of Ukraine

From Lyuda (Day 326): Dear brothers and sisters,
We live in such a strange world where many different events are combined into one. Our day yesterday, which started with good ideas and plans, turned into a terrible tragedy in the evening.

It was another massive attack causing damages, ruins, deaths and endless pain. Many cities were targeted and there were hits and destructions in many places but the city of Dnipro suffered the most, the missile hit residential buildings there. The buildings were destroyed and, many people occurred under the rubble. As the rescuers started their rescue work they saved many people from their ruined apartment. But many people were found dead. At the weekend people stayed at home with their families. Each of them had plans, but everything ended. Even now, when we live in the state of war, no one plans to die, we all plan to live and make plans for the future. But our life is very fragile and it is so vital to make the most important decision. It gives a desire to share the gospel with everyone we can.

It happened so that when two of many rockets sent to Ukraine yesterday were heading our area we were having a group meeting in the café. We had two groups together yesterday- the youth group and the adult group.

Six new people joined us. But by God’s providence we had some changes and the topic that we planned to discuss yesterday we postponed to the next time because two young girls showed up in the café and began to share their testimonies and proclaim the gospel. They spoke loudly and the attention of all people were drawn to them. At the end of their message they asked to raise hands those who believe in Jesus and to a big joy of Tanya and me the people in our group raised their hands. Then the girls invited those who haven’t made a decision to follow Jesus yet to pray with them and ask Jesus to come to their heart. People in our group prayed and there were visitors of the café who prayed, too. It was amazing.

Tanya and I work very gently with our refugees. First we make contacts, deal with traumas, build relations and doing this we always share the good news and bring Jesus into our meetings. We are careful not to push them too hard, we pray and ask Holy Spirit go first. We were very happy to see the fruits when some of our refugees started attending the church. Some people of our group have already prayed that prayer during one of our Bible studies. But probably sometimes we all should be as direct and pushing as those girls who so unexpectedly came to the café interrupting our meeting. We were glad that God gave us such a good time.

It was strange that while we all were listening to the girls who spoke loud and bold we didn’t hear two big explosions of the rockets. It was loud but it didn’t make any damage because the rockets were destroyed in the air right at that very moment when the people in the café were praying.

I wish you a good worship today!
In Christ,
Lyuda

P.S. There are photos of the ruined buildings in Dnipro. In one of them you can see a girl sitting in her ruined apartment on the 5th floor waiting for the rescuers to take her down. She is 23, in September she lost her boyfriend in the war. Yesterday she lost her home. When she was taken down her parents were still under the rubble…