Details from the front lines...
On Tuesday we met with a retired General who has been pressed back into service! He is very sharp and knowledgeable! He has about every honor in the military that is possible to receive! He is very educated, with a B.A., Master's degree, Doctorate and their highest degree above all others is an 'Academic' designation! He leads a large number of troops and most of the Commanders in the most intense areas were his students. He has come to be with us at least 4 times now! We had met several years earlier and it has not only been fun but a great access for 'everything' the Lord has put on our hearts!
None of the soldiers wear anything that could identify their names or ranks- snipers abound and you can't tell a general from a cook here!
Wednesday we went to a big store like a 'Cash and Carry' to buy hygiene supplies and sweets which mean a lot to the ones right up front that miss out on almost all of the pleasantries in life!
The General told us that a woman promised to provide a dumpling meal for a large group of soldiers. She delivered it and left. It was full of poison and 43 soldiers died!
I'm attaching a description for each of the 12 pictures above:
1. Just returned from the frontlines- great time with dr.'s and soldiers but hard!
2. Hygiene supplies , cookies and candy bars
3. At the triage Ctr.- first place soldiers go to stabilize their wounds!
4. Stretchers that bring the wounded in from the front- about 3 or 4 miles away.
5. Every body armor set has a tourniquet included- these tourniquets hanging on the line belonged to soldiers who didn't survive...
6. The stabilizing ctr. is in a little village house- this kitchen is the operating room- they have two small side rooms where as many as 60 or 70 wounded soldiers try to survive!
7. We hold hands everywhere we go- sounds strange to folks- but somehow they are getting into both hand holding and hugs!!
8. These dear church ladies made us a great lunch just before we went on to the front! It looks like I am learning how to join in with the Soviet smile club!
9. Positioning map for the battle lines between two armies- Russians and Ukrainian...
10. Body armor was mandatory- so some of our new friends loaned us theirs so that we could get right up to the frontlines...we are trying not to show pictures with our friends or their location for security purposes...
11. Getting fitted with some pretty heavy body armor...
12. The red dots are heavy concentrations of Russian soldiers! we were right in front of them about 3 or 4 miles away...
(I'll send more tomorrow by God's grace - I think I've just run our of gas!)
3 Comments
I never realized how powerful the ministry of encouragement could be until the first time I went to Ukraine with Jerry and Sue. My life was so calm compared to theirs even then that I had asked the Lord why I went. He clearly told me for encouragement, and then a Rush of his love and peace went through me. So I trust that the encouragement that Jerry and Rolfe are bringing to these embattled people is as powerful as any other ministry of the Holy Spirit could be. May the powerful spirit of God have all the freedom He needs to bring strength to every suffering soul. May Jesus be lifted high.
JERRY, The picture with you all suited with gear makes the war real. Praying protection over all you..Meeting these important military in command with your prayers,love and encouragement is so special and life breathing for them. God bless all you .Marilyn
Holding hands. Makes me wonder if they are concerned about not living another day. Maybe a helpful perspective for all of us.
[Lord God, please end the war now. Please help the men on the front lines. Please keep Jerry, Dr. Lev and Mr. Carawan safe. Please soften Mr. Putin's heart. You are sovereign and powerful.]