Details of our time at the front lines...
It was a busy day today and a long one! We got up around 4 am so that we could get to the church to load up food packages and other supplies for our trip to the front lines! The first stop was Slovyansk, a fairly large city in Eastern Ukraine. It is only 10-12 miles from the front battle lines and the city is constantly being bombed!
The church most of these people went to, was bombed and completely destroyed! So now they meet between apt. buildings in open spaces, which is safer than being all crowded together in one place! So we had the Service outside! Some of the brothers lead singing and I preached about God's love!
There were many non-churched folks among the 140-50 people who came to see what was happening! Afterward we had food packages to hand out with fresh fruit! People wanted to come up and share about being blessed by the fellowship and food- both material and spiritual!
We were talking with three people after the food handout and one of the women kept watering up, then she quickly ran off! I didn't know if something was wrong or not but she had made a sandwich the three of them were going to share at a picnic table near- by! I said I didn't want take their lunch but she insisted! They have so little and yet always want to honor you with some kind of gift!
Right after we left for our next destination, a cruise missile hit Slovyansk!... We next drove two hours, most of it over Very rough dirt roads! The closer we got to the border, the more we realized there were no civilian vehicles anywhere on the road, they were all just military machines and weapons for combat! Our destination this time was a little town called, "New York"! It was named at the beginning of the 1900"s by the mayor, because that was his wife's favorite city!
'New York' is even closer to the Russian border than Slovyansk, just 3.2 miles! And it is almost constantly being bombed except today- the sun was out and the skies were clear!! Praise God!
It took 5 1/2 hours driving each way today but the encouraging response and excitement over all God had done, was more than worth it! 'New York' had five major factories when the invasion started in Feb. 24th, 2022. Now all of them are destroyed and there is little or no work! The men are mostly dead or they left when the Russians moved in for a few months! For a town that had over 25,000 residents last year, it has now dwindled down to less than 2,000!
It was a wonderful time of sharing the Gospel, meeting each individual person (there are only 17 members in the church but about 70 or 80 showed up!) and worshipping together! They were so touched that we had come so far and that we were not afraid to be so near the front without fear!
We responded that God directed us to be with them and we weren't doing anything they don't do every day! Finally we left money for food and a picnic for outreach to their neighbors and to celebrate God's love and mercy!
4 Comments
Jerry and Rolfe and Dr. Levi. You are in New areas. I don't remember these towns. You are visiting so close to Russian Border. May God protect you as bring hope and encouragement to these precious people who have lost so much. It is hard to hear about. May this war end. We live in such comfort. So heart breaking. May be you you each day. Strengthen you. Marilyn
I find myself praying often these days and asking God, why he allows this war to continue along with many of the struggles we personally go through or see or hear across the world. Jerry, I read your blogs and realize God is still in control. He is using our families, our church, our lives to accomplish his will. It's not easy but if God is for us, then who can be against us. I thank God for your safe return from the front. We love you and miss you.
Jerry I saw your Sue at the Women's Breakfast today. She looks beautiful and healthy. She surely has God's strength in her. Yet I can't help but look forward to you two being reunited.
I let her know that Corenia told me the first thing she does in the morning is thank God when she gets out of bed. Second is she prays for you and Sue.
You are missed, yet we know this is God's schedule. You are all covered in prayer and love.
On one hand I don't understand why someone would choose to live so close to the Russian border with active fighting. On the other hand, this is their home. Their home. Even if it is just an imperfect, earthly home, I pray that God shut down the fighting there, and that they quickly become a primary target for revitalization. I pray that their friends and family return and their grief turns to peace and joy. And that they sense and walk with our Lord.