Journey from Kharkiv to Chernivtsi...

Jerry, Rolfe and Dr. Lev left Kharkiv on Wednesday for their long, 2 day journey to Chernivtsi! They made it safely - Thank you Jesus! - and of course, hit the ground running!! I received this brief note at the end of their day:

I’m about ready to fall over I’m so tired, but my heart is full to overflowing!  Our time with all the discipleship friends was wonderful! We started before 6 and thought that we would wrap it up around 8:30 or 9 but nobody wanted to leave! So I am just now getting ready for bed at 11:38 pm!

Then today, Jerry sent this article and pitures from the Ukrainian News Agency which tells what happened after they left Kharkiv. Our hearts are so grateful for the timing and the way God led them safely to Chernivtsi - but also heartbroken for the devastation in Kharkiv...

On May 23, 2024, Russian forces launched a massive air attack on Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region, using at least 15 missiles. This brutal assault resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, killing at least 7 civilians and injuring 16 more. Homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure were targeted, including a printing factory and a public utility company. Buildings are on fire, and rescue efforts are ongoing. The true number of casualties is likely to rise. In a stament on Telegram, the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried the global community's persistent failure to adequately confront Russian aggression. "Russian terrorists exploit the fact that Ukraine still lacks sufficient air defense systems and the capability to neutralize their launch sites near our borders," he asserted. "This vulnerability is not ours alone but a testament to the world's hesitation to confront terrorists as they deserve, now for the third consecutive year." Zelenskyy urged for enhanced defensive support and a more robust global response to counteract the ongoing acts of terrorism.