“The Lord Himself Brought Them To Us”
“The Lord Himself brought them to us.”
- Christina Danylyshyn, serving in Ukraine
Ukraine and Surrounding Countries
ARDF continues to receive updates from our partners in Ukraine. We were able to send another round of funding totaling $290,000 in July, and ask for your continued prayers as our partners work with some of the most vulnerable people affected by the war. Here are some of the most recent stories from our partners.
Orphan’s Promise continues their work with children and families as they seek shelter from the war or need assistance traveling to families outside of Ukraine. They have several teams serving across the country in many capacities, from medical and psychological assistance to food packages and other humanitarian support. In their recent update, they share that,
“Each food bag that we give to the teenagers and their families in Kyiv and Kyiv region is another way to tell the people that God has not forgotten about them, but He cares about them. And each time, the volunteers see more and more smiles on people's faces, instead the eyes filled with tears and confusion. We thank all the partners thanks to whom Ukrainians receive assistance.”
Mission To Ukraine’s annual summer camp was a huge success!
Mission to Ukraine hosted their annual summer camp for young men with special needs in June. Despite the severity of the war just miles from where they live, these young men were more interested in doing crafts, playing kickball, and singing songs about Jesus. The volunteers who made this special week possible love these guys with the love of Jesus, and ask for prayers for their safety, health, and growth in the knowledge and love of Christ.
Roman & Christina Danylyshyn of IPHC are in Krakow serving Ukrainian refugees with food, medicines, and other supplies working both in Poland and across the border in Ukraine. Rising prices makes food and other supplies expensive, and they try to get what they need from Poland and Germany. Currently they are helping a Rehabilitation Center serving those who are paralyzed, wheelchair bound, sick, and those who have suffered from military operations. Most recently they were able to host eye exam clinics for the refugees with the help of a friend who is a physician. As they serve physical needs, God is spiritually at work among them in powerful ways! Christina shares how they celebrated baptisms and how those they help are receiving Christ into their lives.
Christina Danylyshyn shares: “People there not only receive help, but also receive spiritual help, accept Jesus into their lives, and receive water baptism. These are very blessed people who love God. The Lord himself brought them to us.”
“Together with our friends, this time we managed to provide for refugees living in the west of Ukraine. About 200 packs of everything necessary were distributed. As for me, the work was done very well. People received a sermon on the word of God, accepted Jesus into their lives, and of course received help. My heart rejoices. And all this is thanks to each of us. because each of us is like a puzzle, and without some puzzle there will not be a complete picture. Thank you friends. Blessings, Roman and Christina”
Before the war started, the Ternopil Training Center started a Career Direct Guidance program. This initiative helped people identify their vocational occupations, recognizing that God gives each one of us gifts in the workforce. In spite of the war they continue to hold these consultations for children studying at the center, and were also able to host several online consultations as well. In addition to providing career guidance, the Training Center’s team and volunteers held a Day Camp on the premises. They hosted up to 50 children ages 10 through 12.
United World Mission has worked with eleven refugee centers in Western and Central Ukraine since the beginning of the war. These centers are supported by the work of 512 local volunteers, mostly church members and seminary staff and students. Funding received from ARDF was combined with other donations and used for medicine, food, and basic necessities. UWM served a total of 98,766 people throughout the region and distributed 1,448 tons of supplies - which comes to an average of about 29 pounds of food per person! Along with aid distribution, UWM sheltered and hosted just under 30,000 refugees and displaced people, most of whom were elderly, women, and children. Most refugees stayed between two days to two weeks as they made their way to more secure locations in Ukraine and abroad.
Quo Vadis is currently working with a three pronged approach: humanitarian aid from Poland to Ukraine; housing and care of Ukrainian refugees in Poland; and the preparation for winter. They report that as winter looms ahead, Ukrainians are encouraging them to save resources for those bleak months as they know things will worsen with the cold. In addition to food supplies, Quo Vadis is also helping to purchase fuel, coal, and winter-proof sleeping bags. They are also speaking with Christian builders to send a group in the early Fall to help with provisional roofing work on bombed houses to survive the next winter. They are entirely volunteer based and experiencing much fatigue from the grueling work. Please pray for restoration and rest for these dedicated volunteers.
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