Update from Ukraine: Our partners are hard at work!
The Christian Center for Success in Ternopil, Ukraine has resumed their ministry to children, incorporating refugee children alongside their regular students.
As the war in Ukraine enters its eleventh week, our partners have been busy serving the multitudes of refugees and internally displaced people forced to leave their homes. Here is an update on their latest activities.
Ukraine and Surrounding Countries
In Ternopil, the Christian Training Center for Success continues to serve refugee families as they pass through the city. But the team at the Center has also been able to resume their previous ministry to children. Recently, preschool kids had a fun lesson learning about airplanes. Older children continue their English studies. At the end of one lesson, they simply played games - a great distraction from the war! The children also are having discussions about why there is evil, such as war, in the world - creating the chance to discuss the Bible’s teachings on original sin.
In addition to classes, thanks to donors, the Center has also been able to provide much needed food to the students’ families. While refugee families need help, so too do the local families - many of whom have fathers, husbands, and sons fighting the Russians in the East, putting a financial hardship on the family in Ternopil. In addition to food, Center volunteers offer prayers and always bring a listening ear to hear the stories of everyone they serve.
Operation Blessing and their partner Orphan’s Promise are partnering with the Center for Success in Ternopil and they sent us an update about classes that include both the regular students of the center and refugee children. One sweet outcome of this is that the students have the opportunity to share their stories with one another and then to pray for peace. In the midst of the trauma and uncertainty, this is a chance to offer a slice of hope and encouragement.
Convoy of Hope is working in Romania, and they provided (literally) tons of food to Ukrainian refugees, in three massive trucks.
I don’t think anybody could have the words to describe the need for what’s going on right now in Ukraine. When a situation like that hits, you just have got to do everything in your power - and even beyond that - to help. You just help. And that bag of food makes all the difference for that person that you’re going to bring the food to. – Catalin , Romania Teen Challenge, partnering with Convoy of Hope
Convoy of Hope reports that some refugees are returning to their homes, now that the Russian forces are moving east. They are returning to homes and communities that have been destroyed by warfare and they too need basic supplies. Convoy of Hope continues to assist Ukrainians across the region with emergency relief supplies.
Legacy Refuge has been busy caring for orphans and is excited to announce a new partnership with a German non-profit to provide a place of refuge for up to 140 orphans, foster families, orphans who have aged out of care (some with children of their own) along with other vulnerable families, who have fled the conflict in Ukraine. They are calling it The Village and it looks lovely!
The Village will be a safe haven for vulnerable orphans, those who have aged out of the foster care system, foster families, and other vulnerable families.
Since the start of the war, Convoy of Hope has served more than 2.2 million meals to more than 400,000 people across Europe. Watch the video on their website to learn more.
Our partners with IPHC in Krakow, pastors Roman & Christina Danylyshyn, serving Ukrainian refugees.
Finally, Ira Venglovska, Founder and Director of Mission to Ukraine, sent a video update stating:
Our nation is undergoing horrors, murder, tortures. We see a lot of pain and blood that are unbelievable. This is the time when we need prayers and we need the Lord to show up strongly as never before. He is with us. We have a small team on the ground that is serving our moms and babies who are in the country and not leaving. This is a great opportunity for us to show how good and how merciful and mighty our God is. Thank you [ARDF donors] for praying, and thank you for standing alongside us.
On behalf of our partners, and the people of Ukraine, we are beyond grateful for the generosity that the ARDF community has shown in this crisis. We know that the crisis is far from over and that the road ahead will seem impossible at times. But your gifts have enabled our partners to show tangible acts of compassion in the name of Christ now. Thank you.
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