Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
Dear Friends of BIEM,
1. Last week we mentioned that Vitaly Bilyak was on a trip to the Donbas area in Ukraine’s East that would bring him right up to the battle area. Only when we received his pictures and videos did we realize how dangerous this trip was. Please take the time to view his video at the following link:
2. Unfortunately, our media seems to have forgotten about the war in Ukraine. Currently, there seems to be almost no coverage. Yet, when you are there, you realize how unfair that is as you see the devastating toll this war is claiming in terms of death, destruction, and suffering. Every town has gotten used to military funerals. It seems most families speak of a loved one in battle, often resulting in death or serious wounds. The published statistics are grossly minimized. When the true figures come out, the world will be shocked at how many lives were lost.
3. On this most recent trip, I began to realize how many of our Ukrainian families have loved ones that are currently in battle. The same for our churches, which are well represented when it comes to men in military service. One of our missionary wives has both a brother and her father serving on the front. In acknowledgment of the extreme sacrifice on the part of these soldiers, the military is paying 3-4 times more than the amount for regular service. Please pray for these men.
4. Of all the containers we have ever sent to Ukraine, the one currently destined for Ternopil has encountered the most difficulties by far. We have requested prayer for this container several times over the last year. It is also probably the one containing more high-value items than we have ever shipped in one container. Besides humanitarian aid, this container contains sports equipment for youth ministries, musical instruments for church music ministries, furniture for our drug and alcohol rehab centers, hundreds of chairs and dozens of tables needed by churches, plus much miscellaneous equipment needed by churches. We purchased this container so that it can become a permanent fixture at the Drug & Alcohol Rehab center near Ternopil, where it will provide much-needed storage space. At last, it has entered the port in Savannah, Georgia, where it is scheduled to be placed on a ship bound for Gdansk, Poland. From there, Lord willing, it will be trucked across the border into Ukraine. All the issues and challenges hindering this load could fill a book. Please pray that this container would proceed to its destination without further issues.
5. Beginning in mid-September, BIEM’s director for Ukraine, Eugene Buyko, will be visiting churches in the U.S. with his wife and daughters for 6 weeks. Please pray for good meetings and safety over many miles. But please also uphold their son Mikhail in prayer. At age 19, Mikhail cannot exit Ukraine during wartime. Not only will he be home alone, but he will be responsible for some of the preaching in their church, plus home maintenance, and handling any problems that may come up. Even without the war, being the sole family member left behind could be depressing. Let’s uphold Mikhail in prayer!
Sam Slobodian
President - BIEM