Here is a report from our co-worker Barbara about what is happening in her village (Ukrainian controlled) as well as a number of stories about a few of the people who are attending the services and requesting humanitarin assistance:

I decided to write about how we are doing now. In the summer I was sent on unpaid leave from my usual work but thankfully I found a part-time job in a cleaning company. The work is difficult for me but we are happy to have it because my husband is not working at present and we have 4 children. Please pray that we will not be left without work for the winter.

Morning for the people of our village today came early. It was on the weekend when everyone wants to sleep in that rockets were fired into our area. We thank God there were no casualties! But to be honest, we don't feel fear. We are already accustomed to constant explosions. Our children have learned to distinguish if the fire was from the Russian or Ukrainian side by the sound of it.

In the last few months I have met so many people who fled the war. Many people turn to us for help and many will no longer be able to return to their homes which were destroyed. We started to participate at a volunteer center in the city, where not only refugees come, but also local people who have lost their jobs. Yesterday more than 100 people came to this volunteer center where we held a gospel meeting and distributed food boxes and clothes. It is probable that many of those who came will not come again, but at least we had this opportunity to talk to them about Jesus. After the meeting and distribution of food and clothes, we pack new food boxes for the next day. This is how things are organized not only there, but also in our village church. Please pray for the many people who have heard about the Lord in these last few months.

And speaking of organization, we had a dream to organize the used clothing at church on some sort of racks like they have in a clothing store. Until now we just had them in cardboard boxes which makes it difficult for people to find what they need. So the church got busy and built a space for this. It is not just more convenient but is also so much more respectful to people who have lost everything.

We serve every way we can, and not only us, but also our cars. Elderly people especially ask for this kind of help. Sometimes they ask us to take them to the hospital or to help bring something. If I can, I never refuse. My car is a very old one and not in top condition but I am glad it is still running so we can do this. Although Ukraine is going through a very difficult time right now, there is still good news for us as believers. All over Ukraine people are going to church! This is happening in our small village church too. And we are glad that people are coming to God even if it is because they don't know where else to turn to.

But when there are more people there can also be challenges: these last three months some members of our church have not been able to find seats in the chapel because so many people are coming; mostly elderly people and mothers with children. So in September we held our regular Sunday services as well as three extra services in the middle of the week. At the end of each service, we offer a cup of tea to people to be able to get to know them. Some people stay and talk, others leave right after the service but we try to connect to them as much as we can. Afterwards we distribute some humanitarian aid to people who are in need. (In total about 300 people at this church during September.)

After one service, a man approached our pastor and said that he had prayed the prayer of repentance at home. And he really wanted to testify about this before the church next Sunday. We are so thankful that God is working on people's hearts.

When the service is over and we come home sometimes I feel like I did not receive spiritual food myself. When we stand in the hallway it is hard to hear everything because the chapel is packed. We also miss the family atmosphere that was always present in our church. In spite of the difficulties, it gives us joy that people hear about God, and I really want people to accept the Lord into their hearts. Our church has never been as full as it is now. Please pray for supernatural strength and peace for our co-workers in this time of harvest.

One of our former campers named Oksana…

… started to attend church with her children and her mother. I am glad that although she did not stay in church when she grew up, still she remembered what she had been taught in the camp and she came back. Perhaps she came for the material help or perhaps in order to rest her soul, but whatever the reason, it is wonderful to see them in church.

My elderly neighbor Lyuba…

…who would never have come to church before, is now attending. It was after her husband fell ill with cancer near the beginning of the war that she decided to come. She has been attending the church for several months and always cries when she listens to the Christian songs. I believe that God touches her heart. And not only her, but also many of those who come to church now.

An 8 year old girl named Kira…

…whose father was mobilized into the army in April lives with her parents in our village. Her father returned in July with a concussion and an eye injury. He is still in the hospital. Her mom worked up until August when she decided that she needed to stay at home so Kira would not be left alone. It was about this time that Kira began to have a problem. At first, she was just nervous because of her father's injuries but then a rocket hit the village. She could no longer hold down any food and had trouble sleeping. After a while she began to lose weight and her mom turned to us for help. The doctors did a variety of tests but nothing was found. Finally, the neurologist prescribed drugs to calm Kira down and her mom bought ear plugs so she could sleep. After a couple of weeks her health has improved and she has gradually started to eat. I am sure that there will be many such cases in our country.

One day I received a call for help from a school colleague…

…not for herself and her family, but for a neighbour. Her neighbour has 3 children and is on maternity leave. Her husband was transferred to a 4-day work week which means less pay. When the family was planning their third child, the dad made good wages. Margarita was born 2 months after the war started. In general, during the war, the state provides some assistance for people, especially evacuees, but it is not always easy to get that help. As a result there are a lot of people who need help right now. Today Anna came to church and received a food package and some supplies for little Margarita.

Masha is a person whom I admire very much…

…She and her family are temporarily displaced. This couple helped more than 40 people escape from Orekhov using their car and had 20 people sheltered in their house! Masha and her husband and two children and her mother are now living in our village. At the present, the military will not allow families to return to Orekhov as the city is almost completely destroyed. We invited Masha to our church so that she could choose some clothes for her family and helped her with hygiene products.