July, 2022 Tatiana's News

Due to the continuation of the war, Tatiana has had to make a difficult decision about how to proceed with her own ministry. As there is no possibility to hold camp this year, Tatiana finally decided to go to the US to use the opportunity to get more ideas for future camps in Ukraine. For the two months that she stayed in western Ukraine all the ministry arrangements were made online or by phone. Enough internet service is still available in the Ukrainian controlled areas so that she can continue to do this work while she is in the US.

Here is the news from Tatiana:

Thank God we are all well! It has been difficult for my mum to live in western Ukraine. We were staying on the 4th floor with no elevator, so she didn't go outside except for Sunday when we went to church. Before the war started I was invited to work as a volunteer at a Christian adventure camp in the USA. We talked it over with our team and decided that it would be a great opportunity for me to gain new experience for my future ministry in Ukraine. So I started to think about going there for the summer. Then my relatives from the USA asked me to bring mum over so they could take care of her.

The decision to go to the USA was not easy for me. I have prayed a lot about it and the Lord has worked things out. For the two months we stayed in western Ukraine all my work was done online or by phone, so I will be able to carry on doing that from the USA. And while we are away our house back home will be occupied by a family with children from Mariupol whose house was destroyed. Even though the situation is uncertain at least they have a place to stay.

Since the initial chaos and evacuation to western Ukraine, some of our co-workers have returned to their home area and are reorganizing. We continue to help people evacuate from more dangerous areas as well as Russian occupied areas.

In April we helped the family of our former camper Ksenia to evacuate. When Ksenia grew up, she stopped attending church, but a few months ago she started coming to church again, bringing her two small children. We helped them evacuate to the west of Ukraine and found them a place to stay among Christians. Like most people, they left with just a few things. With the help of some brothers and sisters in western Ukraine, we were able to provide them with some necessary clothing.

Before the pandemic we regularly visited a nearby village where we had Bible lessons for children. During the long Covid lockdown we were not allowed to gather with the children in this village but we kept in touch with a local woman who works there with children. She called me recently and asked for help. A group of women and children from their village were trying to evacuate as the situation there was dangerous. Unfortunately, soon after they started they had to stop for several days in a nearby city as they were unable to obtain desperately needed medicine for the elderly women in their group. We were able to transfer some funds to them to buy medications and food for the journey. They are in Bulgaria now and sent me a picture. They said: “We are amazed how quickly we were able to cross the border. The volunteers who were helping us also said it was unusally fast. We know that is because you prayed about us.”

I am planning to come back to Ukraine as soon as I can. Dear brothers and sisters, thank you so much for supporting people in Ukraine in such a difficult time. Your help is so important not just because we can help people in their need but also because it gives them hope when they see that there are people who actually care. Please continue to pray for Ukraine. We believe that our God is a Mighty God and He can save even in the most hopeless situation.

With my love and gratitude. - Tatiana