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Below are the latest reports from Ukraine. April 1, 2022Greetings in the Name of the Lord! A brief update as for today: We all of our staff and families are fine. Irpen (North-West of Kyiv). We have no access to there even looks like at least part of the city is controlled by Ukrainian forces and from rare video footage from there it looks like the city is badly-badly damaged. Nobody knows exactly how many civilians were killed there. From what I could see on couple of videos – there are bodies of people on the streets. On a personal matter – 2 of Tanya’s brothers used to live there with the families. In fact, both of them have just purchased apartments there. Praise God both families were able to escape with the children, but look like they have no apartments left. Makariv (West of Kyiv). In the town and in the area there were rehabilitation centers (4 of them) which were supported through LOR for many years. Since the second week of war the area is controlled by Russians and there are severe fights taking place in the area – with the long distance artillery used. With the donated funds all the people at the rehab centers and church people were able to evacuate (over 100 people). Pastor Maxim Mamakin has left his house one of the last. Most likely his house and the rehabilitation centers are destroyed. But he doesn’t have chance to check it out. Maxim, Lesya, 2 of his sons and some others are in Kyiev on the west bank of Dnieper continue ministering to those around. Mariupol-Zaporozhye. Several thousands of people were able to leave Mariupol on their own risk. The church in Zaporozhye we partner with is able to host people for sometime and then manage to evacuate them to the West of Ukraine and further to EU. Thanks to the financial support of many. People from Mariupol don’t talk much on what they have come through. Deep emotional traumas. Our community in Boryspil District. We have missiles flying over our houses every night and some artillery shelling on another side of Boryspil city (like 30-40 km east from us). Praise God only one missile had been hit not far away from us, on our side of Dnieper. Nobody was injured and no major distractions. The supply with the food is better than it was over first 2 weeks, but we don’t know for how long. Russians are destroying the storages of food and of the gas and diesel fuel around Kyiv. Lack of the most needed medications at least in our village and in the pharmacies on our side of Kyiv. What is good is the strength of the local communities – those who stay here are taking care for their neighbors and especially for the elderly people, so we stay close with the people around ministering to them in all possible ways. People are also facing lack of finances – those who had their jobs and have lost the source of income. Those people we support with the food for free and with the finances when possible. We don’t have any optimism as Putin promised to stop attacking Kyiv and Chernigiv. Last night have clearly showed that is not a case. Thanks for being good friends, for your prayers and for the support. In His Peace, Sasha March 17, 2022Brothers and Sisters! Dear friends at DMI! You don't imagine how much your prayers and support are meant to us! I admire the leadership of DMI - Brothers Dean Robbins and Pat McCoy for all they do. Proud to be their friend. Proud to be part of all of yours lives for many years! We all need miracle for Ukraine to survive against Russia. If we will not - the enemy will go further to other countries. As our President spoke in his powerful speech yesterday to the US Congress - Ukraine is fighting for the rest of the World. I'm agree with that statement 100%. I want you not to be in panic. If God is for us - who may stay against us? We as the leadership of LOR (Light of Resurrection) do as much as we could. Coordinating different efforts all around Ukraine and practically serving to people around us. We don't have much time for writing but believe me - the great work is being done every minute. I'm proud to be a part of great team of LOR. God has blessed me with the great people on our staff. Some of them and some of our local partners got to be under Russians, temporarily for sure. They keep strong over there and in many different ways are fighting against the enemies. I couldn't give you more details at the moment. At any place around Ukraine, we don't know what might happen next day, even next hour. There is no place in Ukraine that may be considered as a safe place. There will be no victory of Russia over Ukraine. We all could die, and they could take over the territory, but not over the people of Ukraine. More and more areas could be occupied by Russians and a lot of Ukrainian blood could be shed next weeks, months - but there will be no victory of Russia. The fact you're standing behind us with your prayers and financial support - inspires us. Speaking about finances - we need finances. Don't think of donating clothing or food or medications at the moment in USA. Even if you'd donate to some charities - the logistics will be difficult and almost impossible, honestly speaking. Please ask your churches, friends, local busyness to give to DMI for the Ukrainian War fund. We will need a lot of money in the nearest future. What is our finances strategy on our end? Under current circumstances each one of the staff are spending their own savings they might have. We also are spending funds from LOR accounts donated to us before the war by various local and international supporters for other purposes. In other words, we're spending personal funds and funds of other donors for urgent needs around us. We need to empty our pockets and accounts as soon as possible, because we just don't know for how long the banking system will be working here. We keep the track of our spendings here. I knew from brother Pat there was $25K donated to the Ukrainian war fund at DMI. The funds are on DMI account, but they're spent already by us on our end and for us it means that our personal finances and other supporters finances are in a safe place at DMI bank. I hope you understand the concept. By the end of month - we will send to brother Pat the breakdown of our spendings out of DMI Ukrainian war fund and whom they belong to, along with some stories, where applicable. Right now, the funds are being spent for: - Food - Medications - Fuel - Evacuations (rent of transport) - Rent cost for refugees - Power generators When we know there's more funds on DMI Ukrainian War fund - we will start spending it. We are also in a process of analyzing approved for 2022 DMI's original budget. The communication is difficult. Some people we have been supporting have fled abroad, some are on the occupied areas with no banking system available. Some stay - but have no ministry left behind. We're making an assessment of each individual case and will let brothers Dean and Pat know by the end of March, since all the DMI's original 2022 projects were already covered for the first quarter of this year. Love you all! Hope to see you all once again on the Earth, but if not on the Earth - then in Heaven. Pray for our President. This little man is really anointed by God for these days of trials. In His Peace, Brother Sasha March 14, 2022
Pastor Pat McCoy Atlanta Primitive Baptist Church Discipling Ministries International, Inc. Dear Pat, As I can imagine Sasha and his family are alive and more or less OK. Sasha was yesterday in the LOR chat. The situation in his place is calmer now. But it can change very quickly. Sasha has money, food and all necessary, as I know. So, please, try to be in contact with him personally. We also are OK here, in Zhytomyr. There were a few missile attacks with terrible destructions and casualties. But last 3 days is quieter. We collect here food and send it to an occupied region in the North of Ukraine (Sumy region). Yesterday we have sent the second transport with food there via a brave brother Eugene from that region. We also take part in church life - help refugees, help the people whose houses were destroyed. Yesterday I have preached in our church in Zhytomyr. Thanks a lot for concern and prayers. Our warmest greetings to all friends. In Him - Andrey. March 3, 2022A quick update. We all are fine. Today got some food supplies. Praise the Lord! The enemies are close to us like 20 miles away. I heard from Sergey from Kharkiv. He is fine. Out of his 50+ people 3 were injured. One of them is in hard condition. Yesterday one of Max's rehab centers got to be under fire. One man at the rehab was killed. Max is fine. Yesterday the heavy jet's attack took place by Andrey. The bomb exploded in 1 mile away from Andrey's. They're fine. No names or cities are being given for the protection of our brothers and sisters who are there. These reports are coming in daily and sometimes more than one report a day. I ask an interest in your prayers. Financial aid is going to be needed as you can see from the first letter dated Friday. DMI will be receiving donations for “Humanitarian Aid”. These funds will be held until we are notified that it is safe to transfer funds once again. As always, all funds are used directly in the area designated by each donor. This is explained at the end of the first message below. I have prepared a flyer which can be printed and given out to your church members and friends who may desire to help by sending aid. You may contact me by email if you would like a file of this flyer. My email is: [email protected] Thanks for your prayers and assistance through the years and thanks ahead of time for any contributions you make in this great time of need. February 25, 2022We definitely don't know what the end of the war will be. But every hour I'm getting information from different regions from our network of contacts and to mention some of the problems we're facing and will be facing: 1. Destroyed houses, apartments, and vehicles. Repairs will be needed. 2. Refugees. For now, we have a lot of people who left everything behind and if parts of Ukraine they used to live in will happen to be under Russia they would never come back even under peaceful condition. Such people will need to start-up again. If the whole of Ukraine will be under control of Russia with the Putin's puppets running the country - immigration abroad for many people. 3. Medical help. I'm receiving notes on injured people all around. 4. Economy in general. Nothing is working now and every day of war makes things worst. It is just a short list of current and predicted needs. I'm thinking of Ukrainian general fund at DMI where people could donate starting from now. No need at the moment to wire the funds over here. It doesn't work. Most stores are closed at least in my village and the ones still open are empty. They still have cookies but not bread )) In other regions situation is better but not sure for how long. (NOTE: The ministry continues even in these difficult days) Today we paid $1K for 40 refugees to get settled in another region. Just to get some food, medicines, and clothing. Another $3.5 K we spent for 4 power generators in the areas where there is no electricity. So the idea - we spend what we have here and then later on when the situation will allow we will somehow get the funds from DMI. It is loud out here. Just were 4-5 big explosions in the direction of Kiev. They're trying take over Kiev and the area this night. In Him, Brother ____________ February 26, 2022Greetings!
I did a communion service for my family this morning. Completely different feelings then in normal life. God is so good for giving us His Son Jesus Christ. Besides my close family we have our son-in-law’s mother and brother staying with us. Our son-in-law is the one who used to call you as Papa Bear. Our neighbors across from our house (young adults with 2 little kids) are also to join us in case of heavy shelling like we have had this early morning, since they don't have basement in their house. Last night was a real hell. If we'd survive, I'll explain more. Thank you for being a father and a good friend for many years. I talked to our dear brother _____________a moment ago. He is in _______ and is alive as well as his wife. They're under heavy shelling right now. (He lives in a major city in the Eastern Ukraine near the Russian border.) We didn't sleep most of the last few days. My wife feels exhausted and on the edge of her strength. Please pray for her. The concern we have is - is Putin to use a nuclear weapon against the city of Kiev or will he destroy the dam up north of Kiev on Dnieper river which will cause the distraction of everything on the left bank of Kiev and of Ukraine down south, including a Nuclear station nearby Zaporozhye. We are on the left (eastern) bank of Dnieper river. Your brother and friend ________________ |
