“After having a conversation with you, I have hope…” Such words you could hear from one military co-worker of our mission, who in April had the opportunity to support Ukrainian defenders on the front line again. The trip was not like the previous ones, because the front line approached our territory and we could feel it in every place we went to visit the soldiers.

In order that each of us could live another day, dozens of soldiers lay down their lives. The price we have to pay for our peace, tranquility, and well-being is exorbitant…

We believe that God will be glorified, and we really want as many soldiers as possible to hear about Him, think about Him, and trust Him, for this we, Christians, make every effort.

Each such trip is preceded by a preparation, which consists of collecting everything that the fighters had asked to bring. We need to find these things, arrange for them, buy them cheaper and more… Unfortunately, the closer you get to the front line, the prices for basic necessities are a lot higher, so we try to buy a lot of things in the Rivne region. This time we brought 20 large boxes of wet wipes, but if we had brought 200 or even 2000, they would have all gone just like hotcakes, that’s how popular it is in wartime…

Residents of Demkivtsi, Khmelnytskyi region, as always, are unsurpassed! The quantity of products prepared by volunteers is just overwhelming! And this is one village in the Khmelnytskyi region, where kind people live! Thank God!!! Their enthusiasm fired up the sisters of the Community of the Good Shepherd church in Rivne, and they prepared seven boxes of fresh pies.

The Lord blessed our ministers, Vyacheslav, and Arkady, not only with a safe road and smooth drive of the car but also with the opportunity to enjoy the surrounding beauty, seeing how nature is leafing out in the spring…

In Pokrovsk, we had a meeting with our brother in Christ, Oleksiy, who was, as always, positive, even though he came back from the night shift.

Instead of going himself, our other brother Petro from the 68th hunting brigade sent his comrade Taras to the meeting this time, who quickly became our new friend. He is a very interesting and simple man from the Lviv region who voluntarily joined the army at the very beginning of the war.

On the eve of Easter, which was celebrated in Ukraine according to the Orthodox rite at the beginning of May, we brought many children’s drawings, which the guys love to keep and then decorate their military life with them… Wherever we offered children’s drawings, the military would accept them with genuine smiles and thank them for the children’s participation in supporting the defenders.

In general, the soldiers are very grateful for our arrival and support, it is important for them, especially now, when the situation in the directions where they serve is very serious. In Pokrovsk itself, the roar of the cannonade does not subside, local people are being evacuated from the surrounding villages to safer cities… the war continues, and its intensity is gaining new momentum. Our employees met here with representatives of several divisions and handed them over gifts, goodies, nets, wet wipes, etc.

Military serviceman Ivan from Rivne, like everyone who received camouflage nets this time, expresses his gratitude for them, since the number of enemy drones is constantly increasing, and nets are a simple but effective means of protection and disguise.

In Kostyantynivka, our employees Vyacheslav and Arkady got to know the border guards, to whom they brought a message from the mother of the fallen hero, who was their comrade, as well as other gifts and necessary things. But the main gift from God is the Good News. The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone… Our brothers had the opportunity to communicate and share the Good News with these guys for more than an hour…

In most cases, the gospel is perceived quite calmly, even with interest, but sometimes there are heated discussions and even aggressive attacks on the preachers. We thank God for brother Oleksandr Reshetnik, who serves as a chaplain in the 109th brigade of the 106th battalion and is really a great blessing to the soldiers, whom he spiritually, morally, and physically helps overcome the difficulties associated with war.

During this trip, the employees of our mission had a lot of different meetings and built new relationships with secret service men, those who employ Heavy Machine Guns, pilots, anti-tankers, and others. God made it possible to listen to many stories related to service, army adventures, trials, and God’s miracles. On the other hand, there were many opportunities to evangelize, encourage, and support the morale of the men. We’re so grateful to our Lord, who gives us opportunities and resources to serve in the building of His Kingdom!

We would also like to express our gratitude to Serhii Mykolayovych, the minister of the church in Pavlograd. This church not only hosts our brothers for the night on their journeys to the East but also participates financially by preparing sets of sweets that are given to soldiers on the front line and at checkpoints near the front line.

The “icing on the cake” of this trip was a meeting with Yevgeny, our brother, and a Community of the Good Shepherd church member, who is currently on rotation near Zhytomyr.

It is difficult to predict the near future since the situation at the front has significantly worsened. Unfortunately, the enemy has a significant advantage in manpower and weapons. Fierce battles are being fought, and no one knows how and where the front line may advance. There is a real shortage of people in our army. And if equipment and weapons can be sent to us by our partners abroad, then in terms of human resources we have no one to count on but ourselves. The goals of the occupying state remain unchanged: they seek to destroy Ukrainians, to wipe them off the face of the earth as a nation, and stubbornly, despite significant losses, sanctions are advancing towards this goal. This is today’s reality, believe it or not, but the war that has been going on since 2014 confirms this sad reality.

For everyone, who is not indifferent, we give a low bow, and for everyone who avoids to one degree or another involvement in the protection of their lives and the lives of others, it is time to start reevaluating their stance. After all, if you are a Christian, you cannot stand apart from Christ, and He is at the front line more often than in the comfortable church buildings.

If you are not yet reconciled to God, then you are at war with Him on the side of the devil and doomed to defeat… with no options. Indifference brings the front line closer to each of you. Pause, repent, and receive forgiveness, salvation from God’s wrath, peace, joy, and eternal life…

Blessings to everyone!