As soon as we learned about the detonation of the dam by the intruders on the largest reservoir of the Dnipro River at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station, we began to think about how to help the affected people in this region. Since we did not have specialized machinery and equipment for rescuing people on the water, we decided to wait a few days for the water to go down, and then we gathered food, basic things, and various humanitarian aid and set off in the direction of the Kherson region on a trip to explore what we can do there. An employee of the Christian Mission Hope to People and five volunteers from the Bible Missionary Church Community of the Good Shepherd in Rivne traveled by two minivans.
The first place we arrived at was the city of Kamianske, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the church of our Association House of Agape (pastor Serhiy Timofeev). We were warmly welcomed, as always, and felt like home. The next day, together with the local church, we distributed humanitarian aid to needy people from the war zone and witnessed to them about Christ.
So, we went to the Kherson region. It turned out that people in nearby villages had already received humanitarian aid, but what they really needed were water pumps to pump out the water.
In remote villages, the situation for people is more difficult. So, in the village of Blagodativka, people live as if they are on an island because the surrounding village is flooded. You could only reach them by boat. When communicating with local residents, it is striking that people, knowing you for 5 minutes, are ready to share their problems and personal concerns with you. And this is a very valuable time to share with them about Christ.
Having arrived in the village of Bobrovy Kut, we began to unload what we had brought as a group. Very quickly, those willing to help began to join us. Such sincere mutual assistance is also impressive. The Lord gave us a good time when we could communicate with people, pray for them and share the gospel with them.
Having spent the night again in Kamianske, the next day we visited the village of Chervonogrihorivka and the city of Nikopol, where there is our daughter church The Way of Salvation. There we were faced with a different reality. There is basically no water, and people stand in huge queues to get water that is delivered to them, which is extremely necessary for people, pets, and livestock.
While talking with one woman, we learned a sad story. Her friend went to get water. After standing in line, she got 4 bottles of 5 liters each. She brought them to her house, where she lived on the fourth floor. The tired woman left 2 bottles of water at the entrance and took the other two home. Those two bottles were already gone when she came back down – what a great need people have for water!
Due to the problems in the Kherson region, places like Nikopol remain in the background and people there are actually fighting for survival.
Now we are praying and preparing for a new trip, on which we want to invite volunteers who are ready to help clean up, remove garbage and remodel houses destroyed by the flood. We ask you to also pray for these affected regions, for the ministry of local churches there, and for God to give us strength and wisdom to help, and serve people.
Pavlo Shokruta
