Stories of Hope & Rescue
A Powerful Story of Family Impact
This past September, MPI staff Faith Woods and Andrei Shander traveled to Ukraine to minister alongside our local partners around Ukraine. Pastor Shaun Romano from Trail, BC traveled with us.
During the two and a half weeks we were in the country, we sang worship songs with and hugged children from poor villages, prayed with families, gave out food packages to hungry people, fed people living in a conflict-ravaged village, prayed for the broken and hurting, and preached in seven communities.
Here is a wonderful life-impact story we experienced on our journey.
We were in Kremenets, Ukraine with Alexey from Water of Life Church. We had arranged to participate in both a Children's Outreach event and the Social Hub Humanitarian outreach giving out food packages later in the afternoon. For two hours in the morning, we played with, danced with, and did crafts with about 40 displaced children living in the area.
The kids had so much fun. We quickly transitioned to the yard to give out food to displaced families. We prayed over the crowd standing in the rain waiting for help. We shared how much we loved Jesus and how Jesus loved them. Then we served 200 displaced families giving out one package of pasta and sugar per family.
This is the story that Pastor Alexey's wife, Valentina, shared with me the next day.
“After we gave out food at the Hub, one of the ladies who received help came to talk to me. We have been building a relationship with her for several months. She was so grateful for the food. She asked me if it was ok to come to church the next day. She was curious because we talked about Jesus and prayed. She wanted to know more.”
We receive an update later in the fall. This family, Olga, and Oleg have become connected with Water of Life Church and received salvation. They volunteer their time at the Social Hub giving back to others. The two little girls in the photo are their daughters, Sasha and Masha.
Heat for the Winter
Valery's Story
As a part of the humanitarian outreach of our church, we visited a displaced family from the Donetsk area. We met with Valery and his family. We gave them an electric heater to stay warm and prayed with them. I was deeply touched by their story and want to share it with our friends and partners at MPI.
Valery and his wife are retired and lived in Ugledar of Donetsk oblast. Their two sons worked at a coal mine nearby. The area is known for fierce fighting and mass destruction of residential properties and objects of infrastructure.
When a missile hit Valery’s house it destroyed it, but by miracle Valery and his wife survived. They got out of the house a moment before it got hit. Wearing pajamas and slippers. The next missile completely leveled the ruins of their house, garage, and barn. In a very short time everything they owned: home, car, and personal belongings were gone before their own eyes. Their son’s houses were also destroyed.
They left their hometown and went to the western part of Ukraine. They came to our town of Kremenets. They were offered a room to stay. I met with them and invited them to our Church. At first, Valery cried during services. It was very devastating for him to lose everything he worked all his life for.
Someone from Kremenets gave them a room to stay in his house, but he controlled the heat in the room. He had it turned off. It was very cold inside that room. With your help, we provided them with a large heater. We also take food to them and encourage to grow in faith. I would like to thank Canadians for helping Valery and his family to stay warm, but most of all to share the Love of God through acts of kindness.
Pastor Alexey, Kremenets
Wood for Lydia in Stepove
Firewood Saves Lives
“I did not expect at all that firewood would be brought to me. When the forklift stopped near my house and began to unload the wood in the pallet, I understood for sure that there is a God! But then I thought about the fact that I walk with a cane. I could not unload all that firewood myself. The snow had already begun to fall so it wouldn’t be good to leave firewood outside. I started calling my children, but no one answered. So I sat down and thought to myself. It is good that I have firewood, but how will I unload it? Ten minutes later, my son’s car flashed near the fence. My son and daughter-in-law arrived, and they helped unload everything. After that, I truly understood that God exists. By a miracle of God, everything was arranged. He is real and He loves me.” Lydia
The Social Hub - Water of Life Church Kremenets - Update
Food that Feeds the Vulnerable
Our partners from Water of Life Church are passionate about serving the needs of the local displaced population through the “Social Hub” initiative. This humanitarian drop-in centre operates weekly, distributing much needed food, hygiene items, and clothing to the vulnerable. The team serves the broken with love.
The Social Hub has become a vital means of outreach. Because they have built trust with the local displaced, Pastor Alexey and his team are begin each Social Hub day by reading a scripture and praying with people.
There continues to be an influx of newly displaced families as more communities in the east become unliveable. This year there has been a 158% increase in the number of families seeking care.
Because of your faithfulness and care for the vulnerable, Alexey and the Water of Life Team have been able to keep the Social Hub in operation. This caring ministry team continues to serve the hurting and the broken in their community by meeting physical needs with the love of God.
This past September on our trip to visit Alexey and the Social Hub, we encountered a woman whose life was forever changed by the Hub, and by the words of encouragement, we spoke to the crowd and prayed for them. Here is what Valentina, Alexey's wife told us after the Hub:
“After we gave out food at the Hub recently, one of the ladies who received help came to talk to me. We have been building a relationship with her for several months. She was so grateful for the food. She asked me if it was ok to come to church the next day. She was curious because we talked about Jesus and prayed. She wanted to know more.”
Alex accepts Jesus because of the Food, Love and Care shown
Alex had never been to church. His Mom, Mary was a part of our church community. Alex, how worked at the international airport is no longer employed. His job was to re-fuel the planes. Alex's wife and children are still living outside of Ukraine.
After Mary suffered a stroke Hope Church took care of her. We visited her at home and got a wheelchair. Alex began to bring Mary to church at her request on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. At first, He didn’t want his photo to be taken when we brought diapers or food. But he was very grateful.
The church helps their family regularly with food and hygiene items. They also receive hot meals after Sunday services. God answered a mother's prayers for her son’s salvation. Alexander now attends church services every Sunday along with his mom. Because of his mom's health, Alex is home looking after her. He is starting to see God’s mercy and understand what God has done for him.
Last September, MPI staff met with Alex and his Mom. Alex shared how grateful he is for MPI's support for the food programs at Hope Church. We spent time visiting with them and encouraging them. Alex told us that he was encouraged by Hope Church because they give to people in need. They show love by feeding people. He never went to church because he felt that many were not interested in them, just in their money.
Discipling Families in Poverty
The Incredible Story of Sasha and his Family: Update
This family lives in a small rural village named Mala Antonivka south of Kyiv. The father (left) Sasha supports his family by baking bread and selling it at the local market. That is how we met him.
We learned that Sasha has 8 children living with him! Six of the eight children are fostered. Sasha found them abandoned and felt moved to rescue them from living on the streets.
We decided to visit them at their home to see if there was any way we could help the family. We found the kids to be well-behaved, clean, and decently fed.
But this family lives in a very rural area. They have no indoor plumbing at all. Grandma Larissa bathes the kids with buckets of cold water. All of the kids use the woods to go to the bathroom. This means that in summer they are covered in bleeding bug bites.
The ministry team gave the kids some gifts and some food. We are putting in the plumbing they need to get running water, a toilet, a sink, and a tub. The three girls also got the opportunity to go to sleepaway camp at God's Gift Church.
The family is learning how to find healing and hope in Jesus. There is still a discipleship journey for them to follow, but the team is committed to walking that journey with them. We celebrate their baptism, their journey to wholeness and their growing faith in Christ. Please continue to pray for them.
Children in Crisis
The Story of Dasha
Let me tell you about Dasha. You may have heard her story before. I talk about her often because I hear many stories just like hers. Dasha is a wonderful example of the impact your gift can have on one child. One day young Dasha was outside playing.
Her parents got drunk, locked the house, and then passed out inside. She was alone on the street all night, desperately trying to get back inside. This wasn’t an isolated incident. She became withdrawn and angry. She decided she would find comfort in smoking and attention from boys. But things started to turn around when our team in Stepove reached out. The team visited their home to bring food and counseling. Dasha was invited to come to services
at the Children’s Centre. She said she would go. This village has nowhere to play and nothing to do. Later, she admitted she had fun. She was happy to have a safe place to go. She loves the art classes and enjoys hearing stories about Jesus. Today, Dasha loves Jesus, and has learned how to smile.
