We survived the winter! Glory to the Lord!
This past winter was extremely difficult for our country and its people. Although many persistent problems continue to cause suffering for Ukrainians, the changing of the seasons—established by God at the creation of the world—brings encouragement and lifts our spirits. Spring signals nature’s renewal, with longer days, warmer sunshine, and a noticeable shift in the air. While the start of spring in our region doesn’t always bring warmth or awakening, this March was mild and pleasant. Power outages were also less frequent compared to February.
We are truly grateful to the Lord and to you for being with us, for your continued love, sacrifice, and support. Your help enabled us to get through what may have been the hardest winter in recent years.
March brought its own challenges. During one shelling, an enemy drone struck an administrative building in Ternopil, not far from the Old Park. Thankfully, no one was injured—only the building suffered damage. The incident occurred close to our church (about a quarter mile away), while I was meeting with people to discuss the Word of God. The park was noisy due to utility workers cutting down old trees, so we didn’t hear the air raid siren. When an enemy strike drone hits its target, we felt the explosion and the tremor in our building. Some attendees were uneasy at first, but we quickly supported one another. Thankfully, our church building remained unharmed.
Another unpleasant surprise was the sharp and significant increase in fuel prices. Due to well-known events, diesel fuel rose by about 30% in the first two weeks of March and continues to climb. Subsequently, prices for food and other goods began to rise. As far as I understand, similar situations are occurring in many countries, including yours. I hope this is temporary and that prices will return closer to previous levels once the underlying factors are resolved.
Despite these challenges, we continue our services. At the beginning of March, we held another support group for those displaced from their homes. Both regular attendees and newcomers participated. As always, Olya created a wonderful atmosphere, fostering friendly, sincere, and pleasant communication—so vital for people in these difficult times.
We also continue to expand our ministry from preaching the Gospel to assisting people in need with their material necessities. In March, several new families who recently evacuated from especially dangerous regions contacted us for help.
In total, about 100 families received food packages from us during March. Some also received hygiene products, medicines, clothes, shoes, and other essential items. In some cases, financial assistance was provided.
More than 20 internally displaced families with small children received packages with necessary items for caring for their babies.
We continue to support the family of the wounded soldier Sasha. We stay in regular contact, visit them frequently, and help in any way we can.
As is our tradition, I am including a few photographs with this letter. We thank you, we thank God, and we always ask Him to bless you and your families abundantly!
