March 3, 2022

We recently received this update from one of our church partners in Ukraine.

Day 8 of war, night 5 on the floor of the bomb shelter. Grateful for another day of life, for water, electricity, heat, internet that we still have! So many people in Ukraine already don't have that or even a roof over their heads, some people are being dug from under the rubble of the remains of the houses. Our hearts are breaking for the pain and suffering of our people.

We went to sleep in our real beds at 11:30pm. It was comfortable, but I couldn't sleep for a while. It just didn't feel safe to sleep in a room with a large window. At 1:30 air raid sirens urged us to move to the bomb shelter. We spent the rest of the night sleeping on the floor here.

I woke up feeling physically tired, my heart is aching for all the losses that this one more night of war brought to my land, but I still have a lot to be grateful for.

• I am grateful for another day of life and for all the comforts of civilized life that we still have. We don't take it for granted and we know we can lose all that in a blink of an eye.
• I am grateful for the unity of Ukrainians. Before war, we were very polarized by political preferences. But this war has united us like never before.
• I am grateful for the amazing bravery of our defenders and for the dignity with which civilians react to hardships. We are going to come out of this stronger and better people.
• I am grateful for all the millions of prayers that are lifted for Ukraine all around the world. Putin sure made Ukraine popular, though we would have preferred to get that popularity with the help of our singers, athletes, ballet, artists, and scientists.
• I am grateful that my people are turning to God and seeing that He is our protector. As they say, there are no atheists in the trenches. I hope when the war is over people will not go back to live their lives of self-reliance, but continue trusting God with their lives.
• More than anything, I am grateful for God's protection, provision and comfort during these very scary days. I am grateful for the victory He will give Ukraine!

Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.