The following is copied and shared with permission and reflects a deeply personal  perspective forged amid the daily suffering and sacrifice caused by the war in Ukraine.  This update is offered to inform and encourage your prayerful support for all who are affected by this tragedy.

If you would like to help us with humanitarian aid efforts you can donate through our  website https://ipministry.org/donate/. The needs are growing as we keep helping thousands of people to move west within Ukraine and also helping those who want to leave the country temporarily. We need funds most of all for gas, but also for food and various supplies (medical, bed linens, mattresses, etc). Thank you.                        

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Update from Maia 1:

Please, pray. Sasha is in the hospital now. Nikita is with her.
The ambulance arrived quickly in the midst of an air raid. Right before they left there was a loud explosion close by. Pray for the safe delivery of a healthy baby, for Sasha’s strength (she didn’t get any sleep this night) and for God’s protection over the hospital!

Update from Maia 2:  20th day of Russian invasion.

Not much sleep. Around 5am we heard a very loud explosion, the cars downstairs wailed with anti-theft alarms that were set off by shock waves. Later we will learn that four residential areas of Kyiv were hit with Russian rockets at 5am today.

Another beautiful sunny spring day outside, but we are in a bomb shelter. An air raid is on, we keep hearing explosions. We just read that a new curfew will start from 8pm today till the morning of 17th. We don’t want to think about Russia, Russians, their tanks and rockets, and their madman of a president, we don’t want to think about 20 days of horrors they sow on our land.

We want to think of new life, we want to experience pure joy when the news comes of the arrival of our grandbaby, we want to celebrate with family and friends! We want to buy a huge bouquet of flowers for Sasha and our granddaughter and welcome them home, not to a bomb shelter. I know someday soon we will, we just have to wait a little longer

(photo is from Sasha’s flower farm last spring)

Update from Maia 3:  The night is coming.

Psalm 31:1 – I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life.

Emotionally for me today has been one of the most exhausting days since the first day of the war. We are still waiting for the baby’s arrival. Meanwhile, God used special people to resolve an impossibly difficult situation. I don’t have the energy to go into details, I will just say once again God has shown to us His faithfulness!

This night or maybe two nights ahead are going to be dangerous. 48-hour curfew has started in Kyiv and we are warned to take air raid sirens seriously. Even my father who has been so far mainly ignoring those at night and sleeping in his own bed agreed today to sleep in the safer part of his apartment, in the corridor.

Please, continue praying for God’s protection of the hospital where Sasha and Nikita are waiting for the arrival of their baby. Pray for Sasha and safe delivery. Pray for the hands of the doctors that God has appointed for this special task of helping our daughter and granddaughter. Pray for brave Ukrainian defenders shielding us from the enemy who wants to kill and destroy, pray for air defense of Kyiv to keep us safe, pray that God will protect Ukrainian skies from Russian rockets immeasurably better than any air defense system! Pray for victory to come soon so all Ukrainians and the whole world could see God’s hand in this and glorify Him!

Our prayers are with Psalm 34:1-9:
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise will continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
the humble will hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and became radiant,
and their faces are not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard,
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints;
for the ones who fear Him will not be in need.

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Please share these updates with others. I have added direct links to our email, our website, and to the IP Ministry Journal on YouTube to the bottom of this page. Your prayers are precious to us. Thank you!

In Christ,
Brandy Ezzell
International Partnerships