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 :

Day 49 (yesterday) of russian invasion.
As we were approaching Borodyanka there were many civilian cars with windshields full of bullet holes, some cars were flattened by tanks, and there were some handwritten signs on the cars indicating that there were bodies inside or that the car is booby-trapped. The bridge has collapsed, but amazingly still passable

When we drove on the main street, the damage we saw was mindblowing. Destroyed and burnt-out buildings, homes turned to rubble, the twisted wreckage of cars, and then more collapsed buildings. Borodyanka has been very heavily shelled. It is not the kind of shelling that happens in a couple of bombardments. It must have lasted for days

Survivors are telling that russian troops stopped attempts to dig survivors out of wrecked buildings, threatening people who wanted to do so at gunpoint. The extent of what was done to civilians in Borodyanka during the Russian occupation is not yet clear. The reason is that the rubble of bomb sites has not yet been moved. Many citizens of Borodyanka are still waiting for the bodies of their relatives to be found in the ruins.

The chaplains that visited Borodyanka a few days ago made a comment that how people must had felt there in the midst of shelling and russian occupation could be compared to how disciples of Jesus Christ had felt when He was crucified. It must have looked like the darkest, the most hopeless hour. Then it must have seen that the darkness and evil have won. But we know what came next. Christ has risen! We trust our cities, towns, and villages crucified by russian aggressors will rise from the rubble and ashes too!

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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