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Dear Friends and Partners,
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 Alex Zaytsev in Avdiivka:
“Result of my walk: I took these pictures, talked to several people, found that only one store was open, but it did have flour, vegetable oil, salt, and chicken (the chickens were super tiny, but it’s chicken) all of which are very hard to find for sale.”
Please take time to view a video message from Alex here.
Update from Maia:
“Night is coming. God, please, protect all the children of Ukraine from russian horde, their bombs and rockets, their tanks and bullets.
Our evenings are dark. They are literally dark because we need to keep light to a minimum and make sure it doesn’t shine through our windows. When I look out I see the buildings around us are all dark – everybody is keeping rules of blackout, you don’t want you lit up window to become a target for that russian plane that is carrying death on its wings.
Evenings are also dark figuratively speaking, as forces of evil get bolder. Since russians continue to fail on the ground they are increasing bombings from air.
But our evenings have been lit up by an uplifting presence of our beautiful granddaughter Briana. As we get together for a family dinner, we talk, share who read what about current situation. Our eyes drift all the time to the crib where Briana is sleeping peacefully. Name Briana means strong and we feel that this little baby girl is giving all of us strength.
But as our hearts overflow with happiness of being parents and grandparents, they are also breaking for all the little children who have lost their lives since the start of this war.
On March 18th 109 empty strollers sat in a Lviv square representing children killed by russian invasion. They symbolized a stark tragedy. At the edge of the installation, a printed placard said 108 children have died. But in felt marker pen the eight has been crossed out and replaced with a nine. The death toll was out of date not long after being printed. Now, 4 days later it’s up to 150.
Since russia announced its “special military operation” four weeks ago, there have been numerous strikes on civilian targets housing children. A maternity hospital in the besieged port city of Mariupol was bombed, wounding 17. Mariupol theater was hit despite signs declaring children were sheltering inside. More than 130 have been saved from the rubble but officials said up to 1,000 may have been taking refuge within. As of today, more than 4431 residential buildings (many of those high rises), 528 schools, 135 hospitals have been destroyed, many beyond repair.
When friends write to me and ask if we are safe, I have to say that no one in Ukraine is safe, regardless how far west they have moved from front lines of invasion. Russian bombings are reaching Lviv and other cities in western Ukraine. No child in Ukraine is safe! But if you listen to what Putin and his cronies say you will know that that no one in the whole world is safe as long as Putin regime is in power.
https://www.breitbart.com/…/putins-brain-calls-russian…/
Pray with us Psalm 91:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
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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
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