Ukrainian seasons always seem to come in with a bang. One day we were sweating on a train and the next day we were pulling out sweatshirts from our closets as the high temperature dropped from 80+ to under 60 overnight. Fall has arrived and with it, different outreach opportunities and needs.
We keep busy with day to day life and outreach. Some days we’re working on our house – we recently built a deck off the back of the house which has already provided some great opportunities for relationship and hanging out with our friends in the village.
Vala, our adorable baby food delivery girl
Some days Ded Yura shows up looking for a meal and we spend time with him. He and 2 others have come by asking for a haircut within the last week. We’ve celebrated a couple of birthdays in September, cake, presents, candles and all. Dusya has been building relationships with kids at Pravdinska and other families here in the village. She is often able to deliver food and educational support for families in need.
4 Sunday School kids on a since-popped blow up chair
Sunday’s our little Orange Fence Church meets at our house. We’ve recently been meeting in Melissa and Sasha’s new bedroom in the new house which has felt like a nice change and a more comfortable, less distracted place for everyone to be. We’ve had a few new people come some weeks, including some new kiddos. The kids meet for Sunday School in the not-quite-a-complete living room. They’ve sat on the floor, on a blow up chair (which Melissa and Sasha had personally bought and the kids unintentionally popped), and Anika’s bed that gets moved around to be a couch on Sundays. We could really use a little couch in the new house.
Our Mercedes van has been for sale since last winter. While we’ve had plenty of phone calls, we cannot seem to sell the thing. We purchased an SUV a while back (hoping the Mercedes would be sold soon), and while it’s been much better on the village roads (or lack thereof), it is now in need of some maintenance before we head into the snowy season. Among the needs are winter tires, a new front axle, and a few other 4 wheel drive type repairs. [I was getting ready to post this blog last night but had internet issues. And before I even got to put it out there and ask, God did an awesome miracle! While we were sleeping here in Ukraine, Melissa and Sasha in Sumy waiting on the car to be repaired, a generous donor gave enough to cover our maintenance! So now we just need to cover the new winter tires.]
Basically, we’re in need of some more financial support. $50 a month for food support for families here. $800ish for winter tires (and some solid prayers we can sell the Mercedes and use that money to help take care of the Kia). $300 for a couch for Sunday school at church. Melissa and Sasha both have very glitchy and/or very old cell phones and could really both use a new one. $600 could get them both new phone to be more reliable to connect with friends, kids, and neighbors. Not to mention capturing important moments, like some of Emily’s first steps (Anika’s phone was the one quick enough to grab this video after church recently).
It feels like we suddenly have a lot of needs that our bank account isn’t ready to support at the moment. In total, about $2000 would cover each of these needs and get us through October. Honestly, we won’t be able to do all these things without your help. And if you want to make your one time gift turn into a regular monthly donation, keep an eye out for that little box you can check below your donation amount. 🙂