PRAISE

Priscilla and Ellie have started on their journey to the USA to join us for a family get together. What is always a long trip has become a VERY long trip as they have a 20-hour bus ride to Warsaw, Poland, to catch a flight there. There are no flights from Ukraine due to the war. We are excited to have them coming!

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  • Wonderful news! One relatively small church has committed to send $25,000 for Ukraine and the Centers of Hope. (And already sent in thousands earlier.) We travel so much and share so much, but have little idea how much money will come in, or even has come in. nor do we have time to focus on it. We always tell people that they don’t need to send money right now because it will be needed all winter and into next year. And so, we walk by faith knowing that we are dependent on God’s provision in any case. So let’s just praise the Lord for all He has provided and what He is going to provide through his faithful servants!

  • Dan and Priscilla did drill a well this week and hit water some 80 meters down (250 ft). Now they need to wait and see if the water clears up (clay is mixed in right now) and if it will be abundant. One step at a time!

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PRAYER

  • Do pray for Pris and Ellie on their journey that they will make connections and stay well. Priscilla already has such a short visit. Pray that the family time will be that reprieve in the midst of stress and give joy to all of us. There is something about just being together isn’t there?

  • Pray for Dan as he stays behind “holding the fort”. He would have loved to come but just didn’t feel free right now with so many things going on. A little like the Ukrainian soldiers I read about who, even when they are injured, refuse to go for medical help because they want to stay with their buddies and keep fighting.

  • Pray for Abe and myself. We are really trying to set ourselves to be fully prepared to enjoy our family next week. That means we cancelled some of our plans this week and are trying to walk softly. We find ourselves growing wearier and wearier of being on the road, even though we are putting on less miles. So, this next week will be “dedicated” to family, just enjoying them and relaxing together.

  • And pray for Ukraine. The war grinds on. That is part of our weariness. We are separated from it, but it is so close to our hearts all of the time. And Russia is renewing their efforts, presumably because they feel threatened. I find it too hard to write about right now so I thought I would share one section on prayer from the brochure we pass out everywhere we go. (And which I think we sent out to everyone at one point.) These are specific things to focus on for the Ukrainian army, but Russian soldiers also need the Gospel.

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  • For soldiers to hear the Gospel and find eternal life

  • For chaplains and spiritual workers—protection and strength

  • For the grieving families who have lost their men

  • Effective military strategies and the needed weapons Josh 23:10; Zech 10:5

Ukraine is involved in a very physical war. But we are in a spiritual war. As I was writing this my thoughts took a different form as I was reading about soldiers and others on the front lines fighting for the freedom of Ukraine. Many of these are young people in their 20’s and 30’s and they are passionate about fighting for freedom and standing strong with their fellow soldiers and workers even when the battle is grim, when troops are falling all around them.

Each of us can participate in the spiritual war. Not only can but MUST. You know, that is what we are doing when we are praying for our fellow believers, whether it is in Ukraine or anywhere in the world. We are praying for the freedom of souls. We are praying for those who are on the front lines battling for souls. We are praying for the “soldiers” who have been wounded by fear and discouragement, even despair. We need that unity in prayer. We need that vision of standing together against satan’s schemes. Prayer is action. It is attack. It is offensive. We are in a battle against the demons of hell and all their rage. And your prayers are effective warfare.

One man told me very specifically last week, “Please tell the people in Ukraine we have not forgotten them, and we admire them for what they are doing.” Yes, we get tired in battle, but stay strong. Ephesians 6:10 is a daily verse for me now—"Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” We can’t do it alone! None of us.

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