I (Gary) am traveling into Ukraine whenever the ACS Presov team can use an extra hand. Each trip is designed to take advantage of the best border crossing situations both in and out. This time our journey took us north to Poland first, then east to Lviv, south to Uzhorrod, and finally west back into Slovakia. Round trip from Presov was 30 hours, and the journey from (and back to) Bratislava added about 4 hours on each end.
Delivering 6 tons of aid to four different churches in Lviv and Uzhorrod was the primary objective. The demand for aid is growing as the distribution networks grow and become more effective in getting this aid where it is needed most. Because of your faithful giving, we are able to continue to help fill these channels of aid into Ukraine. This trip we purchased a portion of the aid, along with most of the fuel (gasoline & diesel) that we got near the border in Poland and then transferred at our first stop (church) in Lviv. The church is providing this fuel to individuals who are distributing the aid both locally (in western Ukraine), and to cities and villages further east. Every need and “car” of the compassion train is being thought of.
One of my biggest objectives was to connect with one of the faithful pastors - Kostya - who has been serving refugees in the heart of Lviv almost since the war began. A city with a population of about 750,000 before the war, Lviv has swelled to over 1 million as it hosts those seeking safety from the war in the east. Kostya, himself, is one such refugee having pastored a church with his wife in a village closer to Odessa until they had to leave their home. We are now supplying aid to Kostya and the small group of pastors he is serving with in Lviv as they meet the needs both locally and in surrounding villages.
Kostya’s wife and their two teenage kids are also refugees, but living here in Slovakia. She is serving in a hotel that is housing Ukrainian refugees, giving pastoral care and helping them (mostly women) prepare for and find work locally. And in a “portion of the normal” blessing, the kids - largely because of the learning platforms that were forced through the pandemic - are still attending Ukrainian schools online. It is both humbling, and an incredible privilege to witness the strength, resolve, and compassion of the Ukrainian people in the midst of their own horrific situation.
So it was important for me to connect with, pray for, and encourage Kostya, personally. He met us at our first stop - assisting us with the unloading of 1.5 tons of aid there. And then faithfully joined us as we unloaded about 1.5 tons of aid at two additional churches in Lviv. I will be sharing some of the audio and video of the conversations I had with this incredible man of faith. He and his wife are pastors without the flock that they knew so well, but both whom have now adopted flocks where God has placed them.
Thank you for praying for every way in which God is giving you (and us) an opportunity to be His love and compassion in this incredibly difficult situation. Know that we are not doing this alone - the Lord has aligned many faithful servants that are making it possible for this love and compassion to be seen and felt by so many who need it!