An old father and his son from Mariupol (on the right in the photo) got to Rivne. A year before the war, the son began to create an emergency suitcase: freeze-dried food, blankets, a rope, a portable burner and other things useful for survival. That is why at every checkpoint they were stopped and confused with a saboteur, they took him for interrogations, and searched him. Some time later, both of them were put into a bus that drives people to Russia, to filtration camps. On the way, they both decided to escape at any cost.
The car arrived at the place of collection and registration, where there were so many people that no one noticed how they moved away and moved across the fields towards Zaporozhye. It wasn’t easy. From time to time, civilians who they met showed them sympathy: they fed them and let them stay overnight.
They also, even though completely unfamiliar people for them, decided to help them and give them a ride as close as possible to the town. They stumbled upon an evacuation notice in the city of Rivne, and immediately found the man who had posted it. They had only two seats left. The grandfather notes that on the way they were often fed, carried in warmth, and constantly taken care of. He was left with the feeling that this bus was just the two of them all the time. Our volunteer brother said that it was God who throughout this story showed His care for them. This brought the father to tears.
Thank you for participating in the evacuation and helping those in need!
Lyudmila, her daughter and nine-year-old granddaughter Arina came from Chernihiv. Both women are widows with no one to take care of them. At first they didn’t wanted to leave because they thought it would all be over soon. Then they heard that refugees were being killed, so they were very careful. But when the Russian troops began shooting in their area every day from 4PM until the morning, the walls of their apartment on the 5th floor were shaking continuously, and they were sitting in a cold basement. When Arina was trembling and crying, they decided to take a chance. Moreover, they learned about the church, which helps people flee. Lyudmila was not a believer, but it was believers who helped this family. Departure was scheduled for 5 PM. It was the last chance, they had half and hour to pack but the shooting started again, and they could not get out of the basement. They thought it was the end, but a friend called and said that the departure was delayed and they could still make it.
Lyudmila recalls how they drove past the shot cars of civilians, saw the bodies of dead people in the middle of the field, who did not manage to escape on foot. The people who took Lyudmila and other refugees out of the affected areas really risked their lives. We do not know their names, but these people knew their Savior well and believed in a future resurrection.
The two widows and the girl are now safe. Our God works miracles through His children and for those who do not know Him. He is true to His word and cares for widows and orphans. If He delivered them from such horror, then they still have time to turn to Him. Glory to Him for
Dear friends! Thank you for your tireless prayers! Recently we have seen missile strikes not only on military targets, but on civilians, destroying cities and homes. The city of Kharkiv suffers especially. There are cities where people are without water, electricity, food, and heat. Churches from other areas are trying to evacuate those who are in the war zones. It is very difficult to break through Kiev to the East of Ukraine.
Fuel shortage is a huge problem. It is not easy to find gas stations to fill up our vehicles that evacuate people. Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and other cities are bombarded with rockets and mortars. The number of dead and wounded is increasing. By the grace of God, we brought more than a hundred people from the war zone to Rivne. The next morning, brothers from two churches of our Association (Rivne and Zdolbuniv) left again to help to evacuate people from these regions.
Two attempts to leave the town of Irpen near Kiev were unsuccessful, fights are taking place all around Kiev. Please pray for God’s grace, there are a lot of people and animals that are trapped in the city… The people are exhausted and in fear. We can hardly contain the panic. 500 people gathered in the church sanctuary. It is impossible to get out, it is very dangerous, please pray for our drivers.
Please pray for the dangerous ministry of evacuation! After yesterday’s trip, a 16-seat bus failed. The bus is currently in need of urgent repairs. We are also asked to take women with children to the Polish border. Our partner church in Warsaw has been actively involved in helping refugees. We receive refugees in the church and in the mission. We cook for the refuges, collect food, blankets, matrasses, clothes, medicine. A group of Christians is on duty around the clock, serving people from neighboring houses as a bomb shelter, praying, distributing Bibles and Christian literature. Yesterday, one of the nurses held a seminar on first aid with presentations and demonstrations on mannequins.
In the afternoon of March 03. A group of our minibuses filled with refugees is trying to evacuate the people, but at the very first checkpoint they were forced to turn back. There is a tank battle, it is impossible to pass. There are 8 buses and 70 cars with people in the column. Pray that the Lord will keep and help break through to the west.
Thank you for standing with us and supporting us in a time of need!
Please note, 100% of all donations will go to help refugees from Ukraine. Our partner ministry “Hope to People” that we support, operates in Rivne Ukraine. New Fields also works through local churches in Lviv, Striy and Odessa…
