NEWS FROM UKRAINE

May 12 Update from Nita

Vadim is back home safe and sound! It was pretty unnerving not to hear from him when communication got cut off. Now we understand that some of the villages they went to didn’t even have internet. They mainly concentrated on 2 villages near Chernihiv, taking the boxes of food and prayers for and with the people. In one village 120 tanks had passed through and didn’t do any damage. The other village had 2,000 tanks go through and a lot of damage.

At first some of the people were afraid to communicate with the group that went and many others didn’t want their pictures taken for fear the Russians would come back and target them. There were many prayers for people whose sons are fighting for Ukraine and for peace for their families. But, for the most part, when they saw the group only brought food, they warmed up to them.

I made a decision today that in the future we will mainly focus on the refugee families that are in the Bila Tserkva Region and to help them as much as we can. Today a wheelchair was given to someone who was evacuated from Mariupol. She was able to walk a little bit before the Russians came and started bombing everything, but now can’t walk at all. She said that twice her building was hit by missiles and caught on fire. After the second time, they decided to try to get out to safety and thank God they did!

We know that there are thousands of refugees in our area, most of them having left with little more than a suitcase containing their documents. Whatever we have and whatever we can get, we will hand out to them, starting with food.

I found out today that our Olya cook, who had a dual mastectomy last month, is doing well. She is amazing and her attitude is wonderful. She is currently undergoing some more chemotherapy and has been blessed to have everything paid for. The doctor told her she will have to stay for at least a year before she will be released to return home. Hopefully before too long she will be able to have reconstructive surgery.

Following are some of the pictures Vadim took on their trip to the Chernihiv area.

And last, a picture of the Ukrainian attitude toward the war – they are planting while the missiles are going off, just ducking and then going on! And another of some of the fields that have been bombed and mined by the Russians.

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!

May 11 Update from Nita.

Today I thought I would have pictures for you of Vadim’s trip to Chernihiv, but for almost a day we didn’t hear from him. We were getting very worried, but after Valentina called all over, she found out that Vadim had a problem with the internet and couldn’t call. Thank you God that he is ok and on his way back home. Hopefully tomorrow I will have some pictures and more information.

When all of this horror started, I told several people that I saw something happening in Ukraine that was very positive — that it was finding itself as a nation! And I have seen this happening the last 2 months in many positive ways — the unity — the willingness to stand no matter what — the desire to help each other unselfishly, and their unbelievable courage and resiliency.

I found the following quote this morning on Facebook (along with many others by Ukrainians supporting their troops), and it particularly touched me. Here it is, along with a picture of some of their soldiers:

“Our dear ones, dear ones! We are proud of you! You are our pride! We believe in you, in victory! Thanks to you and your incredible resilience and strength of spirit, your incredible courage and endurance, our mother Ukraine will be free, and her sons and daughters will never live in “captivity”! We are a free, peaceful, friendly, cordial and just people! And that’s it !. We have become one in these more than two months, we have become a NATION! You can’t beat us! And we are very grateful to you, our dear defenders, our Heroes, you are already respected and honored by almost the whole world! God bless you, and return to your family alive and well! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Ukraine!”

This generation of Ukrainians have heard and read their history — one of terrible tragedy and suffering — one of being conquered by other nations. They have had a taste of freedom. This generation is saying, NO MORE!! May God grant them victory and the freedom they are fighting for!

UPDATE FROM UKRAINE

Thank you!

Sonshine Preschool

We have the best families on the planet! Our annual Trike-a-thon raised a record $6,335! All of which be donated to God’s Hidden Treasures in Ukraine! Thank you to everyone who donated to this very worthy cause!

May 10 Update from Nita

We were all so sure that we would know more after the May 9 Victory Day, but it turned out to be anti-climatic. Putin didn’t really tell anything new, but thank the Lord he did not declare war (as you know he calls it a special military operation – sure couldn’t tell by Ukraine that it isn’t a war!).

Today our Vadim, along with several other vans (they are calling it a caravan) are traveling to Chernihiv to take much needed aid donated by the Mennonite Church. While there Vadim plans to scope out the surrounding villages also so we can plan a return trip to take additional aid. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have some pictures for you.

I am so proud of Ukraine as I am reading of more and more efforts to begin rebuilding Ukraine even while the war is still going on! Hundreds of volunteers across Ukraine are helping to remove all the rubble while still others (builders and architects) are drawing up plans for new buildings. Ukrainians are not waiting until it is all over – they have begun! Such heart – such courage! In Bucha, the city where so many horrors have been documented, they have already reopened some businesses, including a local market. Picture below.

In Kharkiv which is still being shelled daily, this is what one woman wrote who is helping plant what you see below:

“Continued shelling in Kharkiv has done little to deter the volunteers. Tulips have been planted throughout downtown, and city workers are cutting the grass in hard-hit neighbourhoods. In front of the city’s destroyed regional administration building, Valentina Orlova, 73, hurriedly plants yellow pansies. It is around noon, and the work needs to be done by 2pm.”

“That’s when the shelling usually starts, so we need to finish quickly to get home,” she says.

Please continue praying for wisdom for me as I am yearning to return to Ukraine. I am hoping and praying that we will know more in the next couple of weeks. The good news is that Russia is not having much success and Ukraine is even taking back places that were Russian held! Both sides are suffering terrible losses in this senseless war.

Pray that farmers will be able to plant their crops – we understand that many of the farm fields were mined by the Russians. And I’m sure many of you heard the news that Russia has stolen a huge amount of the wheat stored for shipment to the world and has even destroyed some big grain storage silos. This has major consequences for the whole world and many are worried about famine in parts of the world because of what Russia is doing.

Lots to petition God for! I’m sure thankful that He isn’t ever short of what is needed and that He is merciful, hearing the cries of the helpless and our pleas for this to end.

More tomorrow! Thanks and more thanks to all of you who make it possible for us to help feed the hungry and comfort the grieving.

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!

May 4 Update from Nita

Today GHT took 250 bags of food and other goods to 5 Villages in our joint work with the Red Cross. Everyone said they were very impressed with how well the Red Cross had organized everything. Vadim and Serghei were studying them to see how and what they did because we are wanting to go to the Chernigov area and deliver food and other goods and be as well organized as they were!

One hundred and forty bags were given to refugee families in Grebinki. The refugees came from many different areas of Ukraine, all of them in search of a “safer” place to be without leaving the country. Some were families of 3 or 4 and some of many more as the whole extended family left together.

Another 60 packages were given out in the Village of Salvonki.

Valery went with a social worker to visit 10 families in 3 other villages who are in extreme circumstances and delivered the packages to each of them.

All of my office who participated in this day said they were exhausted, but happy because the day was successful and they were able to bring some practical help as well as encouragement to so many who are now without a home.

Everyone asked me to tell you a “big thank you” for providing GHT with the means to help so many who have left such horror behind.

Next week we will be taking both vans to Chernigov to deliver much needed food. While there Vadim will assess the on-going need so we can know exactly how to help more in the future. It is a dangerous trip, but he and another driver want to help!

From Nita – I just received this from the Red Cross on Facebook:

Hello Nita and all the people of America. My name is Ruslan. I am the coordinator of the Red Cross of our community. Today was a big event and we saw how the desire to help turned into a real action and a real help to people affected by the war in our country. We are very grateful to Charitable Organization “God’s Hidden Treasures” for sharing the warmth with us. We are on different continents, in different countries, in different cultures, but charity is what unites us and makes us one big family. Glory to Ukraine !

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!

April 30 Update from Nita.

Last week my staff bought 4,000 kilograms (8,818 pounds) of food in preparation for the deliveries to the refugees in Gribinki whom the Red Cross asked us to help. Just imagine the logistics of finding all the different kinds of food and goods, picking it all up and then dividing it up into individual food packages to give out! This is several days of work!

This coming Tuesday members of my staff will go to Gribinki and deliver the first 100 packages and also assess first hand the depth of the need there.

We are also praying about the trip to Chernihiv in the northeast of Ukraine. Traveling those roads is very dangerous, and bombs are still being dropped everywhere. But the need is great as Chernihiv has suffered significant destruction through the Russian bombings and invasion. Chernihiv is very close (approx. 45 miles) to the border of Belarus where Russia has launched many of its troops. It was under Russian control for over a month before being liberated by Ukrainian troops and is in need of most everything!

I want to share a couple of pictures I saw this morning which really touched my heart. The will of the Ukrainian people is strong and inbred from centuries of tragedy. Last week I spoke about the “Easter bread” tradition and how important it is for the people. Below is a picture of a little grandmother (babuska) carrying the supplies she needs to make Easter bread to her home in the village that has been bombed. All that is left are pieces of her old oven which was built into the walls of her little house. Through her determination, she made her Easter bread.

This is the will of the people who will win victory for Ukraine. They are not bowing down under the weight of defeat and the evil done to their people – they are carrying on no matter what!

Thank you again for taking this long and sometimes overwhelmingly sad journey with us. Thank you again for all the prayers and outpouring of help. Let us too have the will to carry on no matter how dark the times and circumstances look. Our God will prevail!

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!

UPDATE FROM UKRAINE

April 25 Update From Nita

I had a wonderful time this weekend with Monte Vista Presbyterian Church – the mission fair on Saturday for the Ukraine war effort and then the services Sunday morning. It was a special time indeed!

This morning I talked to my office and got a list of what the Red Cross wants us to do. They are asking us to provide the following packages for 232 refugees from the East and for 28 older people in the surrounding villages who are without food and necessary supplies. We will be making individual packages, each containing 5 kilograms (that’s like 11 pounds) of various cereals, 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of each of the following: sugar, rice, flour and 4 cans of fish, 1 bottle of cooking oil, plus toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand soap, dish soap and razors for men.

Tomorrow my staff will be out shopping and on Wednesday they will be assembling the packages. We hope to deliver them on Thursday. Valentina has told the Red Cross that whatever they need we will supply.

We will also be buying food and other supplies to take to Chernihiv which has been especially hard hit. It is still in a dangerous zone so we are asking Vadim to pray whether he will go or if we will give the supplies to someone else to take to them. And as we receive other requests, we will do the same.

Vadim is in Lviv right now picking up our water pills (finally!) – Yay! We can finally start distributing them. He will also load the van with humanitarian aid in Ternopil before his return to Forcee. God is good!

Again, thank you for giving us the means to be able to respond quickly to the many requests coming to us for help. We are blessed to be a blessing, passing out God’s love and practical care for those who are suffering the tragedies of this horrible war so they will know they are not forgotten!

Please continue your fervent prayers for Ukraine from now through May 9th. This is truly the most dangerous time for Ukraine. I believe that if Ukraine can hold off Russian victory during that time, that the war will start to wind down. May the May 9th “Victory Day” turn into one for Ukraine rather than Russia! Oh Lord, extend your gracious hand over the Ukraine, causing Russian missiles and bombs to malfunction – confusion and discouragement among their soldiers, equipment failures and even physical ailments. Bless the Ukraine forces with safety and victory, and protect the innocent from the evil intended toward them and turn it into shouts of victory and, most of all, praise and thanks to You!

Easter in Ukraine

Update April 21 From Nita

Easter in Ukraine is this coming Sunday and one of the big traditions is Easter bread. Everyone has to have Easter bread! Another tradition on Easter is to greet each other as follows: the first person says, “Christ is risen” and the other person’s response is: He is risen indeed”. Sometimes they say this 3 times in quick succession. I love this!

Our cook has been busy baking Easter bread for our office to deliver to our people. It is so important for them because most of them can’t get out to go buy it. So we bring this offering to them to give them a little joy at Easter time.

God is on the move!

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you believe that your prayers really make a difference? Read the following and be encouraged to keep lifting up Ukraine in prayer:

“We are grateful to God for keeping us alive and safe so far. I read today that according to military experts, over 9,000 artillery shells of different calibers did not explode upon reaching the intended target; 400 of them are aviation bombs! One of them was successfully neutralized in Irpin (suburbs of Kyiv) yesterday – a 500 kg bomb that could have detonated any moment after being thrown on the city over 3 week.” (from Maia in Kyiv)

From Nita

Where the new offensive is:

Most of you have seen on the news or read on the internet that Putin’s new offensive is in the Eastern part of Ukraine, sometimes referred to as the “Donbas Region or Oblyast”. In reality it extends much further than this. He is wanting to take territory all the way from Kharkiv down to Mariupol and across up to Mickolaiv and across over to Odesa, thus making Ukraine a land locked country and taking about 1/3 of the country.

Below are two maps – one showing all of Ukraine with many of the city names – the one below it shows where Russia currently has control, is fighting now and where they plan to go. If you imagine putting the one over the other, it gives you a good view of where and what Putin is determined to do before May 9th ( (Victory Day).

Hopefully this will give you a good idea of the cities to pray for!

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!

UKRAINE WAR

April 18 Update From Nita

Just a few quick notes today. Praise God Vadim is safely home. What a dangerous trip this last one was. Vadim said that he prayed about going and got the go ahead from God to do it!

People in Kramatorsk was so so thankful for the food and other supplies we brought them, especially for sugar! I guess that is one thing that has been really hard to get for a while. It is needed for all baking. It is such a joy to be able to do our small part to help. All people we picked up were safely delivered to their destinations.

The Red Cross called our office late last week asking if we could help with refugees from the East of Ukraine that are now located in a small village (Grebinky) close to Bila Tserkva. As of right now there are 2,324 refugees which is probably close to their normal population. Valentina talked to the Red Cross and asked for an exact list of what they need. They had just gotten a shipment of food, but are needing many other things – like all kinds of soaps, toothpaste, paper goods, etc. As soon as we have the list we will begin gathering what they have asked us for and bring to the refugees.

They also asked us if we would help many older people located in the villages surrounding us. They said that many of them have nothing and no means to get where things can be bought. So God is once again expanding GHT’s borders! Our vans and workers are going to be very busy indeed.

Starting tomorrow our cook, Yula, will begin baking the small Easter Breads which we will be giving out to the families we help in preparation for the Orthodox Easter next Sunday. We know this small gesture will bring joy to so many of them.

On Wednesday I’ll be heading to California for not quite 2 weeks. I’ll get a chance to speak in a couple of churches, be there for a mission festival for the Ukraine war where all donations will go to God’s Hidden Treasures! And I’ll also be meeting with a Rotary Club in Porterville, and Joni & Friends about getting some wheelchairs.

Blessing and thanks to all of you. Let’s pray ever more fervently for Ukraine during this especially dangerous time between now and May 9th (Russian Victory Day Celebration). Putin wants victory by then and is going to be throwing even more troops and weapons at Ukraine.

From Nita

This is good news folks! I believe this is a direct result of our prayers and they are having a powerful effect! Let’s continue to pray even more fervently between now and May 9 which is the Russian Victory Day celebration. Putin is desperate for a victory before then.

A recent report claimed that in several Russian units, specifically in the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Army of the Southern Military District, soldiers refusing to serve amounted to as much as 60%-70% of all soldiers. This has become an issue for the Russian army, with commanders and officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) urging refusing soldiers to reconsider, with the GUR claiming they go so far as to threaten to kill the relatives of refusing soldiers.

This follows a growing number of reports that seem to indicate a severe morale crisis among the Russian military, particularly in light of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In fact, a GUR report from Saturday indicated that Russian commanders were facing consequences for “not justifying high confidence” in Russian leadership should they fail in Ukraine. In late March, a report surfaced of a Russian general being killed by his own troops due to the “boiling discontent among Russian forces deployed in and around Ukraine.”

A report from Free Radio Liberty earlier in April indicated that the number of Russian soldiers refusing to take part in the war is growing. According to human rights activist Pavlo Chikov, soldiers and guards from 17 cities told them they refused to go along with the invasion of Ukraine, as reported by Nastoyasche Vremya TV, a channel created by Free Radio Liberty and Voice of America.

UPDATE FROM UKRAINE

April 16 Update From Nita

Vadim arrived safely in Kramatorsk after overnighting in Dnipro – praise the Lord. I sensed the need for prayer over this trip more than any other and we prayed him safely there! He is already half way back home! Let’s continue to cover him and those with him in prayer until they arrive in Bila Tserkva. All the aid we took was received with grateful thanks by the people in Kramatorsk.

They know what is coming because they lived through occupation before for a little more than 3 months back in 2014 before being set free by Ukrainian troops. Now the Russian monster is coming again and, in fact has already killed more than 50 people when they recently bombed the train station.

As the Ukraine and international investigative forces uncover more horror, let’s especially cover Kramatorsk with prayer, asking God not to let the enemy conquer them again and unleash their evil there.

On this day before Easter, I am especially thankful for all the prayers and support provided by all of you. To God belongs the victory! In the end, evil will always lose – that is God’s promise. At the cross, satan thought he had won the ultimate victory, only to see God turn it into His greatest victory and win salvation for us! He is risen – He is risen indeed!

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!

GHT NEWS (UKRAINE WAR)

April 14 Update – From Nita.

I just got word that our Olya came through her surgery and she is doing well. Hopefully we will know more tomorrow. Please keep her in prayer as I know the emotional pain she will be going through after having this difficult surgery. Praying for God to hold her in His loving arms and comfort her.

Please be praying for our Vadim as he will be making the dangerous trip to Kramatorsk tomorrow. Pray for God to cover him with His protection, and for him and our van to be invisible to the enemy.

Yesterday Valentina and several others went shopping for all the supplies that were requested by the local government and a church in Kramatorsk. We are taking water, flour, sugar, yeast, cereals, vermicelli, coffee, tea, paper plates, disposable silverware and glasses, baby food, iodine, various medicines and more. Everyone is trying to get as many supplies as possible to Kramatorsk while we still can.

Officials in Kramatorsk told us that they will use the flour, yeast, and sugar to make bread to give out to people at the railway station and those hiding in basements. One of the churches Lillya contacted will put together food packets from what we bring them to give to people. It is so wonderful to see how everyone has come together to help each other. How I wish all of us could be like this all the time.

Vadim will be picking up at least one family from a village close to Kramatorsk to bring back with him to Bila Tserkva. We are paying the family’s taxi fare to bring them from the village to Kramatorsk as they have no way to get there.

Back in Bila Tserkva and Furcy Valery and Yura are busy taking freshly baked goods (made by our cook, Yulia), food packets, adult diapers, shampoos, soaps and more to our people.

God, through the generosity and prayers of all of you, is at work helping us to bring some light into the darkness and despair of this horrible war. May many people see their need for Jesus during this time and embrace Him as their Lord and Savior.

Many of you have asked about donating for the crisis in Ukraine. We have decided to set up a fund called “Ukraine War.” Any donations that you would like to send for this cause will be put into this fund. 100% of the donations will be used for direct humanitarian relief for things such as gas, food, medications, and any emergency needs arising from the situation.

You may donate on our webpage at www.godshiddentreasures.org, through Venmo, or send a check. You may send your check to GHT, 3321 SW 39th Street, Ocala, FL 34474. Please include “Ukraine War” in the memo of your payment.

Thank you!!