Is This Life Normalized Now
I’m back home. The flights were good. My luggage arrived with me. And I even slept a bit on the flights. Pris and my girls met me at the airport… with flowers and hugs. After 30 hours of flying and layovers, I was feeling pretty seedy, but managed to last until 11-ish before my eyelids refused to stay open.
I arrived back to a full house. Not only did we have five extra’s from the east, but also a house full of students from the tech college. As has happened most years, we generally start off the year with lots of students. But this year we seem to be getting a bumper crop, (about 60 over the two nights). This year, studies have been cancelled for the winter months due to the crisis in the country, (affecting gas supplies – heating of most homes is facilitated by gas furnaces), so this year, we will only have time with these students through until November. It is likely that they will have four months off over winter and only come back near the end of March.
We are planning a sleep-over on the island in two weeks, followed a week later by two nights away at a camp-site. I’m keen to see what God is planning to do over this next couple of months for these students.
Truly the country of Ukraine has spiraled into a form of chaos that few could imagine this time last year. Millions have fled the regions in which more intense fighting has been occurring. It is impossible to know how many have left homes and possessions, but in Rzhyshchiv, at our two homes… we know that we have a total of 15 at this moment in time. Simeon and Asia are hosting 10 and we are hosting 5, now that three of our guests returned home.
The cease-fire continues… on paper. Over 100 people have been killed or injured since its inception a week ago. The news reports that concessions have been made to the rebels in the east concerning greater independence and absolving those who fought of legal liability are correct. But what few reports say is that this isn’t expected to pacify Putin’s lusts, nor is it likely to make much difference to the fighting that is ongoing. What it will do if Russia backs off for a time is give Ukraine a few more months to develop her armed forces and perhaps persuade some allies to deepen their involvement.
Alyosha is still alive and on a base near Debaltseve, halfway between Lugansk and Donetsk. He said that a number of men from his battalion have been killed, but it isn’t anywhere near as bad as some of the other battalions have experienced.
On the map, we are located about 80km south of Kiev at the first little bend on the river as you follow it down. We are about 650km away from Donetsk by road. There’s a general expectation that Ukraine has “already lost” a big chunk of the land on the eastern bank of the Dnepr River. We still feel a tenuous safety being in our small Ukrainian speaking town of Rzhyshchiv at this point in the war. In Ukraine, 650km somehow seems further away than it does in Australia. We don’t see soldiers in uniform walking the streets. Life goes on pretty much as it always has.
I spoke with a lady a couple of days ago who says that she is from an evangelical church in the east of a little over 300 people. She estimated that maybe 25 members stayed behind from her church. The majority left for reasons of safety from fighting but also safety from persecution. It seems like the rebels are not fans of evangelical churches. There are many reports of church buildings being seized and evangelical Christians being kidnapped and/or their homes or businesses being targeted. I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty some of our brothers and sisters are living under in Eastern Ukraine.
Tonia, a 21-year-old who is staying with us, just told us of her lack of desire to return to her home town where her church has been totally ransacked of all that it contained. Tonia has found a job at the local sewing factory and seems to be more than happy being here in Rzhyshchiv. She’s definitely a blessing, so it’s nice to have her.
Let me switch… The local church… We enjoyed the wedding of Ura and Luda the day following my return. They both love the Lord deeply and desire to live for His honour, so the wedding was beautiful.
We are still able to meet in the public hall in the center of town. Last week, despite having a number of regulars away, the hall felt full due to the presence of the families from the east. We have a gathering of some sort every day but Monday and Saturday. And at least once a month, we have stuff on those days as well. It is a true privilege to serve people in the way in which we do – I could think of nothing I’d rather be doing with our lives.
School is up and going again for our family after the summer’s break. Pris manages to keep things organized and flowing well in our home and for the girls schooling. This week, amongst other things, they memorized Romans 8:28-39. (Now that couldn’t be a bad thing. Those are special verses!) I’m thankful for the curriculum and program we use with our kids. What price can you place on having your mind infused with the Word of God intensively throughout your younger learning years?
My time in Oz with the family there, (especially Jesse), was precious. We were able to fit in some nice memories and it was good to see him doing so well. We took an afternoon to go to Shelly Beach in Manly and despite the cold, enjoyed the snorkeling.
It was also good to see old friends and to experience their kindness over the situation with Dad. There were several people who gave gifts to help with the airfare back to Australia. It was unexpected and I felt loved and cared for… so to you who showed love in this way: Thank you. It was deeply appreciated.
Dad is doing well… as a matter of fact, he just got released to come home. Keren took the photo of Elias welcoming him home. He’s slower and more tired, but thankful to God for his recovery and for the opportunity to relax in his own lounge room again.
And on a note of thankfulness, I shall also end this post. God’s love, kindness and mercy are always evident for the person with eyes to see and a heart to trust. I’m so thankful for His myriad blessings!
