Day 1265
A new week has begun — one that brings promises but also cautions, as we have seen such hopes before end in disappointment. Yesterday, our small church gathered for worship and once more we prayed for peace, for our military, for the protection of our cities under constant attack, for prisoners of war, for the wounded, and for those grieving the loss of loved ones. The sermon was about the power of Christ’s Word. And so, again and again, we seek to turn our sinful nature—so inclined to trust in visible things—toward His Word and His promises.
Looking at the empty benches in the worship hall, we think of those who would love to be with us but are far away. Our dear Dr. Anya is unwell; she injured her hand and will soon undergo surgery. Her husband, Vitaliy, is also in the hospital with kidney problems. We are praying especially for Gleb, the son of our counselor George, who is now on the front lines and going through a very difficult time both emotionally and physically. Meanwhile, Paul Lukoshkin is in training to become an officer and continue serving at the front. Ivan is serving in a different location now; we miss him in our church. We are thankful to hear from him and glad that he is doing well. We continue to pray for his safety and well-being.
Now that Ivan is far away, our youth have stepped up and taken on more responsibility. Zhenya, a talented young musician who loves God deeply and desires to serve, has taken over the leadership of the music team. The youth group continues to meet regularly for fellowship. We believe the day will come when our brothers who are now fighting in the war will return to serve, our church will grow, and every pew will be filled again.
Our counseling center continues to work very actively. We keep supporting people, helping them cope with difficulties and continue living. It’s hard to believe that our support group for refugees has existed for more than three years. Over time, many in this group have gone through a deep healing process, overcome their challenges, and started a new life. Last week, we met a wonderful baby boy Felix born three months ago — the son of Dasha, who came from Kharkiv in the first days of the war. She survived the attacks on Kharkiv, witnessed rockets destroying homes, saw her city in flames, and, with great difficulty, evacuated alongside thousands of others seeking safety. During her first year here, Dasha underwent trauma therapy. It was essential for her to rebuild a sense of safety, develop healthy coping skills, and continue living without fear, with hope and plans for the future. She overcame her difficulties remarkably well. In time, she became a confident, positive young woman with clear goals and a vision for her future. Then, significant events unfolded in her life—she married a military man whom she met in our town. Later, her husband was transferred to serve in Odesa, and the family relocated there. He now serves in air defense, protecting the Odesa from enemy drone attacks. He told us that they go out to sea to intercept drones as they approach, doing everything possible to keep them from reaching the city. He shared, “Every time I shoot down a drone, I turn back toward the shore and look at the buildings facing the sea. Among them, I spot the building with the apartment where my wife and son are—and I pray for their safety.”
Our counseling center is also growing and developing. We are especially encouraged that new psychologists are joining our team. Some members of our refugee support group have even started studying counseling themselves, hoping to one day join us in this ministry. Some of them have already joined our ministry. Last month, Svitlana graduated with her diploma. Over the past year, she studied diligently, worked intensively, and put her new knowledge into practice. Svitlana now works with autistic children, helping them adapt to daily life, develop essential skills, and thrive. She also trains parents on how to create a healthy, loving environment where their children can grow and feel supported.
Another important area of our ministry that we have begun to develop is supporting war veterans. Among our current clients now are both military personnel and members of their families, and we clearly see the deep challenges the war has brought into their lives. Right now, our soldiers are still fighting, but we know that when the war ends and they return home, many will face great difficulty adjusting to peaceful life after the cruelty and trauma they have experienced. From our counseling work, we have learned that some wounds can only be truly healed by God.
We are currently developing a rehabilitation program for war veterans and assembling a dedicated team. God has already answered our prayers in remarkable ways—two military psychologists have begun attending our church, and a local military unit has reached out to us, asking for help in supporting their own psychologist in working with service members.
We are deeply grateful to all who pray for us. Please continue to lift us up in prayer and support our work. May all the glory be to our God.
http://www.pathwayministriesinc.org
In Christ,
Lyuda
P.S. Here are photos of our refugee support group, baby Felix with his parents, our time spent with the children at the orphanage, Zhenya—our new music leader—and a past photo of Zhenya and Ivan playing music together, Svitlana with her diploma.
