On Ukraine.

First of all, just to clarify for those of you who are worried about us, Jack and I don't live near Ukraine.  To even reach the border would require a 10-hour drive north, and then to reach an area where there is active conflict would be another long haul.  Our lives in this small Romanian town in the Carpathians are unaffected by the conflict in Ukraine in almost every way.  I think I am grateful for that -- certainly grateful, at least, for the peace and security we live in, for the lack of fear.  But I don't want to forget -- and I so easily do! -- that only one country away, a revolution is happening.  (Or it happened, and now a war is brewing.  It's hard to tell.)  Either way, I don't want to forget.  Because although this particular country where we currently live has captured most of my attention for the present, this entire region fascinates me, and always has.  In particular, the courage of its people move me to tears.  (Public displays of courageous civic engagement always do.)  And so I don't want to forget Ukraine, or ignore it, simply because I can.

Which is why I wanted to post a prayer letter we just received from some of our colleagues, a CRWM missionary family serving in Kiev.  We haven't met this family, but I feel kinship to them simply because of the fact that they, too, are part of this group of CRWM missionaries serving in Europe and the Middle East -- people we fell in love with in April when we spent Easter weekend together, laughing uproariously and praying honestly and confessing and supporting and encouraging.  So I want to pass on what they wrote so that those of you who hold us oh-so-faithfully in prayer can pray for this region, and in particular for Ukraine.

We were shocked, abhorred, deeply saddened -- what other words can I use -- at the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight 17 by the Russian insurgents fighting against Ukraine in the East.  We’ve watched coverage on TV and online in shock and disbelief.  We’ve been angered by the blatant lies, disrespect for human life and for the victims of this senseless tragedy, and by the unbelievably weak response of the international community to this atrocity and war crime committed by the lawless “Donetsk Peoples’ Republic” and their patron, Vladimir Putin.  The best word I’ve seen used to describe the West’s response is “pusillanious” (had to look that one up!).

While the shooting down of flight MH17 has taken over the headlines, the fighting has not let up in the East.  Key prayer points:

1. for the Evangelical churches in the conflict zone.  A pastor, his two adult sons and a deacon from one church were brutally tortured and murdered by the Russian insurgents.  Part of the philosophy that drives Putin is a belief in the purity of Russian Orthodoxy.  This leads him to promote the persecution of Protestants in the region as they are seen as “Western” by default.  Pray for the church to have wisdom and strength to persevere during this time of terror.

2. for the refugees.  The UN has counted around 110,000 refugees at the current time.  The number continues to grow.  But getting a sense of the exact need is very difficult.  Many have fled the conflict zone to relatives in Ukraine or Russia.  There are around 40,000 or so refugees from the Crimea and the eastern regions that are living in temporary facilities who need help.  Our ministry partners, Russian Ministries and the Association for Spiritual Renewal, are addressing the needs of refugees and also the needs of people who have been recently liberated by Ukrainian forces.  There are many people who have been left with nothing and are struggling to survive.  We are working now with our partners to begin to address these needs. 

3. for the Ukrainian government.  Yesterday the ruling coalition in the Ukrainian parliament (Rada) collapsed.  This has mixed blessings - it forces early elections which was something Ukrainians want.  But it also adds some instability on top of all of the other problems - military conflict, plane crash, brink of economic collapse.  Ukraine needs our prayers and the support of the global community!

4. for global leaders to stand up to Putin and to put an end to his reign of terror in Ukraine.  For anyone who wants to understand this better I would recommend reading the following article:  http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/christophermajka/2014/07/blundering-ukraine-putins-strategic-debacle

Thank you for your care and concern for us and for Ukraine.  We need your prayers and so does this great nation.

 

Please join us in praying for these neighbors.