Love Flows Amid Sirens

For almost three years, the Awana Ukraine team has shown and shared the love of Christ with children and families in the war-torn country. They recently sent us a couple of videos. One is a report about the Welcome Center (refugee center) in Cherkasy, Ukraine; the other is of team members giving out backpacks filled with school supplies. We hope they encourage you. Your prayers and financial gifts are making a difference in the lives of Ukrainians; they are helping love flow amid the sirens and spread the Gospel across the country!

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
(1 Cor 13:13)

Several team members we have mentioned in previous blogs are featured in the first video. The woman speaking outside at the beginning and ending of the first video is Marina. Her husband is fighting at the front lines in the war. The woman behind the desk is Anna Alekseeva, who has been working at the center since the start of the war, alongside Victor Divinich (the man with white hair and glasses). Also in the video are Anita Grigas, her husband Anton, Valentin Yarmolatiy (Awana Eastern Europe Director Pavils Grigas‘ son-in-law) and Olga Kravchenko, our new national director for Ukraine. Shots were taken during Awana gatherings, humanitarian aid distribution and funerals (scenes with flags). Other images show the devastation from the war. The second video shows Pavils and partners from Latvia giving backpacks to kids during an Awana gathering.

We are grateful to those of you, who have made it possible for our Awana Ukraine team to operate clubs, engage in humanitarian efforts, share the love of Christ and — most importantly — bring children and adults to a saving faith. Your love, prayers and gifts are sustaining our team and allowing them to be the hands and feet of Jesus! Thank you!

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5)

Now that schools and clubs are in session, our Ukraine team is adding to their busy schedule plans to provide food, medicine and coats to those in need. If you would like to help them, please continue praying, consider providing a financial gift and follow our Ukraine updates.

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