Thank you for your concern and for praying for Ukraine and the Ukrainian People
1. Last week, we were glad to report that the new regulations for shipping humanitarian aid to Ukraine due to begin December 1 had been postponed for 6 months. This was great news because the Polish truck drivers’ strike had closed all border crossings for trucks. Therefore, we arranged to ship our container from the Polish port to Ukraine via rail. However, there is a backlog of such rail shipments since many shippers are jumping to that same strategy. (In case anyone is interested, here is an online article on this topic: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ukraine-finds-ingenious-solution-to-polish-border-blockade/ar-AA1l9qAQ ) So, while our container sits at the port waiting for its turn, we are being charged $70-$100 per day after an initial 10-day grace period. Please pray that our container will get onto a railcar soon.
2. News reports in Ukraine state that conscription efforts will soon intensify. This is of great concern for all of us at BIEM since our churches need all the manpower they have to conduct their ministries and distribute war relief. Please pray that the effect on our churches as many Ukrainian men face conscription would be minimal.
3. In addition to ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of needy civilians in Ukraine’s war zone, BIEM personnel and volunteers likewise reach out to their military, the ones on the front lines. In this week’s video update, BIEM missionary Sasha Petrenko and others send you thanks for your War Relief donations! You can view this brief video here:
https://vimeo.com/user37287229/thankyou
4. We are now launching an effort to raise $100,000 through our War Relief Fund to provide 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers with warm clothing and the Gospel for unsaved ones. Details will be in the cover letter for the Challenger newsletter now going out. Please pray God will work through this outreach.
5. This week we received several more pallets of donated aid for Ukraine—mostly good, used clothing, shoes, and housewares. This is in addition to the 8 pallets of medical supplies that we received earlier. We are thankful for all those who are delivering or shipping such donations. Some of these donated items end up in the Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation centers some of our churches operate. Therefore, household items, furniture, and gardening equipment are welcome and appreciated in these locations. Furthermore, sports equipment is always needed for youth ministries.
In Christ,
Sam Slobodian
President, BIEM