Ukraine Support Update

It has been just one week since the attack on Ukraine started.  It is amazing how much can happen in one week!  This week has been hard to focus.  I see the pictures of the war in Ukraine and my heart aches.  I hear the stories of destruction, but also the strong desire to fight for their independence.  I have heard from my friends who have left their homes in search for safety.  I have talked to church and ministry leaders who are using whatever they have to help others.

I have also seen the amazing generosity of people wanting to help Ukraine.  Friends of ours from Ukraine left their homes and have arrived here in Minnesota.  People have donated clothes, beds, kitchen essentials and so much more.  People have given gift cards and even a car, and they keep asking what more can they do.  Our friends are overwhelmed at the generosity of people helping them.

Potential Endeavors started a fundraiser for Ukraine.  In three days, we have already raised over $17,000.  This money has already been sent to Ukraine to help with humanitarian support.  I have talked with the people who we have sent money and asked them how they are using these gifts.  Here is what they shared:

Vasily from the Baptist Union of Ukraine shared that these resources are being used to provide food, medicine, and transportation to help refugees.  Food and medicine are in short supply, so churches are going to Poland to buy food and medicine and they are transporting it to the war areas in Kyiv, eastern Ukraine and southern Ukraine.  Then these vehicles are used to transport refugees of women, children, and older adults to safer places in the west.  Churches along the way are providing places for people to sleep, get a warm meal and rest and they make their way along the slow roads heading west.

Vitaly from Camp Maximum shared how they are transporting supplies into Kyiv and then bringing people to Camp Maximum for a meal on their way west.  They are purchasing additional vehicles to help more people and carry more supplies.

Mykola from Kyiv is helping providing food and transportation to help people who have stayed in the city and are facing daily bombing from Russia.

Thank you to all who have donated to help Ukraine!

As I talked with Vasily, he shared with me how churches across Ukraine have played an important role in supporting the defense of Ukraine.  Churches are providing meals for the soldiers; Chaplains are going to the war zones to pray with and support the soldiers.  Soldiers are telling stories of success against Russia that they cannot explain but know that it is God helping them.  The weather this past week has been stormy and windy.  This has kept naval ships from attacking Odessa and winds in Belarus have kept airborne troops from being parachuted into Ukraine.

However, this is only the first week and the war does not look like it is going to stop any time soon.  It is hard to watch the attacks against civilians and innocent people go on with no way to stop them.  I know that weapons are being provided to help Ukraine, but it feels like at some point NATO and the US must step in and help.  I don’t know what would happen next, but I also know that we can not stand by and watch the slaughter of thousands of innocent people and do nothing.

All we can do at this point is to pray and to provide whatever financial support we can to help the people of Ukraine.  Vasily shared three prayer requests with me:

• Pray for peace in Ukraine and that Ukraine will win this war.
• Pray for wisdom and protection of the leaders of leaders – government and religious leaders – that they will know what needs to be done to help the people.
• For the churches to have the resources they need as they help needy people across Ukraine.

If you are interested in helping, our fundraiser in Facebook will be open until March 15^th.  You may also make donations on our website https://potentialendeavors.com  Just note Ukraine Relief in the comments.  We also take Venmo @bandrpost and checks.  These can be made payable to Potential Endeavors and sent to:

              Potential Endeavors

              840 Aspen Circle

              Little Canada, MN 55109