CEN News: Dr Smith Shares Hope in the Ukraine!

 

CEN's National Share Officer Dr. Edward Smith shares pictures from his trip to the Ukraine. He was THERE sharing the Hope of Christ and conducting an assessment for future trips to this war devastated country struggling to remain free.  

’Staying in host pastors home in central Ukraine a wonderful young missionary couple. Michael served as a translator for my morning session on compassion training for church leaders." 

Endless Military Checkpoints to weave through to deliver critical food and supplies.

 

Words cannot describe the devastation of communities and towns that go on for miles. Occupied Russian territory suffered violence, assaults, rapes, kidnappings- not to mention firefights w Ukrainian troops and bombs and missies coming in.  Ukrainian language Bibles being handed out with food and times of prayer and talking to survivors.

This survivor grabbed my wrist after we gave her food. She is showing me the remains of a three house family compound. The Russians invaded from Belarus. Shooting their way south. Once stopped by Ukraine military that occupied miles and miles of land. They occupied her house along with all the others. When they ran out of provisions they began to take from the neighbors. They drove them into basements. Took over rooms. Made them cook for them sometimes. At night unspeakable violence occurred. 

People saw humanitarian trucks and cars shot up and run over by tanks. Buses with civilians were machine gunned or hit with grenade rockets. People had family members killed and raped. 

As the Ukrainian forces advanced (place is littered with wreckage and trench lines etc) the Russians in their retreat began to burn down and destroy the houses they were in.

Mile after Mile the view is the same......

God Help us to bring the Gospel in the midst of this Crisis!

Dr Ed Smith

CEN National Share Officer

Ukraine