Since Dave wrote this on the 5th May the attack on the Odesa region and Odesa itself has intensified. The attacks are being carried out by rockets, missiles and drones together with the occasional shelling from vessels in the Black Sea. We do not have any reports of casualties around the area of the House of Hope. We continue to withhold publishing images of people etc. for security and privacy of all.
The last few days were a frightening time in Ukraine. It was filled with challenges beyond anyone’s abilities to handle. Yesterday, several missiles hit the city centre of Odesa, leaving damage and some casualties. Later the runway and the airport building were hit, making the airport unusable for anyone, including medical rescue teams. The we heard that Odesa and the region around is under curfew and shutting down everything from today, from 11pm to 5am.
That put us under more pressure to get people from the House of Hope refuge across the border quicker, which is a great challenge. Due to the intensified attacks on Odesa and surrounding areas, there is a rapidly increasing wave of people trying to flee the country, creating both chaos and huge lines at the border.
Happy Faces on the other side of the Moldova Border.
With the help of God, we have been able to get over 45 people across the border yesterday morning, and we are now working out the logistics to get these people from Moldova to Germany. But having said this, we also ask you to please pray with us. Germany is reaching the capacity of how many people they can take in, and there is no room for new people to come. We are praying and asking God to help develop logistics for other countries like Norway and Sweden, especially for the most vulnerable.
There are rumors that the goal of the Russian army is to cut Ukraine from the access to the Black Sea and make a pathway connection between Transnistria, in Moldova, and Crimea. This, unfortunately, makes Odesa more of a target.
There is so much suffering and pain. Kherson. the city where our young driver Igor was killed, just north-east of Odesa, was forced into using Russian roubles as the official currency, causing the area to be established as Russian territory. It is nearly impossible to evacuate people from Kherson or Mykolaiv area northeast of Odesa.
Your wonderful gifts are helping us to help more and more orphan children who are struggling because of the war in Ukraine. As you know, we are trying to get more children to safety in Europe. We have already helped so many from the Odesa province come to safety in Germany. We’ve now done 18 evacuation runs of children, poor families and Jewish families who’ve come to the House of Hope.
Bigger Evacuation Numbers from Ukraine.
A big gift came through, and we are able to buy another big van. What a huge blessing and help that is. We’re now able to evacuate double the number of people each time we take people out of Ukraine. It’s such a joy to see the smiles on their faces as they reach safety.
A New Route out of Ukraine
If Moldova goes to war with Russia, then we’ll have to find another route out – maybe via Poland – and with Germany reaching its limits, we have people standing by in Sweden and Norway to host a large number of people.
Please pray for the House of Hope and those who have chosen to stay there and help hundreds of poor families survive – with the Survival Packs of food and medicines, and the picture Bibles that we are still buying to give these families. They are being led to the Lord Jesus as a result.
Mercy Missions to the remote Odesa villages still go on from day to day
Meanwhile, we continue to reach out to the poorest of the poor to provide them with the immediate help and supplies that can help them survive. This last week the team have been able to distribute aid to 285 people in total – 100 families with children or elderly family members.
Our team at the House of Hope have recently reached out to those in need in the M###, P###, and I### districts.
We appreciate your continued prayers for our young men helping those in need, even at the risk of their own lives. Please pray for their safety, especially now that the attacks on the area have intensified.
As you know, this all began when we started supporting orphans in Latvia in 1993. Now God has allowed us to help many children and the poor people of Ukraine. You are an important part of God’s big plan. We couldn’t manage without your help.
Thank you for your wonderful support for these precious children. Bless you for being there for us before the throne of God!
God help us all. Bless you for your wonderful support to move these children out to safety.
Thank you for your wonderful support for these precious children. Bless you for being there for us before the throne of God!
God help us all. Bless you for your wonderful support to move these children out to safety. Here is the 18th group we’ve evacuated to date.
I’ll be travelling to the UK next week and to Germany to check on the House of Hope Children, and then to Norway to check on the possibility of accommodating the Children and the Poor Refugees there. I’d appreciate your prayers for my travels.
Love and blessings,
Dave and Margurita
“The love of Christ compels us.”
Evacuation Report from Sasha 4th May 2022
Another hectic week has started with many challenges. but behind the challenges and mounting obstacles, we see smiling and grateful faces of women and children glad to be leaving the war zone.
A remarkable story took place at one of the transit points in Moldova. The group consisted of people who had experienced horrific times and were spending a night at the Moldovan base. While everyone was shaken and tired, the local team was doing their best to accommodate and feed people, and also to show the love of God, without preaching to them. That night when one of the local helpers was singing a happy song and went to use a restroom. She got stopped by a lady from the group who was patiently waiting for her to come out. When she did, she just jumped at her with the question, “How can you stay so happy all the time? What have you got that makes you happy? Whatever it is, I want it, and I want it now”. She said, “It's God who makes me happy” and led her to Jesus on the spot. That’s how the people are coming to the Lord.
Today another group of 17 people have crossed into safety. But 45 people are waiting in the House of Hope for their turn to leave.
S# and N## and their children wanting to escape Russia
They run a large Christian portal reaching a great number of people daily. Their stand for the truth has made him a prime target of the FSB. His family have been receiving threats, despite being very careful what he writes. The FSB has been spreading lies about him, and making people hate him as an “Enemy of the People”.
They are currently living behind the closed curtains at home, their kids no longer able to go to school. S# said he cannot remain quiet, but he cannot continue to write what he wants to write because of the threats.
They are ready to leave and know the route they have to take. They are good friends, and we want to help them. We’ll try to help them financially to evacuate and settle somewhere safe through buying the air tickets for the family - $2,500. Thank you for your prayers!