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Limited Access to Food, Electricity, and Heat

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Millions of Ukrainians are facing their most challenging winter in recent history, with no end to the war raging in their country.

Approximately 6.5 million people in Ukraine have been displaced and are facing freezing winter conditions after being forced to flee their homes. Many take shelter in damaged buildings and have limited access to food, electricity, and heat.

The humanitarian ministries of the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) continue unabated in the war torn country. Russian missile strikes have managed to damage virtually every aspect of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

LCC received the following update from Pastor Yurii Timerkan:

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I am a Pastor from the Bashtanka region. It is the Southern part of Ukraine. By God's mercy we entered the Advent season. Here in Ukraine, just one or two years ago, we had the same spirit and expectations as you have in the USA or wherever you are today.

Expectations about Christmas celebrations, preparing food for guests or finding a good deal in the supermarket. People in the church thought about special worship service. I think it's the same as most of you have. But the war made its adjustment.

A few days ago, I helped one older lady from our congregation (75 years old) to visit her son in the Odessa region in a hospital (220 km far from our home). She said to me when we were on the road that everything she dreamed for the last eight months was to see her son alive. And she did it. She met him in the hospital but not because the war stopped, but because he received a bullet wound and could not defend our country more. During the rest of Advent season, the main expectation of this lady is to hear that her son will have the possibility to recover from his injury.

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And this is a new reality for millions of Ukrainians today. As a volunteer, I visited some de-occupied territories in Herson City. People in that region waited for electricity for more than seven months. They just want to charge their smartphones and call their parents or friends. Some of them wait for good medicine, drinking water or good food.

Of course, we can't provide everything that people need in our regions, but the help and support which you gave us during the last nine months made it possible to find solutions for a lot of needs.

Today I want to tell you that people in Ukraine are the same as you. But because of war, our main expectation is to get back to a normal life. Without war, without tears, and without fear.

We appreciate all your support. It helps a lot of people to feel not alone in this tragedy. Thank you very much for everything. Please continue to pray for Ukraine. We really need it.

Blessed Advent to you, blessed Christmas, and may God richly bless you in all your deeds.

Pastor Yurii

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Please prayerfully consider donating to help Ukrainians by showing the Mercy, Compassion, Presence and Proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering and in need!

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