142 Days of War in Ukraine
It is now the middle of July. The war continues to rage in the east and south. News coverage is becoming sporadic, as humanitarian aid groups report giving is also declining even as the needs are growing. This week we know that Mykolaiv (Monday) and Zaporizhzhia (Wednesday), near the conflict zone and Vinnystia (Thursday), far from the fighting in central Ukraine, had civilian buildings targeted by Russian missiles. Many adults and children were killed, and a far greater number were wounded. God have mercy! Their needs are definitely growing.
One exciting development I want to share with you is a new video in support of Ukraine, which debuted this week. Our Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (KSOC) conductor, Vika Konchakovska was contacted in May and asked if she could find some musicians to help with a special project. She gathered about 28 of our KSOC members who were still braving life in Kyiv to participate in this video filmed in the hangar of a destroyed cargo plane belonging to Ukraine. I hope it becomes a global hit.
Vika and the KSOC musicians can be seen multiple times in the video for the song called “Can One Man Change the World.” It is a powerful and moving piece supporting the great job President Zelensky is doing in leading Ukraine and challenging the world to be part of the solution to the Russian invasion. It affirms how blessed we are to have such a talented conductor as Vika. If you watch it, you will not be disappointed.
This leads to another very exciting development. Some of you have already heard there is an extraordinary event featuring the Ukrainian Ballet in Orlando on Saturday, August 27. The night’s event will feature KSOC Conductor Vika Konchaskovka working with the Bach Fellowship Society Chorus and Ukrainian National Opera House Maestro Sergii Golubnychyi (also a conductor with KSOC) working with the Orlando Symphony. MMK is sponsoring Vika and Sergii while they are here, and we will be featured in the Ballet program, which will be great publicity for our mission. All proceeds will benefit Razom for Ukraine, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the Euro-Asian Jewish communities. You can learn more or buy tickets here.
Some of our widows and pensioners are returning to Kyiv after being away since the early days of the invasion. At our weekly Widow’s Bible Study, we provided them with their backlog of food vouchers. The extra vouchers were received with great enthusiasm. We are glad to have them back in our Thursday gatherings and continue to learn more about their families and build relationships with them.
Another new development takes place after each St. Paul’s church service. The widows and family members gather afterward for a time of tea and cookies after the service. Everyone brings sweets or cookies, and they share rich fellowship time together. This started as an occasional gathering but has been so well received and needed that it is now a weekly event. When death is close by in your daily life, the need for human connection and relationships becomes a high priority. You simply want to celebrate life together.
Our newest staff member at MMK, Vika Rybchinska, attended Stage 1 of the Trauma Healing training. She is the fourth member of our staff to begin this certification, and we will see great fruit reproduced from this training. You can see several pictures of her with the American teachers.
Two children attended the Children’s Music Club this past week. Vika does not want to wait until school starts to get the Club going, so she is already bringing children in and starting this part of our children’s ministry.
In her own words, Vika shares, “On July 6-8, I had the opportunity to attend the Overcoming Adversity conference, which was a very positive experience, and I discovered a lot of new things. The event was organized by Victoria Raichynets, with Stacey and Phil (USA) as the speakers. The course opened up new potential in me, it helped to deal with my trauma; also I understood that I want to help other people with traumatic experiences. Everyone expressed so much love for me and called me by name, even when I wasn’t wearing a badge. Most of all, I enjoyed meeting new people, socializing, and sharing impressions with the representatives of different denominations. I went home full of positive emotions and new ideas.”
I have reported on several of our direct relationships with men fighting on the front. Here you see a recent picture of Pastor Ruslan with tea, coffee, and food for one of the squads. We have now sent care packages of food, medicine, contact lenses, eyeglasses, and clothing to the squads of KSOC singer Ivan B., Varvara’s son Kostya, and Olga’s (our bookkeeper) son Ivan. We also are getting connected with young men whose parents are in our Puscha Bible Study group. We are praying for Sergiy’s son Artem, Alexander’s sons Andriy and Ivan, and Klarisa’s son-in-law Oleksandr (Sasha).
All four groups have sent profound gratitude for how much they needed the supplies and the encouragement of our support and prayers. We continue to pray for Oksana’s brother, Volodya, who was wounded, rehabbed, and returned to the fighting, plus her husband, Sergei, who both face danger every day in their roles in the defense of Ukraine. We are able to continue to provide this help through your partnership with Music Mission Kiev. Thank you again from all of us.
Pray
Pray for the random missile strikes to end as they are hitting and killing civilians.
For the USA and European countries to stay the course on the sanctions against Russia until all Russian troops are withdrawn.
For supplies and aid to continue to make it to the areas of great need without interruption or confiscation by the Russian forces.
For the safety of many Ukrainians who feel unable to leave their homes and cities that are getting destroyed. For food and medical supplies to reach the Ukraine troops as they continue to stand against a giant oppressor.
For families who are experiencing unimaginable grief as their family and friends are needlessly killed.
Extra safety for our widows and pensioners as they move about Kyiv in their daily lives.
For the orphans at Stara Basan to remain safe and protected from any further Russian aggression.
Give
ONLINE: You can give online to musicmissionkiev.org
CALL: You can still call our U.S. office and donate with your credit card. Our office phone number is 407-699-7172.
CHECK: Send a check payable to Music Mission Kiev, PO Box 161849, Altamonte Springs, FL 32716.
Contact
Please take the time to contact your government officials. Even if you have already called or written them, please do so again. Others have reminded me how Ukraine is unlikely to end this war without outside help. That’s us. Contact your officials, please!
Greg
CEO | Music Mission Kiev