By Andy Baker
We continue to ask for your prayers. Our biggest issue is that after a month of war, our access to food in Romania is being rationed and costs have risen 100% in recent days on some items.
I spoke with our colleague at the border. Two cargo vans arrived from Kyiv this week, which we loaded with food and sent back. There is a large warehouse about 150 miles inside of Ukraine that is being used for food storage. Many vans from around Ukraine drive to this location to fill up with the goods.We are sending a semi-truck of flour and oil to this location Friday. We were told it might be our last load of those items we will be able to take because of scarcity.
I talked with a colleague last week. He had been in touch with a pastor who had driven to the outskirts of Mariupol to deliver food. The Russians allowed people to come out and meet him and to take food back in. This is a positive story. I'm not sure this is typical.
We helped in securing a grant that was immediately released to our colleagues in Romania with some trials at our bank. We are being watched closely. The good news is the grant will cover the safe passage of 300 orphans from Ukraine to Italy; send 12 semi trucks of food back into Ukraine; and cover the furnishing of a 200 bed refugee facility in Romania.
Earlier this week, we learned that the Russians have pulled back from Kyiv and other larger communities to regroup. They believe a brutal assault will happen again sometime in the next two weeks. He told me the vans that have been transporting people out of harm's way have all been shot up except for two. He asked me if we could buy used vans to transport people out of Kyiv and other cities that have been under siege. How do you say, "no" to this request? Amazingly, this need has been met! Thank you for your generosity! We now have the funds to purchase 4 vans to transport people to safety. I've attached a picture of one of the vans. It is on its fourth set of tires, and you can see the bullet holes and other damage. Please keep these men in your prayers as they drive into dangerous areas. It goes without saying that there is risk for those driving and those being rescued.
Our friends worked on installing filters in Ukraine for clean water this week. I am expecting a report soon from them with news of pressing needs that we can help address.
Thank you for all YOU have done to make this report a reality. Please continue to journey with us as you are able. We now have an EFT set up if you would like to set up a monthly draft from your checking. No gift is too small.