Month: April 2022

April 17-24, 2022

For some reason this has been a very hard trip to process. On one hand you have the emotional side and on the other you have to hold that in check so you can be strong for the refugees we are assisting and ministering to. Words cannot even remotely describe the empty eyes as the oppressed pile out of vans at the information center that you have helped open.

Here in Isai at the Sculeni border we are able to provide SIM cards for their phones, a hot meal, a warm place to chill for a while and a shoulder to cry or lean on. If they choose to go into the city, they are able to secure train or bus vouchers to help them move on. Most of the refugees I encountered were from Odessa. They immediately want to show you videos and pics of the horrific atrocities as if to validate them. Tears mixed with smiles come from them as they accept our hand in friendship and solidarity.

I also spent time over in Moldova where we were able help deliver food and supplies to refugees that are staying in apartments supplied by a local church. They are able to stay long term if needed and will be close to their own border. Through funds that were donated to GMSM we also were able to buy $2000.00 worth of emergency medical supplies for the wounded in the south. This situation is not going away anytime soon. I’m not even home yet and I’m already planning another return trip. We will need more support as we continue to work with the Crossroads Community Church. Please continue to pray for the Ukrainian people and all aid workers as we do what we can to bring a small amount of hope.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Kenny

These two videos show two of the reasons I am going back to serve in Romania.

This first one is of Pastor Adi’s and his church’s setup at the border to assist refugees . It is his vision that was implemented at a speed that only could have been done by the Hand of God.

This next video is from our Ukrainian friend, Valeriy Bykov, of his brother’s neighborhood. This is why we must help him get his brother and his family out. His brother is not qualified to stay and fight like Valeriy, and it is very expensive at this point to get out of Ukraine.

Most of the wealthy and middle class citizens made their way out pretty quickly, now it’s the lower-income families that are left behind because they do not have the resources required to get to the border. “Mules” have taken advantage of the opportunity, as they do in most embattled countries, and charge up to $700 per person to help them escape the country.

This mission is to assist in both of these efforts, and we thank you for your continued support. Your contributions this month are going directly to these efforts, I will be sending as many updates as possible from the field.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,
Kenny

I am heading back to Romania this Saturday, and will be celebrating Easter with Pastor Adi (right photo) and serving the continuous flow of Ukrainians fleeing their homes.
We thank all our supporters who supported last month’s trip, and ask you to prayerfully consider helping with this trip as well. The situation at the border is still critical, and our support is greatly needed.

We have been staying in touch with the Ukrainian merchant marine we met last month, Valeriy Bykov (left photo), and his brother’s family is in a town near Odessa that is in the midst of Russian attacks. One of our goals on this trip is to get this family across the border to safety, and we ask for your prayers that this will happen.

We will continue to support Pastor Adi’s church and their service on the border.
We will be posting our progress on this mission next week, and ask that you share our mission with everyone you know who would like to support the Ukrainian refugees.
Thank you again for all your support for Give Me Shelter Ministries… together we are serving the Lord and loving those in most need from Ukraine to Haiti.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Kenny