Seeing the Lifeline Connection Among Saints

by Trish Duggan, Communications Coordinator for the Committee on Diaconal Ministries

David Nakhla, Administrator for the Committee on Diaconal Ministries, recently returned from a seven-day trip to Ukraine, with two others from the OPC—deacon from Covenant OPC in Orland Park, IL and CDM member, John Voss and OPC Communications coordinator, Jamie Dean—along with MTW Ukraine Country Director, John Eide. Their excursion began in Poland, where they met up with a Ukrainian woman, Olena, who escorted them by van over the border to L’viv, Ukraine. In the past year, Olena has made this over six-hour trip regularly, transporting over 1300 crates of supplies for the summer edition of Crates for Ukraine (CFU) and, Lord willing, will continue as the winter crates begin arriving from the states.

While in L’viv, the group was able to meet with OPC missionary Heero Hacquebord, visit his church’s building, Holy Trinity EPCU, tour the CFU warehouse, and meet the CFU distribution team. There is a huge sense of gratitude to all, which was particularly expressed to the OPC during the visit, for standing with them at this time. MTW team member, Doug Shepherd, in expressing his gratitude, described the OPC as “punching above our weight class.” In total, the OPC family was able to contribute 307 of the over 1300 total crates to Dallas and Chattanooga in the Crates for Ukraine Winter Edition effort.

There is a great sense of fulfillment from the distribution teams in passing on these gifts. The church’s website and access to the Ukrainian publishing house is posted on each gift as a way of incorporating gospel outreach with the distribution of supplies. The church views this as sowing many seeds in many directions. Recipients report the quality of the CFU items are far superior to what is coming to Ukraine via other channels and are saving lives.

The group then moved east on to Odessa, where life, as in L’viv, is operating at some level of normalcy, despite the circumstances. That said, they are all “affected people”, and as such they each suffer some level of PTSD.  Many feel a level of “survivor guilt”, hearing of the circumstances of those who live near the front or even in occupied territory, and where homes have been looted and/or destroyed. Further, while there is a degree of difficulty living as the “survivors”, this conflict is not over, there are no guarantees for tomorrow and a shadow of darkness looms large. Many are clinging to God’s sovereignty and care while some wrestle with understanding why God allows the horrific aspects of this war to persist.

The CFU effort has been a lifeline of connection between the mission team, the EPCU, and the church back in the States. It’s not been easy, but certainly worthwhile and has brought helpful connectionalism.

Thank you for your church’s participation in Crates for Ukraine. Further reports from the team’s visit to Ukraine are being written and will be distributed in the months to come.