Update from Buddy, missionary

11,019 - Days From the Dissolution of USSR to The Invasion Of Ukraine and the Closing of Doors to Russia

We mark things according to dates and numbers. It's how we know stuff, and it's how we keep up. Things like how old we are, how long we've been married... or not. It's how we know who won or who's in last place. These figures help us stay healthy when they let us know how much fat we need to lose or gain and when is the date for the next doctor's appointment. All moms want to know how far along they are and when the baby is due. You think of something...anything... and you'll almost immediately add some kind of quantitative time and aggregate measure to it. Everything we do is marked by dates and numbers. Everything. In fact, life is made up of dates and numbers.

Though is many cases these statistics are harsh and cold, it is also true that dates and numbers can be packed with emotion. If you could put statistics to our best and worst memories, dates and numbers would be a part of that compiling process. Our memories don't just float in our minds and spirits that are void of time and numbers.

In this past year I have introduced these updates by the number of day of the war they were written on. Today is day 365 or the war in Ukraine. At first, I thought I was simply using the days as a time marker, but today, as I go back through them, I realize they are packed with emotion.

Day 1 - Shock, sadness, anger.

Day 7 - Uncertainty. I'm not sure exactly which way to go or what to do.

Day 14- Clarity as we begin work with refugees in Romania.

Day 21 - Fulfillment. Helping place refugees and building networks for providing aid and help within Ukraine. Purposeful trips into the war zone.

Day 30 - Mourning...Zhenya dies and I am empty. Yet, my loyalties are determined. They are to God above all.

Day 35 - Joy as baby Eliana arrives in the midst of war.

Day 40 - Concern as we try to evacuate the kids from the orphanage in Slovyansk...and relief as they are evacuated.

Day 45 - Sense of pride in working with the Ukrainian people as the battleship Moscva is destroyed.

Day 58 - Gratefulness for the huge support in so many different ways from so many people as we try to meet new and seemingly endless needs.

Day 63 - Sickness...I have covid, but I sincerely don't care about it. It seems insignificant by comparison.

Day 72 - Gratification as I see the church at work sending aid to Ukraine, not only from America, but from different countries across the world.

Day 80 - Astonishment at the depth of depravity of man as I walk through and see the destruction in Bucha and Irpin.

Day 100 - Acceptance that this is going to be a long war and that even if it ends tomorrow, the "after" ministry will go one for many years.

Day 127 - Routine. We have developed a good network of friends and partners now that are effective in getting ministry done. Co-laborers.

Day 141 - The war lands close. Vinnitsa is where we have spent a good amount of time during these days. The city center is bombed today.

Day 170 - Secure in His sovereignty after almost 6 months of war.

Day 202- Hope and encouragement after a historic counter offensive that saw huge masses of land reoccupied by Ukrainian forces.

Day 211- Agitated by a weak, but prideful regime in Moscow, while anxious for our Russian friends as mass mobilization begins there.

Day 248- Anticipation as we try to prepare for the needs of winter in a cold country at war.

Day 283 - New lessons on what it's like to live without things we take for granted...like electricity.

Day 295 - Reliance on His sovereignty and protection in new situations and strange circumstances in darkness.

Day 310 - Joy and prayers for peace in as Christmas season arrives.

Day 323- Pride in my own fraternity of ministers as we are able to partner with Ukrainian chaplains to help meet needs in very front of the war.

Day 348- Sense of urgency as we think about the soldiers in Unit #449 as that zone around Bakhmut is a constant and heated battle.

Day 365 - Humility and honor to be alive and involved in the work of the Lord in such a day as this.

A quick ride on the roller coaster of what this past year was like.

As the war began I was searching for where it was and what is was that God wanted me to do after leaving Russia. In that process, as He does so often through different peoples and means, the Lord used the words of a particular Ukrainian Colonel, whose name I will never know, to prompt me as to which way I should go. His words resinate with me a year later. This older veteran said, "Everyone has a small spot on this front and if we will do all we can to fill our place in the line, we will win this war, no doubt." That's all we've tried to do for this entire year, and it's what we'll try to do for as long as this war lasts.

One more deep and intensely felt emotion for me is gratitude to you for your friendship and partnership in this incredible year. I express that to you also from the Ukrainians. I promise you that it means the world to them that there are "far away" friends and partners who are concerned and rooting for their victory and independence. On their behalf, I thank you for every thought and prayer and for any and every shard of support. My hope and prayer is that you will continue to own this work and your part in this line with us. Only God knows what this new year will hold, it is our responsibility to not be weary in well doing.

Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Until there is peace…