Why do we do it this way?
Someone asked us recently why we spend so much time doing community projects and humanitarian work in Ukraine instead of focusing on the "most important work". Our response was that the most important work cannot be done until people know that you are real, that you can be trusted and that you will not leave when things get difficult. They need to know that you truly care.
Because of the deep relationships and wide networks that we have built, God has allowed us unusual privilege to minister in ways we could have never imagined. Thank you for your patient and faithful partnerships for more than two decades! Our mutual work is paying dividends in the thousands of lives we are touching together.
Camps for Traumatized Kids in Ukraine
While Camp Willow Park is undergoing serious upgrades, your support is sponsoring young people and children at camps in alternative locations in Ukraine. Kids that we host and sponsor are fully scholarshipped by your investments. Meet some of these the kids here:
Who would have imagined?
We knew that building a park for families in Pidhaichyky would be a blessing to the community and families that live near our base. We didn't realize that the growing sport of Disc Golf would attract new and veteran players from all over the country. The Pidhaichyky Disc Golf Course is the nicest in all of Ukraine and the additional exercise equipment and children's playground create a family friendly haven of rest and relaxation for neighbors and kids under a lot of stress. Thank you to our Mission 823 partners, Paul McBeth Foundation, Latitude 64 and Eagles Wings Disc Golf for helping us create a peaceful setting for our friends in Ukraine to forget about war, if only for a few moments.
Watch here to see more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUrhBhGyzHU
New water filtration plant in dnipro ukraine
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion by Russia, Mission 823 and our partners have delivered over 11 billion gallons of fresh water potential to communities where clean water access has been limited or destroyed by attacks on infrastructure, intentional sabatoge or neglect by enemy forces.
A few months ago, we were approached by REUA again about another community in need. The Lakeside Church in Oakland, Florida and Pastor Jason Hitte responded immediately to help us launch this new water filtration and treatment plant in the city of Dnipro at the local Cancer Hospital. The hospital and up to 30,000 residents will receive safe, clean and reliable water from a protected source every single day. We'll provide a video shortly so that you can see this investment at work!
School Renovations
Graduation Day at the Pidhaichyky High School is a hallmark of achievement and an open door of opportunity to dream about a bright future, even in the midst of daily attacks and air raid sirens. Mission 823 has a beautiful relationship with this local school, administration and staff and regularly partners in projects that enhance the lives of young people growing up in Ukraine. This particular graduation ceremony gave us the privilege to provide resources to help renovate the main auditorium at the school. Watch our Ukrainian Director, Taras' presentation here:
Meet the Petrushko Family
Our Family Home in Ukraine, Faith House, was purchased by Faith Baptist Church in Artesia, NM (Pastor Robby Ballew) a few years ago and we were able to use it to provide shelter and support for hundreds of displaced families from conflict zones when the invasion started. Now that all of those refugees have found more permanent housing, this home is returning to it's original purpose of serving adoptive families in Ukraine.
Sergei and Yulia Petrushko have 3 biological children and have adopted 3 other children domestically in Ukraine. Sergei is a former teacher who has years of experience working with orphaned children and Yulia is a professional athlete in Track and Field and the winter sport of Luge. She has trained young children, as well. Their goal after settling into Faith House is to adopt 4 more children, so they can help as many children as possible. Pray for the Petrushko family and others that we support in this vital ministry.
Watch the Family make the move here: https://youtu.be/mQQcgMbnAfk
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for Shawn, Boni, Davonte and Rick (one of our Board Members) as they prepare for a vital mission trip to Ukraine in August.
- Pray for the completion of much needed upgrades to Camp Willow Park that will allow us to potentially triple our capabilities there.
- Pray for the orphans, widows, traumatized and displaced children of Ukraine, many of whom will come to our camps. There will also be other camps, retreats, seminars and groups using the property for Christian ministry throughout the off-season.
- Pray for Taras (our Ukrainian Director) and Shawn (President of Mission 823). Both of these men need prayer as they do the work of the ministry and expand our impact to the families and children of Ukraine.
- Pray for peace in Ukraine. If the war concluded today, there would still be generations of rebuilding and recovery requiring the support of non-profits like Mission 823. We are here on the ground for the long-haul. Pray for strength, wisdom and resources to continue to grow this great work.
Please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and our YouTube Channel and share them widely. We need a lot more voices and ambassadors actively participating so that we can have the greatest impact for the people of Ukraine.
Thank you and God Bless You!
Shawn and Amy Sullivan
CONTACT INFO:
Shawn - shawn@mission823.com - ph: 817-313-3656
Amy - amy@mission823.com - ph: 817-773-4758
Office - office@mission823.com - ph: 352-432-8587
Website: www.mission823.com
