Khmelnytskyi to Odesa

The huge flag in the park in Khmelnytskyi was flying well in the wind and snow. It was still snowing this morning and there was another 2 inches to brush off the van...
The journey east was difficult with the snowy road conditions, particularly as neither the wind screen wipers nor the water pump on our current van are working very well.

Although the snow all but disappeared as we headed south, it began snowing again when we reached Odesa and the wind was bitterly cold. By the time helpers arrived to unload the van, it was dark and even colder, although the help was very welcome.

On this occasion we're only spending a night with Pastor George and his wife in Odesa, and then travelling back, rather than going on to Mykolaiv. This is because we have to return to Ternopil by Wednesday to pick up the Polish van that is having its steering looked at in the Wheels of Victory garage. 

We've left the aid here, to be divided amongst the ever-growing refugee community in the Odesa area, the villages in previously occupied Kherson region and the military. This has meant a connection needed to be made between Pastor George and our volunteer friend in Mykolaiv, Svitlana, who will pick up her part of the aid, hopefully tomorrow, including protein bars, ready meals and energy drinks for soldiers, not forgetting a cake. 

Making these connections is a really important part of what we do, so that people working towards the same aim are not doing so in isolation and resources can be shared. We've had feedback from 2 individuals trying to help people in their areas, Kyiv and Letychiv. Pastor Viktor, who helps the refugee community in Letychiv, sent us a lovely message to say that they recently went by bus to Lviv, and collected groceries and clothes from two organisations we put him in contact with. He said that if it weren't for us, this would not have happened.

Talking of connections, Bob has been liaising with an English charity that's involved in a project in the Kramatorsk area, rebuilding villages destroyed by bombing. The charity makes innovative 4-ply plastic sheeting construction for windows, which is durable and provides insulation against the cold. We're trying to assist in providing a place for the material to be stored in Lviv and its onward journey to Kharkiv.

The situation in Odesa, itself, remains very difficult, with no electricity except for a couple of hours a day, at random times. We talked with our hosts about both the physical and psychological impact of living in darkness.

If you can help, please donate in the usual way:

1. Open PayPal and, when asked for name of payee or email, enter trawden4ukraine@hotmail.com. 

2. Use the collection box in Trawden community shop. 

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