Update 2/25/2022

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depends on God; He is my mighty Rock, my Refuge. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour your hearts to Him, for God is our Refuge.”

Psalms 62:5-8

 

Dear and precious friends and family of God,

We were prompted to call missionary friends from Chisinau, Moldova to verify some terrible news about Ukraine being attacked. They confirmed the news and yesterday we watched some reliable news stations here in Romania that were describing the horrifying situation that shocked the world. Today is the second day of attack-- the journalists call it “an urban attack” and they predict that after the population will flee the cities, there will be a territory invasion with the purpose of siege and occupation. Sadly, this is not fake news, which we were hoping for, but it is true and happening right now.

Romania borders with Ukraine in almost half of its perimeter. Most check points at the border have been flooded with Ukrainian refugees since yesterday morning. Some have walked the distance to escape the war. There are long lines of people at these check points waiting to cross over to Romania. We got in contact with believers, missions and church leaders from Suceava to find out more about the situation. One of the missionary centers, which trains and sends Romanian missionaries from Suceava, have already taken in refugees. Not every Ukrainian is able to flee as some don’t have any ties with Romania, nor have a Romanian visa on their passport which does not allow them to pass the border. In Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, people took the subway as a refuge for their families last night as the enemy’s target seems to be the tall multi-level apartment buildings right now.

It is hard to distinguish the real news from the fake news as the internet is flooded with horrible archive images meant to scare away the population of Ukraine, and to stir the anger of the international community--this is what a journalist reported this morning.

Just now we received news from a brother in Botosani who is an elder of a local  assembly who told us that they are prepared to house over 200 refugees. The refugees are only women and children as the men had to stay behind and had been given arms to defend their country.

We are trying to find out more and plan to drive to Suceava in the next few days. We were scheduled to drive to Moldova region of Romania anyway for meetings that we have planned all next week. Suceava is only three hours away from where we are going. Please pray for this wide open door for the Gospel through the Word and the love of Jesus expressed toward the refugees in the most practical way at the most appropriate time!

Please pray with us that the Lord would change the minds and hearts of those in authority who make decisions that can affect the well-being and lives of people in the countries that we live in.

We pray for America, that God will bring genuine repentance, spiritual revival and  common sense into the minds and hearts of the leaders. May The Church be more alive than ever before, on fire and with oil in our candles, ready and waiting for her Beloved Groom.

Thank you so much for the part you have in work of the Lord and advancing His Kingdom around the world!

 

In His love,

John and Mariana Dobrovat