Help Us - Protect Our Boys in Battle
Yesterday, while visiting with House Parents from Safe Haven (the orphan graduate home I founded in Kyiv in 2000), I learned that six of the Safe Haven boys have been called up to the Ukrainian draft. They are required to report to the army office in the next couple of weeks. Some of these boys have volunteered with us here at the camp, helping out with refugees and kids' camps.
Here's the hard part: the Ukrainian Army is completely broke (as is the nation) and cannot provide soldiers with even basics like uniforms. Our boys will need proper waterproof combat boots, uniforms, emergency first aid kits, bullet-proof vests, tourniquets and helmets. Those things are hard to come by here and even if you can find them are very expensive!!! We have been pricing them!
If they can't come up with these items, they will go to war without them and improvise the best they can. Most of the soldiers have family and friends pitch in to outfit them.
These young men are orphans -- they have no one to help them...we ARE their family!
I am humbly coming to you to ask you to prayerfully consider donating so that we can purchase the above listed items for all 6 boys NEXT week and get it brought to Ukraine by two missionaries. One boy is already on the front lines WITHOUT any of this protective gear. These boys are family to us and their lives are of value to OUR FAMILY and to the King!!
Thanks,
Jenny & Andrew Kelly
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Here is a list of the items needed and approx. cost in America. This is PER PERSON:
Bullet-proof vest + Steel Plates - $480
Kevlar Helmet - $90
Waterproof Combat Boots - $60
Emergency First Aid Kit - $60
The uniforms and 3 helmets have already been donated by individuals in the US.
Here is an article that explains the situation http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/red-mullets-war-gear-370934.html )
As a final note...we are choosing to do this funding appeal as private citizens. We are NOT raising the money through ministry or Jeremiah's Hope. We have done this in order NOT to appear as if the ministry is supporting war efforts. We are merely trying to protect our boys! So, unfortunately, donations will not be tax deductable. We hope you understand.
