September 19, 2024 No. 51 | |
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To our LifeNets Supporters and Friends!
As we celebrate our 25th year, LifeNets extends heartfelt gratitude to the generous donors who have sustained our scholarship program in developing regions during this time. In appreciation, we are awarding five $5,000 scholarships to students in the United States and Canada. Four have already been granted, with the fifth to be awarded soon This has been made possible by your unwavering support that has contributed to the success of our program.
The names of the recipients are:
- Addison Talbott, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Aviation Maintenance
- Justin Charles, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
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Amber Pifer, Biola University, Liberal Studies, Special Education
- Melody Porter, Ambassador Bible College
We plan to establish a scholarship fund for the 2026-26 academic year for those applying to Ambassador Bible College. We will award three $5,000 scholarships to incoming students. Application forms will be available in November 2024.
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Van for Faith
We at LifeNets are so happy to see a converted van delivered for Faith Hoselton on September 4, 2024.
Faith is 12 years old. She was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida. Because of this, she has been wheelchair-bound her entire life. Faith has had many operations, Traveling has become a bit more difficult as Faith has grown.
We thank all who have been supportive of the Hoselton family, who have gone through many trials, More background to this story is at https://lifenets.org/van-for-faith/
Faith's father, Brian Hoselton wrote this note:
After all these years of picking Faith up, we finally got a mobility van, thanks to LifeNets' generous efforts! The conversion was just completed last week and we could pick the van up yesterday. We figured out a way to park the vehicles in our garage so the ramp can open inside the garage. This is going to be such a game-changer for us. Thank you again for your help with this process. We are grateful beyond what words can express. But you have taken a small burden out of our lives. Thank you again!
More
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In this issue of LifeLines, we highlight some of our most recent humanitarian work. Our activities and updates are on our website, www.lifenets.org, and Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Again we thank you for your support. We appreciate those who have made recurring tax-exempt donations. This is most helpful in our planning of programs. Please visit our donation page.
We deeply appreciate your involvement in joining us to help others -- please let us know if you have any comments or questions.
Thank you for your trust and for making LifeNets your charity of choice.
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How to Effortlessly Double Your LifeNets Donation
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Many companies will match their employees' and retirees' charitable contributions. Check with your personnel office to see if your company will do so. They will provide the necessary forms and instructions. Thank you very much! Donations to LifeNets are tax-deductible in the United States.
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Economic conditions in Myanmar have worsened, placing considerable strain on the people. LifeNets has responded by sending financial support to provide essential rice through the end of the year. We are assisting Lal En Van and his group of prospective members in Yangon. Due to hyperinflation, we transfer funds in smaller increments to preserve their purchasing power. This assistance will cover food for the neediest members and help with fuel and transportation costs to ensure they can attend services. More photos.
See the chronicle of our work in Myanmar
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LifeNets is also facilitating the building of a school in the Nalubanda area of Zambia, where there are currently no educational facilities for children. The local headman, Maxwell Kasukabantu, a deacon in UCG, and schoolteacher Jonathan Litaba are working to provide education for children who otherwise would not have access to education. We have been working on this school project for three years. It is necessary to build a few cottages for teachers in order for the school to function which is being done as we accelerate the work towards completion.
Special thanks goes out to Derrick Pringle for his overseeing this project. You can see the first story about this project on our Website at https://lifenets.org/new-lifenets-primary-school-in-nalubanda-zambia/
Below are photos of the the school, cottage and bore hole referred to:
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Jonathan Litaba reports:
The company that dug the borehole was done in good faith but mounting the pump was not done well and the pump will need to be replaced.
The Teacher's House. The community burned mouldered bricks and constructed one house up to window level. We bought all the materials required for the house to complete it with of course high prices after the first quotation. Mr. Pringle did very well to send us the needed funding which was used to this house which is now completed. All the stages of the house are in what's up sent to Mr Pringle. I am now waiting for the community to bring enough bricks, sand and crushed stones to be ready and start the second phase of the house. The second house shall resume when funds are received I hope before the rainy season commences.
Yours faithfully,
Jonathan Litaba
September 16, 2024
https://lifenets.org/zambia-nalubanda-school-progress/
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LifeNets in Bangladesh
A country in transition
There is much unrest and uncertainty amid the protests and frustration of the Bangladesh people. Some students began protesting and claiming bias and unfair education opportunities by the prime minister and her administration. Student protestors were joined by angry mobs who also wanted change in what they perceived as years of government corruption. This led to the Bangladesh Prime Minister resigning her post and fleeing the country. The military assumed leadership of the country but has not been able to control the violent protests that have erupted resulting in buildings being burned and violence in the cities. A radical Muslim group is rising in power and beginning persecution against the Hindu minorities. At this time, many Hindus are fleeing the country and seeking refuge in India.
This uncertainty has caused much unrest for all citizens. Christians are also uncertain about what rights they may have if the “Opposition Party” is allowed to take over the government. Until some kind of stability and peace is restored in the country, citizens don’t feel safe to leave their homes to resume employment, school, and other daily routines.
Our brethren in Bangladesh are appreciative of our love, support, and prayers during this difficult time. They are presently not a target as they have chosen not to take sides in government politics. Those who vote and have taken a stand against one group over another, have been in fear for their lives as they are a target in the mob violence. The UCG members in one village have tried to live in peace with all who have been living near them. Both Hindus and Muslims know of their care for them as neighbors and friends.
Your donations to LifeNets have given hope and encouragement to members for needed food and supplies during this economic challenge
UCG Bangladesh has dug a well in the village (through funds donated by the Good Works fund) and opened it to all in the village. This is a blessing during the dry season when many wells run dry. Good Works also purchased land in which a tall attractive wall has been built around the well.
Our new initiative in Bangladesh
Once things are more settled in the country, the intention is to construct a community center inside the wall. LifeNets would like to commit to this project and some have come to us with a desire to support this construction. Our goal is to raise $35,000 for this endeavor. Donations can be made to LifeNets
International. But, for now this initiative is temporarily on hold until the country and village regain stability.
https://lifenets.org/bangladesh-september-2024/
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A group of villagers poise with David Schreiber (USA) & Frank Reckerman (Sri Lanka) in front of the newly constructed wall and gate. The sign reads: B UCG Community Center. | |
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UCG member Rita Biswas gets water from the new village well— available for all members of the village to use.
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Traumatized Toretsk (and other places in Ukraine)
The war is not going well in Ukraine at the moment. This is very hard for all of us who have close ties, friends, and family living in this inferno. We are in constant contact, processing the news, sending aid, and planning what to do next. LifeNets is working with various entities throughout the country to bring relief.
Here are some highlights.
I have just spoken with Dr. Vasyl Pasichnyk in Chernihiv who directs a Center of Rehabilitation for more than 120 children at any one time. They are only 40 miles from the Russian border. They have up to eight air raid sirens each day. Whenever a siren goes off, meaning that missiles have been fired from Russia to Ukraine, all the children and staff are taken into bomb shelters. You never know when one of the hypersonic missiles will strike you. The targets have become indiscriminate – civilian and military alike.
He says that the villages are empty. There are no young men around. They are all in the military or trying to keep from being picked up on the street. The fighting is fierce and the Russians themselves are taking the brunt of casualties as they assault assault assault. The Russians lose 1000 to 1300 men each day. Putin does not care.
Electric power is sporadic as they may have only three hours of rationed power throughout the day. More than half of the nation’s power grid has been destroyed. I know that this news is becoming tedious to listen to, but it is the living hell that people are trying to survive in and cannot leave. They are aware that the world is tired of hearing about their plight and fate. Some of my family lives on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and a big target sitting close to the Russian border. They are preparing for the winter by making bricks that will burn that they will use to heat themselves.
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Volodya from Zhytomyr is helping evacuate people from Toretsk in Donbas. | |
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The industrial city of Toretsk in the Bakhmut Raion of Donbas area of eastern Ukraine is in an ongoing conflict between the Russian and Ukrainian armies. The battle began on June 18, 2024.
LifeNets helped send a mission from Khust in Western Ukraine to provide assistance to people on the ground.
Here is a report from Vlad Yurishko dated September 8, 2024:
Greetings Brother Victor and thank you our brothers who serve God,
From Toretsk we are evacuating people. We just evacuated a family of four who have suffered very much including a grandma who could not walk on her own. We met with the Donetsk Province Administration who say that there will need to be an evacuation of one million people from this region. It's a very tough situation Very tense. But we believe and pray that God will take care of this. We are very thankful for your helping with this great service.
This week, Brother Volodya from the Zhytomyr region carried out the evacuation of a family from Toretsk, Donetsk region which was done with LifeNets funding. In addition to the evacuation, they also delivered food and other supplies there. Volodymyr Chernukha, formerly a bodyguard for the ex-president of Ukraine, is now an evangelist and missionary servant of Jesus Christ. In 2020, Volodymyr Chernukha was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors were powerless to help him, and when he weighed just 50 kg and was in a critical condition, they sent him home to die. After hearing a sermon about salvation through Jesus Christ, he said, "God, if You exist and if You heal me, I will serve You!"
God gave him a second chance, and since then, he has been completely healthy and is fulfilling his promise to God. Now he is a church minister, evangelist, missionary, and chaplain, serving people who are suffering due to the war.
https://lifenets.org/traumatized-toretsk-ukraine-sept-2024/
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Supporting Family Beekeeping in Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine continues, so does life. We have helped a family who has started an apiary. The man, a Sabbatarian minister in Dolyna (Ivano-Frankivsk region), is well-known to our Khust brethren and is in need of assistance. Around the time Ken Murray and I did a podcast about beekeeping, we received a donation to LifeNets from someone who wanted to support this project in Ukraine. That’s how the connection was made.
More photos
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The Tim Adams Wheelchair Story
Since receiving my scooter, I have been able to concededly increase my outdoor activities and have been able to keep up with my young nine and 11-year-old grandsons. It has been great to be included again. It has been three years since I was able to go to the beach behind my house or go the Bush Gardens with them. Now we go often. I am so happy and feel so much better now. I can't think you enough.
Respectfully, Tim
Web version
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The Kubik Report Podcast
Please check out our eclectic and popular podcast that regularly features episodes about what LifeNets is doing in people's lives and speaks to world events of common interest. Tune in at https://vkubik.podbean.com/
We are also found across many major podcasting platforms including Pandora, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many many more by simply searching for "The Kubik Report."
We have just started a YouTube channel as well and you can find us at http://youtube.com/@thekubikreport.
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