A Season of Heartbreak and Hope: Field Notes from Ukraine
Dear Friends,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I have recently returned from my third journey into Ukraine since the war began. Traveling across four cities to visit our healing projects, I found myself immersed in a landscape that can only be described as a collision of heartbreak and hope.
In many ways, the heartbreak is becoming more audible. I could hear a growing despondency in the voices of those I’ve come to love; I saw a weary desperation etched into faces that have endured years of sirens and bombs. There is a heavy, collective realization settling over the nation. As one local pastor shared with me, "We must all come to the realization that the war with Russia may likely continue indefinitely."
The reality of the danger remains ever-present. During my stay, several rockets closed in on the city; thankfully, all were shot down. On Sunday, February 22nd, while I was preaching, a terrorist attack occurred just blocks away, claiming the life of a 23-year-old policewoman and wounding thirty others. In the aftermath, even the simple act of meeting in a coffee shop felt eerie, a stark reminder of the fragile line between normalcy and tragedy.
The Light Shines in the Darkness
Yet, even in the shadows, there is a glaringly powerful sense of hope. I see this most clearly in people like Anna. Many of you remember Anna’s story. At just 28, she has navigated the deepest valleys of sorrow. Eighteen months ago, her first husband was killed in action. Today, she is remarried to Dima, another soldier whom she is only able to see three or four times a year. Despite the constant cycle of grief, Anna has consistently turned her pain into a vessel for God’s glory. Her testimony of how the Lord met her in a dream following her husband’s death remains one of the most moving witnesses of faith I have ever encountered.
Above: Anna
Right: Simon with Autistic children
I am excited to announce Anna has stepped into the role of Country Care Coordinator for Project114 in Ukraine. Anna will be working closely with me and our various teams, churches, and partners. Her mission is to advance our work in therapeutic discipleship, trauma healing, and leadership development. We are supporting those most affected by war: Widows who have lost their husbands, displaced families, orphans, autistic children, and children rescued from Russian troops who are too traumatized to speak. With Anna’s leadership, we can help more vulnerable people process grief, rebuild trust, and flourish in new care committees. Many are now speaking again, sharing their stories, and others are expressing their new faith in Jesus. Looking ahead, we are expanding our work to provide trauma care for veterans returning from the war with PTSD and equipping their families to address the resulting cycles of violence and emotional strain.
Global Reach: Planted for Purpose Trauma Healing Work
Beyond Ukraine, we continue to deploy our Planted for Purpose courses in regions where trauma has long been a silent thief of joy. We are currently scaling our efforts to provide biblical healing and psychological support in:
Myanmar: Navigating ongoing Civil War, persecution, and displacement.
India & Sri Lanka: Addressing deep emotional trauma from the caste system, and economic hardship
Egypt: Supporting marginalized communities, especially Sudanese refugees seeking spiritual and emotional restoration.
Sudan and Nigeria, helping persecuted believers and those fleeing war and genocide. We have a team in Sudan, but we are still working on more progress in Nigeria.
The Promise of the Empty Tomb
Easter reminds us that the Cross was not the end, but the beginning. Just as Christ rose with His scars, we see Anna and our teams in Ukraine, Myanmar and other places gripped by horror, bringing beauty from the ashes of war.
This Easter, as we celebrate the victory of Jesus over Sin and Death, we invite you to partner with us in rolling away the stones of trauma and despair. Your support empowers Anna and the entire Project114 team to be the hands and feet of the Risen Christ in these lands where people are still walking through the shadow of the cross. Your gift provides the "Sunday morning" hope these families are longing for, proving that even in the deepest shadows, the Light remains unquenchable.
JOIN US IN PRAYER…
We believe that no heart is too broken for the Great Physician. Please join us in interceding for the following:
• For Ukraine: Pray for a supernatural end to the conflict. Pray specifically for the "collective defeat" to be replaced by the "hope that does not disappoint" (Romans 5:5).
• For Anna: Pray for wisdom, protection, and strength as she begins her role as Country Care Coordinator. Pray for her husband, Dima, on the front lines.
• For Our Global Teams: Pray for our facilitators in Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Africa as they bring Planted for Purpose to those in desperate need of healing.
• For the Brokenhearted: Pray that the "peace which surpasses all understanding" would guard the hearts and minds of those we serve.
Thank you for standing with us. Your prayers and support are the fuel for this mission. We are not just rebuilding buildings; we are, by God’s grace, rebuilding souls.
With gratitude - Simon, Allison and the Project114 Team