RUSSIAN INVASION by Jeff Franks

Today as never before Ukrainians are fighting for their life as a sovereign nation. Young men are dying in droves as they are often outgunned by Russian heavy weaponry. Two volunteer battalions have been surrounded the last two days with no way of escape. Yesterday, Russia opened a new front on the Azov Sea in the southeast to make a land bridge to Crimea. President Petro Poroshenko has made urgent appeals for emergency sessions of the UN and European Security Councils.

Who has not heard the indignant denials of Russia’s leaders? In response to NATO and western accusations they bandy about words like “fantasy” and “no relation to reality”, simply because in all of their Orwellian newspeak and propaganda they have replaced “Ukraine” with “Novorossiya”, meaning “New Russia”.

Yesterday, in an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Vitaly Churkin told Samantha Power that the United States was “meddling in the affairs of a sovereign nation.” The news camera showed her smiling and shaking her head in disbelief as she took notes. To us in the West such a statement is flat out hypocritical and beyond the pale of normal reason.

In Russian “newspeak”, however, the sovereign nation (singular) of Greater Russia includes a whole lot more than just Ukraine, which has to them become a mere province. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and others take notice! Having redefined everything in Orwellian newspeak, Russia’s leaders are acting, speaking and killing with impunity according to what they see as their historical destiny, their “divine right”.

You do not have to tolerate the blatant lies and disinformation coming your way from Russia. Rather, listen to the cries and see the tears of Russian mothers whose sons’ bodies are being flown back from the combat zone. Join in prayer with Ukrainian families as they mourn their dead sons. Hear fathers and mothers in Kyiv protesting the pitiable state of their boys fighting with inferior weapons and no body armor. Above all, take action by contacting your representatives, speaking the truth, and praying for God’s divine intervention.

#Russian Troops Surround #Ukraine

As Russian troops amass on the borders of now Russia, Crimea, Belarus and Transdniester(Moldova breakaway republic) there is much thought that Russia will take all of Ukraine. All night prayer vigil in all denominations across Ukraine last night. Also a huge "disinformation" campaign in Russia. Don't believe it. There is no chaos here, no robberies, no armed bandits running the streets. Life is normal with the exception that everyone is on edge about Russia. Putin is a liar, that you can believe. There are no right-wing Fascist running the interim government.  As a matter of fact, the interim president is a Baptist Pastor.  Can you believe that?  We'd never have that happen in America.  Please pray.  Prayer can turn the tide.

Border Crossing

After spending all day Friday at the border crossing we finally got the document which an official refused to give us the day before. Thank you for your prayers. This problem cost us an extra day and night which we had not planned, but we made it home Saturday night after the long drive across Ukraine and we are thankful to have this behind us.

Border Crossing

Please pray for us as we go through the border crossing for a second time in the last few days. Last night they refused to give us one of our documents, which means we must repeat the process today and pray that we will get it this time. This process means a day long wait of standing in line from the Ukrainian side and then again from the Polish side. The problem is on the Ukrainian side. It is all part of a corrupt system that still has not been healed despite leaving communism behind. Too many of those remnants are still lingering as it lines pockets. We know God has his plan in all this, though it does try our patience.

Car Document Troubles

Monday morning our Oklahoma friends, Dwight and Jill Smoot leave to return to America. We will miss them. As soon as they leave we are also packed to leave for the border of Poland. Only a few months ago we did this and now we must do it again. There is a chance the authorities could give us a lot of trouble so we will be praying for God's assistance through this process. What we take for granted in America is often times a much more difficult process here. Please pray with us on this.