kingdom travelin'

On a day when Russia sent more than 900 drones across Ukraine to city centers, good news about Oleg is mixed.

His mom told me that the attack today on the city center where they live was the scariest since the beginning of the war.

Oleg has been moved from the ICU because more critical patients have arrived.

He is still in a great deal of pain, and there is still much healing to be done where the grafts were taken and placed. There are, literally, many problems in his body, more than I should list here. But you can pray that our God will work through the doctors and even miraculously according to his pleasure and his will, which is perfect.

It is hard enough to be in pain in the hospital, it is made worse by having to evacuate to a lower floor because of drone attacks.

But this is the reality of war in Ukraine.

Thank you for praying.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

After the long surgery, in the middle of the night Oleg returned to surgery to address some complications.

He remains in Intensive Care.

Please pray for his mom, Anna. Her access to her son is very limited because he is in ICU.

She has been incredibly strong and demonstrates great trust in God during this ordeal.

This seems like a critical moment for us to pray.

Thank you for holding this family up in prayer.

Today Oleg underwent a nearly 10 hour surgery. It was the most advanced surgery yet.

Muscle tissue and skin were taken from his back and grafted to his leg and foot.

He is in the ICU and the next 24 hours are critical.

Please pray that our Lord will touch his body and cause these grafts to be accepted into their new areas.

This is a big step and fervent prayers are needed.

Please pray for Oleg.

Yesterday Oleg had another surgery that involved a German surgeon/professor of surgery who came to give some consultation at the hospital.

The news is that “at this moment” amputation of any kind is no longer on the table.

This is great news.

This is a result of a medical team who pushed beyond standard operating procedures to try to save his lower leg and foot.

Please give glory to God. We believe that even the doctors see this as a providential intervention.

We pray for God to intervene. Yes, His will be done, whatever that will is. But we are invited to BOLDLY approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4). And we can pray with confidence since the Spirit intercedes as well, even when we are speechless (Romans 8).

Our Lord is faithful and His mercies are new every morning:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭ESV‬)

Thank you for praying!

Glory to God!