With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, life changed for former El Dorado residents Zac and Kim Wohleb Shepperson. They serve with Josiah Ventures in Slovakia. When asked how the war affected them, Kim responded:
“It has changed our life in every way. We left our city and traveled to the Ukraine borders (about five and a half hours away) the Monday after Russia invaded. Zac and I stayed there all week helping the local churches at the borders. We came home [intending] to rest, but instead spent that weekend and next week networking and providing transportation, accommodations and logistics from home. On Friday we welcomed a family into our home. Zac will return to the border […] and take supplies into Ukraine and bring back women and children who can’t get out.
“I will stay here to help the family register with foreign police, health insurance and to work – and help the children get into school, Josiah Ventures has set up a crisis fund – all their efforts are covered. They are working from the Polish border. Our team is working from the Slovak border. JV is helping with our border financially, but since larger numbers are going through Poland, their focus is there.”
“Zac and I are helping the local churches nearest the border. They aren’t “JV funded,” but we have been able to organize and help them to raise money from different sources. Zac organized a JV team from Estonia to come and help at the border. They are bringing two vans of supplies and cash to contribute to buy a van so more people can get out.”
Later Zac wrote, “there is a new team of young people this week on the border. Three Ukrainians are volunteering too. They are children of refugee families who have joined our church. They are so perfect because of their ability to communicate. We also got the opportunity to work at a refugee center near the border.”
“One Japanese volunteer was there, who attends university here in Slovakia. We worked the night shift at the border all week. I am dead tired now. The work with refugees continues and will for some time as the impact of the Russian invasion continues.”
Also, their neice Jasmine Shelpersin interacts with the refugees by serving with the evangelistic group Circuit Riders. These young people boarded buses and trains loaded with Ukranian refugees. She wrote: “I’ve been on the Polish-Ukrainian border with a crew from CFAN & Awakening Europe. God is pouring out His glory like I’ve never seen before. Military personnel and entire families are giving their lives to Jesus as we give out food and supplies. Multiple human trafficking cases have been intervened. Ukrainians are being relocated to safe homes across Europe! Last week, we crossed over the border into Ukraine and started boarding buses that are waiting in line to enter Poland to preach the Gospel. Immediately, people started weeping and some entire buses of 150 or more people responded to the Gospel. We’ve estimated in the last two weeks that we’ve seen over 6,000 come to Christ. In the midst of a modern humanitarian crisis, God is reaping a massive harvest! I believe He is bringing strong support to this nation and to the precious people of Ukraine! Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement in this time.”
In these ways, one El Dorado family has joined others across the ocean to serve Ukrainian refugees. May God give strength and endurance to the refugees and workers of Ukraine.