The evening was quiet. We had a family dinner without interruption of air raid sirens. We hope the night ahead is quiet but we wonder if this is quietness before the storm.

In my morning post I quoted an episode from Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”, where Sam and Frodo talk about “the stories that matter that are full of darkness and danger, where “folks” had lots of changes of turning back but they didn’t because they were holding on to something good in this world, that is worth fighting for.” That whole episode in “Lord of the Rings” is so relevant to us in Ukraine now! We are holding on to something worth fighting for – we are holding on to our freedom!

My friend, Marsha Harwood, reminded me of another conversation between Frodo and Sam when they were almost at the place where the ring and evil could be destroyed but Frodo was too weak to go on. Sam told him: “I can’t carry your burden, but I can carry you!” And he scooped him up and carried him.

You, our friends, can’t carry our burden of destroying this evil of Russian aggressors on our land, but you carry us in your prayers to the throne of God, you carry us in your prayers to the end of the reign of this terror, you cover the sky above us with your prayers to protect us from bombs and rockets. We are grateful for your love, your concern for us, and for your prayers!

As I am writing this we are getting messages from Mariupol, the city that has been mercilessly bombed for many days now, where two days ago Maternity hospital was deliberately targeted and bombed. Mariupol has no water, electricity, heat, food. Most people lost roofs over their heads. The situation is dire. Only God can protect and save the civilians and defenders of that city. We need God’s miracle. Russians are set on leveling Mariupol to the ground. Please, carry in your prayers Mariupol and all the people in it!

Psalm 34:15,16

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

and His ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against the ones doing evil,

to cut off the memory of them from the earth.