[AT] Ukraine, very short update

[Spencer Yost]

Thanks so much for the updates, Matias. We appreciate hearing the stories and please send our warm regards to the refugees. Obviously I can’t speak for everyone in this country but I personally haven’t met someone who isn’t mortified and heartbroken over everything that has happened.  Most of us do what we can, and pray when there’s nothing left we can do.

My Ukrainian friends continue to worry. Everyone of them now has a family member that is a refugee or is in territorial defense or the military. Until recently the communication with those still in Ukraine has been spotty and they have been beside themselves with worry. 

Make sure the children get taken care of; like school clothes or whatever they need to try to integrate into a new society and return to school.

And yes, as Cecil confirmed only folks that have had livestock and had to endure birthing problems can understand. There is a life is in your hands and it’s not anxiety-free, that’s for sure.   I’m glad you both have been able to successfully endure a difficult lambing season.

Thanks again for the update,

Spencer Yost

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 4, 2022, at 5:49 PM, Mattias Kessén <davidbrown950 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi, 
> You've all done great and reached 1650 USD. I've used 600 of it on food and medicine as I said earlier and. I've also used it for a birthday celebration (food, presents, candy etc.) for the mother and one of the kids in a large family living nearby. I can't remember how much I've told you earlier and some things I've learned lately. This family consists of a grandmother, mother and five kids age five to twelve. They left Ukraine and the mother's second man/husband. The second man helped them away from the first man that was very abusive to both the mother and the kids, physical and psychologically. Now the second man is fighting against Putins hordes of war criminals at the frontline.
> 
> I'll try to enclose a picture of Igor who lives at our neighbour who is the unofficial leader of our network. He is sitting with my dogs, the reason he looks sideways is because there's where the iPad with Google translate is. He gets dinner with the neighbour and lunch from a local restaurant. He is 54 years old and had a hard life suffering from both Parkinson and a stroke. He needs crutches to walk and would have stayed fighting in Ukraine if not his hands were so shaky he told me. His home was next to an airfield so he had to flee.
> 
> We haven't got any refugees at our home and that's because Ylvas work is classified and it's not certain that it is ok to have refugees at a long time basis if so yet. Anyway I do organize things and drive people around, we give them food, support and what we have and can share.
> 
> I'm in no hurry using your money but will continue to do so when I can see it makes lives better for people, especially children that has come here. The needs will be increasing and the ones I,ve helped so far is so grateful. I would like to provide more pictures but mostly I don't want to ask the women and children if I can take their pictures, because of security and that there are people in refugee camps on their way here taking pictures and luring women and children into trafficking. 
> 
> While not doing this or working I drive around the Boxer chopping firewood. We've also just finished the somewhat troublesome lambing season... It begun with some stillborn or almost stillborn lambs, continued with various troubles for her ending with her for the first time having to get in there and drag the lambs out. Then it went quite well for a while then I had to do the same for the first time. First on two lambs then on three within a few hours. They're all ok now and I'm beginning to feel normal too...
> 
>