Vadim Released from Prison
One of our Shelter boys, Vadim, was released from prison on July 25th. At a prison in Rivne, he had served the entirety of his sentence – four years and five months.
When he talked to Andre Pankyeyev, just before getting out, he said he was ready to be “stuck to you” (the Shelter staff) and to change his life. But after a few days of staying with Last Bell, he disappeared. A few days later he called to say he just needed some time with his friends. But he told Andre, “I still want help, because without you I am lost.”
Vadim has the opportunity to be part of a rehab program run by Teen Challenge. In this program, boys who have been in prison live together, work together, and read the Bible together.
Vadim needs to complete some medical tests and then agree to go to this program and follow through. Please pray he will make a good decision and not fall back into old habits with his friends.
You can learn more about Vadim’s story in the first of a blog series on orphan prisoners, here:
Orphanage grad Vadim out of prison after 4+ years
Last Bell on WFYI Radio
Recently Last Bell was interviewed by the WFYI radio station for part of a story about Ukraine. WFYI also interviewed our friends at Mission to Ukraine.
You can listen to the live story here:
Mission Work to Help Ukrainian Youth
Or you can read the text of the interviews here:
Local Missions Working Through Ukrainian Conflict
Dima and Dennis in Prison
Andre recently visited two other Shelter boys in prison, Dima and Dennis. Actually he was only given permission to visit one boy, so he tossed a coin and visited Dima.
Dima is trying to get amnesty because of the country having a new president. He recently went to court. Please pray he will be able to leave prison early. He will have a place to live because his mother recently passed away, leaving a house open for Dima and his brother. (Please also pray for comfort in the death of his mother; it’s complicated for a child to lose a mother who didn’t take care of him.)
The other boy in prison, Dennis, is not trying to get amnesty because he used it the last time he was in prison earlier this year.
The prison in Berdichiv where Dima and Dennis are incarcerated
Watch for more details about Dima and Dennis in an upcoming blog in our new series about orphan prisoners.
Liz Millikan on Sabbatical
Dear friends of Last Bell,
Since 2006 Liz Millikan has been working tirelessly to serve orphans: running the ministry in Ukraine, spending time in the States updating our supporters, and fundraising. In all this time she has never had a real furlough or a vacation of more than a few days. After talking with Liz, the board felt it was time for her to take a well-deserved rest!
Liz began her three month sabbatical on July 14th. Please pray for Liz as she spends this time resting, parenting the three little girls she is caring for, and renewing her strength for ministry.
Andre Pankyeyev, who has often run the ministry before while Liz is in the States, is serving as acting Executive Director while Liz is on sabbatical. Please pray for Andre as he takes on this new challenge in addition to his other responsibilities. If you would like to send him a message of encouragement, just email andrewpank@gmail.com.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! You can direct questions to Emily Millikan, our administrator, at emily@lastbell.org or 317-385-4354. If she doesn’t have an answer she will forward your question to the appropriate person, either Andre Pankyeyev or myself. We ask that you honor the sabbatical and not ask Liz Last Bell questions during this time while she is resting from being “in charge.”
Thanks for your prayers for Liz and for your love and support of Last Bell!
~ Dave Liebel, Acting Chair of Last Bell Ministries
Please see the left-hand column for an update on Artom, our Haven boy on the front lines, and on how the war is affecting our staff and kids.
Family Care for Orphans in Transition
