OFReport.com
Voices from Ukraine: Serhii and Natallia Chepara

Serhii Chepara, his wife Natallia, and their two children: Frantsishka (lower right) and Yulian

Voices from Ukraine: Serhii and Natallia Chepara

Joshua Steele 4 min read
voices-from-ukraine podcast family photos

Today we’re pleased to introduce a new series on the podcast called Voices from Ukraine. In each episode of the series, we’ll be interviewing people in-country who are serving the Lord and striving to support the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom.

In today’s episode, we’re excited to bring you the story of Serhii and Natallia Chepara. You’ll hear Serhii share his experiences in his native Ukrainian language, with Kelsie translating into English. Natallia will talk about their long weeks of separation as she and the children evacuated to Germany and adapted to refugee life. Finally, you’ll hear the heart-warming conclusion as their family is reunited in a small Carpathian village. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

If you would like to bless the Chepara family financially, you can donate to them directly via PayPal using Serhii’s email address (see below). And don’t forget to choose the “family and friends” option so that the entire donation will go to the Chepara’s.

❤️ Donate directly to the Chepara’s via PayPal (opens in a new tab)!

📨 serhii.chepara@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening to our podcast! Please share this episode (opens in a new tab) with your friends, and pray for our family as we continue ministering to Ukrainians in Eastern Europe.

Sorry, this episode has been removed due to security concerns.

After you finish the episode, check out the video of Serhii and Natallia’s reunion!

How You Can Pray

  • Praise the Lord that we received our Ukrainian residency cards! 🥳
  • Pray for Serhii and Natallia as they navigate difficult days ahead.
  • Pray that God would continue to guide and bless our upcoming printing of 15,000 Good and Evil books.
  • Continue to pray for our residency status in Slovakia.
  • Praise the Lord for improved health for our family! So far, no more rotavirus. 🙏
  • Praise the Lord for the safe arrival of Kelsie’s parents, the Powell’s. It’s such a blessing to have them here!
  • Pray for our Ukrainian outreach here in Žilina in collaboration with New Beginnings church.
  • Pray for peace and liberty in Ukraine.

Keep scrolling for more photos from our life in Eastern Europe!

After the reunion at the border, we all drove together to Serhii’s childhood town of Skole in the Carpathians. We shared a quick meal, after which Kelsie and I drove north to Lviv.
After the reunion at the border, we all drove together to Serhii’s childhood town of Skole in the Carpathians. We shared a quick meal, after which Kelsie and I drove north to Lviv.
While in Lviv, Kelsie had the opportunity to lead a small ladies meeting for a group from our church. She shared some insights from 1 Peter about how God wants us to respond to suffering.
While in Lviv, Kelsie had the opportunity to lead a small ladies meeting for a group from our church. She shared some insights from 1 Peter about how God wants us to respond to suffering.
Our good friend Yura Petriv has recently discovered a small organization of Ukrainian volunteers based about an hour outside of Lviv in the town of Radekhiv. He has become personally involved in trying to raise funds for these folks, helping to provide them with supplies for the war effort.
Our good friend Yura Petriv has recently discovered a small organization of Ukrainian volunteers based about an hour outside of Lviv in the town of Radekhiv. He has become personally involved in trying to raise funds for these folks, helping to provide them with supplies for the war effort.
Kelsie and I drove with Yura to Radekhiv to see first-hand the work these people are doing. Yura snapped this photo while we waited for the director outside Radekhiv’s city hall, which the volunteers use to assemble and ship supplies to the front.
Kelsie and I drove with Yura to Radekhiv to see first-hand the work these people are doing. Yura snapped this photo while we waited for the director outside Radekhiv’s city hall, which the volunteers use to assemble and ship supplies to the front.
Milena, the organization’s director, has previous military experience and keeps things running smoothly and efficiently. In this photo, she holds up one of the tactical vests that their volunteers have sewn for the soldiers.
Milena, the organization’s director, has previous military experience and keeps things running smoothly and efficiently. In this photo, she holds up one of the tactical vests that their volunteers have sewn for the soldiers.
Down in the basement, they showed us a large supply of baked goods that they’ve recently finished packaging. These were due to be picked up the day we visited.
Down in the basement, they showed us a large supply of baked goods that they’ve recently finished packaging. These were due to be picked up the day we visited.
It was encouraging to see the work this group is doing to support the war effort. We hope to do an episode in the near future which will feature Yura, Milena, and the volunteers who are striving to bless Ukraine’s front-line defenders.
It was encouraging to see the work this group is doing to support the war effort. We hope to do an episode in the near future which will feature Yura, Milena, and the volunteers who are striving to bless Ukraine’s front-line defenders.
Grigoriy, the father of the Ukrainian family currently living in our apartment, helps me load 20 cases of Good and Evil books into the van. His son Kostya and a friend, Ivan, also helped.
Grigoriy, the father of the Ukrainian family currently living in our apartment, helps me load 20 cases of Good and Evil books into the van. His son Kostya and a friend, Ivan, also helped.
All 20 cases of books were delivered to our friend in Lviv, Valentyna Mochar, who is also involved in shipping humanitarian aid to different parts of Ukraine. I gave her 20 cases of books last month, and she sent them all out! Now she’s been restocked. 🙂
All 20 cases of books were delivered to our friend in Lviv, Valentyna Mochar, who is also involved in shipping humanitarian aid to different parts of Ukraine. I gave her 20 cases of books last month, and she sent them all out! Now she’s been restocked. 🙂
While in Lviv, we stayed at our house on Pancha along with the family who’s been there since we evacuated back in March: Grigoriy, his wife Natasha, their two children, Kostya and Maria, and friend Ivan. Maria’s birthday came during our visit, and they invited us to join the party. These folks are believers, displaced from their home in Odessa just as we were from ours in Lviv. It was great to get to know them better as we enjoyed fellowship, laughter, and good Ukrainian cuisine around the table.
While in Lviv, we stayed at our house on Pancha along with the family who’s been there since we evacuated back in March: Grigoriy, his wife Natasha, their two children, Kostya and Maria, and friend Ivan. Maria’s birthday came during our visit, and they invited us to join the party. These folks are believers, displaced from their home in Odessa just as we were from ours in Lviv. It was great to get to know them better as we enjoyed fellowship, laughter, and good Ukrainian cuisine around the table.

Like what you’re reading?
Let’s keep in touch!