We come to you today with another important prayer request for the family of Sveta Rozsokha Gantt, our first HopeHouse daughter. Shown below is Sveta’s entire family recently during a visit to Ukraine. Biological siblings, adopted siblings, parents — one close-knit, God-ordained family whose origins were created through those first supporters and prayer partners of this ministry 22 years ago.
Many of us have experienced the power of her testimony and now Sveta’s family needs our prayers.
As a brief update: Sveta contacted me on March 5, which was 11 days after the war began. She was upset because her family in Ukraine received news of a planned Russian attack on the electrical power station in Kaniv, just 10 minutes from their home. Co-Founder Yuri Yakovlyev immediately arranged shelter with another HopeHouse Family in the Carpathian Mountains in Western Ukraine, but ultimately, Sveta’s father and brother-in-law decided that the women and children would be safest if they left Ukraine entirely.
As they traveled by car, they faced dangerous obstacles: fuel shortages, soldiers on the road, and the constant threat of bombs above them. About 100 km away from their home, their car broke down — but a friend in the area came to their rescue, fixed their car, and gave them lunch. They experienced several miracles like that along the way. At curfew, they stayed at a nearby kindergarten that had been converted to a shelter for traveling refugees.
Because the Ukrainian government requires most adult men to assist with the war effort, Sveta’s father and brother-in-law said goodbye to their loved ones at the Polish border and bravely returned to Kaniv, where they felt they could be of greatest help as church leaders and members of their community’s Territorial Defense — a wartime neighborhood watch with a 24-hour rotation of armed citizens.
After crossing into Poland, the Rozsokha women and children waited at a refugee shelter while Sveta contacted a friend in Germany and arranged transport for them to Germany where they are safely waiting to this day.
I received this text from Sveta this morning:
“I am so thankful for all the prayers that are being lifted up for my home country and my family.
Some of you have been asking me about my dad. Until yesterday, my response was: he is lonely and missing my mom and sisters a lot. They have been gone for a whole month. When evenings come, he feels the most sad because the lights cannot be turned on and sitting in the dark alone can be quite solitary. During the day, he would work in the garden around our house. He planted a lot of early spring veggies. He was listening to a lot of sermons to keep himself busy. He preached on Sundays at a church, as he is an assistant pastor. He has been a pastor for 19 years now. My dad is age 54.
Today he received a notice to appear at a draft office. The military told him to return home and pack his stuff and be ready to leave at a phone call notice and they would come and pick him up. They offered him to be a chaplain.
This news was hard to receive, but I am trusting the Lord’s sovereignty in his life! My dad is sad, but at the same time he told me, “God’s Will will be done”.
Please join me in praying that the Lord will use him in mighty ways to share the truth of the gospel with many in whatever circumstances He chooses to put him in. May many come to know Christ as their Savior. May he be able to provide hope for those who don’t have it, by the power of the Holy Spirit. May he be a support and encouragement to many in need as they deal with the horrors of war.
Please pray Psalm 91 with me over my dad:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Lord, be my dad’s refuge and his fortress because You are his God and he trusts in You. Surely You will save my dad from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. Cover him with Your feathers and under Your wings let him find refuge. May he not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at his side, ten thousand at his right hand but it will not come near him. Lord, may no harm befall him, no disaster come near his tent. Command Your angels to guard him in all his ways. Because my dad loves you, my Lord rescue him and protect him for he acknowledges Your name. Answer him when he calls upon Your name. Be with him in trouble and deliver him. Bless him with long life if you will, Oh Lord and show him Your salvation.
In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.”
Love, Svitlana
Sveta is very special to all of us who know her. Through our UKRAINE: FAMILY EMERGENCY FUND we will continue to help Sveta’s family – and all of our families – with any needs they have during this time.
When Sveta asked her dad: “If this were our last conversation, what would you tell me?” He replied: “Cling to the Lord with all your heart. Do not let anything that would happen break your relationship with the Lord.” He then asked her to open her Bible to Psalm 10, which they read aloud. “You see, Sveta,” he said, “Everyone will be brought to account for what they do. Please, take care of your baby sister.”
Hope is real where prayer is found.
Thank you for praying.
Deneen Turner
