In September 2011 our two children and I travelled to the region and country of my birth, the former Molotchna colony in southern Ukraine.  As part of the tour, we visited a Mennonite Church in Kutuzovka (Petershagen), one of very few Mennonite churches in Ukraine in existence today.  During the communist regime the building served as a chemical storage facility. At present, this facility, renovated with North American help, serves as a house of worship for a small congregation of about 40.  Part of the building is also used to house six senior ladies who have been deserted and abandoned by their families. They are cared for by the church members.  
Since the church is located in the countryside on the outskirts of Molochansk (Halbstadt), it is difficult to  serve the large number of people residing in the city because of lack of transportation and the distance involved.  In addition, the lack of government support for seniors requires the church to convert and expand the present building into a seniors' facility.  
Since 2006, Pastor Jacob Tiessen from Germany, along with Andrei Utkin as youth pastor, have been serving this community.  While in the area we were made aware of their need for and a desire to move into a more central area in Molochansk.  With local donation of a suitable property and an energetic and willing congregation, they embarked on an outreach building project with very little more than a strong belief and faith in God.  Andrei spent a month in Canada last fall to share his faith and to learn more about Mennonites.  As Andrei visited with several Mennonite churches in Waterloo and Niagara and discussed his plans for the church in Kutuzovka, our hearts were touched and we expressed the desire that we, who are blessed with so much, could perhaps provide some assistance to our fellow Mennonites in Ukraine.  Their strong faith in God and their determination, in the midst of very little, impressed us greatly.   Several of us have agreed to help by raising part of the funds required.  Our goal is to place a roof on this building, by donating the estimated cost of $20,000.   It is our hope that others would consider adding some funds as a mission service to make the church a reality for those in the Ukraine.
 John Reimer, Member of Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite Church