April News Letter

ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕС ВО ИСТИНУ ВОСКРЕС (Christ Arose in Truth Arose)Thank you so much for the prayers offered on the behalf of our family this month. God continues to teach us daily. We praise the Lord for the opportunity to celebrate Easter with our Russian brothers and sisters this month. I remember often as a kid growing up in the south we would take a fishing trip on Good Friday with the brotherhood from our church. For some unknown reason it would usually turn very cold and the fish would not bite. Early Sunday morning we would then adorn ourselves in our new spring outfits and leave for sunrise service only to realize that our spring clothes were not warm enough. In the Far East this month, we managed to have fresh fish for dinner one night but we woke Easter Morning April 27, 2008 with about 3 inches of fresh snow. We had been in the middle of melt down in PK and everything seemed to look very dirty due to all the black dirt that was put down for traction in the snow. When we awoke this morning God was teaching us a lesson. He is alive and he is the only way that a sin blackened person can be made white as snow!!! Please pray for the people of the Far East. Tradition has taught them to say the above phrase to each other on this day. One person will say, “Christ Arose” and the other will answer, “Truth, in Truth Arose.” For so many people in the Far East these are only traditional words, they have no real meaning at all. For example, this Saturday in Language Club Rachel, our colleague, was able to share the Easter Story for the lesson that day. After class I invited anyone that was interested to join me outside in the hall to learn more about Christ and His resurrection. I was able to present the clear Gospel to eight people who stayed about 45 minutes after class. They were full of questions. For most of them it was the first time they had ever heard that Jesus is the only way and that salvation is by faith through grace. They are reading some in John this week and we will talk again next week. Pray that God opens their hearts to the truth.

Praise: Thanks so much for praying. We received our new registration this month. We are currently registered in PK until October 15, 2008. Please pray that God uses us during this time and that a way is made for us to be able to live here year around. Many of our colleagues are forced to leave due to the new 90/180 law. This law states that we can live in Russia for 90 days and then we must live in another country for 90 days. That is why we spent 2 weeks in Seoul, Korea this month for migration re-registration. Praise the Lord we were re-registered for another 6 months. While in Korea we were able to spend some time with an old friend that came to MS as an exchange student. We spent an entire day with Ye Eun and her family. They picked us up at 9 am and we returned home at 10:30 pm. We were able to share the Gospel with the family over an evening meal in their home. Since Ye Eun returned home from the states her Mom and Dad have been attending church regularly. Praise the Lord for this opportunity to share with them.

School: Lee and Emma enjoyed their spring break in Korea. Emma enjoyed eating at McDonalds for the first time in 6 months. They met some other MK’s there and enjoyed their time with them. They have gotten back into the routine and have about 5 weeks of school remaining before summer break.

Language: Suzanne and I took a Russian language practice test this month. It was a test designed to give us feedback on our grammar and communication level. We were both at the intermediate level. The test indicated that we are a little ahead of where we are supposed to be. Please continue to pray for us. Language is something we need to master in order to communicate the clear Gospel to the Russians in their heart language. Pray that we maintain good study habits and spend our time wisely.

Challenge: Please join us in praying daily throughout the month of May for the peoples of Kamchatka. Please use the attached prayer calendar. Each day on the prayer calendar will give you specific information that we are trusting the Lord to do a work in that will bring honor and glory to Him. Thanks for holding the rope!

Pastors Feature: Please pray for Volodia and Alexander as they lead at Central Church in Petropavlovsk. Volodia is the man with his wife singing and Alexander is the one preaching. Pray that God uses them mightly and that God provides their needs. Pray that many more men are called out for service in the Far East.

May Prayer Calendar

The Month of Prayer for Kamchatka
May 2008



1 Pray that the MKs living in PK will develop national friendships, learn the language, and be a witness for the Lord among their peers. 2 Pray that a church will develop in Village E where there are a few believers who seek fellowship and desire a deeper relationship with the Lord. 3 Pray that relationships will be built with participants in weekly English clubs and that those individuals will be drawn into Bible studies and salvation.

4 Pray that the Lord will call laborers for the harvest from America and around the world. Team members to assist throughout the peninsula are needed to help bring the gospel to those who have never heard (Rom.10:14), as well as a Strategy Coordinator to work in the villages of central Kamchatka.
5 Pray for the church in Yelizovo as their Pastor is on an extended leave of absence. This church is also in the midst of a building project to enlarge their church. Pray that the necessary resources will be available and that the building will be completed quickly. 6 This summer youth will be camping out under the stars and hearing about the Lord who created them during a Wilderness Camp. Pray as plans and preparations are made and that the counselors and the “heavens [will] declare the glory of God” to those who attend (Ps. 19:1). 7 A small church in Mil’kovo is without a pastor but has six faithful ladies who continue to meet regularly. Pray that the Lord will call a pastor, a youth leader, and other male leadership to this community. Pray for strength and encouragement for the women there. 8 Three camps for children and youth will be held in Village E this summer. Pray that Zhenya, the camp director, will have wisdom in planning and developing these camps. Pray that the children who attend will have open hearts to the gospel. 9 In many villages along THE road, the main road that runs through the peninsula, contacts have been made and people have been open. Pray that churches will be started in Village R, Village D, Village S, and Village P.
10 Pray for single believers within the church, that they will seek the Lord’s will concerning their future mates. There is strong cultural pressure to marry, but very few Christian men. Pray that the Lord will draw young men to Himself.
11 New visa laws are impacting the ability of Ms to serve in all of Russia. Pray that there will be an open door for the gospel. 12 Pray that Ms and national believers will take advantage of every opportunity to share the Gospel. 13 Pray for all of the national church leadership, that they will be able to balance work and ministry and receive necessary financial support. 14 Pray for the church and believers in isolated Village K. 15 Pray that the Gospel will spread into restricted areas where it is difficult to make contacts. 16 Many young believers attend a weekly youth group meeting. Pray that they will have spiritual growth and commitment to the Lord.
17 Pray for a man of goodwill in the government who would help with the ins and outs of living in Russia.
18 Pray that God will call Christian men into leadership and pastoral positions throughout the peninsula. 19 Pray for people of peace who would be willing to open their homes for Bible studies throughout PK. 20 Pray for the Putnam family as they travel today to Kamchatka after spending the required 90 days out of the country. 21 Pray for the salvation of government officials and that they will have wisdom in their decisions. 22 Pray that national believers will have a clear vision for the lost and put it into action to spread the Good News. 23 Pray that national laborers will step out and assist with evangelism, camps, and other summer activities.
24 Pray for the Ms that the Lord has called to the peninsula, that they would have spiritual strength in a cold place.
25 Pray for Pastor Valodia as he shepherds the central church in Petropavlovsk (PK), and gives guidance to the churches and believers in Kamchatka. 26 Pray for seekers like Michael and Alex who, although unsaved, are willing to attend a Bible study. Claim the promise that God’s Word shall not return void (Isa. 55:11). 27 Pray for short-term volunteers who are answering God’s call to serve this summer, that all the logistics and finances will be taken care of, and that they will be a light in the darkness of Kamchatka.
28 Pray for new believers like Sveta who often struggle with family issues after making a decision to follow the Lord. Pray that they will stand firm, grow in the Lord, and boldly share their faith. 29 Pray for the many planned summer projects: that the Lord will take care of the big and little details, but most of all that the Lord will be glorified and proclaimed through each activity. 30 Pray that the Lord will lead a national pastor to Emmanuel Church, a young church in PK. Pray also for a permenant location to meet and for the development of leadership within the church. 31 Pray for opportunities to reach out to young mothers, many of whom are seeking counsel concerning the raising of their children. Pray that this will be an open door to reaching families.