Global Aid Network Mission Reports

Below are three glimpses into some of what is happening through the North Africa team:His eyes had been tested and glasses prescribed. The small boy sat in front of Jim, a retiree who has committed his life to trips such as this one. After Jim placed the corrective lenses in the Harry Potter-like round eyeglasses and fit them to the child’s face, he looked up in wonder at Jim…and then placed a big, wet kiss on Jim’s forehead. A kiss implanted forever in Jim’s heart.

DAY ONE:
Tired but rejoicing. We checked approximately 300 children for vision needs. Unfortunately we had some mix-up in record keeping re those who needed glasses so don’t have an exact count, but made some executive decisions to get that straightened out. We now have a flow chart that will help everyone—local volunteers as well as the GAiN team—keep better records and control. However I’m told by some who have been on the project in the past, that this was the least chaotic first day they’ve experienced.

We had a number of university students, and a few high school students, serving as translators. The university students, especially, were terrific. We had a couple of dental students/interns who examined all of the students, noting those who needed the most care. We were told, rightfully, that students’ parents must give permission before any dental work could be done, so there was concern that they might not be able to treat any students until Tuesday. As it turns out, a number of parents were present so the dentists were busy the whole day.

The surgical team repaired two cleft lips, one a 3-month old whose parents drove four hours from a neighboring country to get to the hospital. The second child was 6-months; his parents had walked three hours to the hospital. Surgery went very well on both.

We don’t have a very good internet connection so reporting may be sporadic.

DAY TWO:
Swimming in kids today! Several eye issues addressed. One young boy with 20/350 vision (didn’t even know that was possible!) walked out wide eyed, seeing and smiling. The mother couldn’t stop hugging little Marti (who had made and fit the boy’s glasses) before leaving the room.

Two more serious surgeries accomplished by the doctors, but all seems to have gone well. Dr. Rizzuti was called back to the hospital tonight; pray that all healing is complete. (Update: needed mostly to reassure parents that everything is normal.)

Dentists were nearly overrun with children! Finally decided to send only the most serious cases to our over worked crew and even with that, the team arrived back in the staff room almost 2 hours after everyone else.

Two of our crew–musically talented guys–had 50 kids uproariously singing E-E-E-I-O and Do Re Me and the Mickey Mouse Club Song!

Pray for more interpreters & other support personnel (go-fers), good relationships with school personnel.

The team is gracious, hard working, positive and fun!

April 28, 2008 – from Paul & Winona H.

Today we were split into groups to visit private homes to open doors for a family ministry here in Kazakhstan.

Our first home we felt sure that we would not be invited inside of this poor home and just prayed for God to cover us with His blessings and we knew what ever happened was in HIS will. We were greeted by the Kazakh father. Their son who will be 14 in August was in the garden with his much worn walker. The father told us that some boys in the park kicked the walker and broke it. They were very pleased to have a wheel chair for their son. Now they could take him in public where it was beginning to be impossible due to his size and their age. Now they were excited to know that their son would spend time in the park and enjoy life more like a normal boy.

They invited us inside for chai (tea). They served us as if we were royalty. Giving us the very best that they had to offer. We shared our photos of our family to show them that we had more in common than differences.  We asked if we could share a story with them and they seemed pleased to have us share with them. We began talking about the Gospel Bead Bracelet and how they colors told a story. The mother listened intently, the father a traditional Kazakh man who does not respect what a woman says looked away but as God touched his heart he would look directly into my eyes. This proud Kazakh man wasn’t looking at a woman he was focusing on the message. The mother of the home gave me a lovely gift that humbled me and I could not speak for tears. After hugs and blessings all around we parted and it is our prayer that we will spend eternity with these people. Please pray that God waters and care for the seeds that He sent with us to plant this day.

Site #2 was on the 5th floor was just a mother and 19 year old son at home who needed a wheel chair desperately. The young man was very excited to have visitors. He wanted to talk about American Indians as he has great interest in them.  His mother told us that he prayed for 2 months for someone to visit that knew American Indians or knew something about them. The young lad was over the top to know my name was American Indian and that I had family members that are 50% Indian heritage. He gave me a gift of a white eagle feather to remember him by. I told him we would never forget him and that God had planned before the foundations of the world that we would meet. To know this shows us how important it is to listen to God as He speaks to our hearts. We told the story of the bracelet and the mother and the boy were focused on the story. They understood the importance of what we said. They asked if we could leave a bracelet for the sister and for the grandmother that they wanted to tell her the story too!

These two stories show how doors are opened to the local organizations that are eager to help them with their walk with God. We are here to hold their arms and to aid them in their ministry.

Who would have thought that a Kazakh man would have sit to hear a woman? A miracle again from GOD.  Praise the Lord!

April 28, 2008 – from Dave K.

Today we were able to join with ministry to youth in Kazakhstan in making visits to children or adults who were handicapped.  We went to their homes and spent time with their families and brought them wheel chairs, CarePacks and other small gifts.  At one of the homes we went to there was a twelve year old girl who could not walk and had outgrown her smaller wheelchair.  We talked and shared tea with her and her family and since it was the day after Resurrection Sunday, they gave us colored eggs, bread and Russian candies.  We shared with them the pictures of our families and built relationships with them.  Originally the ministry staff advised against sharing the Gospel Bracelet presentation with them because they were not from a Protestant background, but after we had developed a good relationship with them, they said that we should.  And so we told them the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Once again the humanitarian aid opened the door and the youth ministry will now continue to meet with them.

April 26, 2008

Today we went to Issyk to a school that had about 200 kids.  I met the director and he was very nice.  We talked Texas for a while.  He had been around that school for some 25 years and you could tell by his face that he loved the kids that were there.  He said that he loved them, and it was obvious that he did.  He turned us over to his assistant director and we discussed the arrangements for the time together.  We moved right into their concert and then we presented our program. 

The younger kids had to go home to eat since it was Saturday.  We met with the older kids in the classroom and they were very attentive and cooperative.  Then we met with the younger kids who had returned to the hall that we originally met in for the concert.  While part of the team met with those kids, some of us met with the cooks and they remembered some of the people on our team.  It was a joyous reunion and we gave them extra aprons for those who were not on duty at the time.  We worked with Lorisa, who is well loved by many and also gave them some additional aid.   It was a joyous time, a beautiful day and a mission well done.  There was a lot of flexing going on as the plans changed several times during our stay. 

We headed back to Almaty and arrived a little early before we would have a meeting with the English club.  We had a chance to walk up to a monument where the brides and grooms go to honor their country by meeting by this great monument which chronicled the history of Kazakhstan.  At any one time while we were there were three to four bridal parties present.  It was a delightful time to see people very happy as they began their lives together.  By setting their hands into a bronze imprint, they were, as the story goes, to begin their lives in wedded bliss. 

A bit later we met and spoke to about a hundred or more people who were primarily students who were interested in learning the English language.  After an excellent presentation by our team member’s regarding the Easter story, we went outside to talk to each other. Before we went outside, Jolene asked if anyone had accepted Christ and at least three raised their hands. Praise to the God in Heaven above for this work in their lives.  

In a little group that gathered around me, the ages ranged from 14 to 28 years old.  We had a delightful exchange, as some wanted to discuss the Easter issues, while other talked about themselves and why we had come.  Several students were clearly seeking.  It was a mixture of faiths, but they were truth seekers just the same.  We gave them the truth—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We were glad that the Bible mission group is there to work with them because there are so few churches that preach the gospel in Almaty. 

Friday April 25, 2008

Today we had a little time before meeting with the folks at the family ministry center, we were told that we were going to go up into the mountains.  The mountains here are breathtaking—the remind me of our Grand Teton mountains in western United States.  They are very rugged and snow capped.  A few days before we arrived, it had snowed and they were all snow covered, even the foot hills.  It was truly beautiful. However, we did not really go to those mountains, but we did go up some, a little way where they have a park and an over look.  I am including a picture of me standing near the overlook which looks out over the city.  Almaty is a city of about 2 million people.  They are kind, but mostly keep to themselves.  They have busy lives, I am sure. We had a chance to buy some souvenirs there. Then we were off to the family ministry center where we packed care packs, and had some Kazak food (plove) and then went off to the Children’s and teens rehabilitation Center where the kids come who are either problematic or mentally challenged.  They gave us a beautiful concert and we showed them how little we knew about singing, just had fun with them and then Scott did the magic tricks.  When we met with them in the smaller groups, we were in a room that had a half yert in the classroom   I am enclosing a photo of the kids, some of the group staff and me in the half yert.  We had been there before and so some of the kids still had their bracelets.  Some remembered the beads’ meanings, but most did not.  Nevertheless, we asked the teachers if we could pray with them and they gladly let us.  Not any time for one on one with the kids, but by God’s grace, we know that many seeds were planted.

April 24, 2008 – from Dave K:

Today we went to what is called a baby house.  It is a place where they keep children from age 0 to 3 years old, those that are left by people who aren’t able to care for their babies.  This is a place where people can come and adopt kids, and while we were there, there was a couple from the USA playing with a little girl whom they were in the process of adopting.  This was the first time that I was the lead contact with the director of the facility and I was pretty nervous.   However, with God’s help, we were able to see and play with a group of kids outside.  We also were able to see and touch and hold for a little while some of the handicapped children.   Many of these kids are simply darlings.  We decided that since they were too small to give the gospel presentation to, that we would give them gospel bracelets.  As I was giving them out, the director of the facility was there and I asked her (through the interpreter) if she had seen these before or knew what they were about.  She was unfamiliar, so I proceeded to tell her the Good News and about what each of the beads meant.  When I finished, she told me that she was not a Christian and did not necessarily agree with me, but we did agree that she and her staff were doing a wonderful work of loving and caring for these precious souls.  At the end of our stay, I asked if I could pray to ask God’s blessing for her facility and she agreed to let me do it.  We also gave her several children’s Bibles and some More Than a Carpenter and the Gospel of John books.  She said that she did not promise to read them, but took them anyway.  Please pray that she will be very curious about what is in these books.  The picture here shows the director in the white with her bracelet on and Lydia, one of our interpreters putting a bracelet on one of the precious children.

From Dave K.:

Drugs and alcohol addictions are rampant in Kazakhstan due to the huge supply of heroin from a country in nearby Central Asia.  Over 700,000 metric tons of this killer drug passed through Kazakhstan in 2007.  A hit of heroin currently costs the equivalent of 30 cents here in Almaty.  By God’s grace Teen challenge is doing a miraculous work of bringing people to Christ by lovingly engaging in discipleship ministry with these men and women who have fallen into Satan’s twisted snare.  It is a hard ministry because it requires seasoned Christians to confront those who are escaping the deceitfulness of drug and alcohol addictions.  These confrontations must occur in a way that maintains intimacy and loving kindness.  Today we were privileged to see the fruit of 18 months worth of “speaking the truth in love” as we witnessed the graduation of two men whose lives have been forever changed by the person of  Jesus Christ.

From Kathi M.:

I had the opportunity to pray for the children of a woman who became a Christian 4 years ago through the Teen Challenge program.   She is now living at the center and mentoring other women.  She is the only Christian in her family.

Parting Reflections from Three Participants on the MCA Mission Trip to Russia. These were written on the return flight from Russia.

Reflections from Alec O. (Freshman at MCA):

In Russia I went on a home visit to some run down and older apartments. The woman that we visited was in her thirties and had two children.  Both had different fathers. Her apartment was very small, about the size of a standard bedroom. Everything was compact and organized into this tiny space. When we were talking to her, she said that her mother went to Kenya. What amazed me was that her mother said that they were so wealthy compared to the people in Kenya.  This was similar to what we thought of them. Hearing this made me realize that all the material things we have will perish, but the things that matter most like God, faith, and family last forever. That woman we visited was content with how she was living although her apartment was tiny and her son’s father doesn’t take care of her.  On this trip, I really realized that if you have nothing of material things but have faith, you will be better off than if you have everything in the world but no faith. I am so glad that I was able to have this awesome experience!

Scotty Z. (Junior at MCA):  I really enjoyed serving God with my friends and two of the staff at my school. One of the unique opportunities that we had was to put on a basketball clinic at a school for middle school aged kids. This worked out really well because one of my basketball coaches came along on the trip. We also had about eight students who played on our varsity school team to assist in the clinic. This gave us a special opportunity to tell them of Christ’s love for them. Please pray for the students who heard the gospel that day as well as the coach who has heard the Gospel but has not accepted Christ as his personal Savior. 

Another unique opportunity that I had was to travel to a family’s apartment with one of my friends. Most of our time with them was spent talking with the grandmother who was a Christian.  This family is going through a difficult time because they have an eight year old boy and an eleven month old girl who has a serious heart condition. She has had several surgeries and is going back to Moscow in April for a check-up.  Please pray for this family since the most of their funds are going toward the medical care of the young girl.  Pray too that the report will be positive and that the doctor would tell them the girl is free of all diseases.

Thank you so much for your support and prayers for us.

As reported by Jim W.:

We just completed our first day of ministry with team 3. We are conducting a modified vision clinic and are distributing aid.  It is a very good team.   Please pray that we have strength to finish strong and that the hearts and minds of people we talk to will be open to the Good News.

Report from Michael N (Freshman at MCA):  “This trip to Russia has been amazing. I felt like God is working in all of the people here to try to make life easier for the orphans. The Christians we worked with (evangelists and interpreters) have such a heart for spreading the good news of Christ and I am amazed how they are so on fire for God. Andre D is a 19 year old interpreter that I became very close with. He has made an impact on my life and I will never forget him. I hope to come back to Russia many times.”

Report from Emmie Z (Junior at Texas A&M University):  “I have been to Russia before and I always love coming. I love Russian culture. I love the Russian people and I love the Russian way of life. Something that has especially struck me this trip has been the Christians I’ve met. They are really living radically for Jesus. A group of believers is currently building a home for a couple and their two sons. But this house is no ordinary house. It is being built to accommodate 16 people so that this family can care for 12 orphans and up to 2 or 3 unwed girls who are pregnant. This whole project is completely unheard of and the Russian Christians hope it can be a “beacon of light” to the children as well as the surrounding communities. It has been so fun to work in ministry with these Christians and I love knowing that the work we as Americans did in the orphanages, sanatoriums, schools and homes will be continued and followed up by the Russian believers.”

Reflections by Rebekah J (Freshman at MCA): “I have seen a parable. I did not read it to learn it. I did not hear it to learn it. I saw it and learned it. Jesus told us the story of the woman who had two coins. Even though she had nothing else to live on, she gave those two coins as an expression of love to the one who had given it to her in the first place. Last Tuesday, our first place of outreach was an orphanage. It was my first ever try to connect with Russian kids. Marina, our interpreter and I went and chatted with the kids. We sang songs I haven’t heard since I was eight. We made crafts in their classrooms and played with various stuffed animals. Then came my favorite part of every visit - passing out the Care Packs. All the kids, even the ones who were shy, oohed and ahhed and smiled so big I thought their teeth would fall out. The first thing opened invariably was the prized Snickers bar. One kid saved his though, and I didn’t know why. Later on, as we went to their dorms, a boy I had talked to named Arthakeesha came to me. He held out his Snickers bar to me. I totally was not expecting it - he had seemed indifferent to our visit. I told him I could get those at home and that he should keep his. He nodded his head yes and pushed it back to me. ‘Thank you, Thank you so much,’ I said. He walked away with nothing but a straight face. Arthakeesha had done it like it was not something out of the ordinary. When you have been given to, give away. He didn’t care he didn’t have hardly anything. He just gave what he had. Americans have been given so much. Learn from the Russian orphan and give to the One who has given us everything. He is worthy of every praise as our merciful Savior and Lord!”

Reflections from Jeff aka Coach A (Coach at MCA): “Immediately upon arrival in Vladimir it became clear that this was a city in need of the love of Christ. From utilitarian architecture to the nearly universal drabness of clothing to the complete lack of smiles on the street, this seemed like a place under a cloud of sorrow. Common courtesy, laughter, and even color seemed almost out of place in Vladimir. I believed I would be carrying a light and joy to the Russians, something they had not experienced before. I was wrong … they were the ones who brought a light and joy to me. A group of young men at an addiction rehabilitation center sang for joy about Christ. Single moms living in slums prepared welcomes and delicious meals. Van drivers carried crucial supplies to those struggling spiritually and economically. But, most of all, Maxim smiled and laughed and hugged. He is four years old, blond haired and blue-eyed. He lives in an orphanage because of abandonment and parental drug addiction. He was withdrawn and afraid until, suddenly, he ran into my arms. He wanted to play, draw, put stickers on paper, and use his new comb. Whatever he wanted to do was fine with me. I came to Russia to share the love of Christ, I received it, instead. Maxim brought me light and joy in a way I’d never experienced before. I just wish I didn’t have to put him down. 

Reflections from Duane regarding activities on the last 2 days of mission trip:  “Saturday morning gave each of us mixed emotions since it was our last day in Vladimir. We had made many wonderful friends, seen many sights, visited and helped many children, visited homes, and fellowshipped with some dear brothers and sisters. On the one hand we didn’t like the thought of leaving yet we also were looking forward to getting back with friends and families.  It was very appropriate that we were reminded by Emily C (Sophmore at MCA) at our morning devotions after breakfast of the importance of trusting the Lord in all things as she shared from Proverbs 3:5-6.  

After breakfast we loaded up all of our luggage into the bus and 8 people visited 8 homes in Vladimir in teams of two. Each team took a bag of food and some other gifts for the family. Each family was a very poor and needy family identified by our partner ministries in Vladimir and the purpose was to encourage those who were believers and to share God’s love with those who were not believers. Some of the families visited were contacts from an abortion clinic or a recent evangelistic campaign called “Power to Change”.

The rest of the group went to Lunovo where an orphanage/foster home is being built to house 12 orphans.  One of our team bought and brought a chain saw to be used at the orphanage. The guys on our team helped clean up outside and chopped a lot of wood which is used to keep the house warm. The ladies on the team helped sweep and clean the inside of the house and the joined the guys to try their hand at using an axe. While our team was working, our hosts were cooking chicken and pork shashlik over an outside fire for lunch. What an incredible feast we had with our interpreters and the Christians we worked with during our time in Vladimir.

After lunch we all boarded the bus for a three hour ride back to Moscow. Upon arrival back in Moscow we checked into our hotel before taking the subway to downtown Moscow to have dinner at the first McDonalds that was built in Russia. Everyone had enjoyed the experience of eating Russian food throughout the week but at this point cheeseburgers, hamburgers and milkshakes were the items most ordered. From there we walked to Red Square
and had a wonderful night time view of St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin. By the time we took the subway back to the hotel it was late and time for a good night’s rest.

Sunday began with a breakfast buffet followed by shopping at Izmailova souvenir market. In the afternoon the group took a tour inside the Kremlin and after dinner enjoyed a wonderful evening performance of the Moscow Circus.

As I reflect over the past week, I picture the 400+ children we visited at six orphanages, one public school, one shelter for runaway children, and one youth detention center. In addition, I reflect on the midweek church service, the youth group meeting, the 35 homes visited and the basketball clinic at a village school. I see the face of the head doctor at the Baby Orphanage who was so grateful for the diapers and desperately needed medicines they needed. I see the MCA students
as they interacted with English students at a Teacher’s College. I hear MCA students saying things like: “Russia is the coolest place ever” and “I hope I can come back”. I see the tears of several who were moved with compassion and love for the children at the baby orphanage. And finally I remember of Pastor Anton who challenged us to “burn for the Lord”.

It’s been a great trip. The Lord was good! And it was great fun. Thanks to all you parents and friends who supported us and prayed for us.”