Global Aid Network Mission Reports

MOST TOUCHED MY HEART

All the kids we visit last few days are so precious, but one little three-year-old boy on the first visit seemed so quiet and shy. He didn’t smile. Then after we interacted and played and shared the care bags he grabbed my finger and pulling me into his room with a big smile talked a lot, which I couldn’t understand, but which showed that God’s love touched his heart. I hugged him so tightly in my arms. How love changed this little boy’s heart!  Praise the Lord!

POSITIVE NOTES

1. In the mentally physically disabled center the enthusiasm of the kids for the fun games and competitions, but especially their interest in caring for each other and sharing little things.
2. The same in the new shelter even enough they were there temporarily they helped each other and were very polite. They really enjoyed our teenagers’ photographs.
3. As for many trips before the staff in these institutions must be very caring judging by the kids’ behavior.
4. Our team teenagers as last year ever truly a team to be proud of in their much needed helplessness and in quality of sharing in the institutions and entertaining too.
5. Our interpreters were excellent for us and for the institutions as well.

PS. I would encourage others to take teenagers on these outreaches to benefit the mission as well as their own growth in important ways.

PRAISING GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

Being on a GAIN Western Russia Summer Project is a good thing. I think if it were possible, every Christian should be part of such a trip.

As an older "Grandpa" of 81 years old I wondered if I should come along and what purpose could I play. Well, I did come and it’s been a trip to remember!

It surely changed my perspective of life. Instead of thinking of the "Dow-Jones" or the price of gasoline, or the political race back home, my attention has turned to the words of Jesus in Math. 19:14: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." My concern becomes: "Can I make this little blonde girl with terrible scars on her arms smile as I open this bag of goodies for her?" I am praying that she will remember the meaning of the colored beads after we leave.

I do my silly Yo-Yo tricks for the kids and they smile and I feel good!

It’s hard climbing up the 3 flights of stairs to our Hotel Room; the bus-rides are bumpy and scary as we pass so many accidents along roads. But I feel safe and happy as I draw strength and faith from others in the team and feel the love bonds between us all.

My sincere thanks to all the stuff of GAIN that plans these trips. Jon W. is an excellent leader, we all appreciate Igor and his humor, Marilyn has been most helpful to my wife and me as we go through each day.

I thank the Lord for all who made it possible to come on this most important mission.

Members of the mission team were encouraged on Wednesday never to take their ministry lightly.  Dawna D. shared that she was a part of the team visiting a drug and alcohol rehabiliation center that day where they met the director Zhenia.  She had met him several years prior as an inmate at Prison #16.  Now he is impacting lives for Jesus Christ!   Please pray for the members of the team - several are ill but we are pressing on.

Sometimes email is a bit slow in getting to us - Marilyn K. reports in on the Western Russia team.

7-12-2008

We have arrived with our entire luggage too!
As we were waiting at Moscow airport for the last of our group to come through the Customs we had the chance to talk with a young man who had asked what we were doing. When we shared with him he told us that he was an orphan and someone came to his orphanage where he learned about Jesus. He was at the airport meeting a group of American missionaries. He shared how much we are doing. Our work is making this world different.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

The Siberian Team - Novokuznetsk, Russia

After a challenging time of preparation for the mission trip to Novokuznetsk, the team is finally here and ready for ministry!  Twenty-nine enthusiastic Americans converged on Moscow yesterday, Saturday, July 12, 2008, jet-lagged but eager to get ready for the last leg of the trip to Siberia. It was not without the usual challenges of overweight luggage and coordinating with members of the team flying in from their various states and countries.  But, the Lord granted us favor and by 11:30pm (Russian time), the team boarded the flight to their final destination – Novokuznetsk.  For many, it was their fourth or fifth flight in 36 hours!

“This is my first mission trip,” said Emily M. from Texas.  “I have always wanted to go on a mission trip ever since I heard about it 4 years ago, but I was only able to raise support to come this year.”  Emily is one of the many young adults on the summer mission trip this year.  Though a bit apprehensive about how it will all turn out, she is confident that God will take charge of everything.  Her supporters praying for her and the team include more than 80 persons from her hometown and church who helped her financially or otherwise to be on the mission trip.  “I am really looking forward to meeting the children in the orphanages,” she said with excitement in her voice.  The team will visit homes for the elderly and disabled, prisons, camps and orphanages as they distribute humanitarian aid including CarePacks and share the love of Christ to hundreds in the far away land. 

We ask for your prayers as we put into action, plans that have been laid out months in advance.  Pray that God will give us multiple opportunities to share the gospel and that many will seek a personal relationship with Him.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Church on the Rock, Novokuznetsk, Russia

Today, the team visited Church on the Rock, a vibrant church with a unique ministry to alcoholics and drug abusers.  More than 150 persons packed the small church in Kuznetsk District to worship God in their third service for the day.  The team, bursting with God-given talent gave greetings and shared in the service – Kristen B. encouraged them with a rendition of How Great Thou Art in English and Russian, and Aaron D. played Amazing Grace on the bagpipe! 

God’s presence was truly felt when Jim P. shared his testimony of his alcoholic father and the emotional abuse inflicted on him from the early age of 6.  “He told me every day for 10 years that I will amount to nothing,” he said.  Though, he made a commitment to follow Christ at age 16, he struggled for a number of years to maintain his walk with God.  He prayed, trying to get an answer from God to the internal turmoil he felt from feeling inferior and wondered for many years if there was any good in him.  After reading the bible and seeking God, about 15 years ago, he was able to forgive his father and embrace the refreshing release that came from extending this forgiveness. “It took me 45 years,” he said as he encouraged the congregation, “but I know that Christ was with me and He will be with you too all the way.  You only need to listen to Him.” 

Many will share their testimonies during the next 10 days in Novokuznetsk to hundreds in orphanages, prisons, homes for the elderly and disabled.  Pray for the team, that God will use these testimonies to draw men, women and children to Him and into His kingdom.  

Peace to you, Brothers and Sisters!

We are a Union of Churches in the Yaroslavl Region (of Russia). Thank you very much for the financial resources you provided for our summer camp. May God bless you and fulfill of your needs. You were a part of our youth camp which took place on the bank of Rybinsk reservoir. Your financial support was a great blessing for the youth that were able to attend that camp.

We had our camp from July 16 - 21 this year and we had 20 people attend. Most of the kids were teenagers and youth from 12 up to 22 years old from different places. Five children were non-believers and two of them prayed to accept Christ! We thank God and you, because for those children it was very important to have the opportunity to be at the camp. We selected leaders from the groups of kids and motivated them to be more responsible and to show initiative, to seek the will of God and to grow spiritually. During the time of the camp God taught us to overcome difficulties, to be strong, to love and forgive, and how to make friends.  As a result many young people came to know the Lord.

It was interesting to see how during the first few days kids were getting used to each other, were adapting, were changing and were quite different by the end of the second day. We could really witness those changes!

In addition, many non-believing youth found out about our camp, and many of them expressed the desire to join us at our camp in 2008! Praise the Lord! This year we were able to buy a large folding table with benches; this is wonderful. We are very thankful to you for that. In 2006 our tents were tested by strong winds, this year it was raining really hard for 2 days. But our tents have gone through this test well—the tents stayed dry inside. Thank you again for your financial help – with our own resources we wouldn’t be able to buy such big and quality tents, sleeping bags, equipment, mattresses and sports equipment. God has richly blessed our region through you. Teenagers and youth are the great future potential of the churches, future ministers. You have planted seeds well into the ground.

With love and gratitude to you,

Brothers and Sisters from “Blagodat” (Grace) Church

Pastor Vitaly R.

2007

Global Aid Network Summer Mission Trip June 2007

SIBERIAN RUSSIA:  NOVOKUZNETSK, PROKOPIEVSK and MARIINSK

SIBERIA: DARKNESS LIGHT LIFE

When you hear about Siberia, what thoughts or pictures come to mind? I have found that most of the people that I have talked to about Siberia, think of it as an area that is deserted, desolate and cold, where people are rejects of Russian society, nothing more than a number and useless. During my time in the cities of Novokuznetsk, Prokopyevsk and Mariinsk and the surrounding areas, I found quite the opposite. Novokuznetsk is a city of approximately 500,000 people, was founded in1618, has coal mining, iron ore mining and steel mill as their main industries. The temperature and humidity were in the high 60s to mid 80s with humidity ranging from 88% to 100%. I found the people to be warm and friendly, intelligent, love to read, searching and seeking for the truth. This is true for the people in Prokopyevsk and Mariinsk that we met and served. Most are hard working people. Like any society in any area of the world, there are addicts, prisoners, the poor, homeless, elderly, and orphans, that we had an opportunity to meet and minister to.

When you think of Darkness, Light and Life, what pictures and thoughts come to mind? Could these words apply to eyes, or how about our own personal lives? Please permit me to tell some stories from this trip and as you read them, look for darkness, light and life. Then apply these words to your own lives.

The first story occurred on Tuesday June 19 in Prokopyevsk in the Freedom House Drug Rehabilitation Center. Earlier that morning we met a young lady named Marina Kuzmina, the Director of Women at this Center. Marina has been to the United States for training at Teen Challenge in Rhode Island, and will be coming back for her Masters Degree at Regents University in Virginia. Marina had told us of the people whom we would see that day. One of the people that I saw was a young man who had had an accident, which resulted in his words “a slight loss of color identification.” He explained it this way, “when I look into the bright sky, and then look at some flowers for example, I cannot tell what color the flowers are.” I told him that I would try to help him, but suggested that he may have to see a Dr. of Optometry. We tried a pair of sunglasses on him and had him look into the sky, and then back at some flowers outside. He told me that he could see that the flowers were red, and he was so happy. He kept on thanking me, and asked if he could have his picture taken with me, so I had my picture taken with him and Sonya, the interpreter working with me.

Did he have some darkness, and then light? How about life? Marina had told us that each of the people in the center received a Bible and had to participate in Bible Studies. The Light of Life can be made known to this young man. What a privilege and honor to be used in such a simple way to help someone.

Story 2 occurred on Wednesday, at the Novoilinskaya Church in Novokuznetsk. Remember Marina Kuzmina? We had the privilege of meeting and serving her mother who had different vision in each eye. In order to keep her job at one of the coal mines, she needed a pair of glasses to correct her vision. After testing extensively, my friend and co-worker, Bruce Becker, and I were able to put together a pair of glasses that fit her. As a part of the test, we would ask each person to read something from the Bible, a New Testament, and More Than a Carpenter (with each having a different size print). This allowed for planting seeds of the Light of the World into their lives. Marina’s mom was so thankful for our patience in finding the right glasses for her.

 Story 3 occurred at this same church on     Wednesday. A lady came in to get tested and wanted to be able to see well enough to thread a needle so she could sew again. As I tested her, it took a little while, but I found a pair of glasses that felt very comfortable on her and allowed her to see in her words “perfectly.” As she read the Bible, she just wanted to keep reading, and she raised her hand in praise to God. She was so happy, she said “God bless you”, (as did many others), and she hugged and kissed me on the cheek. Do you think the Light of Life was in her? What a joy!

Story 4 and 5 occurred on Thursday and Friday at Mariinsk Women’s Prison. It took a bus trip of several hours with the rest of the Global Aid Network team to get to Mariinsk. This time allowed us the opportunity to get to know others on the team better. On all the other days, Bruce, our interpreters, Oksana and Sonya, and I (the “vision team”) would travel either by taxi or someone would pick us up. Many friendships developed and unity of the whole team resulted along with some prison officials who traveled with us. When we arrived in Mariinsk, the main group of the team went to the boy’s prison, while we went to the women’s prison. Security was tight; we had to be escorted into a first room where the guard checked our passport and kept them and then let us enter the prison court yard where prisoners lived in well maintained housing and tidy looking grounds. Then we went upstairs of one building where medical care was given, and had a tour. We set up shop, being told on Thursday that we were not allowed to take pictures. We started testing prisoner’s eyesight and fitting them with corrective glasses until about 4:30 pm. The next day, Friday, we came back in the morning and resumed testing and fitting. We were told that we could take pictures only inside this room, so we did. Some women needed slight corrective glasses primarily for reading, while some needed stronger lenses. What joy and happiness showed on their faces knowing that someone cared enough about them to supply glasses. We asked them, too, to read from God’s Word as part of the testing procedure. There was no restriction put on about reading the Bible.

Story 6 occurred on Saturday at a church in the town of Prokopyevsk. During the week, pastors from all over the surrounding region were having a conference at this church. We had the distinct privilege of serving the pastors and their wives with glasses. One such pastor from Uzbekistan came and received some glasses as did his wife. Another pastor from this church also came and received glasses. They were so grateful to have glasses that would help them be able to read easier and help them better shepherd their flocks. What an honor to be able to meet such a simple need for these men of God and their families. One of the pastors was so full of joy, that he started to sing, and said “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” These men and their families are on the front lines everyday engaged in a spiritual battle that doesn’t always show on the surface. We need to cover them in prayer, and support them in any way we can.  

Story 7 started on Tuesday at Prokopyevsk Church by an elderly man coming in for a new pair of glasses. The ones that he was wearing were held together with bailing wire and tape, and they were a very strong prescription. Bruce had the pleasure of putting together a new pair of glasses that fit this man to a T. This man was full of joy to think that he could receive a new pair of glasses free. A s you look at his glasses in the picture to the  left, think about yourself and ask, would I be willing to wear glasses like these, for a long time if need be? Could the joy of the Lord be in this man? Would it be in you if you had to get by with these glasses? My friend, count it a real blessing that we here in the United States are so blessed. Did this man have darkness, light and life? I believe he did.

 Story 8 occurred on Sunday. We had the wonderful experience of worshipping in the Novoilinskaya Church. This church has about 1000 members, 3 services on the weekend, a prison ministry, a drug and alcohol rehab ministry plus other ministries, and they meet in an old warehouse that does not resemble a church building, but the love of God is evident here. Pastor Ilya introduced us to the congregation in 2 services, with Bruce and Daniel Lewis saying a few words. After the worship time of the second service was over, Daniel, an interpreter who was going to be with us that afternoon and evening, informed us that the family of Dima and Marina Vedernikov along with their son Ilya and daughter Dasha, were waiting for us to go and spend part of the afternoon with them at their apartment, including eating a very delicious meal. On the way to their apartment, Marina asked us if we would witness to her father Gennady, who was going to be there. You see, Gennady had spent most of his life living under communism, and did not believe in God. When we arrived, Gennady was there to greet us. After the meal and the showing of my pictures of our extended family, and the ones of our dog Cookie and cat Tiger and our grandson Cameron, they took a great interest in our lives. That opened the door for us to talk with Gennady, and share with him about God’s love for all mankind. Bruce and I both told him that we wanted to see him in heaven someday. Gennady told of his life, and before we left for the afternoon he was given literature, and he told us he would seriously consider accepting Jesus as his personal savior. We gave some small gifts to each member of the family and GAiN provided an appreciation gift of money for them as our host family. After Bruce had tested their eyes, finding each of them with perfect vision, we gave each of them a pair of sunglasses. We all were so thankful for our time together.                                           

 Story 9 starts shortly after leaving the Vedernikov’s apartment. We were headed for the Church on The Rock to meet a man from one of the Prison Rehab Centers run by this church. We tested the eyesight of this man in the church parking lot and gave him some glasses, then he went to church and we picked up another interpreter named Misha, and headed off to the Rehab Center. There we met a recovering drug addict named Andrei. Andrei along with Sasha the director of this center gave us a tour, showing us among other things a place where the men made caskets, tombstones and memorial wreathes. They also showed us how 16 men live in a 2 bedroom flat. After the tour, we went outside behind the center to test Andrei’s eyes. While there, some passersby noticed what we were doing and asked if they could be tested. We tested them contingent on them promising to go to church with Sasha. Then we had the privilege of giving them a New Testament and other Christian Literature. They asked me if I would sign the books, and I wrote a little like, “I trust that as you read this, that God will reveal Himself to you, and you will trust Him as your Savior,” then signed them. Could this be a divine appointment? Do you see Darkness, Light, Life here? I do! Thank God for these opportunities.

 Story 10 occurred on late Sunday evening at a Homeless Shelter located somewhere in Novokuznetsk, directed by Sasha from Church on The Rock. We had been testing people’s eyes and distributing glasses to many, some of them using a set of crutches to walk in, some with a crutch in one arm and a cane in the other. Some had to be helped in, their eyesight so bad that they could not see where they were going; one man could not speak, just kind of mumble but he had a lady with him who understood his mumbling. 

I noticed a man that had no legs below his knees crawling into this large room on his hands and knees, reached a couch where he could sit and wait his turn. When it came his turn he came and crawled up on the chair next to me. I tested his eyes and gave him some glasses, for which he was so grateful. Then I watched him get down and crawl away (no wheel chair, no crutches) just on his hands and knees. I couldn’t help but think of passages in the Bible such as where the man who was lame from birth sat by the pool waiting for someone to help him in.  Then it struck me, what would I be willing to do in order to get some glasses if I were in this man’s place, or would I be willing to crawl on my hands and knees to hear the gospel, the Good News that Jesus died for me and wants me to be His now and forever more.

 Now that you have read the stories, how will you react? Please pray for these dear people, some are brothers and sisters in Christ, all have heard about Jesus and the churches will do follow up. Please pray for the Church on The Rock, Novoilinskaya Church and the Prokopyevsk Church and their pastors and followers of Christ as they continue on.

 I do have two more stories for you. The first happened during our de-briefing in Novokuznetsk. Each team member had to report on something that impacted them the most. When my turn came I told about the man who crawled on his hands and knees and the thoughts I had, then I continued, “During my time here in Novokuznetsk, I found out that my wife and I have a new granddaughter”. As expected everyone’s mouth opened thinking that one of our sons families had a new baby girl, but I told them no, that our new granddaughter was here in this room. Then I told how a young lady named Melissa from our group had come up to me one day and told me how I reminded her of her “Giddie “– name for grandfather in Lebanese. She had said even though we did not look like each other, that as she looked into my eyes and heard me talk, it really reminded her of her “Giddie.” I would like for you to meet her. She is a teacher in Dallas and her name is Melissa.

Thank all of you who prayed for us and for the financial partners’ investment into eternity.

In Christ,

RON B.

We are still working on a final Siberia trip report. We’re back at work and are making some progress. The trip was totally amazing. We affected countless people along the way, and they affected us as well. We thank you for your prayers and support along the way.

It’s hard to explain what a day with orphans is like. There are so many emotions that fill you. As you meet and talk with them there are emotions of love, caring, pain, happiness, joy, sorry, and fear. Each face is a story, each face is a life. Some stories are filled with abandonment and beatings, some with not knowing a parent, and others with seeing a parent murdered.

The one major emotion we experienced is one I would call ‘needing to share’. To experience a trip like this without sharing it with you would be a loss for everyone. The attached presentation was prepared to let you feel what our days with orphans were like and the hope we gave them. Please take the time to view this presentation if you have a high speed connection. I don’t think it will work over dial-up. Crank up the volume and experience a little of what we saw.

http://home.comcast.net/~fmkgain/orphans/slideshow.html

Mary and I know that we will need to make another trip. We don’t know when or how, but if you would like to make the journey with us someday, then email, call or write us. Your life will never be the same.

To the leaders of GAiN—thank you very much for the gift of $1000 that has been given for our summer camps!  Since our camp season has just begun we can’t tell what has been done to use the money but only what will be done.  We have lots of children who are not well fed at home.  We don’t have prizes for games that the children play.  We will use the money as well as we can – the children need health and positive motivation.  We plan to buy healthy food items like fruit, milk, yogurt, meat—things that will help to strengthen them.  Also we hope to have enough money to buy vitamins for the children.

There are 15 children that come each week to the church to receive a hot meal—they get nothing at home.  Others also are coming to camp from other areas who are in the same situation.  They total 24.  No one is paying for them to be able to attend the camp.  They are so poor that they have never seen simple things like chocolate or soft toys like Beanie Babies.

At camp there are 62 children—one-third are not believers.

For example yesterday evening, we had “evening candle.”  There were girls from poor social conditions. At this camp, they started turning to the Lord and praying. And yesterday, I loved the way they prayed. That during this five days at the camp, they really saw that Jesus is a friend. And the theme of our camp is friendship and we show it in our camp that the best friend is Jesus and that we are to be very careful in the way we choose our friends. And today I had such a joy when in the morning we had “Bible hour” and they recited perfectly the 5 bible verses we gave them during these camp days. And so we can tell that they really learned them and they understand them. I understand that they pray not only together but also on their own, because they run up to me and they say “I’ve been praying and the Lord told me something.”  

Some children prayed for good weather so that they could swim, and when we came to the camp it was very cold. But the next day the weather became hot and before that it had been so cold and it didn’t seem like it could possibly be hot. Many children said “Yes!! I had been praying for this.” One girl told me that she couldn’t swim, but she prayed about it and she learned to swim!

There are some boys who have such bad clothes and I’ve been thinking about where I could get some clothes. It is so interesting to watch them, and to see how they listen to the Bible stories. Even their Bible teacher had never seen them paying so much attention to it. And she really knows them and she was so surprised that they were so interested.  And at first when the kids came, our Christian songs were so strange for them. After three days, and I was going through the hallway and I heard some noise and I decided to see what was going on there. And there were no adults, but all of the children were singing. We just peeped in because we were so scared to disturb them. In our evening service, we call it- “orange,” they come and praise the Lord and show different skits they have learned. We have been there only five or six days. And I think that the more the better! And now unbelievers told us, we will never go to any other camp- only to this one. And they said, I will tell to my parents, I will never go anywhere else. And we can see such a good relationship between the counselors and the children. We are so thankful to the Lord when we look at these children. And we are praying to that some day we may have our own territory (property) where we can have these camps. because now the place where the camp is, is not big. It is so full that we cannot put another child in there and there are so many children who would love to come.  This is our great prayer and we pray as a church that the Lord would grant us an opportunity to buy land for a camp. We also have a desire to organize not only a summer camp but also a winter one.

Words cannot express our hearts full of thanks for your prayers and support with money to make it possible for children to realize their dream to come to camp.  Spaciba!             Tatiana Lapshova, Camp Director

Transformation Baptist Church     June 24, 2007 by Ann Y.

“Church in the Woods”

Transformation Baptist Church, a Siberian church of about 70 members, does not have its own building, so it rents a room at a college in Krasnoyarsk.  This particular Sunday, however, they learned at the last minute that they did not have access to this room.  So, as Pastor Dima put it, God had a surprise for us.  We would be meeting out in the woods. 

After waiting at the college building to communicate the change of plans to church members, we drove the woods.  Fortunately, it was a quiet, beautiful, sunny day with only the mosquitoes to bother us.  As we waited for the rest of the members to arrive, men pulled some tree stumps into a clearing while children played and climbed trees.  Some people brought blankets to sit upon, and others stood for the service. 

Sitting under a canopy of tall fir trees, we began the service with music.  Pastor Dima played the guitar, and two women led the singing.  After several songs, Pastor Dima taught from the book of Ecclesiastes.  Then he invited Jim, my team member to speak.  Jim extended a greeting from America and explained a bit about GAiN’s   mission in Krasnoyarsk.  Then I gave some testimony about the birth of my daughter, Alyssa, with Down syndrome.  The thrust of my message was the guiding principle from Matthew 6:33:  Seek first God’s kingdom in your life, and He will provide all of the other things that He knows are important and necessary for your life.

After I spoke, a young man shared his testimony about how God is freeing him from addiction to drugs and alcohol.  He had just finished rehab and asked for continued prayer.  Then we took a break from the service for water and snacks and to stretch our legs. 

About twenty minutes later, the service resumed with more singing.  One of the songs we sang was Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.  After the music, a visitor gave a sermon based on Ephesians 2:1-10.  What a joy it was to worship and learn God’s word with my Russian brothers and sisters in Christ!

Afterwards, during a time of socializing, one woman was eager to question me about teaching children with Down syndrome.  She has been visiting an orphanage for children with disabilities, or invalids, as they are called in Russia.  She has been helping with several children, and she wanted to learn about teaching reading, writing, and speech to these children.  We talked a bit about some teaching techniques that had worked for us and about therapies, and then she asked the most important question:  How can she teach these children about God?  I replied that I did not believe that God mad a single human being that was unable to have a relationship with Him.  He will make a way for every person, and sometimes the rest of us don’t understand or recognize His ways of communicating with them.  As for practical advice, I encouraged her to read Bible stories with illustrations to the children, to sing songs about God, and to pray with and for them. 

Another poignant question which she asked was about how she can help the parents of these children who are wondering why God did this terrible thing to them.  These parents are not believers and are bitter about having a child born with Down syndrome.  I suggested, most importantly, that she should demonstrate to the parents how to love their children by her words and deeds.  Her care, love, and affection would be an example to the parents.  If she can express joy about qualities and achievements in the children to the parents, then perhaps they will begin to feel more love towards them.  If she is enthusiastic and positive with the parents, then they can learn to see and appreciate the value in the children for themselves. 

In Romans 1:11-12, Paul describes the circle of encouragement that occurs when we visit believers to share with them how God is at work in our lives.  I believe that the “Church in the Woods” was a perfect example of the relationship that Paul described.

Romans 1:11-12:  “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”  

Irina’s Impressions  (KR4)  6.20.06 

I would like to share from my heart on a comment from a lady who was at the society of disabled people.  She has a disabled little girl who is in the society.   She was invited to come this day because of the guests from the USA.

When Fred shared the message of the Gospel with our small group, that lady listened to him attentively and with an open heart.  She said that she believed in God like all people around her and even asked God to help in times of need, but she had not thought about a personal relationship with God.  She was surprised at the simple way to come to Jesus and the simple words we could pray to Him at any time and place.  She said, “If you don’t here, I couldn’t know about all these things.”

What a joy to share the Truth and to make Him known!!

Our interpreter Olga’s impressions   6.26.07

“I think your ministry is very important.  It was a very depressing sight to see the children from the orphanages.  Of course, they need love so much that your coming and attention was a great gift for them.  I think that your love is maybe more important for them that the words you have said.  And I believe that one they will hear about God again and the love they received from you will help them to repent.  I also know that your support to the orphanages help us to continue working with kids here.  It was well seen in all sights that the directors of the orphanages were appreciated.  God Bless you!”

Yana’s Impressions as an Interpreter   6.26.07

I am a teacher of English and sometimes I also work as an interpreter.  I don’t know why, but God wanted me to be on this mission because He made all the circumstances change and here I am (my 2 regular jobs were over and the travel agency that gave me this assignment had found me, I had never worked for them before).

I have always believed in God.  I remember as a 5 year old girl praying to God, but can’t say I was a Christian.  I know I am a good person, but then what?  Thank you, Crystal, you taught me what a real Christian is.  Now I have a strong desire to become a Christian and I know I will.

The job which GAiN made for the orphanages is enormously important.  During this week, I have seen a lot of happy faces.  I hope that many souls were saved this week.  The way GAiN missionaries treated people taught me a lot.  The fact that we are of different nationality and have to talk through the interpreters made no barrier because how you talk through eyes and heart is beautiful.  Thank God, I got to know people who can be an example for me.  I got to know beautiful women, perfect loving mothers, intelligent partners and interesting personalities.  I got to know men, who showed me what is love and who are perfect examples of how a man should treat a woman and what a happy marriage is.

I thank our group and I thank God for the chance to be with you.  This experience is priceless and I will never forget you.

Our interpreter Zemfera’s impression 6.25.07

It was a great pleasure for me to have fellowship with your team.  All things you did and showed were of great importance, especially your performances.  They impressed the children very much and me too.  Especially the performances about the sins and the broken heart.

Trip planning was well organized.  All the members of the team are so kind and nice people and are real Christians.  They always smile and laugh and their faces are shining.  That is unusual for Russians.

You never waste time.  You used the short time while riding for devotions and testimonies.  It helped to strengthen me spiritually, also.  I love all the members of your team.  Ann’s smile is so brilliant.  Mike’s good singing and “the old red rooster he is going to kill” I will sing 10 times a day.  I give thanks to Jim for writing this song.  Stuart’s maturity in many ways is high for his age.  I knew the two Christian couple, they are really happy in Christ, they reflect God’s love.  Peggy is a cool grandmother indeed.  She is a good example for me and for other Russian people.  Crystal and Dale are such nice women.  Every one of you is so precious to me. This time from June 18-25 is unforgettable for me.  All things, talking, meetings with kids and people were pleasing.

 “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)”

 “Lord, what does it mean to be like you?” I asked silently in my heart as I crossed 13 time zones into the often Forgotten Frontier of Novokuznetsk, Siberia. The answer would later come in the form of a 65 year old Babushka (grandmother).

During this trip I had the joy of performing a dance that I choreographed to a song called, “Knees to the Earth,” as a ministry to the fatherless, the weary, the sick, and the poor. The song goes, “Be blessed, be loved, be lifted high, be treasured here, be glorified. I owe my life to you my Lord. Here I am.” Often times the words were not understood, but the heart and message was.

On Sunday, I attended a small Protestant church in Novokuznetsk run by Pastor Pasha Perogova. The church was very small, with seating for no more than 30 people, no air conditioning, and no bathrooms, but more of the love of God than its humble walls could ever contain.

After the worship service came to an end, I was brought up to dance. When I was finished I sat back down sweaty, breathless, and dirty, but excited that I could use what I love doing the most. Shortly after I sat down, a little old Babushka gently took me by the hand and led me to a room outback. Not having any idea of where I was going, I wondered if she was going to try to feed me again, as hospitality is an enormous part of Russian culture. But she would not.

Instead she sat me down on a small wooden bench and took off my shoes. She placed an empty basin under my feet, and began to wash them with water she had spent time heating up. On her knees, this kind woman carefully washed away the dirt that had accumulated from dancing barefoot. When she was done, she took a clean towel and dried my feet, making sure she did not miss anything.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and all I could say was, “Spasiba, Spasiba Bolshoy,” which means “Thank you, Thank you so much.” She then kissed my feet and put my shoes back on, and said, “I love you,” in Russian.

I cannot express what an honor it was for me to have this happen. I really believe that God allowed her to serve me in this way that I might really see what it means to be like Jesus. This woman took me into a separate room that no one might know what she was doing. She served me out of a simple desire to please the Lord.

What a lesson this has been for me. She showed me what it is to follow Philippians 2:3 which says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves.” What a precious moment, and what a precious woman. Surely she will receive her reward for her act of kindness when one day she gets to see Jesus.