Global Aid Network Mission Reports

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

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.

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.

Greetings from Kursk.

We are all doing well. Ministry work has been fantastic!

Thank you for praying - it is making our job so fulfilling.

See you soon.

This morning we attended the Baptist Church.  Although I did not understand the words to the songs, the harmony and singing was beautiful.  After church, my interpreter had the privilege of visiting Sasha’s house for lunch. 

He is a Beliver with a heart for prison ministry.  As he told me 15 ½ years of his life he spent in prison for robbery and other crimes and also had a life with drugs.  However, it was in prison that He heard about Jesus Christ and became a Christian.  Now, it is with great joy and passion that he goes back into the same prison where he was to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

He has been married for a year and says he feels so blessed by God with his wife and 5 month old daughter.  He has a dream of one day owning his own house and using it as a center for those who have been released from prison.  Helping them to adjust, teaching them about Christ and giving them a place to stay until they are able to get out on their own.  He told me there is nothing in Krasnoyarsk currently like this for prisoners once they have been released.  He is praying that God will grant him this place.  

Walking into the room filled with skeletal bunk beds and elderly women was a shock.  Ten women sat quietly on ten green metal bunk beds that were crammed into a small, joyless room.  The beds consisted of pitifully thin mattresses settled upon thin bare metal stretched across the bed frame.  All I could think about was how in the world could these elderly, ailing women climb up to the top bunks to sleep?

Two or three of the women were not elderly.  The youngest was perhaps in her mid forties, and another told me she was fifty-five years old.     The remaining women were beyond retirement age and should have been receiving care in nursing homes.  Unfortunately, as Dennis, our Russian coordinator informed us, you must have special documents to enter a nursing home, and the waiting list is horrendously long.  Without the special documents, you are doomed to fend for yourself.  Most of the women sat on their beds to talk with us, but one was sleeping and two rested quietly on their beds.

We began our time together with some questions to get to know a bit about their lives.  The women were initially reluctant to share; however soon Tanya, a woman of 55 years, began to tell her story.  As a young woman, she had been active in skiing competitively.  She got married after that and had two daughters.  Sometime thereafter, her husband left her and she raised her children on her own.  She told how she had worked extra-long hours to support her children.  Now her children are grown and married.  Both have husbands and comfortable livings.  As the story unfolded, Tanya was clearly disappointed and bitter that both her daughters could help her with her homeless situation, but they chose not to do so.  Now that she is 55 and living in a homeless shelter, she related that her life has no purpose and she is useless.  Another woman, perhaps in her upper sixties, explained that she had once been an engineer, and now she had to live in the homeless shelter.  She did not share what had brought her to the point of homelessness.   As we began to share our pictures of our lives, the women seemed to enjoy hearing about our families.  It prompted more of them to tell us a bit more about their own families – especially their grandchildren.  They were curious about life in America and asked many more questions.

It was my privilege to share with them my testimony about how the Lord poured hope into my hopeless heart and brought restoration to my broken relationships.  Using the gospel bead bracelet as a tool, I explained the gospel message to them.  As I talked, several women asked thoughtful questions about God, the Holy Spirit, prayer, and heaven.  When I told them what the Bible says about the beauty and wonder of heaven – no pain, no tears, no good-byes, and perfect fellowship with other believers — they were surprised; when I shared that we would be in the face-to-face presence of Jesus Christ, they were dumbfounded!  One woman exclaimed, “That is impossible!”  I assured her that it was absolutely true and she looked so pleased.  Another asked about prayer.  She wanted to know if I knew any special prayers.  (In the Russian Orthodox Church, there are special prayers and special places to pray.)  I shared that the Bible tells us that prayer is simply a conversation with God, and that He is always available to talk.  They were again astonished to learn that they could pray anywhere, even in their own beds. 

In telling them about Jesus, I did my best to communicate in word and deed that each woman was beautiful and special to God and to me.  I told them that for as long as they were living that God wanted to give their lives purpose and meaning.   Then I prayed with them.  After we prayed, I told them that if they had decided today to trust Jesus with the rest of their lives, then we were now sisters in Christ and that it would be my joy to meet them again one day in heaven.  Then I hugged each woman.

I don’t know for sure which of those dear women made a decision to trust Christ that day, but I know that they have much to ponder.  I will continue to pray for them and ask you to pray also.

On June 21, 2007, God blessed us with many unique opportunities to serve and honor Him.  We also got the chance to have a little fun as well.  We spent today being able to practice some of the Russian language, serving at a house being built by Mercy Ministries, visiting a Rehabilitation Center for Children, visiting a Center of Temporary Isolation of Minors and spending time in believers’ homes for dinner. 

Our first stop this morning was an opportunity to practice some of the Russian language and also experience some Russian culture.   Our interpreters took our team members to the local supermarket where we were able to get a taste of what it is like to grocery shop in Russia.  We were given the tasks of purchasing food that we would later enjoy at a picnic that afternoon.  We all had quite a bit of fun trying out the Russian phrases we have learned since being on the trip.   It was interesting to see how such a daily chore in the United States is carried out in Russia. 

Our next stop provided us the experience to learn more about Mercy Ministries, which is one of our partnering ministries that we have been working with here in Vladimir.  We journeyed out to a house that is being built by Mercy Ministries.  The house is being built to provide a loving and nurturing family environment for up to 12 orphans.   In 1 John 3:18, the Gospel reads:  “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”   Our team was able to fulfill this Scripture by providing insulation that was greatly needed for the building of this house.  Each team member was given the opportunity to pray over the house.   Mercy Ministries’ prayer requests are for adequate help to be provided so that construction can be completed on the house.  Mercy Ministries also requests prayer while they try to obtain more land so that the Ministry can one day build a whole village of homes to support orphans.   The team was privileged to get a glimpse of God’s hand working here in Russia.

Our site visits for today included visiting a Rehabilitation Center for Children and a Center of Temporary Isolation of Minor Delinquents.   The team was split in two for this ministry opportunity.  At both centers, our team was able to interact with the children through a question and answering game.   Questions were asked about each other’s lives, as well as spiritual topics.  We were given the opportunity to spark discussion about God’s Word and our relationships with Him.   I believe this ministry opportunity allowed our team to offer hope and plant seeds in the lives of these children who have experienced trials in their lives.    

This evening we had an opportunity to fellowship with other believers through Mercy Ministries.   We split into small groups and each went to a pastor or interpreters home for dinner and fellowship.  Kristin W. of NC had this to say about her visit:   “I never would have imagined that I could come overseas and be able to fellowship in the home of Russians who are believers.  We were able to share our testimonies and what the Lord is doing in our lives.   We also sang worship songs in English and Russian.  I was reminded of the verse in Matthew 18:20 which reads, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”   This praise and worship experience is something I will never forget.

Christy  (site KR5)  by Zemfira (our Russian interpreter)  June 21, 2007

I was sitting on a chair in the hall.  A girl of 8 with long blonde hair sat down next to me.  I hugged her with my left hand and asked her name and age.  Her name was Christy.  I thought that she was not Russian because this name is not typical for Russian girls.  Because of her blonde hair, blue eyes and her name, I thought she might be from Estonia.  I asked if she was Estonian.  She nodded that she was and said that she and her mother are suffering persecution at school and at work because of this.  “Why don’t you leave Siberia for Estonia?” I asked.  “Because we are afraid of being persecuted there even more than here,” she said.  She pressed her body against mine as if she wanted to find shelter.  Then we stopped talking because the presentation began. 

After the large group presentation, all the children were divided in smaller groups of four and Christy was not in my group.  However, when we all went out of the school, she found me in the yard and came to talk to me. 

She said that I was kind to her and she loved me.  Then, she asked me a question “Is it true if you believe in Christ, He will never leave you?”  I answered, “Yes, of course it’s true.  He will be your first and main Helper and Savior.  Your name comes from Christ.  You even have the same name.  Did you know about it?”  She responded, “No, I didn’t”.  I gently asked her, “Would you like me to pray for you right now?”  With a sweet tenderness she said, “Yes”. 

I began to pray and asked God’s protection for her at school and among her friends.   I asked God’s blessing for her studies, health and her personal relationship with God.  The girl was happy; she received all things absolutely.  She was full of faith and hope that all things in her life will happen in this way. 

My desire is to meet her again.  I will try to find her and to learn something more about her life and her relationship with Jesus Christ.  I loved her and miss her.  I want to have to get to know her personally and to teach her about the verses from Romans 12:18-19 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay’, says the Lord”

I praise the Lord that He gave me the chance to be a member of the wonderful team through Global Aid Network.  The kids need you!  It is like a great holiday for most of them.  I am sure they will keep in memory your songs, your stories, your presents and words of the Gospel.  Even, I myself enjoyed having fellowship with you.  Thank you!   Come again to our city in Krasnoyarsk, to these children, and to our church. 

Friday morning we visited a homeless shelter.  Since it was raining, our group and all the residents met in a long narrow corridor.  When we broke into small groups, we were assigned the men’s dormitory.  Surprisingly a few men had not joined us in the corridor, but had stayed in bed.  Upon further inspection, I knew why.  Most were missing one or more of their legs or feet.  The director said some of them had lost their limbs due to the bitter cold in winter.  With no place to stay, they suffered from the cold and sometimes lost limbs from frostbite.  One was deaf, mute and had a paralyzed right arm. 

They gave us their attention during our presentation.  Examining our photographs and listening intently during the Gospel bead presentation. 

One of the men, who indicated he had prayed with us, asked if I could take a photograph with him and someone special.  That someone special turned out to be his son who was missing a part of his foot. 

I gladly took the photograph knowing the man and his son would never see it.  As we departed, hugged each other and shook hands, the man indicated he would pray for us.  How humbling it was for him to be praying for us.

June 20th update as reported by Linda S.:

The day started with a great surprise – or I should say an opportunity to flex.  Our trip to a boarding school was cancelled.   So we were invited to visit an additional six homes of local people.  The family Tim B., Kristin W., and I visited had four teenagers along with their mother living in a two room flat.   They were Armenian and although Armenian women usually don’t work outside the home, she has had to take a job washing dishes in a restaurant to feed her family.   The father lives near and occasionally will take them a bag of potatoes or some vegetables.  Otherwise there is very little contact with him.  

As Kristin and Tim looked at family pictures, the mother, myself, and Inna (our interpreter) visited together.   She was really touched by the picture and news that my grand-daughter is ill with cystic fibrosis and may not live to be an adult.  She confided in me that her oldest son was run over by a car when he was just seven years old.   I shared with her about my sister, husband, and mother dying within the same six months of the year 2000.  I was also able to explain to her how Christ held me up during that time and continues to do so today.   She was very easy to talk with thanks to Inna.

She was very pleased to see the gifts I brought her children as well as those gifts from Global Aid Network.   The large print Bible really blessed her.  Soon the mother had to leave for work.  The children didn’t want us to leave so we stayed and visited awhile answering many questions about America.  Inna invited them to the summer camp that her church is going to be having in July.  Hopefully the seed we planted today will start to grow one day and bloom into a new relationship with the Lord.