Global Aid Network Mission Reports

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.

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.

February 8, 2007

Women’s Rehabilitation Ministry for drug addicts and alcoholics:  House of Mercy

This outreach of Teen Challenge was started in 1995.  But today was a special day of remembrance and celebration of Zariah, the director of the boy’s program.  One year ago today she and three others from the ministry were tragically killed by a drunk driver as she was on her way home from her birthday celebration.  Zariah had devoted many years to reaching out to the young boys who were drug addicts and alcoholics, even living on the river bank with them until they could find housing.  Doug Boyle, the Founder and Director said. “In the Old Testament when God wanted to show that something was special, He would send unexpected visitors that were not part of the family. Today God has sent a large group of visitors to share in this day.” 

The Global Aid Network team had a wonderful time of sharing and then broke into smaller groups to share personal stories and testimonies.  The team met Aleeya, a mom of a 2 year old boy named Bebas.  Bebas’ father had deserted the family.  Aleeya has been part of the program for two years.

Sania aged 20 with her 10 month old baby girl Albina was homeless until she came to House of Mercy seven months ago.  As the team shared the Gospel bead bracelet, Sania bowed her head and prayed along.  Now she will have an Eternal Home.

Several young women who said that they had come to believe in Christ, asked that we would pray for them to have the strength to complete this program and stay drug and alcohol free. 

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February 8, 2007

Men’s Rehabilitation Center:  House of Hope

The team had spent about 5 ½ hours at the memorial and celebration service followed by ministry time at Teen Challenge House of Mercy.  We were tired and ready to return to the hotel after a full day but we had one more site of ministry at the Men’s Rehabilitation Center of Teen Challenge: House of Hope.  As the bus drove onto the property our team was overwhelmed at what we saw.  Lining both sides of the driveway were men awaiting our arrival.  We got off the bus and walked toward the meeting hall with the men clapping and cheering as we passed by.  Our spirits were lifted and our energy returned.  We spent the next several hours learning about their program for drug and alcohol recovery and sharing with the men.  Our bus captain shared that it is important to not only make Jesus our Savior but to also make Him Lord of all of our life, as the men start a new life with Jesus, Doug Boyle said, “Because of your visit here, the men have had a happy time.”  They were encouraged by our visit, but we were encouraged by their faith.

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February 9, 2007

Home visits

Bible Mission International had names of 16 families with children who had special needs.  The team divided into four groups to visit these homes using two cars and two vans.  Scott H., Ron T., and Judy W. visited the home of Raushan and her 3 year old son Dustan.  Dustan was born with many complications including blindness.  She said that her family had advised her to put him in an orphanage, but she refused because she said, “He is my life.”  The team shared about their lives in America.  Raushan said that she followed a non-Christian religion.  The Gospel message was shared by the team and then they prepared to leave but Raushan said, “No, you must stay for tea.  It is Kazak tradition.”   So the team stayed.  As Raushan prepared tea she related this story, “I know that what you tell me is important because God sent me a dream.  Three days ago I had a dream that three Americans would come: two men and one woman in a red car.  And when I looked outside and saw the red car with Americans – two men and one woman, I believed this is from God.”  Scott replied, “I hope you now understand how important this story is about Jesus Christ.”  Raushan shook her head in agreement.

Tuesday, Feb 6 2007

Morning site

Site Name: Orphanage (Detention Center)

The members of the Purple bus drove down the streets of Almaty to the first site.  On the way we stopped off at the container to pick up supplies for this and other visits.  This container was filled with backpacks, clothes, books and wheelchairs that had been shipped over. 

As the group turned down the street to the orphanage, they passed a small playground.  Raeesa S., (the assistant director) explained that this playground was part of the plan for the 20 children who lived there.  She explained that this was a special house for kids.  Their parents might be alcoholics, homeless, or drug addicts.  “Such kinds of kids we take care of if their parents don’t want them or cannot take care of them.  The state sends them to us to have stability in their life.  We teach them and take care of them while they are in transition to another orphanage.  Here they get medical care, food and clothing.    This is the only center of its kind in Kazakhstan.” 

The group was treated to a tour of the home and the children were eager to receive gifts and backpacks.  As the director explained, “This is a place where we want to help the children and their parents.  There are no bars on our doors or windows.  The parents can come to visit with their children.  And the children can go home for a time, too.  We do not have a runaway problem here. In Russia there is a fairy tale about a small pretty house.  So we call our home “Pretty House”.  Through believers like you we know that there is a God and God loves these children and their parents.  We want these parents to come to repentance and know God, too.  Through your presents, your joy and you being here with these children you show love”.

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Tuesday Feb 6, 2007

Afternoon site

Special Boarding School for Difficult Teens

“Thirty eight children live in this facility now.   They might stay one month or one year.  They are here because of a decision of the court.  Parents can visit.  Either the children or the parents have problems,” said Tolgat Kaleivich, the director of this facility.  But even though the school was supposed to be for difficult teens, the group found the children to be loving and attentive. 

One class of eight kids listened as the Gospel was shared.  Only one boy was not receptive.  But as the Bibles were given out he said, “This Bible is in Kazak.  I will read it.”

The staff and teachers were glad to see the Global Aid Network team again this year.  Just like last year they were given a packet of vegetable and flower seeds.   One teacher who had gotten seeds last year said, “For many years I have planted a garden and didn’t grow anything.  But with the seeds you gave me last year the garden was lovely!  I am so excited to get these seeds again!”

Director Kaleivich thanked the group for coming.  “You are heroes to come all this way to visit us.  As bus captain Scott H., closed our time at the school with prayer in Jesus’ name, Director Kaleivich added, “That’s a person you can trust in.  He is my Savior, too.”

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February 7, 2007

Children’s Rehabilitation Medical Center

On Wednesday the Children’s Rehabilitation Medical Center in Almaty celebrated its 15th birthday and we were a part.  This is a non-government organization devoted totally to parents and children with special needs; mentally handicapped, Down syndrome, autistic and other physical handicaps.  Director Myra Suleeva explained that this place provides both social instruction and medical care for the children.  They are taught fundamental things and also simple skills that will be useful.  She explained, “Since this type of child is very difficult for the parents, we also provide psychological help for them so that the parents will have positive influence on the growth of the children.  Here in Kazakhstan a parent can reject such a child if it is not healthy.  We work so that these children can be part of a family.  We teach parents to work with these handicapped children.  The children spend the day with us and go to their homes in the evening.”

The team provided backpacks, children’s coats, and Bibles.  A washing machine was also purchased for the center.  Seeds were given to the parents and staff.