Global Aid Network Mission Reports

July 20, 2008 – Local Church Visits

On Sunday, July 20th, the team divided into several teams to visit churches that are partnering with Global Aid Network during the mission to Novokuznetsk.  The team visited Church on the Rock (Novokuznetsk;  Kuibyshevsky District; Mezhdurechensk; Mundybash) and the Novoilyinskaya Church.  Kristie K. who attended a church being held in a home shared:

“Going to the home church in Mundybash was very special - meeting a group of about 15 people who were fire for the Lord. You could see in their eyes that the Love of God was in them. My favorite part of the day was when we were worshipping together with them in their small living room.  You could feel that God was there and that their church will continue to grow.”

After sharing in the various church services, mission participants visited the homes of members of the local churches for lunch.  Later, many participants expressed sincere gratitude to the families who served so much out of the very little that they had.

Please continue to pray for the churches in Novokuznetsk and specifically for God to provide a building for the church in Mundybash.

July 19, 2008 – Christian Camp of the Church on the Rock “Father’s Heart”

As the bus pulled up to the camp site, the mission participants saw children lining the walkway to the old dormitory building.  The director of the camp, Verevkina Olga Pavlovna had prepared the highest welcome for the team – baked bread and salt.  As the team walked through the lines, they were showered with flowers by the children.

After a brief presentation by the children, the mission team presented a program and later divided into small groups to share more one to one time with the children.  It was a fun-filled day which involved a ‘pilgrim’s progress’ game and a football match between the USA and Russia.  This was the day that football lovers on the mission team had anticipated since the beginning of the week.  The friendly match ended in USA- 4; Russia-3.  The MVP for the USA would definitely go to Kristie K., chief goal keeper for the team.

The fellowship enjoyed by each member of the mission team, children and camp counselors was great!  At the end of the day smiles radiated from the faces of the children and members of the team, as they said their goodbyes.

The team also made an unscheduled stop at an outdoor camp by a river, for children with disability being hosted by Church on the Rock.  Matthew O. shared a powerful testimony of God’s goodness and how God has made all of us special and Charles D. presented the gospel using the bead bracelet.  Each child received a CarePack and the campers expressed their appreciation by giving members of the team necklaces made from sticks – a craft they had prepared during their camp.

July 18, 2008 – Center of Social Service to People of Mezhdurechensk

The team visited the center for families with low income, single mothers and large families in Mezhdurechensk.  After sharing a brief program with more than 80 people, the team divided into six small groups to share pictures and the present the gospel of Christ.

In one group, the participants were eager to hear about Christ and asked several questions about heaven and hell and whether or not we believed it was real.  It was evident that they were searching for an answer to life and that they had pondered these matters in their hearts for some time.  As members of the team pointed out the reality of heaven and hell and our desire to see them all in heaven, we shared the gospel of Christ using the bead bracelet.

At least three people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior in that small room that day.  We praise the Lord for allowing us to get a glimpse of what can happen in a person’s life when we share the love of Christ with them.

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.

Both bus teams drove off east of Chernivtsi to similar hospital and elder care visits this morning.  We drove by miles of planted sunflowers that stretched out for many acres across rolling hills.  The sun was brilliant and made each blossom glow as it reflected the light of the sun.  It was a parable for our teams to be the light of Jesus and shine forth with His glory.  

After a bit of searching the Yellow Bus team was greeted by the hospital administrator who escorted us to four separate wings where we were free to minister to the needs of patients.  We had brought toys for the children’s section in addition to Bible story books for the parents to read to their children.  We divided again into smaller groups to better minister to the families in each small room, and proceeded to explain the gospel bracelet to the parents and children.  We were well received in each room and had opportunity to relate our reason for coming to the situation of each patient.  

One mother especially related to us as she told us that she had undergone heart surgery some years ago, and now her son needed the same.  Adele R. explained and showed family pictures of her own daughter who had also undergone heart surgery.  They had matching scars.  When I began to explain the heart bead on the gospel bracelet, the mother interrupted me to say that she was a believer and gave all the credit for her healing not to the doctors, but to God.  We cried together and prayed in a circle of fellowship.  Her son was old enough to be able to read the Bible stories himself, and we left with the assurance that they would both be praising God.

Similar experiences were encountered by those in the other wings of this large hospital while those on the Brown Bus had opportunity to minister to the needs of the elderly in the Home for Women that was visited.

As we ate our sack lunches on the bus it began to grow warm, and we were happy to see that our afternoon site was surrounded by large shade trees.  Pastor Anatoly met us there and we were able to place all of the food and gift bags in the public building before the crowd arrived.  The early arrivers were treated to a bit of sport as three beach balls were tossed and caught and returned again in utter delight to the children.  Soon every child in the village was participating and then suddenly at the appointed time they all rushed into the auditorium to get their choice of “best" seats.  By this time the parents had arrived as well, and after a long walk in the heat of the day the cool building was a welcome relief.  Our mission was explained through our translators, several songs were sung and translated, testimonies were given to further explain our backgrounds, the bracelets were given out and the gospel was presented to a full room of attentive souls.  After the sinner’s prayer was presented, a review was given as the small card explanations were given out.  Then the gift bags were given out to each row and visiting began.  More pictures and testimonies were shared individually, and the children enjoyed more time with the beach balls.

  When all the families had left, Pastor Anatoly invited us into the nearby former school house that was now a community gathering spot and treated us to ice cream which was very refreshing in the late afternoon.  On our long bus ride back to Chernivtsi clouds gathered and lightning flashed as rain poured down, watering this verdant countryside which stays perpetually green.    As the rain refreshed the golden sunflower fields, so too our ministry this day refreshed our hearts.

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.

July 17, 2008 – Retirement Center, Mezhdurechensk

The team visited a retirement community – home to more than 60 people.  After sharing our program with approximately 30 of the residents, the team divided into two groups where some shared with the residents who were unaided and others visited those confined to bed.  Libby S. shared:

“I went in to visit with people who could not leave their rooms and I went into the room of a guy who had one leg.  He was from a different region of Russia – one of the Asian regions near Mongolia.  He was lying on his back and had a lot of junk on his chest.  He didn’t seem as if he was doing very well – he was very frail, only skin and bones.  He wasn’t very responsive until we walked up to him and shook his hands and introduced ourselves.  The moment we did that, he became very alert, hanging on to every word we said.  He had so much emotion in his face – he couldn’t believe we had come to visit him.  The more we spoke, the more he seemed so happy that we had come.  We showed him some pictures and explained our faith using the bead bracelet.  He was very attentive and said he would want to pray later.  He took the card and hung it on a handle he had over his bed.  We asked if we could pray over him and he said we could, so we did.  He was really appreciative of that.  Charles D. came into the room and massaged his hands and he was extremely grateful.  We went to another room and when we came back, he was still waiting for us to pass by so that he could wave goodbye to us.  He craved interaction and seemed so lonely.  I got his address so that we can maybe write to him later.

A second man had just arrived the day before we got there.  He was blind and he was really happy.  We handed him a Cowboy hat that Aaron had and he felt it and laughed.  We tried it on him and asked him questions.  We told him we had a gift for him – the bracelet.  He just held his hand out ready to put it on.  He followed down each bead with his finger as I was explaining the bead bracelet.  In the middle of sharing he asked me to ensure that he had his finger on the right bead – he insisted on it.  He was nodding his head and taking it all in.  When I got to the end, I said, “You can either pray with us right now to invite Jesus into your life or you can pray on your own later”.  He wanted to pray immediately.  The translator read the prayer and he prayed after every phrase she said – he did so quickly and boldly.  It was so good to hear him be so confident in his prayer.  That was a really exciting and blessed time for me.”

July 17, 2008 – Center of Social Assistance of Families and Children

The team visited the Center of Social Assistance of Families and Children in Mezhdurechensk to distribute humanitarian aid including CarePacks and share the gospel and love of Jesus Christ to the more than 40 children at the facility.

“We are extremely grateful that you came,” said the director Ivanovna, cherishing the gifts that the team brought for the facility and the children.  She later explained that their program caters for children from low income families and that they were currently hosting a one-month summer camp.

More aid is needed to assist this facility with the work they are doing for the more than 800 children they see each year.  Please continue to pray that God will provide for them, through us, local church partners and other donors. 

July 16, 2008 - Central Program, Rehabilitation Center, Novokuznetsk

After visiting the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center being operated by Church on the Rock in Novokuznetsk, Dawna D. commented:

“Being at the rehab centre was so special to me – I had gone there years ago with Pastor Andrei (Church on the Rock, Novokuznetsk)  and saw this building that was not yet together and heard his vision for it to become a Christian rehab center.  Seeing it once again, up and running and the fruit that has come out of it, walking in, seeing the men and the light of Christ in their faces was great.  What impacted me the most was seeing Zhenia, operating as the director of the center.   I had met him 6 years ago in prison #16 as an inmate.  The next time I saw him, he was released, attending Church on the Rock and growing in his faith.  He eventually got married and now has 2 children.  I am telling you, that what you see in these few days is amazing - you might touch a life and come back later to see the progression of these people continuing to walk in Christ and deepening their walk with Him and multiply.  As Zhenia led a song, playing on the guitar and the men in the center stood up and sang to us, everyone had their eyes closed and fully worshipping God – we were seeing transformation right before our very eyes.”

July 16, 2008 - Children’s Hospital #3

On Wednesday, July 16th the team divided into two groups – one group visited a Juvenile Detention Center and the other group visited a rehabilitation center.  Our second ministry outreach location for the day was the Pediatric Department for Abandoned Children.  The site left a memorable impression on Emily W. who wrote:

“We arrived at the baby hospital about an hour behind the first group, and we were told we might not get to go in and see the babies.  By God’s grace we were given a gift of 15 minutes to visit.  The room that I went into had four babies, one of them was sleeping but Jeremy, my teammate, and I got to hold the other three – it really touched me to see how sweet and loving Jeremy was with them.  The hardest thing for me was wanting to hold all of them at the same time.  They soaked up the love we were giving them as if they were a sponge.  A very special moment for me was holding one of the baby girls, Mischa, and carrying her over to see her roommate – they were enamored with each other.  As I held one, the other held on to my finger.  I wish I were still there, they gave me such a huge gift in that moment.  I will cherish it forever!”

July 16, 2008 – Detention Facility for Juvenile Criminals

Twelve members of the team visited the Detention Facility for Juvenile Criminals on Wednesday, July 16th.  The facility holds approximately 60 juveniles awaiting trial for various crimes including murder and robbery.  The team met with 24 boys and 3 girls during the visit.  Aaron D. wrote:

“On Tuesday, we went to the Juvenile Detention Center and I had a really amazing time.  We went through security and went into a small room where they brought in some of the detainees – there were two groups.  We started out singing songs and did a drama depicting how man was created in harmony with God and is later distracted by the things of this world – money, alcohol, drugs.  It shows how God steps in to rescue us. It was really amazing how it paralleled the lives of some of the young men in the room – many of whom could have been my brother.  After the drama we used the bead bracelet to present the gospel - you could see some of them in deep thought as they contemplated what we were telling them. 

I am not sure how many accepted Christ that day, but for those who did not I believe they will in God’s timing.  It is incredible to see how things are here.  When we got done with the second group, we asked them specifically if we could pray for them and it was just remarkable how many hands went up – at least half of them wanted to be prayed for.  I praise God for what He is doing here - that new brothers and sisters are coming to Him.  I cannot wait to see what God will do in the next year!”

One of the orphanage directors complimented us on coming from half way around the world with humanitarian aid, but asked specifically for prayer.  Today we finished three days of working with Masha (Maria) Vasilli at the orphanages and care homes for invalids where she regularly ministers.  We were given a list of prioritized items that each of the facilities needs.  Tomorrow we will be taking up an offering for those needs.  Pray that sufficient funds will be raised from our volunteers to provide for these needs.

The Brown Bus went to a home for 180 women ages 18 and older who have mental handicaps.  At the same time the Yellow Bus went to a home for 120 male and female invalids from ages 4 to 39 that need constant supervision.  When we arrived, the residents were very nervous and several were crying loudly.  We walked in and began shaking hands and saying good morning to each one with some success, however, when we began to sing ”How Great Thou Art” they became much more quiet and attentive.  The gospel presentation was shortened to a simple emphasis on the love of God the Father and the shed blood of Jesus.  After a prayer for their well being, gifts of stuffed teddy bears and stickers were handed to to them.  These were received with great big smiles.  Some of the residents were able to read the brief gospel explanation that is attached to each stuffed animal.   The care givers suggested that we not give out the backpacks as they already had much more stimulation than they were used to having.  We avoided taking flash pictures in order to not disturb them.  As we left with more handshakes among the men residents, there were more smiles and relative quiet.  We felt humbled to be able to minister to the least of these for whom Jesus died.

The Yellow Bus went to one of the Baptist churches which was named House of Prayer.  A church outreach program had been planned for 100 children and their parents, but the heavy rain in the afternoon kept about half that number from coming.   We sang for this group and explained where we had come from.  We had a fun time with the world map trying to locate where Ukraine was; one adult couldn’t find it, but a child did.  The full gospel bead presentation was made with encouragement to consider what had been explained, and either pray the prayer now of when the individual was alone.  The distribution of food, Bibles, New Testaments, and Josh McDowell’s ‘More Than a Carpenter’ was supplemented by choices of shoes and clothes.  Most left much burdened with goodies.

This evening both bus groups returned to this church for an evening worship service which proved that the name of the church reflected the practice of the church.   Pastoral prayer was followed by congregational prayers of petition.  The congregation stood for the pastoral prayers and scripture reading but knelt for the petitions which erupted spontaneously throughout the body at the appointed time.  When GAiN persons were introduced, the congregation again stood to say “Thank you.”  There was no clapping for soloist or testimony or choir, but there were a few vocal “amen’s” and “praise God.”  The tall curved ceiling of the sanctuary created a perfect acoustical balance for the choir renditions which were mostly native hymns.  Congregational singing was joyful and harmonious.  The final choir piece was “Majesty” done acapella with Ukrainian words: this was a foretaste of heaven!

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.