May in Novo

Novo is short for Novosibirsk, a nickname given to this city by the first American missionaries back in the 90s

Greetings dear friends! Besides being the most beautiful month here in Siberia, May was also a very busy month for some people in this area.
We had a Free Business Seminar in the beginning of this month and made some very good contacts with local business people.I personally enjoyed working with the team who came all the way from Nashville, TN to conduct 5 free seminars for Russian small business owners and those who wish to know more about some areas of business. There was no evangelism during the seminars but the speakers were free to share their views on life and faith in personal discussions.They sowed good seeds and by God's grace we shall see them grow.

Shortly after the seminars a 2-week ESL course started - the 3rd one this year. Some Christians are prejudiced about such projects but in this part of the world it proved to be a very good way to bring people's attention to Christ. I personally know a number of people who came to Christ through their interest in languages. There were 12o students enrolled in this ESl and only about 10% of them were Christians! It means that more than 100 unbelievers got to sing worship songs( we use them for English practice) in a Baptist church ( that graciously let us use their rooms) for the first time in their lives! Most of them heard the Gospel message and their teacher's testimony too. Praise the Lord!

On Saturday we had a good-bye party for all the ESL teachers and students of a 2 week course and it was also a big Birthday party for one of the teachers and myself:)I believe there were more than 60 people singing Happy Birthday to us - it was pretty unusual.

Last Sunday I joined a team of C C Novo missionaries on their trip to an orphanage where they have been going for the last 4 years. It is one of a few orphanages where Bible studies are allowed; moreover kids are encouraged to attend! Last time there was a huge group of teenagers and we had a good study but no time to develop relationships; this time it was only 8 girls and we had a good talk. They have heard Bible stories many times but never applied them to their lives. We had a good talk about God and love and life. Those 8 girls are leaving the orphanage to go to a kind of vocational school to learn a profession, so being 15-16 they are about to start an independent life with all its problems and choices. In Russia, only 5% of orphanage kids have normal life when they grow up, most of them end as criminals, alcoholics and prostitutes. In the end of our talk my prayer was for wise decisions and God's ultimate protection on those girls, they have to face the real world very soon. Please join me in this prayer for the girls you see on the picture.
In June I am planning to travel a lot - Moscow, Kiev and Budapest to get to my final destination CC Conference Center in Vajta, after that I will go to Karelia to do a VBS for about 400 local kids. Please pray for safe travels and divine appointments.

Praise the Lord for:

-busy May

- clear directions for this summer

-opportunity to attend CC conference in Hungary

-my supportive Mom

Please pray for:

- all the ESl students and business seminar participants may they seek Christ

- more open doors for evangelism in Russian orphanages

- orphanage girls on the picture

- my travels in June and July ( provision and safety)
- spiritual refreshment during the conference in Hungary

"The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes"

Psalm19:8

Leadership conference in Komi

In April I had a chance to enjoy Komi weather and see my wonderful Komi friends in Syktyvkar! Adam Davis and Equip held another conference in the main city of Komi Republic and I didn’t hesitate a minute to take a 48 hour train ( and another 20 hour one) to go there and help to organize the conference – I know such conferences are a felt need there as well as everywhere in Russia. For those of you who have never heard of Million Leaders Mandate it’s a global initiative to train millions of Christians around the world with the necessary leadership skills to effectively pursue the Great Commission in their communities, workplaces, and churches.
The third leadership Equip conference took place on 6-7 of April and leaders from Syktyvkar, as well as from other towns and villages of Komi Republik were encouraged and taught and fed ( both spiritually and phisycally)
It was both a busy time for me and a time of refreshment. I was encouraged to see my friends from different protestant churches participating at the conference and the fruit in their lives. I am always thankful to God when I hear that the materials they get at the Equip conferences are used and some small or large groups of people are being trained here or there. It means that one day I will take another couple of trains to get there and do what I can to help the 4th conference in Syktyvkar happen.

If not we, than who?

About 30 kilometres away from Syktyvkar, the capital of Komi, there is a rehab center for homeless kids that I had a chance to serve at. I visited the center last November with 2 American missionaries and a local missionary Sergey who coordinates Jesus Film in Komi Republic. This time I had so little time and so much to do but, praise the Lord!, He made it possible for me to go there and this time, in April, I barely saw 3 familiar faces. It is not always a bad sign– sometimes it means that kids are back with their parents, whose parental rights were restored after some time or perhaps their parent are back from prison. Most of the kids do have at least one parent theoretically, but in fact they are orphans. Their parent are either alcoholics or in prison or have family problems. One good evangelical church comes there regularly to do Sunday school and play with the kids but still.. kids have very sad eyes. They all have repeated the salvation prayer several times in their little lives already but have trouble believing that they are loved and they do have a Friend who cares..
Vitalik, 7(a little boy next to me on the first picture) is the one I really enjoy talking to and I believe he is saved. At the end of the visit I asked him how I could pray for him and he said he wants his mom to take him back (she is an alcoholic and was deprived of the parental rights by the court). Let us pray that his mother becomes a new person before she gains a right to take him back.
And please pray for all the kids on the picture* you can enlarge the picture by clicking on it) – they need to understand how real God is and open their little hearts to His unfailing love. And we, enjoying His love and mercy need to share it with those kids, as the Lord leads us, if we, Christians won’t do it, than who will?