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