Supporting Orphanage and Shelter Needs in This Time of Financial Meltdown

I know that I don’t have to tell anyone that the world is in a financial crisis. This crisis is really hitting Russia hard! You know the situation is bad when in the past two weeks the hospitals in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia with 6 million people, have had to cancel all surgeries because they can not afford the necessary medications. My mom has been struggling with cancer of the esophagus for some time now. She went to St. Petersburg to get another operation but it was postponed for an undetermined amount of time because they lack the medication to wake her up from the surgery. Everyone in the hospital with her got the same news. Then on Saturday my friend Nate and I went to buy train tickets to Cherepovets, only to find that the train we wanted was one of two trains that where canceled, without the slightest warning. The train company can no longer afford to keep these trains going despite the fact that Nate and I have taken these trains several times and they were always packed with passenger. However the government can’t afford to subsidize them anymore so they where forced to cancel. One of the groups of people that this is hitting the hardest is the orphans in the orphanages. The money from the government has slowed down to a slow trickle and they are having a really hard time. So we have decided the best thing we can do with the money you have donated for them is to give it to the orphanages to buy the food, and provisions that they need. ICM-Russia decided to give $1000 to each village orphanage and a shelter, all in all giving $4000.

Dearest Partners and Friends, we thank you so much for providing for our ministry so that we might provide for these kids in need. It is with your generous prayerful and financial support that we are able to help in this difficult time!!!

Spending more time with the shelter kids...

I had beautiful time with the children at the shelter yesterday! It was much fun to come and help the girls to take care of the children. That day I was responsible for sports and games in the snow! I knew the cool place we could go and the kids just loved it! Here's some pictures of fun time we had yesterday!

Mesyou Inductive Bible Seminar...

As the New Year has begun, we are blessed beyond all measure to start a new adventure with the Lord as He continues to unfold His plan for us in Russia. Already this year, we were able to go to several churches and train Christian workers how to work with the Bible on a daily basis. Some testified it was a nice surprise and blessing from the Lord to be able to come participate and learn good lessons from the Lord. Last month we went to the town Mencie to equip 35 rehab center workers and occupants on how they can study and teach the Truth productively. Many of them were encouraged by all the teachings at the seminar and the continued confirmation of the call God has placed on their lives to serve Him here in rehab center. It was so critical for some of them to get the confirmation from the Lord! The Word was so alive and speaking prophetically into the hearts of the people there! Upon leaving, our friends were a bit sad asking the team to stay with them and teach 9 more days. It was a joy to hear them say that. I could tell they were very hungry and the Lord used us to feed them. All of them said that they had experienced the fullness of the Lord! Thats what this ministry all about! All we preach is Life! Praise God!

Dear Partners and Friends, thank you so very much for your prayers and monetary gifts this month! I truly believe we did a great job working together in the Kingdom. All you see in the pictures is your harvest as well! Thank you again for your faithfulness! We love you much!

Getting to spending more time with street kids...

Every time I go to the Shelter I am blessed to see and spend time with tough kids from the streets there. Yesterday I did a Bible study and ministered to the group of youngsters who opened up and shared their fears and needs with me. My heart went out to one of the girls named Vika, her auntie Zoya lost her daughter in a car wreck and because of that she started seeing weird things and stuff of that nature. I asked Vika if we could go visit Zoya and pray for her right then; Vika and some other kids took it seriously and off we went. This gave me opportunity to train kids how to do ministry in a very practical way. This was awesome because kids got to really see me doing practical ministry in their own environment, home. This was sort of an eye opening experience for them. What really hit me was how hard these parents and relatives really are. I don’t really blame them; I can’t even imagine what they go through in life every day. This did not discourage me in the least, but impressed on me how much these folks need Jesus and how important the work that we do really is. I believe the Lord can do great things, if only we are willing to be used by him! I just hope that I am able to help instill a love for Jesus in these broken hearts and lives. I believe if both kids and their so called parents can see Jesus working in me and the rest of the team then that is when they will really be affected. I would ask that you keep these kids and their parents in prayer and for us that the Lord would do a work in our lives so we can add more to his kingdom. I desire to get more involved in the ministry!