A flood of sick people has overwhelmed both Grandma Sharon’s clinic and our own. The most challenging part, as it turned out, is not only diagnosing and administering the correct treatment but also convincing people that their ailments are not due to witchcraft, but real diseases that require a dose of antibiotics.
One young man, for instance, was brought to us (actually, carried over the mountains) when he was already on the verge of death. Since some of his symptoms were extremely dangerous, that very night, Eugene took him to the hospital in Lae (a three-hour drive from us). A few days later, he called us, his voice breaking, begging to be taken home: “The doctors can’t help me. It’s a curse. I… need a sorcerer immediately… Take me back to the village; the sorcerer will lift the curse from me, please.”
(This young man was a believer, led worship in one of the churches, and participated in many of our evangelistic trips). Eugene tried to dissuade him, but he ran away from the hospital and was carried back to the village sorcerer. A few days later, he called again, barely breathing: “Save me!”
My first (natural) reaction was to ask, where is the sorcerer, and why didn’t he help? But Eugene was much more compassionate. When they brought him back to us again (and it’s a three-hour journey through the mountains, one way), Eugene once more took him to the hospital, where he is currently staying.
It’s important to note that the young man prayed with tears and repented! Praise the Lord, who is stronger than any sorcerer!
Today, acts of mercy are the most effective way to spread the Gospel, and only someone who has experienced the Lord’s mercy can truly be merciful. Our team continues to visit pediatric oncology wards, hospices, and orphanages for disabled children, where a total of over 300 children reside.
This month, we held a reunion for orphanage graduates, with 34 children aged 16-21. These are children we have supported for the past 6 years. Not all of them will choose the right path, but they have a chance to change and glorify God in their lives.
In the hospice, there is a boy named Vanya who is 7 years old and very ill. His nervous system is affected, and he has many physical injuries. He lies in bed restrained because he scratches his face and could damage his eyes, and he suffers from severe convulsions. When I visit, I take him in my arms, walk with him, and pray for him. He calms down and stops arching his back. He needs constant medication, treatments, and special nutrition. I ask you to pray for Vanya and his health! God is almighty and can heal the child!
There is also good news! Apollon, a boy from the hospice whom we cared for over 3 years, has found a family. We visited him, and he is happy and content. I am grateful to God and to you that I can effectively carry out this ministry with the children! Thank you for your help and prayers!
We have been ministering in a village located 50 km from our home, where we baptized 8 brothers and sisters from a Raglai family. In this family, we built a well and pray that through them, a revival will start in this area and the Word of God will spread. During our next visit, we asked how else we could help their village, and they said they needed help buying a piglet. The Lord sent a brother from Bashkiria to visit us, and he bought the piglet for them. Their joy knew no bounds. A few days later, they invited us to a celebration in a neighboring village, where about 50 of their relatives and friends heard the Word of God and prayed with us!
This week, we brought the Jesus film to the village. Neighbors came again and watched it with great interest. This year, we also celebrated Easter. We have the great advantage of celebrating it twice, both in the Western and Eastern styles. This year, about 50 people attended the celebration. We rented a café, prepared treats, and celebrated for 7 hours straight. The Lord gives us immense joy, and at the end of the celebration, we had another joyous event: a baptism. Praise God, Aline was baptized, and we pray for her husband Artem, who is on his way to God. Dear friends, brothers, and sisters, we wholeheartedly thank you for your prayers and donations. Your labor is not in vain before the Lord. We are very glad to serve alongside you, fulfilling God’s will. Please continue to pray for a revival in Vietnam and for our stay in this country!
In the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Turkey, people’s attitudes toward the Gospel have changed over the past decades. This became particularly noticeable after the civil wars in Syria and Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes, becoming refugees in other countries, without shelter or means of existence. In the civil war, many people saw the true face of radical Islam. Tired of war, terror, and death, people began to show interest in learning about Jesus Christ.
The Lord is opening doors for evangelism in these regions where the preaching of the Gospel has been closed for many centuries. In 2023, we organized children’s camps in Lebanon. Parents brought their children to daily activities and worship services. The camps were held across the country, starting from Tyre in the south and ending in Tripoli in the north. Over a thousand children heard the message of salvation. In Istanbul, on March 17, 2024, a Slavic church opened in the historic city.
Therefore, we plan to hold evangelistic services in Istanbul on May 12, 2024. We ask the “Lord of the harvest” to send laborers to the ripe fields. Tickets, accommodation, and meals will cost us $4000. We will be grateful for any assistance! Thank you!
The trip to the peninsula was planned to share the Gospel and help the elderly and disabled with their household needs (shovel snow, stock up or chop firewood, change wiring in the house or fix sockets)! We announced it in advance in social networks and people in need called us, inviting us to their home, telling us about their needs! We set off from Palana and, having traveled 200 km to Tigil, we stopped for the night.
There were several “orders” here. A man with a disability needed to shovel snow and an elderly woman needed to change several sockets. While the younger brothers carried out the necessary work, others talked to people. The next destination on our route was the village of Sedanka. The road from Tigil to Sedanka is 45 km (28miles) was along a winter road. In Sedanka, a grandmother with an invalid son needed to go for firewood, saw and chop it, and also change the wiring in the house. In one family, a woman lived with her 91-year-old mother. Very hospitable people. They talk like believers. The old woman’s mother raised them as children with stories from the Bible. We stayed overnight here and talked for a long time at the table, talking about God! The elderly woman said: “You are different, I can share my secrets with you.” She opened up and repented, asking for mercy from the Lord. Thank you dear ones for supporting the ministry in Kamchatka!
Grace to you, our dear church, greetings from Thailand!
War is a tough ordeal for people of all ages, from adults to the elderly and even the youngest children. In Myanmar, a neighboring country of Thailand, war has raged for years, displacing countless families. Over 90,000 refugees from Myanmar now seek shelter in Thailand, many confined to refugee camps or limited areas.
Among them are the children of a home we visit monthly. These children are from Myanmar. Some attempted to seek safety in Thailand but were separated from their parents, who were compelled to remain in Myanmar as soldiers. Others fled with their families and now reside along the border. Most of these children see their parents once a year during a school break; some don’t know whether it will happen again. Amidst this tumult, 48 children find refuge in the care of a dedicated couple. They crave love and attention. When we first visited, we felt God’s guidance leading us there. We learned we were the first Christians to visit them. During our visits, together with our youth, we share the gospel, play games, and make crafts, all while showing the love of Jesus. By God’s grace, more than 10 young people have decided to follow Jesus, eager to learn more about Him. We committed to monthly visits, despite the distance, and God’s providence has been evident. Initially, our budget was tight, but a timely donation from a family whose children had been collecting money for missions sustained us for three more months! Praise God! God is great, and if He calls, He provides!
Currently, we face a need for school uniforms and supplies. These items are not just practical; they symbolize hope and dignity for these children.
Our local church is experiencing the special blessing of being a part of God’s work!
Thank you for your prayers and every financial participation! Each contribution is a part of this story, a story of God’s grace and provision in the midst of hardship.
