Jesus not only practices mercy but is Himself merciful, and that’s why His actions and deeds are merciful. Serving children greatly helps to instill this virtue and enables them to experience these feelings and transform them into character.
I received a letter from the father of a child we worked with two years ago when they were undergoing treatment for bone marrow transplantation in oncology. We provided assistance during those challenging days, and he mentioned that he remembers the sense of support and calmness we offered. I can’t recall all the details, but he remembers everything. What touched me the most was that he values what I taught him about prayer and trusting God. The parents united by this problem have their social media chat group for exchanging information. They refer to me as the priest who is always in touch. When I learned about this, I realized how important it is for these people to feel supported during times of sorrow!
This month, everything went as planned with many visits to children’s homes, hospices, and oncology wards. I want to share some joyful news: I previously wrote about a child named David who had speech issues and urgently needed surgery. We welcomed him into our family, successfully treated him, and he was able to start first grade in a regular school.
A huge thank you for your participation in this ministry! We welcome any assistance and request your prayers for the children and our team.
On July 29-30, 2023, in the Vorkuta tundra at the foot of the western slope of the Ural Mountains, the traditional gathering of indigenous believers from paganism took place—Nenets, Khanty, and Komi.
The beauty of the Polar Urals is truly mesmerizing! The purity of mountain air, crystal-clear refreshing streams from melting glaciers, and the uniqueness of the region attract many tourists from various parts of the country.
For the local inhabitants, this is their historical homeland, the place of their ancestral migrations, where for centuries, the designated territory for grazing reindeer herds has been silently preserved.
The Arctic land… These places hold many sad and well-known stories from the past… Today, the younger generation can barely recount the events of the Stalinist era that occurred 80 years ago. But forgetting one’s history is detrimental to the future!
Even today, occasionally at youth gatherings, we can hear legendary lines from wartime:
“They cannot be found in the dust of paths,
Amidst the taiga and the Ural ridges,
And on the little hill, a friend’s hand,
Will not place a bouquet of violets.”
A militant atheism annihilated thousands of living Christians in the first half of the last century… But the law of “sowing and reaping” was never repealed, and as a result, today’s youth confidently echo in their hymns:
“Oh, distant North, do you see the barrenness,
Holy seeds are already growing!
And on your abandoned fields,
Fruits will be harvested in future times.”
Thanks to the prayers and sacrifices of many faithful Christians, people in the far north are turning to God!
Together with a team, we flew to the Amazon for two weeks to prepare a group of young people from the Paumari tribe for ministry in churches. It took us two days to get there. The last part of the journey was covered by a ship owned by our ministry! 16 hours against the current. Every day, we would get into a small boat and sail to the tribe to teach there. Sessions were held in the morning and afternoon, and in the evenings, we conducted worship services.
In the last two days, we divided the group and went to five other tribes for evangelism. In small canoes, we sometimes sailed along the river for about three hours. We weren’t always warmly received, but they allowed us to stay. That night, we slept in hammocks that we hung in the designated area. It was heartwarming to see people accepting the Gospel and becoming children of God. On the last day, we held a festive service with a shared meal.
For all those willing to serve God and participate in reaching the Amazon tribes, we organize annual missionary trips. Thank you to everyone who helped, both in prayer and materially. The testimonies sent to us from the tribe are touching. God spoke to many people, and their lives changed. Among them, there is an awakening and a new fire to save and continue preaching the Gospel!
In the near future, I plan to provide more intensive discipleship for people and churches. Please continue to pray for my family, the repentance of my adopted children, and our missionary work deep within the Amazon.
“Never stop learning because life never stops teaching!” With these encouraging words, we started our life skills school, where children come to learn life skills that will help them become more independent and grow in Christ-like character. At this moment, children are learning how to prepare meals in a rice cooker, take care of their bodies and clothes, and manage money, especially when they only have a few coins. There are more than 50 children from diverse backgrounds and family settings. They find joy in spending time together and feel cared for. They are also learning that developing good character is challenging on their own, but God is always there to assist them.
“Please allow my children to assist you in teaching, practicing their skills, and helping other children.” In other words, “I wish for my children to be around Christians!” This was a request from two families whose parents asked if their teenage daughter and son could join our team. They see the Church as a place where their teens can grow, learn, and make friends. The parents from both families are educated individuals, one of them still strongly identifying as a Buddhist. Thus, three young people have joined our team to teach life skills and learn about Christ. We are praying that their parents will join us as well.
One day, a non-believing lady from the village attended our church. Upon witnessing the teens singing and playing musical instruments, she expressed to her friend in disappointment, “Why doesn’t my daughter come to church? Look at how these young people are singing and appearing happy.” This stands as a powerful testimony for people to see that those who don’t merely follow rituals but believe in the Almighty God have a more blessed life.
A few months ago, during a baptism in our church, a young man was baptized. The non-Christian mother asked her daughter, “Why aren’t you getting baptized too?” Her daughter was surprised and glad to hear these words. Perhaps her mother could also bear witness to the changes in their family. Some years back, Jane* (name changed) endured much pain while growing up with her grandmother, yearning for her parents’ love as they worked far away in a distant city. She later learned of their separation plans, which brought even more pain. However, she prayed and asked us to pray, holding onto hope that her family would be reunited. God heard her, He saw her faith! Time passed, her parents reconciled, and they moved back to be with the family. Their family was reunited! God is real! She can testify how God worked in her life and how life with Him surpasses being on her own. Jane* decided to follow Jesus and was baptized last Sunday. We continue to pray for her parents to come to Christ, believing it will happen soon. Thank you for your prayers!
These are just a few testimonies of how God is working in hearts. Please join us in prayer to reach the adults, parents, and grandparents of our children, that they may recognize their personal need for Jesus as well. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. May God abundantly bless each one of you!
Ministry in Thailand – San and Anita (Avoda Foundation)
Greetings to you, our dear colleagues. We thank the Lord that we can perform this service to the ends of the earth – together with you. Regardless of whether we are surrounded by painted Papuan warriors or (often no less painted and even more unattained) inhabitants of stone jungles, we are grateful to the Lord for every opportunity to serve – in the place where we are.
After all, it’s not always necessary to be a preacher to be a missionary. Singing well doesn’t mean knowing how to worship. And not everyone needs to cross half the globe to be in the center of God’s will. Dear friends, there’s a great opportunity to serve! We ARE LOOKING FOR CARPENTERS AND PLUMBERS for a SHORT TERM (from 2 weeks to 3 months) to help us complete several construction projects in Papua New Guinea. This is an excellent opportunity not only to try oneself in cross-cultural mission but also to serve the Lord with the gift that He has placed in each of us.
Let us know if God is leading you to come or to support this financially. Please also share this information in churches and among friends. Let’s spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, together!
Life in our new acquaintance’s Jordan was not easy. Her husband’s family did not accept her as a full member of the family, and this was very evident in their attitude towards her. Unfortunately, she never had protection from her husband. She tried to adapt to family life as quickly as possible. To do so, she embraced Islam, thinking that if she became one of them, it would change her relatives’ attitude towards her. But that turned out to be a mistake, as the family’s attitude towards her did not change. Her search for God ended there.
It so happened that the Lord brought our paths together, and we started telling her about Christ. The Lord is working in her heart, and she is opening up more and more to the Gospel. Together, we read the Bible and pray in the name of Jesus Christ. We can see how the Lord is changing her life. Her husband knows that she now has a Bible, we talk about Christ, and he no longer opposes our communication. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to talk with him, but I know that the Lord is also working in his heart.
We also got to know other female immigrants who came to Jordan because of their husbands. They also never heard the Gospel and embraced Islam because it made it easier to integrate into the culture. Some women do it for “safety” reasons. If the husband dies, the children stay with the mother only if she is a Muslim. If the mother belongs to a different faith, custody rights are transferred to the nearest relative of the husband.
Our ministry is not easy, and I ask you to pray for me and everyone working with us in Jordan!
