We understand that every child dreams of having their own home and family. Such a dream was also held by Lia. Lia came to us in the summer when she was 4 years old. Her mother was in the hospital in a severe condition. As far as we know, she was hospitalized due to her unhealthy lifestyle. Lia quickly befriended other children. She is very smart but initially showed her challenging character to the caretakers. The girl always carries a toy with her, taking good care of it. She is very shy around strangers. However, when music plays, she forgets everything and starts dancing. Lia is a cheerful child. But one thing greatly saddened her – her mother very rarely visited her. While other children’s relatives visited occasionally, Lia was alone. What does a child feel at such moments? We were very worried about her. The court deprived her mother of parental rights, which meant that her mother would soon stop visiting altogether. Lia’s transfer to another social institution would have deeply hurt her. All we could do was pray for her future.
And a miracle happened! At that time, a family was found who had all the necessary documents to take in a child! They were thinking about adopting a boy, but when they met Lia, they fell in love with her. They decided to do everything to become her parents. That’s how our girl found a family. Who knows how Lia’s life would have turned out if she had moved to an orphanage. Now, Lia is in a family where she is loved! It was a miracle for both her and the family! And we, dear friends, are small bridges helping our precious, but vulnerable children! Cherish your loved ones!
Around 40 children have been coming to our church on Sundays! Last month, we had a day program in a public school up on the mountain. We sang songs, played games, shared the Gospel, and at the end invited them to come to church on Sunday. We didn’t expect more than 40 children to show up at our church that Sunday, with some walking over 2km (1.24 miles) to get there. We faced the challenge of not having enough chairs to sit on and plates for the Church lunch that we are having every Sunday. However, these were happy challenges that were quickly resolved. Now, our prayer is that we would plant a seed in these young hearts that will grow towards salvation. We are praying for the right people to come and join us here because our team is getting smaller as some of our youths finish school this year and move on.
We are grateful to God for the house for volunteers and missionaries that is in the process of being built up. Thank you to everyone who is participating in it! Together at this moment, we have roofs, walls, and windows. At this moment, we are working on putting in electricity and finishing the walls. We still need finances to buy doors, paint, and things for the bathroom and kitchen. If you would like to participate in this work, please join us. We believe God provides, and soon people who will come to serve here will have a nice place to stay. We call this house “Doulos house” – which means the bondservant of God.
The number of children continues to grow, so now there are about 100 people attending on Sundays! And around 50 who come during the week for evening programs. Please answer God’s calling if He is asking you to come, help financially, or pray!
May God richly bless every one of you!
San and Anita’s ministry in Thailand, with the Avoda Foundation.
This week we had the graduation of our training course “Rehabilitation of War Victims.” It is a great joy to see the eyes of people filled with hope. Their lives were destroyed by war, and now they are beginning a new stage. It is a great joy that this is happening with our help. We also held two meetings for refugee children, with about 100 people in attendance. It is a unique opportunity to bring joy and love to the children and tell them about Jesus.
The sewing workshop renovation continues. There is a lot of work to do, and time is short. We are in a hurry. It is similar to how God’s kingdom in Ukraine is growing, becoming larger, and bearing fruit! This is possible thanks to your prayers and your support. We don’t stop! We keep running towards victory.
I am having back problems again. It is an issue with my discs. The pain is severe, and it is challenging to walk. Please pray for God to grant healing and the strength to continue the ministry. Please also pray for my brother-in-law. He is a great man of God, but his sufferings are terrible. His condition is not improving, and he is practically paralyzed. For my wife, this is a heavy trial, filled with much pain and tears. Please remember this in your prayers.
It is difficult to remain calm, as there are thousands of people around us who need our help. In the photo is one of the meetings for refugees. It is amazing. Hundreds of people are listening to the Gospel and accepting our help. I ask you to pray for these people. We have sown the seed. God will grant repentance.
We never cease to thank God for those people who bear responsibility for the churches in the villages of Yonki, Asas, Atuka/Anditapa, Tompetaka, and Obura.
Reaching villages, like Obura, for example, is not so easy. First, you travel to the city, then change to a truck and drive for another 2 hours, clinging tightly to the handrails and quietly (just in case!) whispering a prayer of repentance: the road is long, the cliffs are steep, and the sticky clay under the wheels constantly tries to test your faith. Anything can happen on the way: a bridge breaks, a truck breaks down, the road collapses, a river overflows, or most often, the road is filled with an angry crowd with spear tips, arrows behind their backs, and ash-streaked faces – a sign of tribal war. In short, you are lucky if you manage to reach the village and not forget the entire sermon, which you so diligently prepared, out of fear.
One of our pastors was almost stoned, and hostile villagers threatened to burn his house down. Churches don’t gather in beautiful buildings, and for example, in Atuka village, there isn’t even a building yet – the congregation gathers on the street, and regardless of any weather conditions, they joyfully praise Christ in simplicity.
Please pray for each of our pastors and their families in our five churches in PNG. Pray for new souls for Christ and the spread of His name where it is still unknown.
I express my immense gratitude to you, and Glory to God, for the dozens of children’s destinies in which we have taken part and witnessed God’s miracles with our own eyes. At the moment, Lera has been discharged from oncology and is going to a children’s home, where she will temporarily live with her older sister. Their mother has been deprived of parental rights, and we will take care of Lera.
A particularly needy boy, Anton, who is disabled and in a wheelchair, needs our care. We met him in a hospice, where he has a severe diagnosis, and the fact that he is still alive is a miracle. I prayed with him for healing, and God answered. The boy was discharged and now lives at home with his mother and sister. They were so inspired by his healing that they began attending our church. We take Anton to youth meetings twice a week and help them with food and medications.
A special joy is Saveliy, our young man who is preparing for baptism and actively participates in the church’s life. Many believers are inspired by his dedication, even though he is on crutches, half-starving, and with a drug-addicted mother.
I want to conclude this letter and send greetings from David. He asks to convey his gratitude for the help. He can now speak and attend a regular school because we paid for an operation on his vocal cords. Thank you for being with us!
The city of Tyre is located in the south of Lebanon and is one of the oldest cities mentioned in the Bible. Jesus himself visited this place in the past. Today, the city is in need of the Gospel message. Following the civil war that began in Syria in 2014, as well as the capture of Mosul in Iraq by extremists, about 2 million refugees crossed the border into Lebanon, forming large tent cities. The local church in Tyre has been providing great assistance to Syrian, Kurdish and Iraqi refugees to this day.
Last year, Pastor Mohammed Yamut died under unclear circumstances. He was always open and not afraid of anyone, although he had received threats for his activities. Now, the church in the city of Tyre needs even more help. After Mohammed’s death last year, God called us to move here with our family. God gave me a wonderful wife and three children. Our mission in Lebanon is to teach music to children, provide pastoral care, preach, work with children and youth, and help the church with all its needs.
In the few months of our ministry, we have seen how the church has been encouraged after Mohammed’s death. Our desire and prayers are aimed today at bringing much blessing and fruit to the field of the Lord through our presence and ministry in Lebanon.
Dear brothers and sisters, I am reaching out to you with a special need. First and foremost, I ask you to become partners in this work in Lebanon. We also greatly need your prayer and material support.
