I agree it is hard to rejoice when you are in pain, have no hope or it is difficult to live. When you have to wait for several months to get results from a specific puncture and it happens to be positive again. With your help, we were able to bring children in several hospitals a part of Christmas to their sickbed. This holiday is a shimmer of hope for them. God has come to us. He cares about us, it’s an occasion to celebrate. The smiles on the faces of children and parents were the best reward for this. We were able to share the Gospel and the story of the birth of our savior with around sixty children and sixty parents.
In our house of prayer, we had over 300 children gathered on Christmas. One-third of them were invited through social engagement. These are children that come from large and low-income families. Most were the first time in our church and even heard the first time about Christmas. Together with their parents, they learned what this holiday means. None of the children were left empty-handed but all received a gift.
Thank you for your participation in this Christmas ministry for our children.
Dear church and staff who is spreading the Gospel. There are many difficulties in the past year but also joy and growth in God. We are greatly thankful for your support in prayers, through mail, visits, and donations.
Remembering the past year, I want to share the blessings that God gave us. There were moments, it seemed to us that we are all alone, but as soon as we cried out to God, volunteers came to us to help. Two groups came to the ministry and some of them came on their own to stay for a few months and donated their time and work.
A team from a church in Singapore served with medicine preparation. More than 100 people received medical help and heard the news of Christ.
We reached the hearts of people through sports games with the youth from neighboring villages. And even though our team did not come in first they learned to pray to God and care about other people.
Last year we held a church camp. God is faithful, and we were able to form a team of leaders and assistants. During the camp, some children prayed aloud for the first time in front of their peers.
We also have an official name now: “The Avoda Fund in Chiang Rai”. This will help us in preparation with all documents and visas for those who wish to help us in the ministry.
A camp in a General Education School with a team from the US was a great blessing. Every day we could openly testify about Christ. Some children started to come to church after this camp.
May God bless you and your families so that in this new year we will bring even more fruit.
During these holidays days the atmosphere filled with celebration, but we should not forget about those who are going through a hardship. These are orphans that will spend Christmas in the same room that they are living in for years now. Their tables will not be decorated and filled with delicious food. The day will be as usual for them and the food on the menu will be served. That’s why our visit with gifts for them is a very important time for them. Their friends visit them and congratulate everybody with a gift to everybody. And this is the time when they start to feel that somebody cares and thinks about them and makes them feel special. Their right conclusion is that since these people who are showing love and are helping are believers then their God is also loving and helping.
These children suffer from serious illnesses. The diagnosis hits the children like a lightning and from that moment on they and their parents are fighting for their lives. Painful treatments, like chemotherapies and long periods of stays in the hospital, leaves it impressions on them. And we as the church should be here with them. It is not in our power to heal them, but we have the opportunity to pray and for them, give them hope, sit and play with them. Just having fun with them and support the exhausted parents is in our power. And on Christmas, we certainly should be there. 190 orphans and 80 cancer sick children should be happy at least on Christmas days.
One gift costs around $8 and to provide a gift to each of them we need $2160. We would be happy if you could share the joy of Christmas with those children.
Our first visit in Uganda was in May 2017. The thought to go there again never left my mind after I left. We saw horrible pictures of hunger, poverty, inhuman conditions of life and a thirst for God’s word.
Our trip began with difficulties. At the airport security, they found a knife at one of our team members. He didn’t know it was there. The police were called and after long conversations they let him go with the condition to appear in front of a court for further investigation.
Before our arrival, we learned that we would not be able to visit one of the camps ins South Sudan because of the armed conflict in that area. A unit of soldiers reached the refugee camp and started to shoot randomly at the refugees and didn’t even stop with women or children. Many fled to bordering Kerwa Region in Uganda.
The camp in Kerwa just opened a few weeks ago. We purchase 12 tons of food, 700 bibles, and medication. More than 1500 people were sitting under tree branches and waiting for us from the early morning.
People rejoiced and praised God for the help that arrived on time and for the Word of God that they received. Thank you, everybody, who helped and cared about the refugees here in Uganda. Our brothers and sister from South Sudan undergo a very difficult journey. They lost everything that they once owned. They are tired from a war that already lasts for more than 60 years.
Please pray for the awakening for South Sudan, for the end of the war so that the two rivaling tribes would stop killing innocent civilians.
In November and December of 2017, seminars for ministers and other church members were held in different cities of Russia and Ukraine. For the course premarital counseling, which prepares young couples for marriage, people showed great interest.
Ivan Bulychev, a senior Pastor for the Krasnoyarsk region says: “I attended the seminar in December and I can say that after being there that each pastor who attended this seminar will be equipped with materials and knowledge for conduction counseling with young couples. The seminar reveals the problems of a relationship between a man and a woman, their parents and the church. Our modern society and the current state of morality has distorted the image of marriage.
Each newlywed brings their own baggage of problems, corruption, and lies about what a relationship is through their own life experience. If we don’t steer against this we will move away more and more from the Biblical truth and it will result in the increase of divorce rate among church members. I highly recommend the Premarital Counseling Seminar for each church where the youth can be prepared for their most important milestone in life – marriage.
A young man who understands himself and the principles of a family will avoid many problems that he might face after getting married. Premarital counseling helps to be set free from the baggage of sinful behavior, addictions and internal conflicts. It also helps to replace the false beliefs with truth and leads to obedience to Christ.
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all those who pray and participate in the ministry of counseling. May the Lord reward you!
Greetings to you, dear brothers and sisters! Voloda’s mother, Svetlana, is sending regards and a heartfelt gratitude to you. We were able to help her to adapt to her new status. After her son died she would have been all alone if not for you and your support. We were with her all during all the times emotionally, spiritually and financially.
Svetlana started a new job and is proactive visiting the church and getting ready for baptism. This is the real fruit of your prayers and support. Life continues and we keep visiting other children who are admitted to the oncological hospital in Omsk where many of them are diagnosed with cancer. I work with the parents of these children and participate in their lives by offering friendship and help, and we really need you.
In November, Vera, a mother of her daughter Katya came to us, she is only two and half year’s old. Katya’s stomach started to swell suddenly and when she was brought to the hospital she received a terrible diagnosis. It turned out that the spleen was swollen. She was admitted to the hospital for six months for examination and treatment. We already started to take care of them with buying diapers and food. Katya’s appetite is very good, she eats 6 times a day and even at night.
Their problem is that the family has three more children who are living with the father in a village further away. They don’t have the chance to see each other. “I am devastated that this is happening to me,” says Vera. The doctors say that the treatment is very costly and they are left with not having enough money for food. I already gave Vera a bible and told her that we as the church won’t be just stand by and watch.
Jesus said: “I was sick and you didn’t visit me” This is not us. We will be glad to share the blessings with you. Thank you for your participation in the life of little Katya and her family.
