Every morning, more than 230 children walk into our Avoda School in Mae Sot. They come from refugee families—many without documents, but with hearts full of dreams. For them, this school is more than just a place to study. It is a home where they feel accepted, protected, and loved, and where they learn about a God who cares for them.
This is a school where Gaem, Mimi, Paw, and many others have already graduated, found Jesus, and now help care for the next generation.
We are praying for God’s provision and, if possible, for help to support one or two additional teachers for a year. At present, we have funds for one teacher for one month, and we are trusting God for the remaining 11 months.
Your donation of any amount will help these children receive education, love, and stability. Make a Christmas gift!
Currently, we have only four wonderful teachers and one volunteer who comes every day because she truly understands the children—she herself was once in their place. This team does everything: teaching, leading, taking children home, and even cooking! They give their whole hearts, but the need is far greater than they can carry alone.
We are praying for two more teachers. Supporting one teacher costs $250 per month. Would you join us in prayer?
Recently, we were returning home from ministry along winding mountain roads. Just after we passed, a bus carrying people was swept away by a landslide (six people were killed, and many were injured). In our province, rivers overflowed their banks, and a vast area where more than a thousand people live was completely flooded. For safety reasons, the area was cordoned off and roads were closed.
Children waded and swam through floodwaters to save their parents, and parents saved their children. I went out on a motorbike and it stalled. Last year, we nearly lost our car—we were literally floating in it like a boat. In a neighboring province, heavy rain has been pouring for more than a month; many people have died, livestock has been lost, most of the crops are nearly unusable, and homes are being flooded.
In the past, as a church, we responded to situations like this and were able to help well and meet the needs of those affected, thereby bringing the Gospel. Today, we are praying for an opportunity to help during the Christmas season and bring joy to these people. We also ask you, dear friends, to respond and support us in prayer for these people and these tribes.
I know and believe that if we commit even a little—just a small effort—we will help someone during this difficult time and bring God’s love. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your labor of love.
What are we planning to do for Christmas? First of all, of course, gifts for the children. Each gift costs about $10. We would like to give out at least 100 gifts to children.
Once, on New Year’s, I bought a cake and was taking it home. While driving, I saw some Vietnamese acquaintances of ours—a mother and her daughter whom we support. I turned around, drove up to them, gave them the cake, and realized that they didn’t even know what it was. What joy it was for me to share my bread and bring them happiness.
Holidays are an excellent opportunity for spreading the Gospel. In addition to gifts, we are preparing printed materials (cards, calendars, booklets). This year, we also want to minister in the neighboring country of Laos, which is in even greater need of evangelism. We have new fields there (new friends) who need to meet with us and receive support. We also have people with leprosy there whom we are helping together with you. Each food package costs $17.
Without your help, we will not be able to carry out these projects. We sincerely hope for your participation in the work of the Lord.
Beloved ones, from the depths of our hearts and souls, we continually thank the Lord for your labor of love. Your coworkers in God’s field…
The passage from 2 Timothy 2:1–2 has become something our church in Vietnam not only reads and understands, but also puts into practice. We have a team in which each person carries responsibility for the ministries with which the Lord has blessed us. We serve tribes and peoples, and we also do not forget the Russian-speaking people from the post-Soviet region. People in our church have become passionate about preaching the Gospel.
Artem and Ilena lead an active life outside the church; they recently had a baby girl named Dominika, and yet Ilena agreed to go and minister to the children of the Raglai tribe. She brought art prints, various craft supplies for the children, active games, and videos.
The day of the visit arrived. It was clear that she had completely devoted herself to it. Vladimir and Olya were invited to visit poor families. They went, distributed food to those in need, and now are waiting for the next opportunity to go again and help the poor. Sister Natasha also went for the first time to the “CITY IN THE CEMETERY.” People who visit us there are shaken by what they see and stop complaining about certain inconveniences in their own lives.
Why am I writing about this? Because it is connected to the truth of God’s Word. We ourselves become filled with blessings when we pass on the Lord’s instructions to others.
In August, Grigory and Alexandra visited our sister Simei, who lives 1,700 kilometers away from us and sows the Word of God among the Hmong and Dao (Zyao) people. We support and pray for them together with you.
Sapa is the city where Simei lives and serves — located 1,500 meters up in the mountains. Travel there is difficult, so most of the journey was done on foot.
They visited several small groups of believers (10–15 people), where they spoke about God’s guidance, the importance of feeding on the Word, and the need to remain watchful in God, because the devil is also at work and devising schemes.
We bought a gas stove and a gas cylinder for Simei because we saw how much time she spent gathering firewood and preparing food. She has three children of her own and has taken in two more children from her deceased brother. Her husband is not a believer and continues to drink and live a reckless life.
Thank you, dear friends, for your ongoing prayers and support for the ministry to the peoples of Vietnam.
We also gave Simei’s biological sister — her name is Nai — a solar-powered audio Bible. She lives high up in the mountains where there is no electricity or internet access.
We’re praying for the Lord to raise up a permanent team of evangelists in that region. It’s costly for us to travel there, so we’re only able to visit these tribes and peoples 2–3 times a year.
A year ago, the Lord led us to go a little further beyond our usual fields. That’s when He brought the Nguyen family into our lives — a mother and her six children. Nguyen is a 35-year-old orphan who grew up in a children’s home.
When we began sowing the Word of God in this area, she welcomed us with joy. We started visiting regularly, playing with the children, showing Christian films, and holding Bible lessons. At Christmas, we prepared gifts for the family.
Nguyen’s husband works odd jobs — here and there, wherever he can — earning about $9 a day. Every day he drinks around two liters of beer. Recently, their eldest daughter gave birth. The family lives in extreme poverty, eating just one bowl of rice a day.
We’ve been regularly helping them for about a year, but recently realized that even this is not enough for their needs.
Just a few days ago, a translator friend visited, and we went to see the family again. We shared the Gospel with them and called them to turn to Jesus Christ. Praise God — Nguyen and Salome made the decision and prayed to receive Him!
They are part of the Raglai people group — a community that is very difficult to reach with the Gospel. That’s why we kindly ask you, dear friends, to support us in prayer for this people. There are fewer than 100,000 of them left on earth.
Beloved, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your dedication, consistency, and faithfulness in the work of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
