We visited and served the families entrusted to us, bringing them God’s love and assistance in living. Glory to God, for He blesses through your kind and responsive hearts. May the Lord bless you a hundredfold. And now there was an opportunity to visit the tribe of the small nationalities (Red Yao), whom we served in May 2022, participating there in the ministry of the Word. This is 1700 kilometers (1056 miles) from our residence, and we had to fly by plane, then travel by train overnight, and also rent a moped and drive through the mountains. There, Brother Sean and I were met by Sister Simei, who accompanied us and helped in the ministry. The weather was bad, it was raining and muddy. The roads were slippery, and I even managed to fall from the moped once, so in some places we had to walk to reach the people we went to, bringing God’s love and help.
One family invited us to talk to their two sons – drug addicts, but when they heard about it, they told their parents to give them money and then they would stay to listen. The parents didn’t give them money, and they left. But in this house, about 15 people gathered to meet with us, and we talked about our Savior Jesus Christ, sang, preached, and prayed to the glory of God. Adult members of the Yao tribe cannot read, and some even don’t understand Vietnamese, so Sister translated into their language. Thus, we visited 3 groups of about 15 people each and conducted a Sunday service. We blessed Sister Simei and even pray about helping her financially a little. Thank you for your support and prayers for us.
I’m eager to inform you about the latest events of our ministry at New Fields. A Christian association in Italy, upon learning that we had suffered several bouts of Dengue fever in Vietnam, and that it had caused complications to my wife’s heart, offered us insurance (both health and property). In Southeast Asia, it costs more than 1000 dollars per person, and we cannot afford it. When we were sick, medicines and medical treatment were very expensive. We decided to fly to Italy. There, I was welcomed by brothers and sisters and served in two churches (Russian-speaking and Italian). Over the weekend, we held a youth meeting and reflected on the text: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” Psalm 118:9. One family (from Ukraine) praised Jesus through singing, and their children, listening to the songs, were touched, cried, and hugged their parents. After the meeting, we talked with them and called them to repentance. Kneeling down, they all prayed and gave their lives to the Lord. Glory to God! After getting health insurance in Italy, we flew to Armenia (Yerevan), where I also met with hospitable brothers and sisters. I told them about our ministry in Southeast Asia and, kneeling before God, we prayed. On October 2nd, we returned to Vietnam. Dear ones, I ask you to support us in prayer. I am almost 60 years old, and on this last trip, I noticed that my legs were swelling from long flights. May the Lord help us. “We constantly thank God for your labor of love in the name of Jesus Christ.”
In Kazakhstan, I bore witness in one church about the ministry in Vietnam, calling for prayer and partnership in God’s work. As the meeting ended, Sasha – a friend’s wife – approached me and said, “Your testimony deeply touched my heart, and now what should I do?” The Lord gave me words, and I told her, “Remember the parable of the prodigal son. He wasted all his inheritance, found himself in need, and remembered that even the Father’s hired servants had an abundance. But he didn’t just think about it; he got up and went to the Father. You need to do the same, go and fulfill the Father’s will.”
We prayed, and two days later, Sasha and Grigory wrote to me: “We need to meet.” I went to their home, and Sasha shared this story. They had saved money to buy a car, enlisted all their acquaintances to find a good vehicle. This Sunday, while I was preaching, her brother called and said he had found a good car; they just needed to make the payment, and the car would be theirs. At this point, God once again told Sasha, “Are you going to exchange Me for this piece of metal?” Grigory didn’t know that the car had already been found. Sasha asked her husband what to do, and apparently, he had the same thoughts and concerns. Without coordinating their responses, he told her, “We need to go to Vietnam.” Their testimony greatly inspired me.
Today, they are preparing for a mission in Vietnam, with our support. Starting in October, we will continue our work in Vietnam. Dear ones, please support us in prayer. Together, we can accomplish much!
I am excited to share wonderful news with you. A few weeks ago, we sent another family to Vietnam for a long-term mission. Praise God! The Lord reigns! The work of God is moving forward there, and His Word is being sown.
Beloved, may grace and peace multiply to you! I thank you for your cooperation on God’s fields, spreading the Gospel of grace wherever we are.
We have been in Russia for a little over a month for training (missionary school) and my wife Irina’s health check-up. The Lord blesses us in such a way that there is always an opportunity to participate in ministry (preaching, testimony, prayer, worship).
In one of our favorite songs, there are these words – ‘What I am still alive for, what I serve the Lord for, it’s the grace of God, it’s the grace of God.’ I believe that I will only stop serving Him when I am called to eternal abodes.
Last Sunday, I served at the ‘Bethesda Mercy House,’ which is very dear to me. I was greatly rejoiced to see that there is now a large team of ministers (10 people) who, through the strength of Jesus Christ, care for, guide, and instruct the people living there on the path of truth. At the moment, 25 people are living in the ‘House of Mercy.’ I met a local resident there who arrived in 1985 when it was still a collective farm. Today, she is a member of the local community.
We continuously thank you for your prayers and financial support in this noble cause. Precious from the heart and soul, we thank you for always remembering us.
It seems the time has come to write about personal prayer needs. We have two granddaughters (10 and 11 years old). The older one, Vladislava, suffered from chickenpox about a year ago, and as the doctors said, this led to type 1 diabetes. This means that she needs to take insulin injections 4-5 times a day and another injection at night for the rest of her life. Injections are given in the stomach, leg, and shoulder. Often, bruises and bumps form at the injection appear, and the injections themselves are painful. But if this is not done – the person dies.
Over the year of illness, Vladislava has been hospitalized for the third time, she is disabled and receives a pension. Part of the medicine (insulin) and syringe are provided by the hospital, but this is not enough, and additional medicine must be purchased. Vladislava is in the hospital due to high blood sugar levels, which lead to severe complications – leg pain, weakness, and deteriorating vision.
A child with such a disease cannot eat many of the regular foods we consume, and each time the food needs to be weighed to calculate the correct insulin dose. Products for diabetics in our country are very expensive. Our granddaughter Vladislava loves to knit; she knitted children’s toys for our ministry in Vietnam, and we distributed them to children.
Precious brothers and sisters, friends. You always support us in prayer, and in this need, please support us in prayer for Vladislava, for her healing and recovery.
From the bottom of our hearts and souls, we thank you for your labor of love in God’s work on the New Fields. May the Lord abundantly bless and reward you!
A year ago, before the Easter holiday, the Lord introduced us to a family. The elder sister Van lost her parents early (at 12 years old) and was left with her younger sister Ann. She then gave birth to two children (a girl and a boy) and raised them all by herself. She works 16 hours a day for a small salary. When we met and got to know her, we told her about the Savior, and she happily turned to Jesus. She started reading the Bible and praying. She is preparing to fulfill the commandment and be baptized.
Recently, she fell ill and could not work, so she asked us to help them with food and hygiene items. We came and bought groceries. It’s good that they have a refrigerator. We collected a lot. Returning home from the store, we got on our knees and thanked God for His care for us. Then she writes to me that she is praying to God for a washing machine to be in their home. This puzzled me a bit because we usually bring clothes and food, but here is an entire washing machine, and the budget increases immediately.
The washing machine costs about $300, and it is very difficult for us to come up with such money. For this reason, we ask you, beloved ones, to support us in prayer for this need. And also, pray for wisdom, strength, and guidance here in Vietnam.
