The world has changed, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Over the past week, our family received a lot of letters of thanks from the families we serve. They thank the Almighty for us and you, for taking care of them, and for the prayers.
Schools in Ingushetia are closed, but children and students have the option to communicate with two or three families at home. We also use this opportunity to chat with our friends. We play with children, buy groceries at the store since all markets are closed. We also want to bring spring clothes for children and teenagers in the near future.
The other day, the little girl Safira, who is from a family of our friends, said: “I have never had such real friends like you. Never before have I received birthday presents. I had never cried of joy. Thank you and your friends and God Almighty for helping us. I fell in love with you. I will pray to God for you, He will certainly give you happiness in life.”
People see sincere relationships and glorify our Creator. We pray and really want to visit three families and serve them over the next two weeks. People here live in poverty and many of the families cannot buy clothes and other basic necessities for their children. Help us bring the love of Christ and Easter to these families.
The history of us befriending families in Ingushetia began in the spring of 2018. We were in Ingushetia at that time for 7 months already. Much in the Islamic tradition was interesting to us, and my wife Anya and I looked for any opportunity to get to know them. Every morning we prayed to God for the “people of the world” so that the doors to the Ingush houses would be open to us. One time, after a prayer, my wife had the idea to write an ad in a local newspaper, that we were ready to provide one-time help to a large, needy family. It was a step of faith for us because, at the time of writing the announcement, we ourselves did not have enough finances for us. But we were sure that it was God’s will.
Ana was soon contacted by three women who asked to help their families with food. We went on the same day and brought with us bread, fruits, and sweets, and God miraculously blessed us. In these 3 families, there were 15 children from 2 to 12 years old. They all live in small wagons measuring 15 by 12 feet. Each family has its own amazing life story, its own experiences, problems, and joys. We had a great conversation, learned their stories, told our testimonies and saw their interest in us. Their children accepted us with pleasure, and we began to be friends.
Our desire is to go camping with these families. Here we can play with the children and get to know each other better, and most importantly, tell them more about Christ. Thank you for your prayers and support.
Two years ago, my wife Anya saw an advertisement in a local newspaper asking to help their family with groceries. We began to visit them and befriended them, told about ourselves and about our faith. They are a traditional Ingush family, 3 children (two girls and a teenage boy). The family lived in a small plywood house of 20 m² (215sf). Here they huddled for about 7 years. During this time, Ruslan began to build their house, but he only had enough money for the property and the foundation of the house. Later Amina fell ill and received a new valve in her heart. Since then Amina has been on medication.
Ruslan was able to complete the walls and roof of the house, which allowed the family to move out of the plywood shack. The house does not yet have heating, furniture, and appliances, but there are already walls, windows, doors and a roof over their head.
On Christmas Day, we gave their children winter jackets, which our brother sewed with his own hands. Together we chose the material for it. That really appealed to Ruslan and Amina. Our family has become a frequent guest in their house and at their table, which shows a very trusting relationship with the Ingush.
We want to help them by buying a gas boiler for heating, a stove for cooking, and purchase a desk with chairs for their children to study. We heartily ask you to participate in this need. We need to raise about $1,400. Many blessings to you.
At Christmas, we visited 13 families of our friends. We gave gifts to children and groceries to each family. In every house, we were greeted with a festive table. We talked about the story of Jesus or Isa, as the Ingush call Jesus. It is amazing that the story of Jesus is received very well, they listen with pleasure about His birth and life. Our family had a great opportunity to bless every family.
We played games and had contests with the children, rejoiced together and gave the children sweets and books, and gave parents small souvenirs in honor of the Christmas holiday. Each family was also presented with calendars that contained words from the Holy Scriptures and a translated book of the Proverbs of Solomon in the Ingush language.
After the planned conversations with families and children, we made two trips to boarding schools where children with disabilities live. Thank God for the opportunity, time and finances for this ministry. In the boarding schools, we talked with the management and to some of the children, which ended up being 70 people. We organized sports games with teenagers and presented gifts. They are waiting for us in boarding schools again and are opening the doors! Every family is waiting for us too – this is a blessing! We ask you to pray for the people of Ingushetia and for peace in their hearts.
For 230 years, after the adoption of Islam in Ingushetia, there was not a single church.
God immediately began to open doors for us to many families. For 2 years we have been visiting our friends, many of whom are already becoming friends with us and accepting the truth of the Word of God. Our friends’ families have from 3 to 9 children. 12 of the 24 families we are friends with, have a financial need, they have 46 children altogether and are from 1 to 12 years old. 4 families have a particularly acute need, up to the point that they are not able to buy children’s clothes and necessary food.
An idea to organize small playgrounds in the yards of each of the 4 families came after a prayer for more complete communication with families.
Also, six months ago, we began to serve children through sports by playing floorball through which we build relationships with the children. Preschool and young children want to spend time on the playgrounds, but there are very few playgrounds in the villages. By organizing mini-playgrounds, we give children the opportunity to relax, develop physically and mentally, have friendly communication with other children and us believers.
We want to open several mini-playgrounds. And thereby give parents confidence in our good intentions and children’s joy! This will allow us to speak more openly in families about the teachings of Jesus Christ!
My name is Maxim, I am 35 years old and married to Anya, she is 4 years younger than me. God gave us two wonderful babies, our daughter Danu and our son Daniel. We met 5 years ago, back then, none of us even thought that we would soon become a family and would live 2500 miles from our home in one of the most difficult regions of Russia – in the North Caucasus Region.
Now, the Republic of Ingushetia has become our second home. And all its population are people, like everyone in the world, who really need Jesus. 2.5 years ago, God told us at the same time that He wanted to see us as His workers in a place where never has been a church before. To this day there is not a single openly believer in Jesus in the local population here. The process of accepting God’s word is not easy. But we both knew that God is very kind and always showed His loving hand.
Anya grew up as an orphan. She received Jesus already in her youth, after He healed her from a serious illness. My brother introduced me to God, and the Lord led me by the hand for many years, repeatedly saving me from inevitable death and gradually transforming my life.
Each time we read the Holy Scriptures, we understood that God wants all nations to know about Him. The native church in Siberia blessed our family to do the evangelization work in Ingushetia and is praying for us to this day. Please remember also you about us in your prayers!
