I want to thank you for participating in the ministry of sick children, their mothers, widows, and orphans. Because of the pandemic, three families are locked in St. Petersburg and cannot leave to Omsk. Their children are diagnosed with leukemia and underwent a bone marrow surgery. We cannot visit them, but we support them in prayers and with gifts.
In Omsk, we continue to take care of Savely. He has a very unusual problem, he cannot walk, since he was born without kneecaps. His mother has two more sons but no husband.
A 12-year-old child weighs more than sixty kilograms (132lb). She can’t lift him and generally is rarely at home since she is working from morning til late at night. After talking with Savely, I realized that the child not only cannot move independently but also has speech problems, he cannot learn and is gradually degrading. We have known each other for four months now, and Savely was a blessing to us. He always smiles, waits, and writes. If I don’t come, he is not able to go outside. He has nothing to eat and wears clothes that are not for the right season and is alone.
His birthday was on April 15th. We bought him a computer; this is the only opportunity for him to study remotely. I installed him a Bible and various courses to learn the Russian language, mathematics, and history. We also brought him food because we know that their refrigerator was empty.
Please Praise God that there are good people like you that pray and support us!
Around the world, there is panic. People are in fear, and not only unbelievers. The panic is among Christians too. This leads people to “go underground”, wait and sit it out. They fill their bins, refrigerators, and wait. And around them is chaos. People are sick, physically, and spiritually. How can one not get infected?
And then I remember the words of Christ: I came to the sick, and not to the healthy. To people who live in need. Our Church decided to follow the example of Christ. Equipped with protective outfits, we purchased food and went to families with one or more disabled children. These people are limited in normal times, and it’s so much harder for them during self-isolation.
You should have seen how much joy was in the eyes of mothers, some even were in tears. Not so much from the gifts but from the simple attention.
Here is what some of them said: “Thank you for taking care of us, you are people with such a good heart” “We have no words, I’m tearing up, so nice of you to bring us so much.”
We pray that the love of Christ that we are showing them will change their hearts for the gospel.
Brothers and sisters, I welcome you! I am very glad that we are participating in the spreading of the Gospel and helping people in their grief. We are currently paying special attention to two families – this is Anastasiya with Dasha and Ulyana with Savelya.
As I already wrote, Anastasiya and Dasha were discharged from the St. Petersburg Oncology Hospital without any hope of a positive outcome. Doctors did not want to take the risk and perform the bone marrow transplant since there was a lot of fluid in the head of the child. Dasha lost her sight during this time, and the hospital gave them a referral to a hospice, and this was her destiny in their eyes.
With this information, we continued to pray. Although Anastasiya was on the verge of collapse, she still communicated with me, believed and prayed.
Having met with them once again, in order to take me to the hospital, I was surprised to hear that the vision returned to Dasha, she lost 11kg (24lb) and the swelling went away. What struck me the most was that Dasha entered remission. I have not been so happy for a long time – this is a miracle! There is still a lot to go through, but the last conversation with my mom pleased me. Anastasiya believes that her child will be able to go to a normal school. Although she does not know you personally, she met our God and is infinitely grateful to you and the Lord.
I thank you, brothers and sisters, for your prayers and your participation, we have already been able to do a lot. Seeing our good deeds, people turn to God. Thank you, it would not be possible without you.
We don’t have enough words to express our gratefulness. Our hearts are filled with joy. We praise and thank the Lord for your prayers, help, and support. One of the serious drawbacks at Bethesda was the old roof. Because of the leaking ceiling, we could not make internal repairs in the rooms. Over the course of seven days, the roof structure was reconstructed: the roof was replaced and covered with new iron sheets. Brothers and sisters from seven different communities participated in the work. Thanks to the replacement of the roof, we will be able to redecorate three more rooms, in which nine people can live. Elderly at the age of 55-60 years, who do not have relatives and those who nobody cares about are increasingly turning to us for help.
Bethesda is located in the very center of the village, and none of the local residents can pass by without seeing what great thing is being done here, where until recently there was nothing! Thank you for everything!
Our whole team thank you for the opportunity that you give us through your prayers and donations. Jesus says: “since you did this to one of My brothers, you did it to Me.” Children who are terminally ill listen to the Gospel and receive salvation in Christ, preparing for eternity. Their parents find the meaning of life after losing their children. And children from the orphanages get a chance for a healthy and happy future.
We have been taking care of Anastasia and Dasha for a long time now. They were in St. Petersburg for five months; they were being prepared for a transplant of the bone marrow. But due to the complication of Dasha’s condition, they refused to do the surgery. Dasha accumulates fluid in her head and all procedures were disrupted. She lost her sight by 80%. Since the doctors couldn’t do the transplantation, Anastasia and Dasha had to return to Omsk, and the doctors are still thinking about how to save her life. I want to use this opportunity to become closer friends with them and be with them during this difficult time.
Also, we cannot be indifferent to the life of Savelya. This is the boy I met at Christmas. Ulyana Savelya’s mother turned to us for help, and we helped them with clothes, food, and medicines. We bought a wheelchair for Savelya because he was born without kneecaps. We now have the opportunity to operate on the child, and I will be taking Savelya to the hospital. Brothers and sisters, we need your prayers and participation, a lot of resources are needed to go through all this. Thank you for your kind heart.
Throughout 2019, our community prayed daily for the opportunity to enter the new House of Prayer and start holding meetings in a spacious hall that can accommodate everyone who wants to join the worship of the living God.
Many doubted it because, in order to realize our aspiration, it was necessary to carry out a number of complex and expensive works. But I remembered the book of Psalms 144: 8-9, we did not get tired of crying out to our almighty God. His mercy was revealed once again. On December 25, the church gathered, for the first time, on Christmas Eve in the new building, without any interior design, but already in a spacious and warm room.
On December 28th we had a Christmas program for children, with prizes and giveaways and on December 29th, our first Sunday worship of the Church “Word of Truth” took place in the new building.
Now all church meetings are taking place here like the Christian children’s club “Joy”, counseling for addicted people and for premarital and married couples, any other kinds of meetings and of course – our usual Sunday services.
Many thanks to the Lord and all who participate in God’s plan for the development of the “Word of Truth” young community! We believe that the transition to the new, more spacious building will become crucial in the development of the church.
