The evangelization of non believers on the Khan side of the Yamal Peninsula has been ongoing for decades. As soon as the Iron Curtain of atheism fell, compassionate followers of Christ began to actively participate in missionary work.
One day, preachers on the shore of the Ob Bay encountered an unusual tourist who was traveling along his route on a dog sled. As the travelers drew closer, the brothers began to testify to the lone traveler about Christ. He listened attentively to the evangelists, and then, breaking the silence, said, “You found me even at the ends of the earth! My mother is a believer, and she tells me about God every day. I thought I wouldn’t hear about this in the Arctic latitudes, so I embarked on this long journey with my dogs… But you found me even here!”
The owner of the dog sled turned out to be a Finn. He had been inspired by a long-held dream since his youth: to independently traverse the northern coast all the way to Chukotka. No one knows if he ever fulfilled his dream, but the Lord certainly reached him, even at the edge of the earth!
Misha, Nastya, and Petya lived together in a large family and loved each other very much. Unfortunately, their parents suffered from alcohol addiction and were unable to give the children the attention and care they needed. The large family of six lived in a small room, which eventually led these three wonderful children to come to us at the “Children’s Ark.” This place played an important role in their lives because it is a place that helps children and families in difficult situations. Here, remarkable people work tirelessly to relieve the pain and sadness from children’s hearts and help them reintegrate into family life.
Despite all the care and effort, the children still dreamed of returning to their parents. We realized that to help the children, we needed to help their parents as well. So, we began working with the parents to help them change their lives. Before the children could return home, it was crucial to engage the parents in the process. In the case of these children, the parents needed to overcome their alcohol addiction, find employment, and take steps to improve their living conditions. They went through rehabilitation, received a new apartment, and importantly, found jobs. Finally, the day came when the children could return home. Their faces were so full of joy! We hope that we were able to instill in the hearts of the children and their parents a faith in the living God and give them hope!
We organized a big celebration on Children’s Day, June 1st. Over the summer, new graduates from orphanages arrived, and we are actively communicating and working together. Working with children transitioning to adulthood is, in our view, the most important and challenging task. If we don’t reach out and win their hearts, they may start living a life of crime. Two girls gave birth at 16, and we are now helping them to survive. It’s crucial to teach them to choose life over death.
In a previous letter, I wrote about a girl who suffered from epilepsy, and her mother asked for prayers for healing. After our prayer, the child recovered. God showed mercy, and we began to regularly communicate with this family. For two months now, the girl has been rejoicing and praising God! This is a great encouragement for me.
This month, Lera, a girl we had been caring for for about five years, was admitted to the oncology department. Her health had suddenly worsened, and metastases spread to her internal organs. She was in a lot of pain, so our team created a schedule to ensure someone was with her every day to support her. She desperately wanted her mother to be with her, but her mother had lost parental rights and squandered all her resources. Lera was very tired of fighting the illness. We prayed with her, and she understood that she was going to the Heavenly Father. Lera was buried on June 7th. This is a difficult ministry, but we are needed by these children.
For the past six months, repair work has been ongoing at the shelter to improve the living conditions for those who couldn’t manage life and ended up on the streets. Of the 28 people living in the shelter today, 24 are elderly, and many of their days are numbered.
The most remarkable thing is that even when they were young, they never had such living conditions. Praise the Lord, who is wise in His plan to transform the soul and life of a person. Many of our residents have tears in their eyes as they see the rooms and the building where they have found refuge transformed in the final period of their lives.
These people, who were once considered unnecessary (and our residents were just like that before meeting Jesus), find it hard to believe that all this beauty is for them and that it is done by the One who left the glory of heaven and came to earth to make others happy. The work being done at the shelter helps many to reflect and reconsider their values. This is how the Lord changes their hardened and callous hearts.
Daily Bible readings reveal Jesus, who lived for others, in a new light. There is still much work ahead, but we do not give up, as we feel and have your support, both in prayer and financially. The Holy Spirit, who moves your hearts, also helps us in this difficult task.
I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for your contribution, dear friends. Through charity, many accept Jesus as their Savior!
Our most joyous news is the successful discharge of Artemiy from the hospital. We have been accompanying him for two years while he was undergoing treatment at the oncology center for leukemia. We faced various stages in his treatment. There was a time when his mother asked me to pray for his healing. The boy was so weak that he couldn’t even get out of bed. This week, he was discharged home and is now in remission!
Artemiy had a dream of owning a bicycle and riding it himself. We bought him a bicycle, and he is thrilled. Now, we will continue our friendship by bringing him and his mother to Sunday services.
Recently, a woman contacted me, saying that the head of the neurology department had given her my phone number. Her daughter, Nadya, is in a severe condition, experiencing epileptic seizures every five minutes, and the doctors cannot determine the cause as all tests are normal. Nadya’s mother said, “I believe if you pray for her, my child will be healed.” Nadya would freeze with open eyes, and her body would convulse. I prayed with her mother, who decided to change her life and ask for God’s forgiveness, and then I prayed with the girl. Two days later, Nadya’s mother informed me that the seizures and convulsions stopped after I left.
Brothers and sisters, I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I experienced immense God’s grace. Praise the Lord that we can be helpful and work together in this ministry. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Grace and peace be multiplied to you. I hasten to inform you about a great need that I recently encountered while visiting the House of Mercy “Bethesda”. The situation there requires urgent assistance, which social structures are ready to provide. From our side, we need to show these structures suitable living spaces. Currently, 25 people reside in the house, out of which 15 are disabled (missing limbs or paralyzed).
Recently, a social commission visited the House of Mercy and concluded that the house is suitable for accommodating 10 people. The question arises: what should we do with the remaining 15 people? These individuals have nowhere else to go; we found them all living on the streets.
The commission has given us two months to prepare additional accommodations that meet living standards for these individuals. Therefore, with all our heart and soul, we appeal to you for help in renovating these additional spaces. We need approximately $2000 for building materials and room equipment. Previously, we collected funds from churches and used them to install new electrical wiring and fire alarms.
The House of Mercy regularly hosts Bible lessons, where the Word of God is sown, people turn to Jesus, and find answers. Praise God, the community is growing, and people from the village where the house is located have been attending gatherings continuously for the past 7 years.
Dear friends, brothers, and sisters, we continually thank the Lord Jesus Christ for your labor of love in the work of evangelism and mercy at New Fields, spreading the Gospel everywhere.
