Friday, November 23, 2012

Update from Russia


Through the train window beside me a landscape of rolling, snow covered hills, fields and villages lit by a setting sun, slides gently by.  Brother Brian Niemitalo, Misha Ustjuzhanin and I boarded our train in the 1000 year old city of Kazan and are on our way to Russian Republic of Udmurtia.  We have just shared a meal of bread, cheese, tea and prayer and now all of us are sitting apart quietly lost in our own thoughts.  Brain is across the train isle from me writing in his journal, stopping, pen in hand, now and again to peer reflectively out his window.  Misha, our long time friend and translator also watches out the same window lost somewhere in his own thoughts.  As for me, I am going to take this rare opportunity to begin writing an update for the mission blog. 

 

My last update was written from Rzhev, a city located a few hours southwest of Moscow.  Since that update Brian and I have spent time in Cheboksary, the capital city of the Chuvash Republic and Yoshkar Ola, the capital city of the Mari El Republic.

 

Much of our time in Cheboksary was taken up in the university where we continue, year to year, with the help of Christian teachers in the university, to meet with English students to share our language and faith.  During our time in Cheboksary we also had a large public meeting which I had previously arranged and planned together with university teacher, Victor Ivanov and professional musician and song writer, Evgeny Panteleev.   The meeting was held in Victor's church with the help of his pastor, Nickoli, and some members of his congregation and was open to all, but was specifically designed for the university students to allow us an after class venue in which we could focus exclusively on the gospel.  At this meeting I took my text from Isaiah 53 and beginning there attempted to reveal, as simply and clearly as I could, Christ Jesus through creation to His blood soaked cross and triumphant Resurrection.   Brian spoke after me from Mark 1:14-15 and John 15:1-11. 

 

For the 30 or so people at the meeting, "The Raw Gospel", as Christian musician Evgeny Panteleev, put it afterwards, was spoken.  It truly is rewarding to see the Lord working in the hearts of the students.  I, along with Brian Niemitalo, Shane Juuti and the other local Christian teachers have been patiently sowing seeds in the university for some time and are beginning now to see see the very positive fruit of the Spirit in their hearts.  One young man, for instance, named, Artoym, wrote me after one of our university class meetings saying: "Thank you Gregory! I'm very glad I was fortunate to see you again.  And this time I understood everything you told us! Also you have inspired me to know more about God.  You've given me a great feeling of happiness and peace! Thank you very much! Hope to see you again!"

 

We spent four very fruitful days in Cheboksary (I have really only touched on all the things we did) then moved on to Yoshkar Ola.  We only had a day and a half in Yoshkar Ola, so our host, Pastor Alexander Mityakov, made sure to use every moment to full capacity.  We arrived early to Yoshkar Ola by bus from Cheboksary and Alexander picked us up in his little car.  He informed us that he had arranged a meeting for us with a group of psychologists near the bus station and within ten minutes of our arrival Brian and I found ourselves sharing tea and the gospel with four professional psychologists in their small city centre office.  It was wonderful to see their hungry eyes as we spoke.  The director, who spoke English and translated for us as we shared, grew very excited when Brian told him how we are not saved through works, but through faith alone in Christ Jesus.  With a big smile and suddenly bright eyes the director exclaimed "I have never heard it spoken of like this before!"  The meeting was tempered, though, by a young man who arrived a bit later.  He was not Russian, but a Belgium exchange student working with the psychologists who didn't believe at all in God or in a need for God.  He was a very intelligent young man and debated with us patiently, but we hope that our Lord's Spirit, who is most patient of all, might have touched his heart with the biblical answers with which we countered his questions and opinions.

 

After the hour long visit with the psychologists  Alexander drove us directly to the college where English teacher,  Ellina Panteleevna, and many of her students were expectantly awaiting us.  I had met with Ellina and her class once the year before and they have been excitedly waiting for my return.  We talked with the class and shared our language, culture and faith, but I was careful yet about going too deeply into faith subjects as I didn't feel it was quite the time.  It is a sensitive matter to be preaching in the classroom and I felt Ellina still uncomfortable with the subject, so in this way we try to patiently watch and wait for the right times to share the gospel.  One of the things we always do is leave our contact information.  I have many, many Russian friends on the Russian version of facebook which allows any students, teachers or others to keep in contact with me if they wish.  Some of the veterinarian students from this college, for instance, had keep in contact with me over the year and even helped the teacher to set up our return visit to the college.  These students are usually very open to faith matters.  Before we left from Yoshkar Ola some of the veterinarian students even saw us off at the bus stop where we fellowshipped and prayed together with them before our departure.

 

After the meeting with Ellina and her students Alexander drove us to another school in his village which he and his wife, Anna, have been praying to minister in.  It seems the Lord heard their prayers and now we too have been able to meet and make friends in this school and even have been invited to schools in other districts as it happened that there was teacher seminar taking place during our visit and so we also spent time getting to know teachers from other Mari districts.  From that meeting we went to the village church and visited with a village family, then later had a bible study at the church.  Directly after the bible study Alexander took us back into the city where he had arranged for us to meet a Muslim friend of his and also a young woman who is a Rhythmologist.  (I had met with this Rhythmologist and her group last year as well). At this meeting we had Christians, a Muslim, a Rhythmologist sharing a meal and all debating and discussing our various versions of truth.  Of course we know there is only one truth and that is Jesus Christ, so as bizarre as this meeting may have seemed, still we felt the leading and guiding of God's presence   I am sure this will not be our last meeting together with these dear souls He is calling to.   By the time we got home and finished our prayers before bed that day it was after 2am.. such is a typical day for us in the Russian mission field...

 

Since I began this update on the train many days have passed.  Unfortunately I ran out of time on the train and didn't get this update finished, let alone sent out.  We have, since I began this update, visited Udmurtia, Birsk (In the Republic of Bashkortostan)  and are now in Ekaterinburg.  Brain and I went to sleep late again last night after a visit with a young man and his father who Brian has been ministering to here.  We have slept in this morning.  It has been our first full night's sleep in many a day, but now we must be up and out.. I will take this update with me and if God allows, will find an Internet cafe someplace to send it...

 

I don't know if I will have time to write another update before we leave for home, but there are many more wonderful stories to tell.. If I have to I will write and send another update from home.. 

 

God bless you and thank you all for your prayers,

 

Gregory and Brian in Russia, 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Guatemala update!

Ashley VanDyke lives in Guatemala and serves in our churches there. She works a lot with the children, youth, and women. Here is an update about what she's being doing in the last few months.(Click on the image to view it better.)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Update from Brian and Greg in Russia


It is early morning here in Rzhev, Russia; a city located a few hours south-west of Moscow. Brother Brian Niemitalo and I have been traveling for ten days now. We began our trip in beautiful Crimea, which is eastern Ukraine; in Simferopol, near the Black Sea. The weather there had been deliciously warm and sunny. In Simferopol we stayed in the apartment of a family Brian had met in Russia on his last trip. We spent our time visiting the two young sons of this family, Igor and Oleg, and some of their friends, Ivan and Evegenia, who took it upon themselves to show us around their beautiful area. In the evenings we and the boys held Bible studies in the apartment and listened and answered questions.


From Simferopol we headed back to Moscow and then made our way to Shekino. Brian and I were invited to stay in the home of very dear Christian friends, Lyubov and Anna Kuzmakova, a believing mother an daughter whom we have known since our first visits to this area in 2001. Over the years Anna has mastered the English language and has been helping us with our mission work in Western Russia for some years now, translating and serving along side us whenever she can. Anna, a childhood Christian, remembers the first time she met us in 2001. She had been part of a group of children we had given bible lessons too at the hotel we were staying at. We were the first Americans she had ever met. She related how she had run home after that meeting and excitedly exclaimed to her mother that "Mom! Even the Americans know Jesus!"


In Schekino we spent an evening of precious fellowship with Pastor Vitaly and members of his Lutheran Church which we have been supporting for many years now. The theme of our meeting that evening was how the Lord has been changing us. The Pastor himself, for instance, was at the very first meeting I ever attended in his area about eleven years ago. I remember how he pointed out at that first meeting, not without some passion, how "We Orthodox do not need you Lutherans here!" I smile and rejoice to think how God shortly after came into his heart in a big way and how for some years now he has been the pastor of the Lutheran church that was established during that time. So we were able to look at each other and at our own hearts as well and see how we have all matured over the years, because of Christ's grace and love, and how we have come to realize more and more our eternal need of Jesus.

We were also able to meet with believers and non-believers outside the church during our time in Schekino area. I hesitate to write "non-believers" when I speak of Russians, because Russia is a country where many, if not most of the people we encounter, believe in God. Unfortunately this believe is mostly cultural and has little depth other than an acknowledgement of God and the Orthodox church. Still, this belief, however deep, is recognized by our creator and we find it often blesses in that the hearers are truly willing to listen and share in what we have to bring them concerning our Lord's gospel message.

One example of this is Zhenya, a good friend and colleague of Anna Kuzmakova. She has always believed in God, but recently Anna has noted a change in her heart and a deeper desire to know God. After Anna told us about this, Brian began to pray for Zhenya during our evening prayers. I felt, as Brian prayed for this person he had never met before, that somehow the Lord was going to arrange for us to meet with her, something I had been trying to do for some years already but without success because of limited time and schedules, etc. When we arrived to Schekino Anna telephoned Zhenya and sure enough she was able to find time during her lunch hour break from the college where she teaches to come meet with us.

Our meeting was blessed from the beginning when we took each other's hands around the resaurant table and prayed. We shared our hearts with Zhenya and she shared hers with us. We talked about Jesus and what He has done for us how repentance and faith are necessary for us to know Him. Before we left the restaurant we prayed again and then walked Zhenya back to her college. After warm embraces Zhenya looked at us and said with deep sincerity that "I am so glad you are in my life now!" and I replied, with equal sincerity that "Yes, we are in your life."

This is how it goes in Russia. Much of our ministry is one on one or in small groups, as it was with Zheny or with the boys in Simferopol. These meetings are often inspiring and we recognize God's leading and Spirit in them, but at the same time we realize that we need to be patient. One of the things we have to learn as we meet with these precious souls, sometimes for years before we see richer fruit, is that we need to be lovingly patient, diligent and consistent in our prayers and ministry for them, asking God's love and grace both for them and for us as we seek to know and share in His precious salvation message.

Now, as I wrote when I opened this letter, we are in Rzhev. We arrived last night and had dinner with Pastor Valery and his family. Now we are sitting in a wifi cafe and hopefully I will find time to post this article along with some photos before we go to meet with the Baptist Pastor, Misha, whom Brian first met in 2003 with Cal Niemela and Bruce Selin.

It has been a relatively warm November here in Russia, though I saw this morning, as I look out the church window that the puddles had frozen over.. I don't know what the Lord has in store for us next as we serve here, we are only a third of the way through our journey, but I am expecting, as always, His of love and grace upon us.

Please keep us in prayer,

Your brother in Jesus,

Gregory

 Brain and Anna with the boys, Ivan and Oleg in Simferopol.

 
 Greg and Anna with Zhenya

 Anna and Zhenya

Brian with a young man he met on the street.  His name was Timur.  Brian asked him to help us with directions to the post office.  Timur delivered us personally to the post office himself!  We left him our names and hopefully we will connect with him again. 

 Anna and Greg.. "Going to the Bank!"



Thursday, November 8, 2012

November Foreign Mission Monthly News

Endeavoring to obey the Word of our Lord...Go ye into all the lands and preach the Gospel to every creature.

Serving in Togo

"Thank you for coming to Togo and please come for longer next year! We appreciate what you have given us and we want to give back to you. Now we will take a collection for your ministry." The collection was subsiquently taken and though it wasn't much, it was offered with much love!

We've worked in Togo for several years. Togo is in Western Africa. The national language is French, but English is spoken by some. Everyone also speaks one of the local African languages.The Togolese people are warm and welcoming. They live in a beautiful, albeit poor, country. And they are asking for people to partner with them in spreading the Gospel of Christ! Is God calling you to Togo? If so, contact the FM Administrator about a trip in February 2013. The trip will consist of children's ministry, pastors' training, village ministry and more. To learn more about our work in Togo, visit the website by clicking here.


Pastors from small villages throughout the state of Andra Pradesh in India. A severe cyclone hit this area last week causing extensive damage to many of their villages. (see Word from the field)

Word from the field:

Dear Sirs,
We have had terrible natural disaster for the last couple of days. Rain and winds started on 31st of October through 4th November... downpour of rains without any gap almost reminded of Noah's days... brought lot of damage on poor houses of believers and others in several hundreds of villages in our State... the harvest came to but the whole thing is washed in rains... last Sunday some places could not have worship services... there was an average of 190 cms rain... the elders said that they have not seen before, very fearful situation, we do not know how the restoration will be taking place... please pray for and let people know about this disaster and hoping some will come forward with a special donation for the welfare of the affected people so that we can extend some help... please pray for us. Still some rain is continuing as the cyclone is not fully calm down.
Pastor K (India)

Support options 

Email or click on the Donate link above for regular support options.

Special projects
Only funded with earmarked funds

> medical bills for Pastor Giovanni's son in Guatemala any amount

> medical bills for Pastor Sylvestor in Kenya any amount


> disaster relief fund for India (see Word from the Field) any amount

*Pictures and other feedback supplied, if desired.

Verse of the month

"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest is truly plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

Matthew 9:37-38

kids from Togo

November News

> Please pray for the believers in India who have just endured a terrible cyclone (see Word from the Field above).
> Board members Greg Greve and Brian Niemitalo are currently on a month-long trip to Russia. Updates can be read on the blog here.
> Missionary Dennis Hilman and Pastor Raymond Hilman are serving in the Philippines. Updates can be read on the blog here.
> There will be a trip to Kenya leaving shortly after Thanksgiving.
> Convention services were held in Zacapa, Guatemala at the end of October. Pictures can be seen on the blog or on facebook.

Mailing address for DONATIONS:
The Foreign Mission
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Battle Ground, Washington 98604

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The Foreign Mission of the ALC
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Monday, November 5, 2012

O, SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG!!

Pastors Dennis Hilman and Raymond Hilman are currently serving in the Philippines. Here is an update from Dennis sent on Sunday:

This morning Raymond and I spoke at separate churches. I was asked to serve in Igpit, by the sea, where Bernie and Daisy Senonis live. Here before the service I invited those members of the congregation who were already present to join me in praising God at the shore of the Bohol Sea (an extension of the South China Sea), just a few yards away from the church. For our mediation, when the service proper began in the church, I spoke on Psalm 96. It is a wonderful ode of praise to God for His salvation, strength and steadfastness.

 During the service this morning this bright little boy came and sat beside me with his Bible.


 Then the children sang. Little Giveth Lynn Senonis is standing beside the "Bible boy". She is doing quite well these days but still needs regular chemo treatments and bone marrow transplants for her leukemia.


 When I sat down after the sermon the "Bible boy" immediately slipped his hand into mine and gave it a big squeeze. What more encouragement does one need?!


 After the service we prayed for all of the members of the congregation by family - and they prayed for me. These are some of the faithful mothers and grandmothers who faithfully bring their families to church. Wherever would we be without women in the churches around the globe?!!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Guatemala convention services!

Last weekend convention services were held in Zacapa, Guatemala. The weekend was a blessed time!

Missionary Ryan Ruotsala posted the following on the opening day of the convention: Thank the Lord for a great first day of Convention 2012 in Zacapa Guatemala!! We had a great day of singing, the Word of God, and skits! Praise the Lord, oh my Soul! More comments, pictures, and videos can be found on his facebook page!

Here are a few pictures from the convention courtesy of missionary Ashley Van Dyke. More pictures and videos can also be found on her Facebook page!

Conventions in Zacapa with the three congregations (Zacapa, Juan Ponce, Piedras Azules) of the church.

                                                               Singing praises to God!




 A full church!

 Meal time during the Guatemalan convention.

  Time for fellowship!

 Food and fellowship!

Please continue to pray for the Christians in Guatemala!