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(April 24th, 2013)

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Multipurpose missionary’s service or counting my blessings

Today I came to church at 11:00am and we did a quick 15-minute set up before the service. Since our worship leader Vova went to Tver’ for an outreach, Dean asked me to fill in on the worship team today. So before Marina (our keyboard player and singer) came, I was doing sound check for two mics and a keyboard all by myself. I am not omnipresent or omnipotent like our Lord, but somehow He helped me to accomplish this task and I even enjoyed singing into the microphone today, which usually is a big struggle for me, because I am a little afraid of them. For me the worship was beautiful today and I hope for everyone else at the church too. When the service begun I remembered that our two wonderful Sunday school teachers went to Tver’ (where they are both from) for an outreach. So, after worship I ran into our Sunday school room and found 5 kids waiting for me there. One of them was Katia, who speaks Russian and who came with her little sister Tessa, who does not speak any language yet. Another one was little Jessica, who is from Brazil, but knows quite a bit of Russian. Still one more girl Diana, who came to the church the second time and spoke English, even though her mom is Russian. And lastly Patrick, who spoke only English with some incredible pronunciation. So, what could I do with this amazing bunch of kids by myself? I thought that it is always great to share the Great News, so I got out colored bits and began to tell them about it both in English and in Russian. Soon I switched to English, because I’ve realized that Diana and Patrick were not familiar with the story. Both Katia and Jessica were very patient with me and just listened and tried to understand what I was saying. Closer to the end of the Great News story Patrick began to ask me a lot of questions and I tried to answer as soon as I was able to understand what he was saying (remember? the incredible pronunciation :-) We came very close to the most important question of salvation and also to the most important decision making…but…the time was up and I had to finish and go back to the main hall. Before I left, Katia was begging me to tell her what I was talking about. I am glad that I was able to keep my promise and she was very excited to take the little bit cross with her and also to tell me that she could understand some English.
After the service and fellowship, we had men and women’s Bible studies. I was sharing about faithfulness: Lord’s faithfulness and ours as well. We usually have only Russian ladies come, but today Sarah came and she does not understand very much of Russian, so I tried to translate the main points for her. I think the study went well:-).
As I reflect upon this day I just want to stop and praise the Lord for all the blessings He blessed me with today.
I did not really want to share about this day at first, because I did not want to sound as if I am boasting. However, it is just dawned on me; the Lord was faithfully answering those prayers that you faithfully bring before Him on our behalf. So, it is a praise report. And also He was showing me His faithfulness as I was trying to be faithful in these many little tasks He has given me for this day. He is so wonderful!!! He is our Faithful God and I am thanking Him for His wonderful faithfulness and also I want to thank you for being faithful in prayer. Natasha
P.S. Please, pray for Diana and Patrick, that their hearts would be open for the Lord and that they would make the most important decision in life.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Please, pray!

Once again, I would like to ask you to please, continue to pray for Olga’s mom Nina. Dean and I went to the hospital today (we’ve been doing it every Thursday) and it was a difficult visit for various reasons. However, one thing I know: the Lord is working and His work is powerful, but it appears that a real spiritual battle is going on right now, the wicked one does not want to lose his positions and he tries really hard to sow disappointment, discouragement and distrust. Nevertheless, I believe that he will no get his way, because the Lord hears our prayers, He is in control of all things, and He will get the glory. Please, specifically pray for our Thursday visit, I might go to the hospital on Monday as well. Pray for Olga and strength for her: physical and even more spiritual, that she would continually keep her eyes on the Lord, for the Lord’s comfort both for her and her mom, also patience for both of them. That Nina would give her life to the Lord and trust Him with everything.
Thank you very much! Natasha

Familiar faces

You never know who will drop in on ya on a Sunday service here at CCSokol. These two are not strangers to Big Moscow. Alisa and Michelle both out here in Moscow for the three month intern program, Alisa and her family planted CC Tushino almost 5 years ago and Alisa knows her way around the language very nicely. Michelle was here last year with the team from CC Modesto. It was nice to see her always smiling face again.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

On the way back

It’s just so happened that Dean, Sergey and I missed the train that everyone else took, however I had my special agent there and she took some pictures for me, which indicate that fellowship continued :-)
I also have some more pictures here for you too look at…
God bless! Natasha

3 DAYS OF PRAYER

The preparation
As we were planning the retreat I was constantly reminded by the Lord, that prior to such event will be a spiritual battle going on and there was. But the greatest thing is that every time discouragement and desire to give up would come, I knew I should go on and trust the Lord, knowing that everything will be wonderful at the end. He is Faithful and He made it wonderful.
P.S. Shopping was quite serious event too :-)



On our way
As we were preparing to leave after church to go to the camp site in Moscow region the dark clouds hid the blue sky and pretty heavy rain started, but before we left for the bus Dean encouraged us not to be surprised, but trust the Lord. We prayed for the good weather, because all of our sessions were supposed to be outside. The Lord answered and for me it was a special blessing to know that this event was His doing from the very beginning. (Look at the “3 days of prayer weathercast” here)
As we got on the bus, I asked people to start signing up for the 24-hour prayer. The schedule looked kind of blank scary, but by the time we arrived it was filled up completely.
On the way, I was thinking how to arrange the prayer room, because when we came to look at the facility the first time, the room, which we were going to use, looked more like an office with desks & chares, not very comfortable. BUT …now … as I walked in, I could not believe my eyes, the room was totally transformed, it looked just like I imagined it should look: quiet hideaway.
During the whole time, I had constant awareness that the Lord is everywhere ahead of me, I just followed, without even thinking about details, things were falling into their places and it was another special blessing for me, because there was no stress, no tiredness, but wonderful time of fellowship with Him and with the others. He also blessed me with a great helper, Marina, who served in many ways.

The start
As Dean mentioned the 24-hour prayer began at 10pm on Sunday and from this point on the room was never empty, at times there were even much more people than signed up. You had to see our kids: they were faithfully coming for their hour of prayer whether at 11:00am, or midnight, or even at 2:00am and sometimes they would stay longer. There are many testimonies that I will write about too.

Our time together
As the 24-hour prayer was going, the rest of us gathered for times of worship and teaching, we also set a time for personal communion with the Lord.
Since we had kids and they are always ready for fun, so we had fun and adults joined them gladly. (Special video report & pictures from pastor’s room:-)
Monday evening we had a special SHashLiK dinner and great fellowship time (mosquitoes were very excited about our coming and gathered together around our bonfire :-) Dean is a professional ShashLik maker:-) so we had incredibly delicious dinner prepared by our pastor.
We also had a time of fellowship and worship.

The Lord’s doing
There is no doubt about that the time when we come into the Lord’s presence is the most valuable for our lives. This is where we find peace, joy, comfort as He touches our hearts by His Spirit. So it was for every person who would come to the prayer room and open up his or her heart before Him in quietness. Those who were weary and tired form the cares of life, received renewal and refreshment. Those who were embittered by circumstances, softened under gentle touch of the Lord. Those who were looking for answers found them. Those who just wanted to talk to Him and spend more time with Him received this opportunity.
However, most of us still wanted more time :-), because every full hour seemed like 30 minutes or even less. It never was too long it always was too short.

Testimonies
Marina shared that the first night she had a little plan in her mind and decided what she will be doing. Her time was at 4 am and she thought that she would read, take a shower and go to bed before the early rise. She even thought of what she was going to pray about. However, the Lord had a different plan. As Marina was trying to go to sleep as her flesh demanded rest, her spirit was awake and she decided to yield and to go pray. Soon she realized that the Lord was leading her in a different direction and she prayed for the people that she did not really think of before. It was the most amazing time and even thought Marina did not get any sleep, she did not feel even a little tired or drowsy. She was overjoyed being able to fellowship with the Lord over extended period of time, and to receive a special blessing communing with Him.

Ira said that before this retreat she was tired and felt that she is being consumed by the cares and worries of life. Her “wings” were pulled down (it is a Russian idiom) and she was under much pressure. This time of prayer helped her to renew strength and leave the heaviness in His hands, so, she can fly again :-).

Jacob shared that he had experienced a beautiful time with the Lord, even though he had different opportunities before to participate in various prayer meetings this setting was much different. His attitude toward prayer was changed, because while he was bringing his requests before the Lord, the Lord gave him a verse from 1 Samuel 23:4 when “David enquired of the Lord…and the Lord answered…” . For Jacob it became so much simpler to come to the Lord with confidence knowing that the Lord answers.
When Jacob came back to Moscow, his roommate told him that two of his friends that Jacob was praying for at the retreat were kidnapped and tortured. Jacob’s response to his roommate was “Do not worry. Let’s pray!” The next day his friends were released. Praise the Lord!!!

Denis expressed his experience in a simple phrase, but with a meaningful intonation “It was woooooooonderful!!!”

I can write much more, but I think most of the testimonies can be summed up by Denis’ statement: “It was woooooooonderful!!!” As for me, I am in agreement with those who say that we should get together for another time like this, so that we grow in our prayer life, draw closer to the Lord and learn more about Him and His character. Until then, my desire is to continue to grow, to draw closer to Him and to learn more about His character in my everyday life.
Praise the Lord for His wonderful work, for this time that we had with Him and with each other, for His listening ear, for His answers that already came, and yet to come, for His many blessings, that He pours out on us. Praise Him and thank Him for His amazing love!!!
And thank you for praying for this retreat. He has answered in an amazing way :-)
May the Lord continue to bless you as you seek His will and follow Him. Natasha

Where the idea came from?

My first week in France (in November 2005), the 24-3 prayer was introduced by Tonio (pastor Pierre’s son) who was putting it together. I did not sign up for it, because I was not too sure (since my understanding of French was very limited and still is :-/), what was required for the participation. The 24-hour prayer began on Sunday evening and continued for three days. I came to church (CC Nice) on Wednesday night and found out that the prayer is still going. Than Nancy, pastor Pierre’s wife asked me if I would like to see the prayer room, I did and she took me upstairs where I ended up staying for 2 hours. First hour I prayed with Delfine, and the most of the second hour I spent by myself just singing aloud praises to the Lord. I was really touched and moved; I loved the time I had spent in that room, it was wonderful experience and a special blessing to be a part of this 24-hour prayer. That same evening the church gathered for worship and some people shared what the Lord did during this special time.I was very excited and eager to share this experience with my church at home. The only problem was, we do not have a place to use for 24-hours and even if we had, Moscow is so huge that it is practically impossible to travel somewhere in the middle of the night, when transportation does not work. Anyway, I thought of it and soon the Lord gave me this vision for the “3 days of prayer” retreat, which just took place to my great joy and excitement.

Friday, June 16, 2006

simple people simply praying

Hello every one, greeting from a rainy evening here in Moscow. I just wanted to give an up date on our first prayer retreat. Natasha will follow with photos and what took place, but I just wanted to share a couple of high lights. First I was rally amazed at the response we had. We had 41 hours of prayer time to fill and every hour time slot was filled up. We started praying at 10:00 on Sunday night and finished on Tuesday at 3:00 pm. The theme that emerged in the teachings was the simplicity of prayer. That there are no great deep, deep theological insights to prayer. That a PHD is not needed, that prayer is simply trusting in our God. The first deep, deep truth about prayer is seen in a small child. A small child asks his mommy and daddy for every thing it has need of. They are quick to ask for all things they need without hesitation. They know that they can call upon mommy or daddy, and they will respond. They don’t think it over, they just simply ask.
The second deep, deep truth is seen in a child’s persistence to ask. Mommy, can I have some candy? No! Mommy, I want some candy. No! Mamaaaa, I want some candy!!! I said, no. Mama, I Really Want Some Candy!!! Ok, here, have some candy.
But then the last deep, deep truth in a believer’s prayer life is seen when mommy or daddy say no! Because a parent knows that there are times when the answer has to be no. Because a parent knows what is good and what is not good for their child, and they love them enough to say no!!
Prayer is simply relying on God for all things, being persistent in our request to Him, and knowing that some times God’s answer is no. The simplicity of our communication with our Heavenly Father could not be any simpler.
One moment that stood out for me personally, came in the closing moments of the retreat as we were waiting for the shuttle bus to take each group to the train station. One woman by the name of Sveta, who came with one of the ladies that attends the fellowship, came up to me and shared her story that she has been battling with cancer. And that the doctors told her that her cancer was incurable. She told me that when she heard the news she rejoiced because she knew then that only Jesus could heal her, that she didn’t have to put her confidence in man but only in the hands of the Savior. I marveled at her response to humanly tragic news. But is it not what it is all about, all the teaching from the Bible leads to one conclusion, simple trust in our God. That as a believer we have been bought by His precious blood and we belong to Him, and Him alone. That what ever happens in the life of a believer, that life is in the hands of our all mighty God. God Bless you, dean

Friday, June 09, 2006

Amazing Grace

Hello everyone, just a quick up date: on Sunday after church we will be boarding a bus that will be taking a group of us an hour and a half outside of the Big city to the beautiful forest. There we will be having our first prayer retreat. It will be from Sunday night to Tuesday night and our plan is to have continual pray during the retreat. Please pray as we as a church seek the Lord. That the Lord would fill and refill us with His Holy Spirit.

Also Geno sent me this picture of his first 2 disciples in the prison, the picture tells it better than I can. God is doing a wonder thing in that prison camp. Geno’s first disciple is Sergey on the right and Dima on the left. Please pray for the work that God is doing. It is very exciting to hear what the Lord is doing in the Prison Zone. It also has great challenges. Geno lives 24 /7 with these guys. He also lives with many non- believers 24/7. It is ministry in very difficult circumstances, but God is giving Geno the grace he needs to be His servant in that prison zone.

Please pray for the upcoming CC pastors and leaders conference in August. We are very excited about the up coming conference.

Losha has been back for about 2 weeks and God has touched Losha’s heart. We see a real peace and humbleness in his life which is the real Losha that we know an love.

Today I met with my neighbor Luba who is in her early 70’s and gave her a large print Bible. She is not a believer but has questions. Please pray as we meet with her, that she would open her heart to the eternal truth of Jesus Christ. God Bless you all, and thank you for taking the time to read about what is going on in our neck of the woods. It is very special that you would take the time to know what God is doing in these precious lives over here.