Please, pray!

The holiday season has not yet started in Russia , so we have an opportunity to continue looking for a new location for the church. On Tuesday, we have couple of places to look at. Please, pray that the Lord would guide us to the place He prepared just for us, that we would know it is the one where He wants us to be.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and have wonderful holidays celebrating our Lord’s birthday!

Visits and the staircase

This past Monday was a day of visits. First, Dean and I went to the Architectural College (our former meeting place) to pay a visit to Rific and Nelly, just to say “Hello” and give them a small gift for Christmas. It may sound funny but walking up the 5^th floor to get to the Youth Center where Rufic and Nelly work and where the church used to meet for many, many years, was like a special treat. I did not even notice how I got to the top this time, where before I would gasp, stop a few times on the way and think to myself how horrible it is not to have an elevator in such a building where 5^th floor can be compared to the 8^th in regular apartment building. It is a memorable staircase; we used to joke about it on the way to the 5^th floor or come up with different ideas how to install an elevator. Once Mira, our good friend, who serves with Jews for Jesus and often brings new believers to our church, shared a little secret with me. When I was telling her that I’ve never heard a complaint about the staircase from the older ladies that came to our church with her, she said that they have a good motivation. I of course asked her what was it and she said that Dean told the ladies that when Jews went to worship God in Jerusalem they had to go up to the temple and there were a lot of steps. And not only that, those steps also were different – a number of small and then one big one, it was made this way so people would not run to the temple and enter in a hurry, but so they would meditate on God going up. I thought it was a great motivation and explanation for our staircase, and I adapted it too.

Well, I was not going to write so much about this, but it is one of the good memories I have about our time at the Architectural collage. These last months and especially last a few weeks I was really missing Nelly and Rufic and the good relationship we had and have with them and what a pleasure it was to work together. So, please keep them in your prayers, that they would see how much the Lord loves them.

Our second visit was paid to Rudolf, who is the director’s assistant at the “Sokol” hotel. We just wanted to know if everything is going fine with our church meeting there, if there were any complaints from people and if we could stay for another month, since we still have not found a more permanent place. Rudolf told us that everything is going fine and we can stay longer, he also gave us couple of suggestions and that was pretty much it. In this case, there are no memorable staircase stories :-)

This same evening we had a Bible study and as we came back to the hotel, I received a message that I need to call Rudolf as soon as possible and if I will not do that, (the staff lady said) then tonight will be our last time here. I was really surprised to hear that, because we just had a meeting with Rudolf. There was not much time left before the study, so I decided to call the next day.

The phone call

I do not really like to make phone calls and here is one of the reasons why: I called Rudolf right before our stuff meeting on Tuesday and he told me that 30 minutes after we visited him, director of the hotel called him in and told him to get rid of us right away. Wednesday will be our last day. He apologized and told me that we will get a refund. I tried to get an explanation and he gave me a few reasons.
Well, it was one of those times when I wished somebody else would have to tell Dean and Vova this news. I will not write about all the feelings I had at the moment, otherwise it would take more bloog space than the memorable staircase story plus all the other stories put together :-).

It is Hanukkah!!!

After such news, there was not much to talk about because now we did not have a place for our Christmas project and celebration. Dean decided to go and look for a new location right away, but we did not, because there was not much time before Hanukkah celebration where we were invited in the evening. I was glad that we had to alter that plan, because this evening completely changed my heart and gave me a different perspective on things. The Lord gave me His amazing peace while I was listening to beautiful Jewish songs, then to Mira’s message, which was fully Evangelical, and meant for Jewish non-believers, but for me as well, because the Lord “restored to me the joy of my salvation and renewed His right spirit within me”. Then at the end pastor Max, blessed everyone with the special Aaron’s blessing, first in Hebrew and then in Russian. Those words, so familiar were like a balm to my soul. You know what they were?

I’ll tell you: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Selah

Wednesday

On Wednesday, we went to see Rudolf again and he met us with apologies, but at the same time said that he cannot do anything about the situation. Then I just asked if it is possible for us to still keep the Sunday, because it is the day when most people come, so we would let them know what is going on. Rudolf said, “Ok. I’ll take the responsibility upon myself.” Honestly, I did not expect this, but it is the Lord answer for us.

Then we went to administrator to talk about the refund. I want to tell you about this young lady, when I met her the first time she was the most suspicious one, she asked me a lot of questions and not all of them were nice, “Are you a sect?” was one of them. I really wanted to give her “More than a carpenter” to read, she said she had a Bible. But every time I would bring the book to her she either was not working, or was leaving, or was too busy. However, one time, when I came up to ask some question, in return she asked me to bring her one of our booklets. We ran out of booklets, but we had “More than a carpenter” with the Gospel of John. So, now as she found out about our situation she said “May God help you”. That was so special.

Of course, we do not know about all of the details and reasons why we have to leave, but the Lord knows and if He touched through us at least one person’s life that is already good reason enough for us being there for 4 month.

Please, pray for Rudolf, for the Administrator, I believe her name is Nastia, for the director of this Hotel and others who work and stay there.

Please, pray for us as well. Thank you and the Lord bless you…

Natasha

P.S. On Wednesday night we were praising the Lord and praying for the people in the hotel. “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” song, became the theme of the evening.

Please, pray for Chas

Please pray for Chas, (see photo standing next to Jacob)

Chas is in a very serious condition, he is suffering from T.B. He has lost one lung already, and the other is deteriorating. He is very sick and I will visit him today and give an update. Chas is a very unique young man he speaks 5 different languages. Chas needs a miracle.

Jacob

Greetings from Moscow, today at 12:00 pm Moscow time my good friend Jacob at age 34 went home to the Lord. Many of you knew Jacob through my emails over the last 7 years. Some of you had the opportunity to meet Jacob. There is so much to say about this young man. Jacob knew what tribulation and poverty was all about. Born in Cameroon, (Oteh as many called him) left Cameroon and ended up in Moscow like so many other young Africans to find a better life. Unfortunately for Jacob it was a hard road that few people will ever walk. However it is here in Moscow where Jacob found His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jacob over the last 8 years has helped many Africans, not just fellow Cameroonians, with visas, support, food, lodging, and in many other ways. Jacob worked with me on sending many Africans that found themselves over their head here in Moscow, back home to Africa. I often would suggest to Jacob about returning home but optimism would always get the best of him and he would endure to the next trial. I cannot tell you the times Jacob has been assaulted, harassed and discriminated, but he would always rise to the top and move on. Jacob had an uncanny way establishing friendship with various police men. Jacob would amazingly earn their respect and would have an opportunity to give them a Bible. Over the last two months Jacobs’s heath had been deteriorating. Several days ago I met him (at the same Hospital I visited him 7 years ago), and prayed and anointed him with oil. Jacob could hardly speak and was very tired. For more than two weeks he had a hard time breathing and was getting almost no sleep. Jacob told me he was tired and he wanted to go home to Cameroon. To make matters worse, Jacobs’s father had died two weeks earlier. Jacob was grieved for his Dad, he told me his Dad loved him very much. Every hospital that I visited Jacob in the last month (which was 3) everybody knew who he was from the nurses to the patients. I would bring along bibles and other pamphlets about the Good News of Jesus Christ and Jacob would give them to his fellow patients. The last time I met with Jacob he told me of the young Russian man in the bed next to him. Jacob told me that he had taken a liking to Jacob and helped him in and out of bed. Jacob had become so weak that he could not even lift himself in and out of bed. Jacob told me that the young man was very attentive to all his needs. I met Jacobs’s new friend and shook his hand, I noticed his arms were almost completely covered with colorful tattoos. I commented that they were beautiful and he allowed me to inspect them. It was evident that this young man had had a tough life, and the tattoos gave testimony of his prison life. But yet he had a huge smile and you could tell he loved helping Jacob out. One thing that struck me about this young man was not his tattoos, or even his big smile, or the fact that he would get out of his bed and help Jacob get back into his bed after relieving himself, what struck me about this young man that had a hard life written all over his face was that he had no legs. But that did not stop him from serving his fellow brother that was born in a different country, and had a different shade of skin. God has some very incredible children He has created and I‘m awed at times by the character I see displayed in lives of people who know what tribulations and poverty are all about. Jesus wrote to 7 literal churches in the book of Revelation telling the churches what He liked and what He did not like in His churches. As Jesus spoke to the church in Smyrna, Revelation 2:8 He said “ I know your works, tribulations, and poverty but you are rich. Jesus did not have one bad thing to say to the church of Smyrna. He was not ashamed of them, and did not rebuke them for their wretched condition, say they lacked faith. Jesus did not give them a quick solution to get out of their tribulations and poverty. He only told them that they could expect more, and “to be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.” Jesus seemed to be very comfortable with the church of Smyrna, and all their trials, persecutions, and poverties. Jesus said Himself in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." One thing Jacob has never been able to do is clap his hands to the Lord. Sometimes during worship I will glance over at Jacob, and knew that he could never clap his hands and praise the Lord, and I know he would if he could have. You see Jacob as some of you know was missing an arm. It was severed in an accident as a small child. But today December 7 2006 Jacob was able for the first time to clap and raise both his hands before the Lord. Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." 2Corinthians 5:8 "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Please pray for the service for Jacob, Jacob was well known in the African community here in Moscow. Many of the guys and gals do not know the Lord, that God would get all the Glory.

Also in the photo is Dr. Tom, I could spend the same amount of time talking about Tom and how he has been a great help to the helpless here in Moscow. He is in the hospital awaiting a much needed hip replacement surgery. Please pray all will go well and Dr. Tom will be restored to active duty.