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Thank you and God bless you!Natasha

Music and Ministry from Israel with Love

Greeting friends, the trees are just about ready to turn this city green, and beginning on the first of May the first of many celebrations begin here in Moscow. May 9th is the great day of victory in World War 2. It is a huge holiday here in Moscow. May 9th celebrates the great victory over Nazi Germany. Moscow and its outlying areas are filled with monuments in honor of those that paid a great price for victory. Those who participated in that great effort and lived through the war made sure that no one would forget those millions of their fellow citizens that paid with their life in defending the mother land, that all the memorials would make sure that the next generation would not forget!!!

As human beings by our very nature we can forget things in the past and just move on. Jesus knew all too well the men He created. Jesus told the disciples as they broke bread in the room located there in Jerusalem, “do this in remembrance of Me. Don’t forget the price I paid for you, don’t forget as you get caught up in the cares of this life that I have given you new life. Don’t forget that I ‘m the source of your peace and your joy, don’t forget that planet earth is not heaven, this is not your home. Don’t forget you are just passing through. Don’t forget I will never leave you nor forsake you. Remember Me.”

Steve and Sheshteen from Tel-Aviv have been with us since Sunday. About a month ago Steve contacted me through our CC Sokol web site. Steve told me he and his wife would be coming to Moscow for three weeks and wanted to see if they could come and minister in our church in music and testimony for the Lord. They had not made any provision for accommodations here in Moscow and only had a few contacts for ministry. I told them that I would see what I could do. The closer it came to the time they arrived I was feeling apprehensive about obligating my self to helping them for their 3 week stay. Thinking about my already busy schedule I did not know how it was going to work out. On Sunday as I was on my way to meet them at the airport I wanted to turn around and just go back, but as I entered the airport Steve called to my phone that they had just arrived. But it took about 1 minute to know it was the Lord's plan to meet them. We then set out to find them a hotel but nothing was found under 100$ per night. The last hotel we went to was booked up, so at 11:00 that night we headed for my place which already was filled up, but that is where they stayed the first night. But the Lord had a place already picked out for them. Monday I called my friend Rick who is MAF about the need for a cheap place to live. He called me back and told me that a missionary family was in the States and that their 4 room apartment was available to use. It is an incredible apartment and even has a piano for Steve. Later I will tell you all how the Lord has been using them here…. To be continued….. (Photo of their visit to the holocaust memorial, here in Moscow, Steve behind the 9 foot grand piano of Nellie's the director)

HOME REMEDY #1077 TREE SAP

Hello everyone today Natasha (the sound woman ) and I went hour and a half out of Moscow to visit a Baptist conference center. It is the same conference camp where we had the CC Russian men’s conference. We wanted to look over the place as we are making arrangements for our first prayer retreat. Please pray for the upcoming retreat on June 11-13. While we were waiting to look around at the facility, the guard asked me if I wanted some juice, and I was thirsty and said yes. I was a little surprised when he grabbed a cup from his guard house and told me to follow him into the beautiful surrounding forest. Little did I know I was going to get my first taste of birch tree sap (juice). As I followed Alex over to a birch tree (See Picture) just like in the cartoons the tree had a drain coming out dripping one drip at a time. Well Alex insisted that I fill the cup up after I cautiously poured enough for one gulp. The birch tree sap is clear, and tastes very much like plain water with a bit of a sweet taste. It is supposed to be very healthy, and after 6 ½ years living in Russia I no longer giggle under my breath when I hear of one of 100’s of home remedies they have, I'm a believer!!!!

I have a most interesting story to tell about our special guests from Israel Steve and Kerstin Schneider. Steve is a Messianic Jew and he contacted us though our CC Sokol web site with the desire to come to Russia to minister in praise through music, (Steve is a professional piano player) and to share their testimony. I will write more about their visit here with us and the different opportunities that the Lord is opening up for them as they will be in Moscow for 3 week. Please pray for their Ministry. You also can read about Steve and Kerstin on their web site: http://www.stevekerstin.com/ Steve will be doing the Wednesday night service, and on Sunday Steve will be doing our men’s fellowship, and Kerstin will be doing the ladies fellowship.

Well good night and God Bless you and thank you for taking an interest in the work here in Moscow. Thank you that you faithfully pray for us here, it makes all the difference!!! dean

Heart to heart

It was an incredible day indeed!!! Just imagine a team of 30 from different churches and the Bible College, some Americans, some look like Americans, most smiling, and some taking pictures, a kind of distinctive bunch of people for the local folk. I think we drew some attention before we even went in to the rehab center and yet more as we walked through the center itself, while quite a few people came outside from their rooms to look at us. In order to get to the place where we were going to show the Jesus film we had to walk through the facility, which consists of two parts (I perceive), one part is for people with mental problems and the other with physical.
Right in a front of the building where we were going to, is a ruin of a huge orthodox temple, which was built in 1812, its sad condition was like a prelude to what we were about to experience. It was like a symbol of desolation and emptiness that reigned in the lives of many who found shelter in the house near to it.
As we went up the second floor to the dining hall (where the movie was to be shown), to get ready, I began to see the inhabitants slowly moving in, most on the wheelchairs, some on crutches. I have never seen so many people on the wheelchairs in one place, it was very hard to see especially as more and more people were arriving. Before the movie, pastor Kostia said a few words to introduce it and as it started most of our team members went to talk and distribute the Bibles and tracks to those, who for various reasons did not come to watch it. Right away, the Lord led me to a couple of ladies, one of them left almost right after she got a New Testament, but I had a long conversation with the other, her name is Galena. I got to share the Good News with her, and even though at first Galena sounded like she knew what Easter was about, she listened very attentively. Certainly, the Gospel message was not new to her; she saw the Jesus film before, but did not have full understanding of what Jesus did for her.

Galena's story

I also asked Galena to tell me how she ended up in this place and her story is heartbreaking, but as she said, not rare or the worst one. Galena lived in Moscow in one room of the community flat together with her son. And it seems like all the troubles began at the same time. First, her son was put to jail for some criminal act. Then some so-called real estate agents deceived Galena by selling her room without her permission. When she tried to return it, on the very day when she and her friend were going to meet with the agents, a mini-van run into them. Galena with severe injuries spent several months in a hospital, now homeless, without documents and not knowing what happened to her son. Her friend helped her to get a special sanction to stay in the rehab center for half a year. What a sad story! Nevertheless, as sad as it may sound I saw the Lord goodness and His hand upon Galena’s life. She is still alive; she can walk now with a go-cart, even though as she testified, some months ago she thought she would not be able to, she has shelter and food. Now she also has Hope! Before we said good-bye to each other, I gave Galena a hug, and you know how sometimes somebody gives you a hug, and you know it is from the Lord, I think it was this way for Galena.Now she knows that Jesus loves her.

Please, pray!

So, please pray for Galena and for the others at this place to come to the knowledge of their Lord and Savior. Also for building up a team of people to continue in this ministry to the hungry and desolate.
I cannot stop praising the Lord for allowing us to come to this place and to minister together, bringing Hope to these lost souls. What a privilege!

As we walked away, I knew that today the Lord made a big change in many lives - in the lives of those we met as well as in ours. He is so Great!!!

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Some pictures: Michale and Rita from our church are sharing the Good News.

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Bread for life and the Bread of life...see the difference

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Tragic lives, soft hearts

Greetings from Moscow, today we as the 5 Calvary Chapels here in Moscow had the opportunity to visit the rehabilitation center for people who have disabilities, physical, and mental or have had limbs removed. I believe all are homeless. Natasha also will be commenting on today’s out reach and give you more of a picture of what took place. Kostia, the pastor at Calvary Chapel 1905 was invited by the administration to come and show the Jesus Film. It was a great success, and to see most of the people stay through the 2 hour movie that was amazing. They all gladly received Bibles at the end of the movie. Many from the team went room to room sharing the gospel and making friends. One man who I had the opportunity to talk with ( see the picture) by the name of Voldia, was suffering from the affects of Alcohol poisoning that has left him at 57 barely able to walk, and with a sever speech problem. It was interesting that the Lord would direct me to him. But it was amazing we were able to talk for 2 hours together. As I read John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me, Volodia agreed, that Jesus was the only way. Even though from a human stand point Volodia’s life is a tragic one, with only a few possessions to his name, suffering from the effects of alcohol, living in a little room with 5 other men, but he is a rich man because he recognizes his need for a Savior. What a great disappointment this life would be for Volodia without the hope of a Savior. Planet earth is not heaven, and Jesus tells us not to be too comfortable with this planet, that we are to keep our minds on Heaven, because that is where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. That is where our true home is at. We all witnessed the most tragic situations of 100’s of people today. The suffering that was represented in that building was incredible. But we also witnesses hearts that were not opposed to the gospel, hearts that were not hard, but open. God speaks to man in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul into a Godless eternity”. Please pray for our return to the center, as the doors remain open. God Bless,dean

SHAshLEek and the EU

Иисус Воскрес !!!! (Jesus has risen!!!)

Hi everyone Hope you had a wonderful Easter, we are sill waiting for our Easter. It will be on Sunday. Пасха ( Easter) is a big day in Russia, and yes, colored Easter eggs are popular as well. Along with a cake called KoOlecH. A KoOlecH is a round and about 6” high sorry I don’t have a picture to show you, but they will be arriving at the stores and outdoor markets by the millions on Friday. Anyway we know that Easter is not about eggs and cakes, it is about the ONE that redeemed man back to his creator. That Sweet son of God who left everything to come and walk on planet earth for 33 years then freely give His life for all man kind, JESUS CHRIST.

Our great sound woman is Natasha, and she is more that a great sound woman, she is sound in her relationship with God. She also is a great church bookkeeper, woman’s fellowship leader, leads worship on the Monday bible study…..among other helpful things.

What do SHAshLeEK and the EU have in common? Nothing

Today I went to visit Yuri and Valya ( SEE WEDDING PHOTO) to have our weekly bible study and they met me at the door and said we were going to the forest to have “SHAshLeEK”…. Now the snow is melted but it was raining today, But SHAshLeEK is the first thing people do when there is even any hint of spring coming. Well you may be asking What is SHAshLeEK? It is Russian BBQ . we call it sis kabob First you start a little fire in your little SHAshLeEK BBQ, it is a little box where you get the little fire going so you can lay the little swords , I don’t know how to spell Skoowoooersss so I will call them little swords that stab the delightfully marinated little chucks of chicken or beef, Yuri choose both today and with help with onions and a few secret herbs past down from 10 generations,( Russia is old) we had some delicious SHAshLeEK…. Valya made a very tasty garlic sauce, UMMM. It was a good break from the usual food all of us guys eat each night. Which usally is PeLMeiNy which is a little glob of dough stuffed with what ever meat you can find. I like to dump a glob of sour cream on them with a bunch of caned sardines, with curry and garlic. If you would like the recipe let me know. Well it is back to the real world, tomorrow I will be preparing for our Wednesday night Bible study on the Book of Daniel, Chapter 7 where it is getting very interesting with the European Union (CHECK OUT PHOTO) and all that. What is so interesting about the Strasbourg meeting place for the EU in France it was designed after a famous painting of the Tower of Babel, and the bold statement that has been made," that we are going to complete the work that stopped at the tower of Babel HUMMMM? God Bless you all, dean

Easter gifts

Today we had our women’s fellowship and we were making special Easter gifts for Dean’s neighbors. (I have to mention that Easter in Russia is on the 23rd this year.) In last two years, it became a tradition. We made our very first Christmas card together with our ladies while meeting at Dean’s apartment. The idea was just to build a relationship with the neighbors, since at that point there was a tension and we even had to deal with local militia (Russian police), because we were meeting there. Also by putting a gospel message we were able to share the Good News with quite a few people (it is 35 apartments, and in most of them at least 2 people are living).
So this is what we were doing after the service today, put together and decorated cards and bookmarks. I made some examples at home, so it would be easier to do the decorating, but little did I know how creative our ladies are. I still regret that I forgot to take a picture of our team at work. It was so great to watch!
I did take pictures of the masterpieces and you can see some more here (just click).
Please, pray that these simple gifts would touch people hearts. On the cards we put Psalm 23 and on the bookmarks are three verses from the Gospel of John with Jesus’ words: “I am a good Shepherd…”, “I am the resurrection and the life…” and “I am the way, the truth and the life…”. So, may these verses speak to the people and the Lord would use His Word to open the eyes of the blind.Thank you! Natasha

Sound(wo)man’s Sunday

Almost every Sunday I do the sound and almost every time it is an experience. The Lord has really blessed us with the equipment we have: I love our Mackie soundboard; it is very nice & friendly:-) (I am a soundwoman, ok.). We also have a good, heavy amplifier and fender speakers, which probably will not go for a rock concert, but work well for worship. Besides we have a just beautiful :-) snake, I do not like snakes, but this one is beautiful…however we are not able to use it at this point. So, because of that our set up probably :-) is not very professional, but…it is ok. I can tell: there is more to the sound making at church than just being professional. Many times, I could testify that either my or one of the team members irritation caused interference which was hard to get rid of. Or sometimes our speakers produce “through the pillow” sound, maybe there is a technical term for this, but I do not know it :-). Or a few times our system just would not work, even though all the cords and wires seemed to be at their right places and all the switches were on. So, when things like that happen and it is time to begin the service, and the worship team is getting frustrated, because the sound check did not go well and I am not being of any help, and speakers make “woofing” sounds, what I am, as a soundwoman, ought to do??? Well, it maybe will not appear professional for some sound guys, but what I do in this kind of moments just …pray. Believe it or not, but even when everything sounded the worst, after even the shortest prayer, like: “Lord, HELP!!!”, I can hear a huge difference. So, as a soundwoman, I decided that I will just let our greatest SOUNDMAKER to do the sound :-), I think it is logical: He is the One Who made it.

April 11 1981

It was back in April 11 1981 that I found myself bowing my heart and receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Little did I know that 25 years later to the day I would be living a normal life in the former Soviet Union. All because Jesus heard the cry of my heart that morning 25 years ago, “God if you are real show me?” I would have never found myself here for any other reason, and if not for the Lord answering my request I would have missed the most incredible last 6 1/2 years of my life. The Lord has given me the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people that have experienced life so much differently than I have experienced living in the Blessed U.S.A. for 45 years. It is still so amazing that God would give me the privilege to be apart of what He is doing in Russia. I can’t tell you the times when I have felt so ill equipped for what He has called me to do here, but the Lord has been soooo faithful to let me know I’m where I need to be. I understand very well that the Lord did not send me alone with thousands of other missionaries to change Russia, but the Lord sent me to Russia to change me. I’m personally thankful that Jesus put this verse in His word found in Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that HE who has began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” I just wanted to share with you the most significant day of my life. I hope that every one who reads this has a most significant day of your life. If you don’t just bow your heart to the Lord, surrender to Him and just be honest and recognize the need you have for a Savior, and call out to Him, and He will save your soul and give you eternal life, and He will reveal His purposes for the reason you have been born on planet earth, dean

CHURCH WEDDING OF YURI AND VALYA

Today we had a wonderful service, Vova, our worship leader was in north Russia helping on an outreach so Marina and Elya did the worship. We finished chapter 12 of the Book of Matthew, next week we will look at the parables of Jesus. Today, after the service we celebrated the wedding of Yuri and Valya. It was a sweet service. Please pray for Losha.

Treasures in Psalms

Today we had our youth Bible study again and it was rather spontaneous, because I was not quite well yet, but kids (Sveta, Dima and Egor) surprised me with their eagerness to get together and so we did. Olga went with us, or actually, she took us to IKEA where we really like to meet. I decided to go over our previous lesson on Psalm 1, to refresh it in our memories, then we talked about their today’s Sunday school lesson, which was in Psalm41:3(42:2 in English) and what they’ve learned from it. Then I shared with the kids another Psalm, and it is one of my favorite ones – Psalm 36 (37 eng.) We took only two verses, 4 & 5, and tried to understand what it means to delight in the Lord and how can we commit our way to Him.
It was really special to find out later, after we finished, that one lady and her little girl who set by the table next to ours, were listening to our conversation. Praise the Lord!
I pray that through these lessons the Lord would help all of us to make these simple truths an essential part of our lives. I am so thankful that we can meet together, have time of fellowship, and study the Word. Every time is rewarding and a blessing.
Please, keep this Bible study in prayer.
Thank you and God bless you!
Natasha
P.S. For more silly pictures click here :-)

RETURN TO THE DEPORTATION CAMP

Today I visited the Deportation Camp. It is a detention center for foreigners that are found in the country with an expired or no visa. It had been about 5 years since that last time I was there. We had 5 guys that were there back in 2000 to 2002. Then all was quiet but in the last year it seems that more guys are being picked up and taken to the camp. So today I made the journey outside of Moscow to the camp. It took awhile to find what bus went out there. The place had not changed very much it still looks like a little prison. One thing had changed: I was able to communicate with the guards, and fill out the forms with little effort which before was a major ordeal. Usually every time in the past we went there it would be a new crisis, but today it was great. Perhaps being able to speak confidently was a plus. They even allowed a Bible and Christian books to go in with the food parcel.

Tonight we had our weekly prayer meeting at the church. Each week we have been picking a country that is under persecution. Today we prayed for Indonesia, where according to Voice of the Martyrs, a church that has been established for 9 years and has about 190 members last week was assaulted at it's Sunday service by 200 Muslim. They hassled them for 5 hours until the police came and told the church to disband. Last week the Religious affairs Minister and the Home Minister announced a revision of the 1969 Joint Ministerial Decree. They have introduced three new laws that will make it very difficult to plant a new Christian church in Indonesia and it will make it very difficult for the existing Christian Churches to continue.Please pray for the situation in Indonesia

Well finally it looks like I am going to start my first English lesson at the college on Monday. With Nellie, who is the wife of the director. Nellie is the drama and sing coach. She and Victor, who is and extremely talented singer and actor will be my first students. Please, pray for me. Well, God Bless you all Good night, dean P.S. please pray for Natasha she has been sick and it seems to keep holding on to her.

Losha has returned!!

Greetings from Moscow! THE SNOW IS MELTING, and spring is around the corner. Great news: today Losha came back home. He was on the streets with his friends for about 4 weeks. Most of his friends I have met, and they all have a soft heart. Losha showed up tonight at the Monday bible study. He is happy to be back, and the guys were happy to see him. During the meeting Losha showed up with Sergey who also lives with us. Sergey comes into the meeting and with his typical loud voice cries “ Losha has come home”
Today I went out to Solneachnagorsk ( Place of sun shining) a city and hour out of Moscow, and out in the forest is a huge T.B. hospital where one of our guys from Ghana is. I might have spoken to you about Charles. Charles, contacted T.B. in prison, where they removed one lung. And now that he is out of prison the T.B. has attacked his other lung. Charles is an amazing guy, he is about 28 years old and he has been through so much. He is a walking miracle. Please pray for the protection of his only good lung. As so as he is better we want to send him back home.

Saturday I had the honor of doing a teaching at the Jews for Jesus Shabbat service. The Jews for Jesus keep the Shabbat service very much like an all Jewish Shabbat service so that they attract non- Christian Jews to the service. They read from the Pentateuch, then from the Prophets, then from the New Testament. They sing Jewish songs, and then break bread together. After the meeting I was invited to a birthday party for Dina. She is a Christian Jew, who I had the opportunity to Baptize last summer. When you go to a Russian birthday party, you better be prepared to eat until you pass out, and Dina’s birthday was no exception. Dina who turned 70 (doesn’t look a day over 60) invited her co –workers 3 women. In Russia during the Soviet times your close friends were always the ones you worked with. Generally you work together at the same job for your entire life. So co-workers usually are close friends. Dina has a great faith, and is a great witness to her friends. Good night and God Bless.

After the service

Today we had a Youth Bible Study. It is new in a way, because there was a long break for our youth ministry, but at the same time, I have been meeting with Sveta and Dima and some other kids quite regularly, before my trip to France. So Sveta and Dima wanted to get together today, Olga came along with us and we had a great time of fellowship and then studied 1st Psalm. We learned 3 things that Christian should not do and 2 things that he should. Dima’s comment on that was: “It is easier to be good, because you need to do only 2 things.” What can you say to that?:-)
After the study, Sveta got her face painted and then all of us went to Julia’s house to have some tea. Our fellowship continued up till 9pm. What a blessed day! I thank the Lord for it!
Please pray for our Youth Ministry: for kids to have a desire to study the Word and to be obedient to the Lord. For Nika (Dima & Sveta’s older sister), Natasha, Zulia, Dima, Egor and his sister Tonia, for Dima and Sveta (of course) and other kids that the Lord will bring.
Thank you and God bless!
Natasha
More pictures of this day you can find in “More pictures”:-) link.

Sunday again

Hi everyone, perhaps you have heard by now the accident in the Metro. It happened between our metro stop Sokol, and the next metro stop north of us. All in the church at the time. It sounds like all were rescued and the metro will be restored by morning.

We had a nice service today, Sunday always is a great day for our church. After the service Jacob and I went to visit one of the Cameroon guys that are in the hospital from receiving a concussion. Joshua translates into French for our Friday bible study with the Cameroon soccer players.

Pray for Losha,
he left back to the streets with
his street friends
and has been drinking with them.

Winter is still holding on and we have a snow storm going on outside.
God Bless and good night

Before the service

We have a great team of ladies who help out with
the hospitality ministry: my friends Julia & Olga,
Elia, who is on staff with the Bible College & also
Aliona and Nastia – both study at the Bible College.
They bless our fellowship by making very tasty
sandwiches and serving tea, coffee and cookies.
Some people think that
Aliona and Nastia are twins,
but they are not,
they are sisters…in the Lord.

(Posted by Natasha)

Ikea world through the eyes of 10-year-old

Today my friend Julia and her kids Dima and Sveta invited me to have dinner at Ikea restaurant; it was a special treat for my birthday. We had very sweet time together. I brought a gift my dad gave me today – a digital camera and it became a center of Sveta’s interest. She began to take pictures and after I looked at them, I decided to post some here, I think, Sveta has a talent.
I took some pictures too :-) We really had a great time today!!! You can see more pictures in the “More pictures”:-) link.
(Posted by Natasha)

A little about Abe and the Feast of Purim

Abraham made it home safe to Ghana. He was able to find his father, after 10 years, also he was reunited with some of his brothers and sisters. His mother past away while he was in Moscow. He is happy to be back.

Today I was invited to celebrate the Feast of Purim or also known as the feast of Esther, with a group of Jewish belivers, some of which fellowship at Sokol. Out of the 25 that were there to celebrate this yearly feast, 10 were not believers. However 5 of them took home New Testaments. Mira, who works with Jews for Jesus(standing in picture) is really gifted in seeking out the Jewish people here in Moscow, and has been used to share the gospel with hundreds of Jews. It is really a blessing for me to be involved with the Jewish community here. Just an interesting side note, 2 years ago while Lynn and I traveled to Israel to meet Pastor and the group from CC Modesto I really got a love for the Jewish people, and found out that many live in Russia. I prayed that The Lord would open up the door to meet Jewish people in Moscow, I had not met one in the 4 years I had lived there. But now the Lord has opened the door.