A Call in the Night

Tonight as we were settling in for the evening, Eric received a call on his cell phone. All the guy said was, "Eric, call me back and I will explain who this is." Eric called him and the man said that his name was Alexander. Eric had met him in the market while passing out tracts and had talked with him for quite some time. Before he left, Alexander asked for Eric's phone number. Now about a month later he calls with a question, "Why doesn't God hear my prayers?". He called himself a Christian and said that he believed in God, but does not attend a church. Eric told him that the only way God will hear our prayers is through Jesus Christ and unless we are saved through Jesus Christ we are considered the enemies of God. Eric is planning on meeting with Alexander tomorrow. Please be in prayer for Alexander that God will continue to work upon his heart and for Eric to have wisdom as he meets with him.

Wordless Wednesday

Saved on "satan's Day"

Lina, Tamara, Jessica

October 31st, while most in America were preparing to celebrate Halloween, satan was trying desperately to keep control of a woman named Tamara. For 52 years she had been under his control, living in a home with a mom who practiced witchcraft and practicing it herself later. At the same time, she was searching for the truth. Seeking for answers through the Russian Orthodox church, a charismatic church, the Jehovah Witnesses...all telling her the same thing-she must do something for her salvation. They told her that right now her "gifts" were from satan, but that after she was "saved" she could use them for God. She came to our house Saturday, October 31st at 8:30 AM and talked until 3 PM. First she told of all of her visions, experiences, and "gifts" asking us if they were from God or from satan. She wanted to know "What is truth?" and "How can I KNOW that you are telling me the truth?". She pointed to a book she had brought and said that the man who wrote it was older than we were, so how could we claim to know more about the truth than him? Each time Eric would point her to what the Bible says. Near the end, she said "I believe you because you have not once said nice words to convince me, you have only pointed to the Bible." What a blessing it was when she said she wanted to receive Jesus as her Saviour! She bowed her head and prayed accepting Jesus into her heart but didn't stop there. She then prayed for her son, who is in prison for stealing, that he might find the truth like she had saying that she knew he was where he was because of her. So, on a day many consider "satan's day", satan lost control over another soul!

A Woman Seeking the Truth

One of our church members has been sick for about the past week and after evangelism today we stopped by to drop off some medicine, juice, etc. When we got to her house, there was a lady named Tamara there. Tamara is earnestly seeking for God and talked with us for about an hour. She told us that she was Russian Orthodox (like Catholic), but she also practiced (what sounded to us like) different forms of witch craft. She also told us that she had studied with the Jehovah Witnesses for a few lessons then told them that they were welcome to come visit but could no longer bring their materials because she did not believe that it was truth. She told Eric that she would tell him the same if she thought he wasn't preaching the truth. She was very anxious to talk with us and will be coming over tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM. Please be praying for her. She kept saying that she just wants to know truth. She said she has lived about 53 years and still does not know what life...especially hers, is about. Please remember to be praying for Tamara and also for Eric and Lina as they talk with her. He is going to try to get her to take Salvation Bible lessons.

In the Markets with the Blinded

The past few weeks have been a great encouragement for me as God has given me the ability to speak more and more fluently in the Russian language. This has given me the opportunity to witness more to people as I am out passing tracts and has also helped me see more clearly what the people I am ministering are like.

Now, when someone rejects a tract telling me that they are Orthodox (like Catholic) I ask "Why won't you take it? You believe the Bible right? This is only Bible about Jesus Christ." Some will take it after that, but most still reject it saying that they only believe the priest and what he says.

Pray for me that God will give me wisdom in dealing with a people who are blinded by religion.

ALMOST FINISHED!

A corner in the kitchen...girls room on the left, living room/our room on the right

Entry way/dining area?

The girls' room

The kitchen going into the girls' room...the walls are the same color green. It's just the lighting.

Living Room

The bathroom is almost complete too. Just needs paint and the sink and toilet hooked up. It has a beautiful white floral tile on the walls and a cream floral on the floors (though, I don't think you would see the floral print in pictures because it is almost the same color as the tile). I am so thankful for the beautiful little house that God has given us and I can't wait to move in! I am like a kid asking "Are we there yet?". I think that it just might be the most beautiful little house in all of Ukraine!

Wordless Wednesday

Because you can't really see it in this photo, need to explain this picture...these boys were smoking outside of our apartment building.