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04/28/08
Update in a Nutshell:
1. Max our mission director visited Krasnodar
2. We had a baptism at the church we are a
part of
3. Easter in Russia
4. The Truth Project
Prayers
-Please pray for our continued language and
culture studies.
-Pray as we make plans for the future and talk
with those in the area.
-Pray for more workers for the harvest field.
-Pray that the people will understand Christ as
He truly is.
-Pray for our meeting that is going through the
Truth Project
-Pray for God’s peace to come upon this place.
Praises
-God is truly working in this area, as evident
by the baptism
-Our meeting with Max went well
-Easter was a real encouragement
-God continues to reveal Himself to His people
-God is almighty and in control
Max (our mission director) arrived last
Thursday into the Krasnodar airport. After we were able to get
settled in we plowed ahead on a busy weekend of talking, planning,
meeting, hoping, and praying. He was only in Krasnodar for four
days which made for a busy weekend. We were able to talk some with
our language school, Nikolai (prison minister from ARM), our
teammates, and Yuri (a fellow OCC graduate living and working in
Russia). Max is a wonderful man with lots of vision, that God has
given him, for the kingdom. We are still in language school and
therefore were not able to make any definite plans for the future.
However, we did have good talks about possibilities. The
possibility of working with the Meshkentian Turks is still available
along with possibly Abkhazia, Adygea, and Muslims living around
Nalchik. We continue to keep our hearts and ears open while praying
for God to lead the way. For now, though, we are left continuing to
study. We also look forward to talking with some of the other
missionaries in the area and finding out from them about the work
going on in Southern Russia. We possibly look at moving into the
Adygea area, but this is in the future and still needs much prayer
and thought. As far as contacts here, we try and reach out to our
language helpers, acquaintances at the market, neighbors, and people
from church and school.
While Max was here we were able to witness a
baptism from the church we are a part of. It was in the local river
and had about 10 or so people baptized. It was a really good time
to be a part of the body as well as witness the birth of new
believers here in Russia. There were even some African students who
study at the local university that were baptized. It was a baptism
truly of God’s people from around the world. One of the men who was
involved and is involved in the church is named Yuri. He is a good
man that graduated from the same school as we did several years
before us. He is in Krasnodar working for the Lord in the church
trying to teach and be used by God as he can. We look forward to
the future as to what God has in store for his family. The
possibility of working with him or even learning from him is a good
one.
After Max left, we caught up on a little rest.
The next weekend was Easter. In Russia we have Easter a little
later than in the States. It was a good time of fellowship and
observing how some things are done in Russia. We were able to
attend the English service in the city (once a month) which was a
real encouragement. This of course brought some relief to our ears
as we could understand what was being said instead of straying at
trying to make some sense of the songs and sermon. We also
participated in the Easter morning service and meal. The church we
are a part of had about 300 people there. This was a great turn out
and lots of good things were said about the true meaning of Easter.
On Easter we also exchanged eggs, candies,
breads, and greetings with our neighbors, acquaintances in the
market, and a few others. You put together a basket of eggs and
sweets. Then you give them to the other person and in return they
give you something similar. You exchange greetings of health,
happiness, joy,… You also can say “Christ is risen.” In return
the person says, “Surely he has risen.” It is a wonderful time of
remember truly what our Savior has done for us.
Our teammates have started a study in English
for believers called, “The Truth Project.” So far it has been
filled with lots to make one think about their faith and truth. We
have just gotten started so we will see what the future holds, but
it appears to be very promising. We attend along with some of the
teachers from our language school. Pray that everyone involved will
grow in their walk with Christ.
We pray that you will have a blessed day. A
day where you remember what Christ has really done for you. That it
is by his blood and by his grace we are saved. We do not earn our
salvation. And please do not forget the work of Christ on the cross
and His resurrection. Do not replace it with material things. We
pray that Christ resurrected will live in you.
Andrew and Jennifer Waldren
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