Ukraine and Baltic States, June 2006
We continue tutoring large numbers of contacts through the
Bible Basics course throughout Europe, and also empowering local
brothers and sisters to witness to their families. We're
pleased to report that this has again given fruit, in the baptism
of OLGA in Latvia, and SHURIK, LENA, LUBA and SVETLANA in the
Ukraine. These latter are the result of the witness of our
beloved brother Boris and his sister in the flesh Sofia.
Visitors to recent CCM Bible Schools will have met this
delightful couple. Separated by large distances, they both found
the true Gospel in their old age, and have devoted themselves to
sharing it with their family and family friends throughout the
ex-USSR. Both of them can only be described as frail; Boris has
had several heart attacks, and walks slowly and with difficulty.
He's been advised not to go out alone, but with his
wife's death and no children he has little option. But what
is an act of pure faith are his journeys, his missionary journeys
as he calls them, to visit members of his large extended family
and see how they are doing with their studies of Bible Basics.
His journeys this summer have been over 1000 km. Struggling with
emphysema, heart problems, hardened arteries, he has fainting
episodes every few days. It was a sober moment to be with him in
a tiny railway halt in Eastern Ukraine as he passed out, and to
see him sitting there with his head between his knees [his head
has to be lower than his heart because of his complications]. We
were pretty concerned but he slowly said that it happens every
few days when he's on the road. Boris and Sofia are a couple
with whom God is working, that's all we can say. They both
believe the Lord is at hand, and pray each day for strength to
take His word to their brothers, sisters and many nieces and
nephews.
Washing facilities at Sis Sofia's
Photo: SIs Sofia and Bro Boris. You can
see a stock of asbestos sheets in the background. Our efforts to
support the re-roofing of her place lead to the purchase of
these. We tried to explain the dangers of fitting asbestos, but
she insisted she knows a young guy who'll cut them to size
and drill holes to fit them. We urged her to consider the dangers
of asbestos, but her tumble down dwelling is half made of it.
It was a wonderful day for them when four of these were
baptized recently near the poverty-stricken home of Sis. Sofia.
She wore her pink dress she'd been given by overseas sisters,
and had made head bonnets and white costumes for the sisters to
wear as they were baptized. Sofia's home has only a well for
water, and all washing and cooking must be done outdoors.
That's OK in the Summer, but no fun in the extreme Winters of
Eastern Ukraine. However, we're pleased to say that her
indoors stove has now been rebuilt - here is an overjoyed sister
Sofia with some flowers to celebrate the rebuilt stove [and
walls]. So this Winter she will God willing be able to cook
indoors, as well as have more heat, although she still needs to
gather firewood.
Sister Sofia with her rebuilt stove, for
which she is very grateful
Sofia has no bath tub, nor did any of the neighbours. So we
had to walk a long way across country to a river. It was a
worrying walk, taking about an hour each way, with frequent
stops. Boris and Sofia wouldn't miss the baptisms for
anything. There was no road or even track leading to the river,
so getting a vehicle just wasn't an option. We helped Sofia
and Boris over railway tracks and up and down embankments, until
we got to the river.
Helping elderly Boris and Sofia make it to the baptism
site
Amidst many tears from them both we performed the baptisms in
a large but very muddy river, near a railway bridge. Boris
exhorted them to read the Bible daily and break bread weekly, and
to spread the hope of the Kingdom to others. He explained for the
10th time how they were not to wear crosses, and how he wished to
be buried with no cross on his grave [unusual for Russians] but
simply a Bible verse about the resurrection.
After the baptisms
Walking back from the river with flowers
for the newly baptized picked by Sis Sofia from her gardens
breaking bread together in Sis
Sofia's humble home
A new ecclesia born:
We can only take heart from this lovely couple and redouble
our efforts to spread the Gospel further.
Whilst in Ukraine it was a pleasure to meet with other
brothers and sisters in Poltava and Kiev, and to congratulate Bro
Vitaly on his recent marriage in Kiev.
Whilst writing, we'd like to remind you of the problems
faced by our sister Nina in Latvia whose farm burnt down to the
ground. We appreciate the donations you've made, and so does
she. However the cost of fixing her up with even a basic building
and animals is going to be quite high and we really need about
another 500 GBP [US$900]. We'd appreciate any help anyone
might be able to offer, realizing you're so wonderfully
generous anyway. We're at the stage of purchasing
materials.
With love from your brothers and sisters of CCM