Easter Sunday 2011

This year for Easter Sunday services our family along with Alexander (Galya, his wife had to work), Sveta, and her daughter Tanya attended Krasnoyarsk Baptist Church. We held Sunday School in Elita for the children on Saturday afternoon so that we could make it into the city services on time Sunday morning. Our people from the ministry in Elita had asked to attend Easter Sunday services at KBC about a month ago. Seeing all the visitors and church family is a great encouragement to them as new Christians. Hearing different preachers is also a blessing and this Easter Sunday was no exception. We heard messages from five different preachers clearly presenting the gospel and encouraging those who have already received Christ to serve more fervently our RISEN Savior! The services were held for two hours beginning at 10 am. Everyone enjoyed the congregational hymns, special music, and children's presentation. Afterwards, lunch was served in the newly remodeled basement. It was the first time the basement was ready to be used again after the flood which occured last Fall. Many of you may remember reading our prayer letters which explained how while David and missionary Kevin Jones were out assessing the damage to the church building which had just recently suffered a fire in the village of Shila, they received a phone call from the ladies in the city who were working at the church (KBC) that water was pouring into the basement. Praise the Lord that after months of rebuilding and repair, both the Shila village church building has been reopened and the basement of the church has been remodeled.
It was exciting to see approximately 130 in attendance Easter Sunday including: many new faces to us and first-time visitors, as well as a group of orphans from a nearby orphanage along with one of their leaders, a previous English teacher whom we have taught with, and other Christians faithfully in attendance. We know of four people who were talked with after the service regarding salvation so please pray with us for them to come to a full understanding of their need of a Savior.

David preaching during the Easter morning service at KBC.

Men's group singing ("Glory to His Name").

We were also able to take a new family photo which we posted on our "Family Photo" page in this blog. 

Using Every Opportunity

Since Sveta has begun faithfully attending services she has been burdened about her family and friends' need for salvation. She has asked many questions about how to witness to them. Her faithfulness is such a blessing since Sveta has a crippled leg and walks to the services or rides her daughter's bicycle (when we can't convince her to ride with us). She came all through the winter months faithfully and insisted on walking even when the temperatures were -30 degrees outside. Even with her crippled leg she gets around wherever she needs to be. She is currently in the process of obtaining the proper documents to be able to have necessary corrective surgery on her foot. If we told you about all the loops a person has to jump through JUST to get the approval to have a surgery here you would have a hard time believing it. Sveta has been busy for about two months trying to obtain the corrective shoes the doctor told her she needs before they operate. Plus there are other visits to other doctors, special physical therapy orders, and blood tests which end up having to be done twice because the whole process takes so long. As she recently talked with us about all the things she manages to do, she praised the Lord for His goodness and guidance in her life. She told Dee of how since she has been faithful to church God has opened doors and given her the grace to get things done. Remember, her husband Eddie is not around right now as he is receiving treatment/working in a drug center for alcohol dependency. Her mother lives with her as well but works hard every day to support the family.

Sveta's burden for her family and friends led her to a great idea. She has already invited her mother, Katya,  to services and she has attended in the past. Eddie's grandmother attended our 8th of March tea party but had not before attended a service. Eddie's mother who also lives in Elita had also never attended services. So, with Angelina's (Sveta's youngest daughter) birthday being Thursday April 21st, she thought it would be a good idea to invite those family members to our Wednesday evening service and have a tea party afterwards. It was a good plan and they all came including Ira, one of Sveta's cousins whom we had never met before! Dee had two teen girls and our daughter, Rebekah, in the teen class as well, so we had quite a group for a Wednesday service.

David with those who attended on Wednesday evening.

After the service we enjoyed cake, tea and other sweets while everyone who brought a gift congratulated Angelina.

Eddie's mother congratulating Angelina.

Great Grandma Nina giving Angelina her birthday kiss.

Ryan congratulating Angelina from our family. (She loves Ryan!)

Katya (Sveta's mother), Ira (Sveta's cousin) and Sveta

Please keep Sveta in your prayers as she continues the process to have surgery on her leg. Dee has done some searching through her medical professor friend who knows of a good Orthopedic doctor in the city. However, he is a private physician who charges for every visit and Sveta can not afford such care. If she continues the longer process as mentioned above, the surgery will cost her nothing.  Socialized medicine at its best. We are praying for the Lord to work and open the way for Sveta to be able to do the surgery much sooner than usual. In the meantime, she is being a great testimony and witness to her family and friends.