Leaving Moldova

Dear Friends,

our time in Moldova is coming to a close. The end of this month we'll be going to Egypt for the annual retreat/training for AGWM personnel serving in Russia. We'll be in Egypt for one week and then on our way back home to Khabarovsk. Yes, home sweet home.

Today we received some good news about the purchase of the property in Khabarovsk for the ministry center. Payment has been made and the pastors have submitted the documents to the real estate registration department. We are to get them back on the 16th of March. Then the property will belong to the national church of Khabarovsk Krai. Renovations will begin as soon as we take possession of it.

This property is in downtown Khabarovsk, which is the capital of Khabarovsk Krai (a Krai is like a province). Khabarovsk Krai is about twice the size of France. This will be a wonderful resource for churches both in the city and all across Khabarovsk Krai. We praise the Lord that this center is becoming a reality. We thank you for your prayers.

We haven't heard anything yet about my resident permit in Russia. We're continuing to pray that it will be ready when we get back to Khabarovsk in March. I have another 90 days on my Russian visa, so it is important that the permit be ready before that time runs out.

We continue to pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into the harvest field of the Russian Far East. One possible way the people can come and serve with us is the StudyRussianDoMission program. Come to Russia, study the language, and work alongside a missionary. If you are interested, our StudyRussianDoMission team put together a website to help you get started: http://sites.google.com/site/studyrussiandomission/ and another at StudyRussianDoMission http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/Study%20Russian.pdf

A new bill has been submitted to the Russian Duma (parliament) by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation to regulate religious freedom and religious organizations. It deals with three issues:

1. People under age being involved with religious groups. 2. Control of religious groups. 3. Regulation of missionary activity. It would make it illegal for a church to allow a child under the age of 18 to attend a service or activity without parental permission, require the name of every person attending a service to be recorded, require any person doing evangelism to have a permit, and things like that. Please pray that this would not become legislation.

An interesting talent that we saw on the internet was a sand drawing done in the Ukraine. As we watched this video it touched us deeply, because Russia continues to be effected by the repercussions of World War II, when a large portion of the population was lost. It uses popular music from that time period, and the lyrics draw on strong emotions. Take a look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhf3OvRXKg&feature=player_embedded

We've heard that you folks back in the States have gotten some snow in the last few weeks. If you wonder what Russians think about this news, check out the following link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/weekinreview/14levy.html

While we've been here in Moldova we've continued to be invited by churches to preach.

We also have gotten out and made friends. In one village they took us for a sleigh ride.

Jingle Bells!

God bless you, every one,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

More Adventures in Moldova

Dear Friends,

we are doing well here in Moldova. Deanna had her birthday and is now nine years old. They don't have a McDonald's in Khabarovsk, but they sure do here in Moldova. So Deanna was delighted to have her birthday party at McDonald's.

How did she make so many new friends in just one week? At church!

Tonya has been delighted to discover that most Moldavians speak Russian as well as Romanian. So she's been able to talk with people. Actually, the local pastors have kept us rather busy with invitations to preach (seven times in the last week). Here we are at a small village church where we spoke, they have an amazing painting on their wall:

I was even invited to speak at a funeral for a man I'd never met in a village I'd never been to in a language I don't know (Romanian). Beforehand, I asked a local pastor about funeral traditions here in Moldova. It turns out that you aren't expected to talk about the deceased. The sermon should be of an evangelistic nature, usually something about the afterlife. So I spoke from Revelation 20:11 to Rev. 21:4 (He will wipe away every tear.... ). A young lady (high school student) translated for me into Romanian. The funeral was outdoors at the person's home. After I preached, the the funeral procession left his house and we walked all the way to the cemetery (about a mile). A man with a large cross lead the procession. A choir from the Pentecostal church walked and sang Psalms. There were several pastors there, so several times along the way we stopped and one of them would preach a short sermon for the villagers to hear. When we reached the cemetery there was another sermon, the casket was nailed closed (they actually used nails) and lowered into the hole. Then we walked back to the house and had a meal.

The whole experience was like something I read in a book about peasant life long ago. There are wells in the villages here where people gather. As we would pass by the wells everyone would stop and be quiet, the men would often doff their hats. Some folks joined us. The family felt very honored that an American pastor would come and speak at the funeral. So I was very excepted.

During the church services the kids had my camera and took a bunch of photos. Some of them turned out pretty well (if you take a hundred photos...). Let me show a few to you:

Even while we are not in Russia, things are going on in Russia. The national church is waiting on a document from the Russian government to allow them to make a bank transfer to buy the building in Khabarovsk. The Seller is unhappy about the delay, but there isn't much we can do about it. We're praying that things will move forward quickly, and the purchase will soon be completed.

Our plan at this time is to continue whatever kind of ministry we can do in Moldova until the missions retreat at the end of February. We'll attend the missions retreat (the training will be in Egypt this year) and then return to Khabarovsk. We pray that my resident permit will be approved by then.

Everything is in the Lord's hands, and we're learning to be content in all circumstances.

The Lord richly bless you.

In Christ,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna