Discouragement and victory coexisting. . .

When we met on our walks yesterday (Monday), Tanya and Olga were sad about so many rejections of invitation to the Bible Club that afternoon. It seems that as they get older they find other things to do here, just as in the USA. However, watching them go door to door and praying as we went, I knew and asked God that He would reward this act of faithfulness somehow. Fifteen young ones and two older teens showed up. The blessing was that most were ones that had NOT been invited that morning.
I wlll go this afternoon and provide the 'Americanski curiosity amusement' and pray for the Lord to use that as well.
Pray for Olga, a very gifted young lady from Izhevsk, as she helps Tanya here in Chur with this Bible club and a new one in Yaksur Bodya nearby. Pray for the hearts of the young ones and the parents as Jesus walks among their needs to offer them His life. Pray for other laborers into this harvest field.

Three in one. . .

Usually refers to the Trinity, but in this case it refers to one Udmurt, one Russian, and one American holding hands together before the throne of 'the great three in one' and giving praise to Him for bringing us together, as well as joining Him in His own prayer for Udmurtia, Russian and American people to become part of His family that is One. That was this morning, at Resurrection church. Later on a couch in Chur village, listening to one young girl from Izhevsk, share her passion for helping small rural churches in Udmurtia reach out to the children and through them the older ones. You may join us in this united prayer of God's for His children to be One in three.
Had a wonderful day of holding hands with God!

Very exciting things. . .

We've asked you to pray for God to open the doors of people's hearts and He is. Yesterday in prayer drive through several southern regions we stopped and visited with city officials and were encouraged at the receptivity to bring a team into their town to interact with the people. Pray for this college team that will arrive next summer to do this.
This evening we were able to pray with an Udmurt lady who is a new believer and has a new group started in her home just outside Ishevsk. Pray for the husband and wife team from Resurrection church that are leading this on Sunday nights.
Both items above are great evidences of fruits of God's blessing in answer to your prayer.
The good news IS being heard in Udmurtia and is multiplying in people's lives!

Keep praying
Jack

All we can do is pray. . .

After the first day, the most important thing that is so necessary is PRAYER! Not only do people who do not know the Lord need prayer for them to be able to hear God's voice, but the one's who proclaim His message desperately need prayer to keep going with a seemingly impossible task. Life is hard enough in the places we call 'home'. We go about our daily routines and find plenty of obstacles to stress us and wear us down. Try doing it in a place where the whole culture, language and weather is drastically different.
What can you specifically pray for?
1. That God would open doors of people's hearts when they are met by the good news bearers
2. That God would energize the good news bearers with His strenghth.
3. That His Word would find good soil to grow in and bear fruit that multiplies.
4. That His glory would be seen in all of it and He would be exalted.
As we say many times in a crises situation, ALL WE CAN DO IS PRAY! It is God who gives the increase.

God bless you as you meet with Him to join Him in prayer for His kingdom agenda,

Jack

Back to Udmurtia. . .

Monday, I will be back 'in the air' heading for Moscow, Russia. The trip gets more difficult each year, but I do enjoy getting there and being with some very dear people that God has entrusted us to be friends with in the place called Udmurtia.
This time I will be going out into new towns and villages to take pictures and meet people to continue our 'adopt a region' prayer emphasis. I hope that you are involved in this. If not please consider yourself, Sunday school groups or even church to adopt one of these 25 regions where there is no or little evangelical witness for the Lord Jesus.
Stay with me for the next three weeks and pray me through the divine encounters He has planned.
You can go online to an Udmurt map, follow me around if you'd like and pray with me daily as we go. I will try to post something each day, but it all depends on internet connections. We will see if an IPad will work in Udmurtia.

Serving Him together,
Jack