Czech Republic – February 2010 – Report

February Report

Click here to read the Steiger’s (our Missionaries in the Czech Republic) February Report

Panama – February 2010 – Report

February 2010

Click here to read the Payne’s (our Missionaries in Panama) February Report

Update – From Tine Hardeman – Philippines

Tine Hardeman – Philippines

Click here to read the update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines

Czech Republic January 2010 Report

Steiger’s in the Czech Republic

To read our 2010 January Prayer & Praise Report in PDF format please
Click Here:

Panama – January 2010 – Report

January 2010

Click here to read The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) January 2010 Report.

Recent Video from Panama

Click here to see the video…

Update – From Tine Hardeman – Philippines

Tine Hardeman – Philippines

Click here to read the update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines

Panama December 2009 Report

December 2009

Click here to see The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) December 2009 report.

Update – Hugo Gomez – Guatemala

To Read the Update click here:

Hugo Gomez – Guatemala

This has been a rollercoaster year for Hugo and Miriam because they have left the mission agency they had been with for many years to start their own. Continue to pray for the Gomez family and the work in Central/South America.

Czech Republic December 2009 Report

Steiger’s in the Czech Republic

To read our 2009 December Prayer & Praise Report in PDF format please
Click: http://www.hcjb.cz/newsletter/eppr/E-PPR-28-2009-12.pdf

Update – From Tine Hardeman – Philippines

Tine Hardeman – Philippines

Click here to read the update from the Hardeman’s in the Philippines.

Panama November 2009 Report

November 2009

Click here  to see The Payne’s (our missionaries in Panama) November 2009 report.

Update – From Gil Harder – Africa

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Dear Prayer Partners:

Greetings from Gil, Aggrey, James & Choice in Lamu, Kenya.

Thanks for sending “Africa Hope” in Jesus Name! His Name is becoming more and more famous on the Island of Lamu and the surrounding Islands in the Indian Ocean. I am traveling with our “Missionary Band” made up of Aggrey Juma, and James & Choice Mahine along with the Island pastors and evangelists of Lamu. The response to the Gospel has been wonderful, but of course not without opposition. Please keep praying ~ The Lord ALWAYS leads in VICTORY ~ II Corinthians 2:14.

Here is the field report:

From Nairobi we traveled to Mombassa where we ministered two days in Mishomoroni Village at the Tanzama Church (To See Christ) with Pastor Benjamin. Amazing thing: Mishomoroni is the dumpsite for Mombassa, much like Dandora is the dumpsite for Nairobi. God is raising up princes and princes from the dunghill (dump = Gehenna = Hell) …I Samuel 2:8. Jesus and Paul went straight to the Synagogues to preach. My missionary strategy when I come into town is to go straight to the dump!?! It is not hard to find because it is always on fire. The smoke forever ascends from this place we call the “Third World” … the garbage dump of castaways. I believe the THIRD WORLD consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! It is where He specializes in bringing life out of death and separating garbage from gold. It is where His Son was crucified.

The Tanzama Church has been severely persecuted by the Muslims. Their Church roof was torn off, and the church looted. Adam, one of the Muslim terrorists returned the “Tamborine” stolen from the church because it kept “Making Music” and talking to him. He came to Christ and now is a very powerful teacher of Bible. He testified that as a child, when he went to the Mosque to ask the Imam about Jesus, the Imam asked to shake his hand. When Adam reached out, the Imam broke his hand. There is no grace or love in Islam.

I purchased a Qur’an in Mombassa from some Muslims and then showed them the passages which spoke of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and Lordship. Some were very upset, but several listened including a young man from Seattle, Washington who promised to read the Bible and compare notes. I have learned much on this mission about Islam. “Isa” is not Jesus. Allah has no son. Islam is the doctrine of demons to be sure. There is coming a day when Islam shall be “Waslam.”

Mohammed’s great grandson is buried on the Island of Lamu. Lamu is a stronghold of Islam of course, but these strongholds are falling fast. Aggrey & I picked up James & Choice in Tanna River on our way to Lamu. James & Choice are missionaries to the Tanna River Tribes. The river is infested with crocodiles and the people are infested with demons and witchcraft. James & Choice are clearing the land and building their home and church. Their missionary income is 1,000 Ksh ($15) per month! Pray for them. They are the real thing! Young, married only one year, and already seeing fruit in the field.

We arrived in Lamu and are staying with Kenyan missionaries Stephen and Jennifer Thuku. The first thing that happened at Lamu is that my watch band broke and my wrist watch just fell on the ground. I think the Lord was speaking to me about “Island Time” on Lamu Island! This of course suits me just fine. When I preach I don’t use a watch anyway, I use a calendar. So we met with the Lamu Church Leaders and conducted an “Evangelistic Equipping Conference” on Saturday, and then preached in various churches on Sunday. I preached at the “Church On the Mountain” in Lamu. This mountain according to the “Ledgend of Lamu” covers the remains of a dreadful village of Arab Slave Traders and Sodomites. One day many years ago, a great storm came from the sea and picked up a small neighboring island and deposited it upon this wicked village. Now there is a church perched on top of this mountain of judgment.

Monday morning we spent in prayer and then walked across the island to the native village of Mararani. These are the native people of Lamu who live on top of the sand dunes on the remote side of the island. Our band of 14 Missionaries walked about 7 miles across the sand and up the dunes in blazing 110+ degree heat. My feet are still blistered from the experience. We should have ridden donkeys or camels. On Lamu there are no motorized vehicles, just donkeys or camels. I am walking an average of at least 8 miles every day … good for the body, hard on the sole!

We went directly to the village well and replenished our water and recovered in the shade of palm trees. Then our team split up and went two by two, hut to hut. The Lord led us to Elizabeth and Regina. Regina was sick with fever. We prayed over her, shared the Gospel, and three family members trusted Christ! Two days later, when we returned, Regina was fully recovered and singing praise to God. 42 people in Mararani Village were born again today!

On Tuesday, our missionary band set sail for the Island of Manda. Manda is a very large island with no fresh water. The people are dependant upon rain water and water tanks. We walked at least 12 miles today into the bush and thick jungle. We came to Salid & Cecilia’s home and preached the Gospel. This Muslim family and one neighbor trusted Christ and we left a solar powered radio tuned to Christian radio for them to broadcast the Good News. We walked on until we came to an isolated hut where we knocked on the door.

A young woman by the name of Fraha (Happiness) opened the door. She stood there with her young son looking anything but happy. Fraha said that she had just buried her second child who was still born two days ago. She told us her whole body and soul were in great pain. Then Fraha told us about a dream she had. In her dream, she was told to worship God alone. She replied that she did not know God. The angel said God would send messengers to tell her. So, here we were! We told Fraha the Good News, and she received the news with gladness. The ladies in our missionary band ministered to her and prayed over her until her pain left. Fraha was now crying tears of joy and gladness. This was a real Acts 10 missionary experience. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord!

We continued visiting the Manda Island people all day long. During our return voyage the Kenya Navy intercepted ten Somali Pirates in a Somalian Pirate vessel on the other side of the Manda. The pirates were armed to the teeth with rocket launchers, grenades, and AK47s. They were hunting for ransom vessels in these waters when they were caught. We took some pictures of the pirates being chained together and taken away for a “short drop and a sudden stop” as one of the soldiers described their fate. They were mostly young men. We prayed for them but couldn’t get close enough to them for any other ministry.

On Wednesday, we were invited by several Christian Massai leaders on Lamu to come and preach the Gospel to their tribal group. Most of these Massai men were from Amboselli, Kenya and had come to stay at Lamu to sell their hand crafts at the “Massai Market” on the island. We preached the Gospel to them as a group, and 17 Massai men gave their lives to Christ including Seremon the Chief of the Massai! We spent the day with the Massai training the Christians in evangelism and equipping them with Evangecubes and Gospel Tracts. They have since been with us all week long for the revival meetings in the churches and also in the street witnessing in Lamu. The Lamu churches and pastors have welcomed them into their families praise the Name of the Living God!

Thursday, we set sail for the fishing village of Matondoni. It was an entirely Muslim fishing village with no known Christian living there … until today. Yusrah was our host and guide. She showed us the entire village, school, mosque, and market. We quietly prayer-walked the entire village and claimed the school and the soil and souls of Matondoni for Jesus Christ. When we left at the end of the day, a young man by the name of Mohammed approached our group and under serious conviction and opened his heart to Jesus with great joy! The seed has been sown in Mohammed, and in Matondoni. Pray now that it grows and multiplies in a harvest of righteousness and peace for this village which is lost in despair and darkness.

We set sail for Kipungani on the other side of the island, but the winds picked up and seas began to run against us and Captain Hassaan decided to turn back to Lamu. So we ran with the wind and the rains and sailed quicly back all the way back to Lamu town and port.

Friday, we returned to Mararani to follow up and preach the Gospel again to the natives on the far side of the island living in the sand dunes. This time, we sailed to Shella Beach and hiked a short hike to Mararani Village instead of trudging across the desert for 7 miles! It is a good thing we returned. After we left on Monday, the witchdoctors announced to the whole village the next day that we were devil worshippers!? I would have thought if this were true, that perhaps he would be happy, but he was not. The 40+ new Christians defended us by telling him that we were sent from God and would return. So we came with bibles and Christian follow-up materials for discipleship with the local Christian leaders and made disciples. Another 31 people repented in Mararani today including the leading distiller of beer and whiskey! So now, the drinks are on the house for everyone, but now the people are being filled with the Spirit and the Word of God instead of dying of alchoholism which Mararani is famous for. Praise the Lord!

Today, Saturday, we went to the hospital and preached the Gospel and prayed over the sick. The hospital has been under lock-down for a Cholera epidemic for the past several weeks. There was a good response at the hospital among the Christians who were healed and blessed, however, most of the Muslims in the hospital did not want prayer for fear of association with the “Israelites.” This is what they call the Christians in Lamu. The Muslims have burned down several Christian churches here on Lamu including the A.I.C. (Africa Inland Church) where I conducted the evangelism training with the pastors and churches last Satuday. In fact this church has been burnt down twice! Each time it was rebuilt Pastor Ezekiel told us.

Just recently the “Church on the Mountain” where I preached last Sunday was attacked by a mob of angry Muslims. They were angry because the Christian churches were growing and multiplying on the island while their Mosques are empty and decaying. I met with Steven the district commissioner of Lamu who went and settled the dispute by telling the Muslims there is freedom to worship in Kenya wherever and whoever you want to worship. Such is the Muslim stronghold here along the coastlands of Kenya, Somalia and the Indian Ocean. But praise God these strongholds are crumbling in Jesus Name!

Sunday, is the “Jesus Festival” on Lamu. Today there were baptisms, weddings, anniversaries, salvation, a missionary commissioning, and child dedication. WE HAD CHURCH TODAY IN LAMU! Right in the middle of preaching the Word today in our Jesus Festival, people came and told us we were too loud and that we should all be quiet. I told them to take up there complaint with the local Muslim Imams who broadcast their indigestion over loudspeakers all day and night from their Mosques. Then Pastor Thuku jumped up and grabbed the mic and shouted to them: “If we are silent, the very rocks will cry out. We are praising the Name of the Living God with all our heart and soul and strength … why don’t join us?” Then he led the entire Festival in glorious praise and worship and the whole place erupted with praise and worship and dancing which went on throughout the night unrelenting in praise of Jesus!

Pastor Daniel, said to me today that this has been the most amazing week in his life and ministry on Lamu. He said that people from the surrounding villages have been coming by the church and asking how they can be saved!?! I know this is in response to your prayers and faith in calling down the mercies of God unto salvation for the Island of Lamu during this “Jesus Festival” this past week.

It is blazing hot in Lamu … we have been jumping into the Indian Ocean every chance we get to cool off … but of course the water is quite warm too and we come out rather “salty” and sweaty again in 2 minutes. We take 2 or 3 showers a day if possible and another in the middle of the night in order to sleep. Of course, according to my hosts, I am not eating enough food. (Whenever an Africa sits down to eat … it is serious because often they do not know when they will eat again). So Choice scolded me again the other day and said, “You just don’t know how to eat! Here in Africa we eat until our food says “I’m Sorry!” Choice Words!

Please pray for journey’s mercies as we travel North to Uganda by foot, donkey, boat and bus for the next three days, Monday ~ Wednesday!

Merry Christmas!

Your Missionary In Africa ~ <’)))><

Gil ~ Isaiah 9:2,6,7

Czech Republic November 2009 Report

Steiger’s in the Czech Republic

To read our 2009 November Prayer Letter in PDF format please
click: http://www.hcjb.cz/newsletter/sup0911.pdf

Panama October 2009 Report

October 2009

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) October 2009 report.

Update – From Gil Harder – Kenya, Africa

Dated: 11/24/2009

Dear Partners In The Gospel:

Greetings from your Missionary Ambassador in Kenya!

It is with THANKSGIVING and JOY that I write to you in Jesus Name. It is becoming more obvious to me each day that this is the Lord’s ministry of “Healing & Hope.” No one else could arrange for the “Divine Appointments” which Jesus arranges each day. No one else opens doors and hearts, eyes and ears, cities and nations but the King of Glory Himself. So open up you Ancient Doors. Open wide you Gates … that the King of Glory may come in!

Very few Christians in Africa have Bibles. This is a sad and terrible fact. From my surveys and experience in Africa for the past eight years, I would say less than 15% of the believers in churches own a Bible. How then can they grow and obey the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this Day our daily bread?” They can’t. Even the bellman at my hotel who had a decent wage paying job, did not have his own Bible. He carried my bags up 3 flights of stairs on his back. By the time we got to my room, it was clear that Samuel was a Christian young man. When he discovered I was a missionary, he immediately asked me, do you have a bible for me? I questioned him as to why he could afford to eat bread and yet did not have the bread of life himself. Samuel then poured out his sad story. Orphaned, abandoned, abused, cursed by his relatives and tribal witchdoctor, living on the streets of Nairobi, and trying to take care of his little orphan sister and brother to feed them … leaves nothing from his $4/Day salary for anything extra like clothes, shoes, school fees, books, or even a bible. I didn’t have a bible with me that he could read because was from Cote D’Voir (The Ivory Coast) and could only read French and speak English. So there we were, in my hotel room on the third floor. We prayed together for “Bread From Heaven” for Samuel. Then I noticed on the bureau … a Gideons Hotel Bible. Much good it would do Samuel in English. However, upon opening it, it was an interlinear English/French Bible!? Who could have known? God provides everything we need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus ~ Phil.4:19. Aggrey and I are now purchasing supplies and Swahili Bibles for the next phase of our mission on the Kenya Coast.

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR DIVINE APPOINTMENTS & GOD’S PROVISION!

Aggrey Graduated from the Nairobi Bible College with honors and his Bible Degree. It was a grand occaision which was also shared by his roomate and good friend David Randa Bunde who also graduated and is now serving as an assistant Pastor in the Korogocho Slum outside of Nairobi. It was also a reunion with Pastor Peter and Margaret of the All Nations Church in Dandora. After the graduation celebration, we went to the Mamba Village where we took a ride on a camel named “Brahma.” This was the tallest camel I have ever seen. It would have taken a 12 foot ladder just reach his back, but of course, Brahma knelt down on the ground and first Aggrey and then Susan Nyambura took a ride through the Mamba Village. The Mamba Village is also a Crocidile Farm along with various sorts of African wildlife like Giraffe, Ostrichs, and exotic birds and animals. The Village is arranged like the continent of Africa, with signs painted at the entrance of each section saying: Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Congo, Mozambique, et cetera. Brahma the Camel gave these two Kenyans a great ride throughout Africa so to speak. Then Brahma knelt down and I mounted him. When he stood up, I was almost above the tree line in the village. The view was magnificent. He started walking and then suddenly reared up on his back legs and bellowing loudly. Now I was twice as high as before and hanging on to the wooden saddle for dear life. The Camel’s owner was now pulling on his halter with a rope and beating him with a cane. Brahma paid no attention and kept on bucking and bellowing. It was a short and wild ride for me. I held on until the owner and village helpers surrounded Brahma and pulled him (and me) back down to the ground. Brahma continued to talk very loudly and spitting. Pastor Thomas Momanyi observed the situation and said, “Brother Gil, it is obvious that Brahma the Camel was very willing to give the the two Kenyans a ride throughout all of Africa here today in this village. However, when the camel discovered that you were a Missionary from America, he revolted because he thought you were going to make him walk all the way back to America!?”

Kitengela, just one hour South of Nairobi, in the Rift Valley in Massai Land is where the Jesus Ambassadors Church and Gil Harder Academy are located. We arrived together with Pastor Thomas Momanyi for a “Pre-Christmas Celebration” with all the children and teachers at school. Everyone recieved a gift. The highlights were the “Beannie Babies” and “Africa Hope” buttons! We delivered additional parts of the Betty Lukens Flanelgraph which we brought over last year to the school for their “Story Board” as they call the flannelgraph. We then taught and celebrated the “Christmas Story” all together ~ Everyone participated! After several days of teaching, and preaching at the church on Sunday, we departed and went to visit Caroline Sarah Agwoma and her “Africa Hope” ministries in Dandora.

Dandora Slum is home to one of the largest dumps in the world. Nairobi trucks all of it’s garbage to Dandora where the vultures are so big they call them the “Dandora Ostriches.” Pastor Thomas, Aggrey, and myself met with Caroline Sarah and Susan at her small home in Dandora. We refreshed them in the Lord materially and spiritually and prayed over their lives and ministry here with the widows and orphans in Dandora. Caroline is now ministering to over 50 young Kenyan orphan boys and girls who live on and around the dump. She also ministers to 10-15 widows most of whom are HIV positive. Caroline does not have enough money to even afford lamp oil for her small lantern to light the darkness in her 8′X14′ home. But out of her poverty, has welled up rich generocity, so that she is ministering “Healing & Hope” to all of these orphans and widows!? How does she do it? She doesn’t … God does. We sat in the dark and listened as Caroline gave glory to God and told us about how she is able to provide HIV retrovial drugs for all of her widows each week and meals for the orphans each week by God’s grace. However, there are some times that there just is no food. Then the children scrounge for good at the dump with the vultures or beg for food from person to person and house to house.

Caroline then recounted for us the recent story of Esther. Esther is nine years old and one of Carolines “Africa Hope” children. For several weeks last month, there was not much food for the children, so Esther went begging. In the process of begging for food, someone took advantage of this orphan, an Esther was raped in Dandora. Caroline called for Aggrey who came and helped. They took Esther to the hospital for treatment, testing, and care. Thankfully, at this point she has not contracted any STD’s but of course the trauma is overwhelming. Caroline cried and cried as she recounted Esthers story and felt so responsible for this tradgedy saying that if only she had provided the food, Esther would not have been begging.

We all reassurred her of God’s care and providence and prayed together for the provision of more “Africa Hope” in Jesus Name. I blessed Caroline once again for the fact that she herself, as a minister of Jesus Christ is “Africa Hope.” One of Carolines prominent features in her home and ministry is of course: “The Gospel Handgrenades ~ Evangecubes” She leads all of these orphans and widows to Christ and trains them to witness by using the “Evangecubes” in her ministry. So we replennished her supplies, blessed her in Jesus Name, and walked out into the hot night air of Danora weeping and rejoicing at the same time.

Tonight, Aggrey and I board a bus for Mombassa and Lamu on the Indian Ocean. My time is now up in this cybercafe and the speed of this machine is slower than the trickles of sweat pouring down my face. So, I end this report with this request:

PLEASE PRAY FOR: CAROLINE SARAH AND AFRICA HOPE MINISTRIES IN DANDORA. PLEASE ALSO PRAY FOR AGGREY AND MYSELF AS HEAD FOR MOMBASSA (EVEN HOTTER) JOURNEYS MERCIES OF COURSE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: WE ARE GOING TO CONDUCT A BIBLE CONFERENCE AND EVANGELISTIC CRUSADES ON THE ISLAND OF LAMU AND THE SURROUNDING ISLANDS. THE ENTIRE SOMALIAN AND KENYAN COASTLINE IS A MUSLIM STRONGHOLD. ONE OF THE ISLANDS AROUND LAMU IS FARSA WHICH IS THE HOME OF THE ALKAIDA TERRORISTS. IT IS THE BIRTHPLACE AND STONGHOLD OF AL KABOB AND ALKAIDA. THEREFORE, I ASK THAT YOU PRAY FOR THE LORD JESUS TO OPEN WIDE THE GATES OF THESE CITIES AND ISLANDS, HEARTS AND SOULS, TO RECEIVE THE KING OF GLORY!

THANK YOU FOR SENDING “AFRICA HOPE” IN JESUS NAME!

YOUR PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL ~ II CORINTHIANS 2:14
GIL HARDER, THOMAS & MARY MOMANYI, AGGREY JUMA, JAMES & CHOICE
_______________________________________________________

P.S. I have relayed your greetings to your African Brothers & Sisters whom you have come to know. Please also receive their greetings and gratitude for sending healing and help in Jesus Name! Because of Jesus, have a BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Update – From the Faul’s – Northern Brazil

Dear Friends,

Greetings once again from Brazil! Rainy season came and went. It was short, and there wasn’t a lot of rain. Could be a very dry year coming up.

Things seem to be settled down after the final decision about what land would be included in the Indian reservation. Most folks are getting on with their lives, though a few are still in difficult situations.

The government is still negotiating with one or two organizations about providing the Indian health service in our area. For the time being, things are “limping” along. There has been a lot of malaria is some places, but fortunately the powers that be are managing to get it under control.

Ezequiel, the young Indian church leader who recently lost an infant son is doing well. He and his wife have built a different house. Their old house brought back too many sad memories for his wife. He is again teaching the Bible to his people. Actually the Yanomami Indian groups of believers are doing quite well these days.

However, when God’s church is going ahead, there are always problems. It seems that these now are more directed at the missionaries. Missionaries who have to help elderly or sick parents, missionaries whose teenage children are going through hard times, missionaries with serious financial problems. Just a lot of things that interfere with the work of establishing the Indian church. In spite of various problems that have come up, the mission activity continues and the groups of believers are growing and maturing.

We are doing well. Victoria is in her second year of college and was just selected (a semester early) for the nursing program. Christina, now a junior in high school, is doing well at the boarding school in Manaus. Beth stays busy providing the housing for missionaries in transit. Tim just finished a major part of the construction of the mission guest apartment.

Praise God with us for:

· Ezequiel is once again teaching God’s Word to the folks in his village,

· Victoria being accepted into the nursing program, Christina doing well in school,

· Some financial support that has come in for us.

Pray with us for:

· The Indian church to continue to grow in number and maturity,

· Our missionary colleagues who are going through hard times,

· Victoria and Christina in their respective schools,

· The additional monthly support that we are still needing.

Your representatives in Christ,

Tim, Beth, Victoria, and Tina Faul

Update – From Jim Liljegren – PICTURES

Dear Family and Friends,

Click here to see the photo’s

Here is a link to some of the pictures that I took on this latest missions trip. I had fun reliving these events.
If for some reason you can’t get the web site, please let me know.
I have written captions for most of the pictures. There are some surprises that I hope you will enjoy!
Thank you again for your continued interest in our missions ministry.

Blessings and love,
Jim

Update 2 – Jim Liljegren – Czech Republic

Jim Liljegren – Czech Republic

Dear Family and Friends,

Our work in the Czech Republic is very exciting. Yesterday, Pastor Gennady, Rudy Guse (missionary friend of ours from Germany), and a new acquaintance of Rudy’s (Francis) also from Germany, and I went to the Refugee Camp where Angelica lives. The summer team members for 09 and 08 will know her. Francis is from Egypt and immigrated to Germany 25 yrs. ago. He is a former Muslim who became a Christian and is now an evangelist to German and Arabic speaking people in Germany. Francis gave a powerful testimony in Arabic to the gathered Arabic speaking group at the Refugee Camp. Rudy and I also spoke and Francis interpreted for us. Afterward we talked one on one. In the process, 3 Muslim men gave their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ. It was so amazing! I spoke with Aziz who is 34 from Moracco. Angelica has been talking to him for a year, so she is the one who had planted (and watered) the seed in his heart. He came up to me and said, “How do I accept Christ in my heart?” He spoke enough English so we could talk. I simply shared the plan of salvation and he asked me to help him pray to receive Christ. What a thrill! I don’t remember a Muslim in my ministry so open to the Gospel. We talked for about an hour and then Angelica and a Russian lady had prepared a meal for us. Every day is an amazing day for us! Today Gennady and I will go to the homes of other Muslims near Prague to share the Lord with them. Pray for the 3 men who repented…Aziz, Soro, and Gandi. Angelica will follow up these decisions. They all have our email addresses.
Friday we fly to Milan, Italy. We now have 2 more contacts…yeah!!! Slava Bogu! Thank you so very much for your prayer support.
Love to all,
Jim

Update – from Steiger’s – Prague & Czech Republic

Click here to see an update from the Steiger’s

Update – from Jim Liljegren – From Russia & Prague

Dear Family and Friends,

Sat. Update:
We had a great time last night with 6 of our strongest contacts whom we met this past summer. Julian, Sasha, Kostya, Roma, and I worshipped, read the Bible and prayed for 2 hours Sat. morning asking God to bring these students to our house before we left. Lo and behold they came over last night! We played Uno and a Russian game…had dinner and great fellowship. Julian was so excited about this encounter. After dinner, over tea and cookies, we talked about life in America vs Russia; marriage blessed by God; and a discussion about Is there really a God. The boys we knew from last summer brought 2 girls and they asked a lot of questions. We invited them to church this morning. Pray that they will come. We now have had 2 good times with these people. Their names are Ghenya, Masha (his girlfriend), Christina (his friend), Anton (new guy), Pasha, little Sasha (11 yrs old – hung out with me the whole time last summer), Nikita, and Anton from last summer. What a great 2 days we have had. Pray that Julian will be able to follow up with these folks.

Sunday update:
Today at the Service, 4 of these students came back, sang along and heard the Gospel. Then more came in and we had lunch. It is 5:30pm and they are all still here. I didn’t know that UNO was a ministry tool. We leave tonight at 11pm on the train for St. Pete. Then I fly to Prague. Such good results here…all by the hand of our God. Please put these names on your prayer list for us. Thank you!!!

Love to all,
Jim

Panama September 2009 Report

September 2009

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) September 2009 report.

Africa Hope – Final Field Report – Gil Harder

Dear Prayer Partners:

Greetings from the shores of Lake Victoria in Kampala, Uganda. Randy and I are about to fly home this evening after a very fruitful mission together. My oh my do we have some amazing stories to tell … I shared Christ with 500 Muslims, and snuck in the back door of a Muslim School … and over one half of the 500 students and several Muslim teachers came to Christ!

Our outreach in Luzira marketplaces, churches, slums, schools, hospitals and prisons has netted 1,550 fish … conservatively!!! It has been so amazing with some incredible stories to tell from this mission. The Lord has organized so many incredible divine appointments that it is just even too amazing to describe … even down to the details. THANKS FOR PRAYING … this is where the great victory surely remains.

Randy has been just great on this trip! He really helped get the Africa Hope Bible Institute started in Lira, Uganda. We have so many funny and amazing stories to tell … elephants blocking our road and charging our car, huge crocidiles lunging at our boat … but as our insurance sticker on the windshield said: “We won’t make a drama out of a crisis.” I took a boda-boda ride (motorcyle) ride where we were run off the road with the wild and crazy drivers here, and Randy really knocked himself out on this mission … literally from head to toe … but we are still alive and smiling about it … so PTL!

Jose Zayas and our team was really “Rock & Roll” … 24 missionaries starting scared, hesitant, fearful … sharing their testimonies … and then Holy Spirit power came upon them all … and they no longer “Share” their testimonies … they are PREACHING their testimonies with great power and passion now! The men and women on this mission were really in love with Jesus … and many Muslims came to Christ just on the testimony of John 13:34-35 … the love of the team … it was really wonderful.

We sent the team on to Soroti up North … where they will encounter much more raw and primitive peoples … and we are praying have even more fruit in Jesus Name. We are coming home … rejoicing in the harvest!

Blessings From Uganda,

Gil & Randy ~ II Corinthians 2:14

Africa Hope – Field Report 2 – Gil Harder

Gone Fishin’

Dear Prayer Partners:

Greetings from Gil, Randy, and our Missionary Team in Luzira, Uganda (Near Kampala). We have returned from Lira, Gulu, and Barlonyo in the North, and have now traveled South to Lake Victoria to receive our Missionary Team from the USA. For the past 3 days, our missionary band of 24 USA Missionaries have gone around preaching the Gospel and testifying to the grace and mercies of our God. The area we are in is predominately Muslim, and the battle lines are clearly drawn … but the battle belongs to the King of Glory. From the rising of the sun (we are one day ahead of the West Coast of America) to the setting of the sun … the Name of the Lord shall be praised for His excellent greatness and awesome Salvation which has visited Uganda ~ The Pearl of Africa!

The first two weeks of our mission to Northern Uganda are now complete in Christ. We again brought Acholi and Lango Bibles to the believers in Gulu and Barlonyo on the very first days of our mission in the North. They were recieved and we were blessed by the Gulu Pastor’s Fellowship who also want to start a Bible School in Gulu which is the “Gateway to North Africa.” By the mercies of the Lord we have also given birth to the Africa Hope Bible Institute in Lira, Uganda. It was a HARD LABOR … and we now have a CRYING BABY … which is being nursed by the dedicated shepherds and nurses in Lira. The Governing Board and the School Board are working together to both administrate the school and teach the hungry students. When we left, there were 17 registered students with registration continuing this week as the teachers are teaching the Jaron Bible Institute curriculum where we left off.

As my last letter indicated, the devil attacked every single member of our team even giving what he thought was a “Death Blow” to my partner in the Gospel and also to the school. As for my dear missionary partner, Randy, His head was cracked open, his foot infected, his heart is broken, but his hands are extended with the grace of God.

The news of a death in his family has been a difficult blow in the middle of this mission. Randy even drank poison … but by the power of God … it only served to make him stronger. (You will just have to let Randy tell you this story when and if he gets home!?) Randy asked me if I thought he would make it home alive. I assured him: “Brother, you will come home … More Alive!” By God’s mercies and the help of your prayers, we have persevered and have pressed on to the South where we have entered a very ripe harvest field in Luzira.
* Late Note: Randy will be coming home early with me on Sept. 22nd to attend to his family matters related to the death of his wife Sandy’s mother who was living with them at home in Portland. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for Randy and his family and ministering to them while Randy is in Africa.

Please, Please, Please ~ KEEP PRAYIING! The people living in darkness have seen a great light. Our hands are dirty, our hearts are broken, but after just three days of ministry here with our missionary band, our nets are overflowing with fish! Our missionary motto for this “Salvation Safari” came from a “African Insurance Sticker” pasted on the cracked windshield of our car. It reads: “We won’t make a drama … out of a crisis.” That pretty much sums up this missionary journey so far. This is why we ask you now to KEEP PRAYING … and KNOWING … that our God ALWAYS leads in TRIUMPH … and spreads wherever we go the fragrance of life in Jesus Name ~ II Corinthians 2:14. I am sending you this email on Thursday morning, September 17th, as our missionary team goes out this morning to two hospitals, the Kampala Prison, three secondary schools, and two slums for personal evangelism. This is a lite day compared the last three!

Just days before our US Mission team landed in Ugandam, Violence errupted in Kampala and many people were killed and parts of the city burned down. The Bantu people here rioted because the Ugandan
President Museveni would not let their ancestral Bantu King of Buganda enter the city. Our God has used this widespread violence and controversy to plow the soil of the soul here in Uganda, and of course as our missionary motto says: “We will not make a drama out of a crisis.” Therefore, we are making disciples of all nations because our King of Glory has come into the city and His Ambassadors are proclaiming His Kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is in Heaven. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD mighty in battle … magnificent in splendor … the Ancient of Days … worthy of all praise! Open wide ye gates … that the King of Glory may come in!

Yesterday, our team split up into two teams and went to six schools, including the Kyambogo University, Sapphire School in Geza-Geza (Double Darkness), an Islamic School by the mercies of God, a slum street kids hang-out called: “Middle East Ghetto,” and finally we ended the day with a Kampala Businessmen’s Dinner which ended at 11pm after all the formalities. There was so much fruit! Our missionary band is filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness … and they are young! Everywhere we have gone we have presented a powerful drama (even though we aren’t making a drama out of crisis), worship & praise, personal testimonies, soccer balls, and of course the “Gospel Bomb” = The big Evangecube which has already blasted so many holes in the darkness that many prisoners and captives of all ages have escaped from darkness and are now children of the light by faith in Jesus Christ who is forever to be praised! Hell is mad for sure, and I am sure our team is famous in hell, but the Lord is famous in Uganda!

One big highlight for me was the Islamic School of nearly 500 students that we were allowed to enter through the back door ministry of several Christian teachers serving the Lord from the inside. We sang and danced, and the drama troupe performed a powerful testimony, and by God’s grace, I preached Jesus by building a bridge from the Koran (which speaks of Jesus) to the Bible. The Holy Spirit took the Word of God to every heart! At first there was heckling and disturbance from some of the older students and teachers in the crowd when I mentioned the name of Jesus and His resurrection. But the Gospel is powerful, and when the invitation was given, even Muslim teachers confessed that Jesus was Lord along with the students and stepped forward to receive the free gift of salvation in Jesus Name!

In the Luzira marketplace, we preached Jesus to a group of people and one lady and seven men stepped forward to form a circle of prayer and call upon the Lord for salvation. Before we could pray together, one of the bystanders yelled out, “That man who is now praying there with you … we know him. He is the village drunk.” I replied, “God has not called the righteous but the unrighteous to repentance.” Another in crowd of bystanders yelled at me and said, “You must give us some money first.” I responded, “Man cannot serve God and money.” Another yelled, “You must give us some bread.” Once again, I simply quoted Jesus’ words and said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceedeth from the mouth of God.” The crowd became quiet as the circle of eight sinners prayed and confessed their sins and were born again in the village. Immediately, when brother Patrick began to pray, the Heaven’s thundered and rain began to fall. The crowd grew silent after the first group confessed Jesus as Lord, and there was a revival in the rain! Several more from the crowd stepped forward and publically repented calling upon the Lord for salvation, and giving thanks to the God of Heaven who sent the rain.

Right now, today, Thursday morning, Sept.17th, is the very first day of the “Jose Zayas” Evangelistic Festival and Crusade here in Luzira. Right now the local pastors, churches, and builders are building the stage, setting up the lights and sound systems in preparation for tonights first open proclamation of the Gospel. But already in the last three days, we have saturated Luzira and outlying schools, hospitals, prisons, slums, universities, and the market places with the Gospel and seen at least 700 people born-again in Jesus Name!

So once again, please KEEP PRAYING to the THE LORD OF THE HARVEST …
for a great harvest of souls here in Luzira this week. Our missionary team is clearly equipped, appointed, and sent by God into this vineyard at this appointed time. There are no accidents in the Kingdom of God. He has made all things beautiful in His own time, and TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. Please pray for Jose Zayas, myself, Randy, and our team to be filled with the Holy Spirit and boldness to continue testifying to the grace of God in this predominately Muslim area. I have never felt such an urgency and annointing to preach the Gospel as in these days of God’s grace. The evil one has been bound, and the captives set free. The sick are healed and the dead are raised to new life in Jesus Name!

Our missioanry team also sailed across Lake Victoria to visit an orphanage of hundreds of children. The team ministered the grace of Jesus to them and several of our team members decided to sponsor orphan children who had no support or sponsors. Praise the Lord, families are growing in numbers across the waters! Jennifer, our Salama Springs Guest House manager just prayed to receive Christ yesterday, and this morning her brother heard the Gospel for the first time and is now wrestling with repentance. Pray for Leroy, who is a land-owner and real estate developer here in Luzira to come to Christ.
The Luzira city fathers called the area we reached: “Geza-Geza” (in Swahili this means “Double Darkness” – much like the descriptive Koine Greek Phrases used in Jude and II Peter). Now, there is a Christian School planted in Geza-Geza called: “Sapphire Christian School.” By the grace of God the city fathers are now calling this area “Nura-Nura” = “Double Light.” If ever there was a “Diamond in the Rough” … it is this “Sapphire” gem of hope gleaming in the Ugandan slum and sunshine! You should see the faces of these children beaming with joy and hope in the Lord!

So THANK YOU for sending “AFRICA HOPE” and HEALING in Jesus Name.
This is but a taste of the battle and the victory we are experiencing here in Uganda. As my missionary partner Randy said, “This last two weeks seems like a lifetime to me.” We are seeing the reign of God come down to earth from Heaven in Jesus Name!

Maranatha ~ Even so come Lord Jesus, King of Glory!

Your Partners In The Gospel ~ <')))>< ~ Gone Fishin'

Gil & Randy ~ II Corinthians 2:14

Africa Hope – Field Report – Gil Harder

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Lira, Barlonyo & Gulu, Uganda

Dear Mission Partners:

Greetings from Gil & Randy in Uganda!

My last letter from Uganda was from Gulu where the Gulu Pastor’s Fellowship embraced the vision for Africa Hope Bible Institute along with 24 Acholi Bibles with great joy. We also testified in the IDP Camp where Justin’s family trusted Christ. The next day we traveled to Barlonyo where we delivered the promised gift of Randy Brannon of more bibles, Christian Education materials, and assistance in planting what we are now calling the: “Barlonyo Memorial Bible Church!” We had an absolutely delightful worship service under the trees with Chief Patrick Odongo, Bishop George Purkweri, Pastor Marcelo Aloka, and approximately 90 believers. What is so interesting here in Barlonyo, is that this new church fellowship seems to grow in the precise numbers of the Bibles we bring to them. After the first delivery of 50 Bibles, the church grew to 50 Believers. On our last visit we brought 6 more bibles (all we could find in Uganda), and left money for another 30 … now on this visit there are about 90 believers – Praise the Lord, this Church is growing right next to the Barlonyo Memorial of the LRA Rebel Attack. Now the Lord is bringing life out of death.

We sang and danced, worshipped and preached the Gospel in Barlonyo and ended by praying over Pastor Marcelo and then traveled to Lira for Sunday where Randy Howarth preached at All Nations Church, and I preached at the New Covenant Church. It was a wonderful day of salvation in both places, and Randy had the experience of preaching through an interpretor (Into Lango) for the first time. Sunday afternoon we had a leadership meeting with the Africa Hope Bible Institute School Board to plan for the “Grand Opening of the school the next day. City officials were called and the ministers of education were invited, choirs were scheduled, students were ready … and then on Monday … ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE!

Whenever God gets the glory … Satan makes somebody pay. Out of the ten AHBI Steering Committee members … six paid significantly as the devil tried to stop the opening of the school. Rev. Lawnsome Etume was thrown in jail on false charges, Evangelist Francis was denied “Water Rights” for the school which meant we didn’t have any water, Bishop George was hurt and didn’t show, Randy Howarth fell and gashed his head seriously, Pastor James Omara became violently ill and was rushed to the hospital, Rev. Martin Ogwal was called out of town, and then the thieves stole Pastor James Okori’s battery out of his car (our only means of transport).

All these fiery darts were enough to stop the “Grand Opening” … but not enough to stop “God’s Opening” of the school. We called off the grand opening and decided in favor of a “Soft Opening” and a humble beginning by opening the school in spite of the overwhelming obstacles that rose up against us. Twelve students came, and we taught them the Word of Truth on September 7, 2009. We lifted up our voices and sang praise to King of Glory. We prayed and pressed on to know the Lord. We had no water or lunch for the students, but at end of the day, Africa Hope Bible Institute was officially opened. We had bread from Heaven, and also tasted the “First Fruits” of the school when Stella prayed to receive Christ in the classroom on Monday. Rachel, who was abducted by the LRA at the age of 9 and later escaped, brought her co-worker Stella to the school for prayer. We are believing God that this is a sign of the good things to come and a taste of the “Firstfruits” of the harvest in Uganda and North Africa.

But we are announcing a new birth and a new baby school in Northern Uganda with 12 Disciples! We are pressing on to know the Lord and live in His presence for the sake of the call.

On Tuesday, 17 students came to school, and the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, came to Lira. Amazingly, this big event happened right across the street from where Randy & I were staying on Tuesday, Sept.8th which is International Literacy Day in Uganda. So of all places to celebrate this event, Lira was chosen and the celebration took place the day after we opened a Bible College in Lira. I went to the parade grounds and was seated along with the “Religious Leaders” next to the red carpet and presidential leaders. In the course of the morning, the Lord allowed me to announce the opening of Africa Hope Bible Institute among the national leaders in Lira. What an amazing God we serve! God even sent very needed refreshing rains the next night to this parched land.

Uganda has been the devil’s playground for too long. The prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” But now, thanks be to God who always leads in triumph and spreads wherever we go the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of life in every place – II Cor. 2:14. We now have approximately 60+ student applications for the school along with another 10 teacher applications for the teaching positions which shall be filled by the local and national leaders. Praise the Lord! We are pressing on and so grateful to God for your prayers and gifts of love. Keep praying … as we publish the Word of God in Northern Uganda and train soldiers of the Lord to Declare His Glory among the nations.

Your Missionary Partners In Uganda ~ <’)))><

Gil Harder & Randy Howarth ~ II Corinthians 2:14

Panama August 2009 Report

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) August 2009 report.

Jim Liljegren – Pictures from Russia

Click here to see Jim’s pictures from Russia

Alexander, one of the locals that Jim Liljegren works with…

Below is from Alexander….one of the locals that our missionary, Jim Liljegren works with. He is serving among a Muslim people. Pray for him and his family that they would continue to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ.

Mark

I wanted to share about our ministry. My father began to visit a
Muslim mosque which is not far from us. We showed it to you; it is in
the nearby village. Every Friday my father visits this mosque. He
already has many acquaintances with whom he visits and tells about
God. Last Friday they gave father the opportunity to speak about God
right in the mosque. Father spoke for a few minutes and everyone
listened attentively. Pray that the Lord will work through our family.
I think when we meet we will tell you in more detail about what has
been happening throughout this time.
We have many interesting incidents and stories which we will tell you.

With Respect,
Alexander

Panama – SPECIAL REPORT – SAFE!

Click here to read the special report from Vince Payne.

Dennis Braga – Pskov, Russia: Final Update

Hey Everyone

If I remember correctly, the last update was at the tail end of our time in Pskov and looking forward to our time in St. Petersburg. We took an overnight train from Pskov to St. Pete, hopped on the metro (train) and walked straight into the Conference. The registration and everything seem somewhat chaotic, but everything worked out. (All I have to say to that is: “It’s Russia”). To be honest, when I heard about the Youth Conference, I imagined the American version and had similar expectations (with games, breakout sessions, lots of creavity). The first day of the Conference was pretty much a typical Russian Baptist church service: music, sermon, music, sermon, music, sermon..etc. Sidenote: [Forgive me if I already mentioned this but one church service in Pskov went for 5 hours, and I had no clue what was going on]. Even some of the people that we brought from Pskov thought the first day wasn’t too exciting. I just popped in my IPod and read my Bible to pass the time. Some of the young guys from Pskov wanted to go to McDonalds for lunch and invited me along in hopes of me paying for it. If you’ve been on missions trips, you understand.

There were a lot of Russian Americans at the Conference. It was probably half American Russians and half Russians. The problem is: being the token non-Russian speaker at the entire conference, I didn’t know if someone was from America or not. The good news is: there were many people that were involved with the Pskov ministry at the Conference: Russians from Boston and Philadelphia that we knew. I didn’t feel completely left in the dark.

The second day was better. During lunch, I was talking with one of the Russian guys from Boston and he were talking about me not knowing Russian. He told me that he just met a girl at the conference that lives in the States and works for Rosetta Stone (a famous language software company). He called her over and she said that she could get me the Russian software for free. She wouldn’t be helping her employer, but it would really help me haha. Maybe God wants me to learn Russian afterall.

If you have been keeping up with my updates, many of you are probably wandering what happened to Yulia at the Conference. She was mostly with Daniel, so the facts that I have are based on what he told me. When she first entered the santuary, she felt a peace. At first, the feeling made her feel uncomfortable because she hadn’t experienced that before, but soon she felt very at home. When the first song was played, she was immediately singing and singing from the heart. She was even singing louder than the people from Pskov. During the sermons, when the preacher would ask a question (rhetorical or not), she would answer outloud amongst a quiet crowd. Throughout the whole day she was asking Daniel about how to become a Christian (in Bible terms: how to repent).

During the last sermon on the first day, the preacher wanted to have a time to repent for anyone that was not a follower of Christ. He asked people to come to the front, but Yulia didn’t want to. Then the preacher asked if there was anyone else, to raise their hand. Yulia raised her hand and the preacher asked everyone to pray for those people with their hands raised. Yulia, being the wonderful person that she is, prayed for the OTHER people with their hands raised. After the service, there was of course some confusion on her side about what happened (on whether she repented or not). Daniel spent some time with her, talked with her about repentance and she repented (in the church, where she wanted to repent)!!

The next day, anyone who knew her could see a drastic difference in her attitude and countenance. Her smile alone was full of literal joy. It was pretty amazing. Between lunch and dinner on the second day, everyone at the conference went to different areas of St. Pete and passed out New Testaments on the street. Yulia was excited and passionate about giving people the Word of God. Even on the metro getting to the streets, she was talking to people. I wish you could have seen it with your own eyes. Daniel and I were just in shocked and stoked about this.

Pray for her. Her adjustment back home has been rough. Even though her Mom likes us and allowed her to go to the conference, she is not very happy about her new life in Christ. She doesn’t want Yulia to go to church, so she has to lie to her Mom in order to attend. This is somewhat puzzling to us. Yulia has decided to quit drinking and smoking and hanging out with the “Extended Drunk Group.” How could her Mom not like this new Yulia?

After the conference, we called the local pastor in St. Pete (Sasha) that was with us in Pskov, so we can help his church this week. He told us that he was leaving for his home country of Belarus for two weeks, but advised Daniel and I to go to a camp. His church works very closely with an orpanage and many of the kids are attending this camp for the month of August. The next morning, we packed our stuff and headed out to the Camp. The camp structure was pretty simple: 1) meals 2) sleep 3) free time. It was fun walking to the lake with the orpan kids on our shoulders and playing with them in the water. Not all the kids are orphans, but may have parents that are not involved personally and only give money. It was rewarding to love on them and receive love back from them.

Now we are spending our last couple days in St. Pete with Kostya and Andew, members of Sasha’s church (that were also involved in the Pskov ministry). I am ready to go home, but it has been a blessing to have the opportunity to spend four weeks overseas ministering and being ministered too. I thank God for providing the specific opportunities (such as meeting Yulia) that made this trip more than worthwhile. Thank you so much for your love and support in making this all possible. May God bless you in how you have blessed my life.

Eph. 2:8-9

Den

Jim Liljegren – BACK HOME!

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
I ARRIVED HOME FROM RUSSIA TONIGHT SAFE AND SOUND (?). THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR PRAYER SUPPORT.
WE REALLY APPRECIATED IT! THE THREE TEAMS (CZECH, PSKOV AND PETROZAVODSK) REALLY WORKED HARD FOR OUR LORD.
MANY GREAT THINGS TOOK PLACE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE TO WHOM WE WITNESSED.
I WILL PUT SOME PICTURES ON-LINE PLUS SEND OUT A NEWSLETTER ASAP.

HAVE A GREAT AUGUST WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

YOURS AND HIS,

JIM

Jim Liljegren – Russia (2)

DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
3 WEEKS AGO I FLEW TO PRAGUE AND I HAVE BEEN FLYING HIGH EVER SINCE, LEADING 3 TEAMS IN 3 LOCATIONS. GOD HAS MET OUR NEEDS ALL ALONG THE WAY. TONIGHT WE HAD THE OUTREACH PICNIC WE HAD PLANNED, TO HAVE A SPIRITUAL IMPACT ON SOME OF THE LIVES WE INTERACTED WITH THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY AT THE SPORTS MINISTRY. 7 PEOPLE CAME AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME …. BBQ, VEGETABLES, COOKIES, ETC.; SINGING, A TESTIMONY, AND SHARING THE GOOD NEWS. EVERYONE HAD A GOOD TIME. THIS IS SEED PLANTING TIME. NOW SOME OF THE GROUP IS ON THE WAY TO THE LOCAL LAKE (AT 10:30 P.M.???) WITH GHENYA, AN 18 YEAR OLD WHO IS ATTRACTED TO OUR MESSAGE. WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT SOME OF THESE BOYS WILL ATTEND THE SERVICE TOMORROW. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT JULIAN, THE CHURCH PLANTER WE ARE WORKING WITH, IS ENCOURAGED. HE HAD SEEN NO RESULTS FOR MANY YEARS. GOD REALLY BLESSED US WITH OUTSTANDING WEATHER THIS WEEK. IT WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT THERE WAS NO RAIN FOR 4 STRAIGHT DAYS SO WE COULD DO OUR OUTDOOR MINISTRY OF PAINTING, BUILDING, AND SPORTS OUTREACH.
I AM PLANNING ON COMING BACK IN OCT. WITH SASHA (ST. PETE PASTOR…HE IS HERE WITH 4 OF HIS CHURCH MEMBERS) AND SOME OF HIS YOUNG PEOPLE TO CONTINUE THIS IMPACT ON THESE LIVES HERE. PRAY FOR GHENYA, SASHA (11 YEAR OLD WHO KEPT STAYING BY MY SIDE ALL EVENING), AND PASHA (16 YEAR OLD).
ON SUNDAY WE WORSHIP AND HAVE OUR TEAM DEBRIEF. THEN AFTER DINNER WE TAKE THE TRAIN BACK TO ST. PETE. IS IT REALLY AUG. 1? WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
I WILL BE HOME ON WED., AUGUST 5, LOOKING FORWARD TO A SALAD AT SOUPLANTATION!!!! AND, OF COURSE, BEING WITH MY WONDERFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
PLANS FOR MY OCT. TRIP ARE ALREADY FORMING. YOUR CONTINUED PRAYER AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT ARE REALLY APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR THE TEAMS AND ME THIS JULY. PRAYER MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. TO GOD BE THE GLORY. THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE!
LOVE TO ALL,
JIM

Dennis Braga – Pskov, Russia: Update 3

Hey Everyone

Since my last update, we finished all the work that needed to be done in the courtyard and the American team has left. Life in Pskov is different without the Americans, especially since the only person I can really talk to is Daniel. On the good side, I feel more like a local. We know where things are and how to get there on the bus without any problem. When Daniel, Alexander (the church-planter) and I were leaving a village gathering\house church, a young guy walked up to the window of the car and said that he recognized us when we were walking around the downtown area the other day. I am not saying we are celebrities, but people are watching us and it makes us feel like we are citizens of Pskov.

Right after the American team left, Alexander had to spend some time catching up with things that he sacrificed while the American team was here. That meant that the first few days of our first week here, were not very eventful. Even though I wanted to be busy, I think we needed the rest and down time from all that Jim expected from us haha. During one of our “restful days” we tried to call some of friends and see if we could hang out for a bit. Sergei, from the “Drunk Group,” was available so we walked around the neighborhood and chatted. Then we found some other friends Mel and his wife. In about 10 minutes, Daniel and I found ourselves sitting in a wooden gazebo with like 15-20 people, which I will call the “Extended Drunk Group.” Most of the people I didn`t recognized, but they knew us from last summer. Over the course of the night, I asked Mel and his wife if it is okay if we had tea and talked about the Bible says regarding family and marriage (since they have a little girl named Karina). During that same night, we met a 17 yr. old girl named Yulia who found herself somehow the next night at Mel`s house while we were talking about the Bible. We had a good time, sharing stories, laughing and also learning more about the Bible. We talked for several hours. Hopefully we can see Mel and his wife before we leave.

Because of that meeting, Yulia invited us to her house to have tea. Of course we agreed. Instantly we had favor with her mom, who was a great host to us and felt comfortable asking questions about our lives and about the Bible. It seems that Yulia has some background in the Bible and is really understanding what we are trying to communicate. Her mom, on the other hand, has many friends from different denominations and there is some confusion from those influences. Additionally, she has never read the Bible, so her questions are very good and somewhat outside the box. We plan on talking more with them tonight about spiritual things.

This past week we had the priviledge of blessing people with our time and energy. The first person was Sasha, a guy who has been using drugs and heavily drinking his whole life but met Alexander a few years ago through Sasha`s Mom (who attends the Pskov Church). Alexander took him to the village churches and the different ministries he is involved with even though Sasha was not a Christian. Eventually, he decides to go to a Christian Rehab Center and finishes the entire program. We has been clean for about a year and a half and a Christian for about a year. A couple Sundays ago, 10 people were baptized at the Pskov Church and he was one of them. Well, the other day we worked all day and helped him put up wallpaper in his bedroom. While drinking tea around 6PM and resting from our work, I said “Good food, and good company.” He said that if you told him a year ago that 2 Christians from America would be in his kitchen, it wouldn`t believe it. It is powerful how much God can change a person.

We also had the priviledge of going to one of the village churches and spending the day building the future church (which will be partially living quarters). One of the ladies there is Sasha`s Mom! It was cool hearing her story and just how grateful she is that Sasha is a different person now. Since becoming a Christian, she said that every area of his life is improving, even his relationships at work.

Last Sunday, Daniel and I went with our host Dad, Nikolai (who is the assistant pastor at the Pskov Church) to a village church where he is the pastor. Nikolai gave us the privilege of delivering one of the sermons (in Russian Baptist churches, there are always multiple sermons). I say “us” because Daniel is translating while I preach. I keep telling him that he is the real preacher because it doesn`t matter what I say, but what he says. He seemed pretty nervous and it is hard translating Bible vocabulary especially in front of people, but I think God used it. Daniel is really growing from this trip. He is even helping me in our talks with Yulia and her mom. For being 17 years old, I think he is doing a great job with everything involved with this trip and not just translating.

A couple weeks ago, Daniel and I heard from people at church about this huge Youth Conference in St. Petersburg that is happening this weekend. We went to the train station last night around 2AM to get tickets. We almost were beat up by some young military personel for being Americans. [During the somewhat-recent battles between Georgia and Russia, the U.S. got involved and many people from Pskov died in those battles]. There are going to be six of us going to the conference: Daniel, myself, Sasha, Yulia, Rita (a girl from church), Igor (a guy from church who has a similar story as Sasha). I am excited about what God is going to do in each of their lives. They are going to see so many Christians and get great exposure to the Russian-Christian community and good teaching. I think it is going to mind-blowing to say that least, especially for Yulia, who is not a Christian yet.

I think that is most of the highlights of our time in Pskov (post-Jim). Tomorrow is our last full day in Pskov and then onto St. Petersburg. We will have about a week after the conference to help our friends in St. Petersburg that were apart of the Pskov team this summer. Thank you for your prayers. God is working and it is exciting to be joining Him in His work.

Dennis

Panama June/July Report

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) June/July report.

Bob and Sharon Hilts

Letters from the mission field:

“It seems like each year we have to start our letter with the words “persecution worsened in (our country)”. It never gets better, and with the ‘End Time’ perspective in mind we actually need to get ready for more persecution to come. So, it went worse this past spring again. Police started to actively search and expose home churches all over (our country), some believers were arrested and imprisoned for 2 weeks, others were imposed fines in the amount of $1,500 (huge amount for ordinary people) – our government’s new strategy of dealing with active Christians. The gatherings of believers outside of registered church buildings became almost impossible to hide and to justify before police when exposed. “Are you sure you want to do camps this year?”-we were asked by others warningly; “Will you do camps?”- we are being asked by children hopefully. We had to ask that question ourselves and God, consider the risk and possible consequences in case of exposure by police. We felt that we needed to trust more the One who has protected us over past several years. So, by faith we are making step into this camp season, relying on the mercy of God. It became clear to us that this year we have to change our strategy and the forms of the camps.”

Under great pressure and persecution our leaders in this Muslim country are reporting THEY WERE ABLE TO AVOID arrest and fines as they divided into smaller groups and moved around. Recently the government offered their agents a bonus if they found Christians meeting and it made our camp leaders get more creative. They never said, “we can’t run camps this summer. They just said we will have to be more creative and trust God more.

Christian Camping is still one of the best ways to reach young people with the gospel. Leaders we have trained in 10 countries are reporting that many have come to Christ this summer and even with the difficult financial situation God has blessed with wonderful results. Our leaders constantly ask us to thank YOU, our supporters and prayer partners for your help.

As we write this letter we are on the way to Ukraine where we will work in nine different camps.

Bob and Sharon Hilts

Panama May Report

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) May report.

Panama April Report

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) April report.

Panama March Report

Click here to see Vince Payne’s (our missionary to Panama) report for March 2009.