The latest events in Nepal and a trip to India

The latest events in Nepal and a trip to India

Our dear friends and prayer partners for India trip, I greet you again in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

It is an honor and a blessing for me to share with you the events that take place thousands of miles from you in India. In bygone days this country was called «the end of the world», it is for this country that Columbus headed for but discovered America instead.

I have a difficult task before me today – to relate the events that took place since Friday last week while every day is so full of new experiences, thoughts, events and lessons. So I'll have to make an effort.

Friday: While still in Nepal we went to Bhabtaput – an ancient city from the Middle Ages. A whole caste clan still lives there. They have some places that a non-Hindu cannot visit. It feels as if you are on a set for shooting a historical film about Tartar-Mongol Yoke. There are carved Buddhist temples. People still live just as they used to in the ancient times. To get water from a water-pump women get together according to their caste. We watched the people, talked to young Buddhists, Buddha, Shiva and other gods’ painters trying to bring them the only-begotten Son Jesus Christ. Many times Natasha gathered crowds of kids and young people using an evangelical cube. Each one of us has a personal experience of fellowshipping with staunch Buddhists. Pastor Puran accompanied us. After a couple of hours in this city we went to the place where Hindus cremate their dead. I can’t find words. We came up to the central entrance where we paid a fee for tourists and then walked alone a stone path to the place itself. This is what we saw: the holy river (if it can be called so) had stony banks and only dirty littered puddles in the river bed, the water doesn’t flow. It is into this holy river that they dump the ashes of the burnt bodies and an orange overcoat they put on their dead soaked in a special solution. We watched a ceremony from beginning to end – it was a terrifying and a sad sight. Their religion is a deceit and even the end of their lives looks like flames of hell that consume a person. Friends, the Bible does not teach us to burn the dead, we know that the Lord said: “for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”. Seeing people being burned down only brought to mind flames of hell. Then we walked around and saw other people that we there. They were homeless who desired to draw their final breath at this holy place. We saw several blazing death-piles burning down. We went close to a Hindu temple where a non-Hindu cannot enter and there in the middle of their worship area we saw a big golden cow. It was getting dark and it rendered the sight even more ominous. After that we went to a tourist center to purchase Nepalese souvenirs, Alexey and I found an internet café to mail the information.

Saturday: Saturday is a day off in Nepal and we spend it ministering at the church. A “day-off” is a relative notion – same amount of people in the street, same number of tradesmen, same amount of dust and fumes, we wouldn’t have guesses it was a day off ourselves. Over 40 people gathered for a service in a domestic church – in a pastor’s flat on the second floor. I’m very grateful for all your prayers that day. After worshiping the Lord together in songs the pastor introduced our group and we did a “Candles” skit. Then children went to another room for a Sunday School lesson that our sisters taught and I had to do a 45 minute sermon in English to be translated into Nepalese. The previous group from Ukraine had an experience with two-stage translation – Russian-English-Nepalese. The subject of the sermon proved to be vital for Nepalese Christians. “What are the motives of your quest?” Pastor Puran translated very well. God gave me words in English, the audience responded actively and then we all prayed. Young people who were moved by the message came to me after the service. It was a great blessing for us to see new people at the service. There was also a young teacher of Buddhism who came with his Christian brother and mother. He was the same man that brother Urij witnessed to when we visited there flat. He lives with his brother and sister – a small girl they gave refuge to when they found her stranded on the street.

If only you could see the eyes of Nepalese Christians, their faith and desire to serve the Lord!

After the service Alexey and I went to pick up our things at sister Pasan’s house because in the evening we had to set off for India.

In the afternoon the clouds grew thicker and it started pouring. We managed to buy pizza, chips, cola and momu (a traditional dish, a variation of meat-balls in dough) for the youth group. It was a special holiday feast for them. We did several games to break the ice and set about. Their excitement, their bright eyes, their deep thoughts inspired us. Nepal has a future through these young people, the Gospel will reach these people. The young Christians didn’t want to leave. God richly blessed this fellowship, it was truly the fulfillment of God’s words that we would be given many more brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers in all nations. We expressed our special gratitude to the pastor and his family. We decided to bless them with gifts and money for the family and the church and most importantly with a prayer for them and their ministry. How great is the power of God that draws us into a relationship of love with each other! It was a big surprise and encouragement for me when I was given a “gift of love” from the church in Nepal for taking part in their ministry. Their church has learned to bless ministers. It means they have a great future! Praise God for the triumphant truth of the Word!

At 8 in the evening Nepalese time (which differs from Moscow by 2hours 45 minutes) we got on the public bus and set off on a mountainous road. A trip on the bus can hardly be described, you must experience it. I’ll try to convey it in person when we meet. We knew and believed that you were praying hard for us. My family told me that. Your prayers were important. Ten hours to cover 180 miles. An upland road, stoppages at night, the style of driving we called “Schumacher falls short”, an extreme sight not for faint-hearted. Some tried to sleep, others did sleep but I doubt they got any rest.

We arrived to a bus station 3 miles from the Indian border. We were to take another trip on a trishaw. An elderly undernourished Nepalese pulls two white people and their luggage. For 3 miles he drags them along a terrible road. You are full of compassion and a desire to help but you can’t for it will be misunderstood. Our friend, pastor Urij decided to help because their Nepalese was exhausted after 1 mile. But after several deprecative glances from other trishaw drivers they had to change places again. We went across the border on foot. I already learned from Indians to carry my suitcase on the head, it turned out to be more comfortable and efficient.

Again the Indian passport control officials showed “special attention” to pastor Urij. His Ukrainian passport made them hint for a bribe again. Finally after filling all the forms we were on a bus to Gahtapur -a town in northern India, where we were to catch a train. This trip was even more extreme. Driving off-the-road, buses and trucks side to side, driving head-on at high speed and by some miracle in the very last moment you just miss the truck in front of your bus. Another impressive spectacle was watching buses trying to pass each other on a narrow village street 3-4 meters wide (10-13 feet). We filmed it.

We came to a Gahtapur train station and waited for an evening train as the temperature grew. We came across a compatriot of mine. His name is Anatolij, he’s 60, he was our neighbor in Alma-Ata(Kazahstan). Now he finds Sai Baba’s teaching the truest and similar to the Gospel, he now lives in India to be close to Sai Baba. We talked with him for a long time, then pastor Urij boldly proclaimed the truth and charged him not to call himself a Christian but a Sai Baba’s follower not to deceive people. Numerous religions and cults flourish in this remote country and we realized how many of our fellow countrymen come there in quest of truth and think they find it. We prayed for this man that that false foundation in his heart would be demolished.

Thank you for your prayers for our trip on the train – it was a great blessing! We found a carriage with an air conditioner and a sleeping bank for each one of us. Sleep was just what we needed. We got 12 hours of it. Praise God!

The early morning in Delhi was relatively cool but that didn’t hold. When we got home and met with other missionaries we had a meal - something we didn’t get to do often on this trip. A full day was ahead of us. Visiting Hindu and Buddhist temples, a prayer at the Parliament Seat of the country for the forth coming elections and for freedom for this nation, for evangelism of the country and that the same cleanness we saw near the Presidents Palace would be all over the country. We walked from The Arch of Triumph of India’s Independence to the Parliament then prayed for millions of people in a Sikhs’ temple. We went to flee markets, met with persistent vendors. We met groups of children and shared the truth of the Gospel with them. Next morning we began by worshiping God together, spending time in His word and prayer.

In the evening when we came home we had a short meeting with Liza Gutz. We found out a lot about her life in India in the past 7 years and peculiarities of her ministry. We prayed together getting reading for the new day on which we would go to a lepers hospital. In the morning Natasha will do a seminar for local sisters and we will visit a world famous Lotus Temple where all religions are accepted. New Age philosophy is easily accepted by Hindus.

Once again I thank you all for your prayers for us and our team. We are through with one hot day in India and have 4 more to come.

Please pray for us tomorrow. We will fast and pray as we go to visit and serve to the lepers.

* Thank you for praying for Natasha, her sickness is gone and she actively serves the Lord

* Please pray for Anastasia’s grandma. She lives in Yaroslavl and is on her deathbed but hasn’t received the Lord yet

* Pray for our physical strength as we have full agenda each day and the heat is scorching for us

* For the forth coming programs, my teaching a leaders’ seminar to local ministers.

* For spiritual strength for each one of us

We love each one of you.

What do you do about the needs of peoples as the child of GOD?

23rd of March 2009

What do you do about the needs of peoples as the child of GOD?

Dear friends I rejoice that due to this blog each one of you has an opportunity to follow the events of our short term mission trip to India. It is such a blessing for us that people in the church really pray for each our day in India.

Yesterday as we fellowshipped with Liza (a missionary with Wycliff) who already spent 7 years serving these people, I saw again how important information is so that you can be a part of oversees mission.

India is not just another country in the world. It is a motherland of numerous new religions and a nursery for old ones which are alluring for millions of Europeans including our countrymen.

At the border of Nepal we met two young men from Moscow who came to India and Nepal in quest of spirituality and had been wandering there for 3 years already. They have no desire to come back to the real world while the Scripture says «I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil».

This place is a great medley of things but this brings only illusory soothing to restless souls. Without the light of the truth people walk in darkness. Christ has called us to be the light of this world: «Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven».

Watching these people, and people are the most precious God's creation, you can see that sin leads to degradation. When you see the beautiful children you can't help wondering «What are they suffering for?» For the guilt of there fathers.

When we don't see the real world but are focused on ourselves and our lives we feel no need to think about other people. But when we walk out into these fields we can see that they are white and ripe and we remember the words: «Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest».

Why should we think about missions? Because it's every Christian's calling – «Go ye therefore, and teach all nations».

Dedicate, give, spend at least something to become a God's messenger to a foreign nation and see how your inward being responds to it.

For many years I have been maturing to be able to go beyond my comfort zone and find myself in the midst of a foreign nation, a different culture, face crying needs and I want to say PRAISE GOD, that He transforms my inside world according to His will.

I'd be glad to see your comments and thoughts about this article.

MAY GOD'S PEACE AND GRACE BE WITH YOU!

The latest news from team in Nepal

Greetings dear brothers, sisters, and friends!

I am hurrying to write out the events of the last few days so you would know what's going on on our missions trip. After arriving in Delhi and having a little rest at the missionaries' house, we had brunch, since it was already 11:00 in the morning. Before breakfast, I gave Yuri and Tatiana the library of Christian books we brought. I told them of the sacrifice of the children from Children's Church in Zelenograd, since 2/3 of the amount the children gave went to buy these books. They were very glad and thankful, since for the last year, they have had almost nothing to read except material on the Internet. After breakfast, we needed to separate the things brought for ministry and take what we needed for Nepal. After 2:00 that afternoon, we headed out to “catch” a car and get to the station to head to Nepal. Taking our heavy things, we went out into the tumultuous city of 17 million people and 95 degree weather. All around were motor vehicles, cars, and trishaws (bicycle rickshaws or pedicabs), and for some reason they were all honking. The noise was incredible! It turns out that horns are used for several reasons such as oversized loads or to warn people that you are coming. There are no rules. Everyone contrives to get through first, and no one gets angry. Traffic police are non-existent, or nearly so. A motor-rickshaw is an enclosed trishaw. Sometimes they are unpainted, or the drivers are trying to make them comfortable for many passengers. All vehicles are quite battered, which is not surprising, because smaller collisions are not a problem. There are almost no new cars.

When we got to the train station, hundreds of porters and drivers were trying to get our attention. Porters are people in red vests but without a cart, as we know it. They simply have a specially wrapped scarf on their heads. Then the head is used to carry an unbelievable amount of luggage, plus they have their two hands, as well.

Leaving our things with our people, we went to the local marked to buy a few things and something to eat on our way. The market is a special story. Everywhere people, people, people, rickshaws, transportation, animals, all mingled together. A multi-colored crowd of buyers and sellers, and everywhere there is the smell of burning sandal wood (as incense). And all the sellers are under the influence of this burning sandal wood.

Upon returning to our luggage, we found out that the train on which we were supposed to ride to Nepal was to leave from a different station in Old Delhi. It would normally take 40 minutes to get to the other station, and only 20 minutes remained before departure. Our missionary, Yuri, began to inquire of all the possibilities, and the result was that we had to pay for new tickets on a train leaving in three hours from the station where we were.

There's a special procedure here for boarding the train. You have to find your car and get a place. We road “like kings” that time, since there was air conditioning in our car. Many cars had open windows and hundreds of people and suitcases. We had to pray a lot to get on that train and for wisdom for Yuri and understanding of God's will as to why our trip to India started out like this. But new adventures awaited us. We had a great time of getting to know the Indians in our train car, talking late into the night. They were very amazed and very open, even treating us to their home-made hot peppers, rice dish, and buttermilk. Natalya gave them some of our sunflower seeds and chocolate called “Inspiration.” Our journey took us through “real” India. Poverty, destitution, shacks garbage, ruin, and the same kinds of instruments and tools for labor as in the Middle ages, such as hoes and sickles. We saw cities, small towns, villages, fields, and people. Looking through the window, I prayed a lot for these people created by God for a different purpose – for the kingdom of heaven. But they live, or rather exist on this earth. What the absence of God can lead to in life! I need to point out that the people of India are hard workers, but their labor is very cheap.

After 15 hours on the road, we came to the last station, from which we needed to continue our trip to the border. We observed so many unusual things for us, while we looked for transportation to the border of Nepal. We ended up taking a public bus which was jam-packed full to overflowing until you couldn't push any more people in. All the luggage was just thrown up on the top, and we set out to the north on the loud dusty road. It's impossible to convey in words; it's something that hast to be experienced. In the middle of the trip, as we found out later, the engine overheated, and in a panic, the Indians started jumping out of the windows and trying any other method to get out of the bus as quickly as possible. At first, we thought there was a fire or maybe an inspection of migrant workers. After throwing water on it, everything settled down, and we were off again. It was already evening when we reached the border of Nepal, where we had to walk across the border. It was so hot! The luggage was heavy, and there were thousands of people trying to maneuver through the mess of traffic.

At the border, we needed to fill out customs forms, and a problem came up with Yuri and his passport. They didn't want to let him through. Much prayer, the expectation of 500 Nepalese rupees, and a gift from us, and the problem was solved. We were already with the pastor from Nepal and his friend. Having crossed the border, we were in bustling Nepal. We needed to buy visas and fill out all the documents. Only then, after loading our things into a real car with right-hand steering, we set out on a dangerous trip to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

Pastor Puran was tired and we prayed for him to get us safely to our destination. Cars were driving along with no lights on till late evening. Having gone half way, a friend of the pastor invited us to have supper in his home town. There were only faint lights, since in Nepal, there is electricity only 8 hours a day. Re-energized, we continued our continued our trip. We will write about the food some other time.

It was already late at night, and our car kept climbing higher and higher on the treacherous winding mountain road. Then the pastor invited me to get behind the wheel. Our team began to deliberate whether that was a good idea or not. It was night, the road was dangerous, they drive on the right. We finally decided to try it, and God answered your prayers. We are alive and well. After dozens of hours on the road, we arrived in Kathmandu. My style of driving didn't give the pastor a chance to rest. He was worried, although he wanted to sleep so much. Sleep was snatched from him, as if by a hand.

When we got to the guest house, there was no light, so using flashlights, we got settled and tried to shower and go to bed. The roosters were already crowing, and we slept sweetly for 3 hours.

A new day, March 17th. We went to a children's shelter at a Baptist church in the mountains. I also participated in teaching leaders and pastors from churches in distant mountain villages. This was not a planned event. The ladies and Alexey put on a program for the 24 children. They did games, songs, a Bible story, crafts, a cartoon about David and Goliath, and much more. Natalia, Tatiana, and Anastasia worked well. Alexey helped a lot with the children and with audio and photo ministry. When it was already getting dark, we returned home, and ahead still lay a search for Internet. This is a problem in Nepal. Alex and I found it in a tourist region, working on a generator. We wrote letters and sent information and the video. Everyone sends their greetings. Your prayers are an irreplaceable support in the ministry. Thank you to each of you. We might be in touch in a couple of days. More wonderful works and blessings of God await us. We could not even imagine them without your support, prayers, and letters.

Pastor Pavel

God's light in the darkness of paganism

Dear friends, brothers and sisters

Today I would like to share with you the feelings I had when visiting a Buddhist monastery. For the first time I saw with my own eyes the deceit devil has led millions of people into. It's one thing to study Buddhism theoretically and quite another to be in the center of worship. My heart was bleeding for these people that Satan holds captive to an awful delusion. Partly I experienced what apostle Paul had in Athens. When he saw all the idols the city had his spirit was stirred, I felt the same. Tears were running down my face watching people of all ages climbing the steep stairs all hang with mantras, Buddha statues, Buddhism ornaments and hopping monkeys. Having climbed the mountain to the monastery we saw stupas, prayer wheels, candles, bows, food for spirits and many other terrible things. Hundreds and thousands of people of all generations even the toddlers are involved in this insanity. PEOPLE NEED THE LORD! My heart was shouting «People, stop! Know that the Lord is God! ». I was recalling Elijah and the prophets of Baal. We just walked and watched scrutinizing the faces of the people and trying to make out their worship. I'd like to share what God revealed to me. God is pure and holy, He cleans your heart and soul and mind and also your outward life. What I saw and God pointed it out for me is complete insanitariness, garbage, dirt, filth and filthy worship. Walking around their shrines I prayed for each one of them for they are God's creation but, as it is written, when they did not acknowledge God for God but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened, they exchanged the glory of God for am image of man and served and worshipped created things rather than the Creator. We stepped aside and called to God in prayer for these people in darkness, for Kathmandu – the capital of Nepal which laid spread before our eyes in the valley, for the local Christians and ministers, for the demolition of Satan’s strongholds and spiritual freedom for millions of people. My face was wet and now as I write to you about these people my heart mourns for them. On our way down I saw people who can hardly be called so, they have lost the image and the glory of God. That's what their master, Satan, has brought them to. We also saw a group of young American girls sitting at the feet of a guru who was telling them their destiny by the palm lines. Alexey and I cried to God that He would avert them from this folly. They are young and willingly turn to the enticing ways of Satan.

Throngs of children with stretched dirty hands and people coming to earthly gods who are no gods at all.

Then we faced HUGE gilded Buddha statues and saw people prostrate themselves before the workmanship of men – hoary with age women and young ladies, elders and lads. I compared to myself the flowers and the work of man – nothing compares to what the Creator does. HE IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD! Again I called to the Lord for His Kingdom and glory to come.

The conclusion I made from what I so is that I should be endlessly grateful to the Lord for salvation by the grace of Jesus and His eternal love. We often grumble about life ands hardships or become careless in prayer or reading the letter of love – God's Word, but when I saw what is hidden from these people and is revealed to us I can say that we are happier than millions of people that don't know the way of truth. Friends, THANK GOD FOR THE TRUTH! PRAISE HIM! EXALT HIM! PREACH HIS GLORY AND SALVATION! SNATCH PEOPLE OUT THE HANDS OF DEVIL!

Then we saw a contrast. We visited seven families of Nepal believers in their homes. I saw peace in their hearts, joy, hope and faith. They told testimonies of how God freed them Buddhism or Hinduism. Those were powerful testimonies of God's strength. In every house we prayed for their needs, for their growth in faith in this demons-ridden world. Again God spoke to me - I saw the difference between pagans and born-again Christians as soon as we entered the yard – cleanly swept ground, neat rooms, different furnishing and bright faces. That's how God purifies His children. Today we had an opportunity to drive through the whole city and I saw piles of garbage, open sewerage and the rivers that cross the city are just streams of guck. The whole sewage system is open and runs just along the houses. Half-dead dogs, sacred cows and thousands of people throng the streets with dusty pollutant-loaded air. Miles of huts and trade lines. It was hard not to forget that these people are the Lords of creation but it is so. Prayers, prayers, prayers!

In the car we praised God, exalted the Creator and rejoiced in His gift of Jesus Christ.

We had several opportunities to witness to the families of believers, to children of Christian mothers about salvation in Christ Jesus because not all follow the Lord and we openly prayed for them to come to know God.

Today was a special day in my spiritual life. I thank you all for praying for us and for spreading the Gospel in Nepal. By now it's night and we send you our thanksgiving and pray together with you for the people of Nepal.

Please pray for Natasha Kazimirova – today she got sick again, she's loosing her voice, has muscle pain and we still have India in front of us. Pray for our spiritual strength and that God would make us capable to witness to Hindus in the old town tomorrow. For taking part in the service – a sermon, Sunday school, a youth and teenagers program, we invited young unbelievers. Pray that they would come to this fellowship. Pray for a wise decision about the trip back to India. About our ministry in India.

Write encouraging notes to our e-mails or leave comments in the blog.

May God bless each one of you.

Mission of Russian in Nepal

Dear friends, brothers and sisters,

I greet you with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We send ardent Christian greetings to you from the mountainous country of Nepal. For decades this country has been an attraction for those who aspire to conquer the highest mountain in the world in The Himalayas – Everest. 25% of this country's population reside in cities and 75% live in highland villages. Young people have to come down from the mountains to finish secondary education because many villages don't have high schools.

Every day brings something new into our lives. Thank you so much for your prayers. It is a special blessing that moves me to tears. I'm very grateful to my family for the love and support, for blessing me to go on this missionary trip.

Today, the 18th of March, began with our breakfast and the time of worshiping the Lord together, sharing testimonies of the previous day, praying and the time in the Word with pastor Urij Nizev, who shared from Ps.23 and meditated on hospitality and and team relationships. In our prayer we asked God for wisdom, guidance and understanding people from another culture.

At 11 am we set out on foot to go to pastor Puran's house where the sisters' seminar was to take place. On the way Alexey and I mused on people blinded by Hinduism or Buddhism and what an advantage we have in Jesus Christ who is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.

Local brothers and sisters were waiting for us at the pastor's house. We had a time of praise together then the sisters' meeting started. I was asked to spend the time with young brothers. Many of them came there to learn play the guitar to glorify the Lord in other churches and lead worship in their home churches.

I had two hours with them during which I asked them numerous questions about the country, young people, preaching the Gospel, their values, their reading the Scripture, their past, their present and future, their dreams. One young brother lives far away in the mountains, he had to spend two days coming down from the mountains and then two more hours on the bus. The reason he is there is to learn to lead the people in his village church in worship. This time gave me a good glimpse of the country. Pastor Puran interpreted for us to Nepalese and we prayed together in the end.

Before a small group in the evening we went to have dinner to the old part of the town and got into a traffic jam – THAT was a real JAM! – narrow streets, vehicles moving in different directions, thousands of motorbikes, cars and trishaws. Many people wear a bandage over their mouth and nose because there are so much exhaust fumes and dust on the roads.

The small group took place in a house of Nepalese believers. Around 20 people gathered – we sang, did «Hands» mime, Natasha shared about her conversion to the Lord and then we prayed for everyone gathered, for the children and the young people. In the end we presented everyone with a Russian souvenir.

That is how the Lord leads us in His ways. Oh, how we should pray for this nation lost in darkness! Thousands and thousands of people have not heard of Jesus Christ. People need the LORD! Jesus said «You are my witnesses to the ends of the earth».

I'm sincerely grateful to my parents who in my young years showed me the way of Truth and Light, I'm so grateful for having a wife and children who know and love God, for the church where the Gospel is preached, for my country where we have freedom, prosperity and thousands of other privileges that we don't even suspect of.

We have more important events in front of us – a church service on Saturday, I was invited to preach.

Pray for the whole team and also:

· for an efficient ministry to the Christians in this country, spiritual encouragement for them

· for the future of the country – just 10 months ago the country was a monarchy, there is hope that now the atmosphere of dictatorship will give way to democracy

· for the needs of the churches – to have buildings and train hundreds and thousands of ministers

· for the pastors that work among their own people and for the missionaries who spread the Gospel

· for our trip from Nepal to India on Saturday

You can read more on our blog spot on the internet indiatenforty.blogspot.com.



May God bless each one of you!

With love, prayers and gratitude,