February 28, 2005

News from Proletarsky

Dear Christian Family and Friends,

            Greetings from our neck of the woods!  It seems as if another month has slipped by almost unnoticed.  That snow we were telling you about last month has turned to slush.  Temperatures hovering around the freezing point and ground conditions alternating between slush and ice intensify the anticipation for spring.  In spite of an uncooperative ground hog, we hope spring will soon arrive for all of you as well. 

“…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.”                                                                                                                          Matt.  25:40 (NIV)

            This month’s biggest news comes not from Donetsk, but from Cordova, TN, where the Woodland Hills congregation has collected and sent more than 1,000 pounds of clothing and medicine for the benefit of children’s homes, hospitals and other needy individuals.  We are constantly awed at the response of the church when made aware of needs!

Children’s Home
            We continue to comb the city of Donetsk (and another city as well) looking for a building for the proposed children’s home.  While there are a couple of possibilities, the search continues.  Please remember this effort in your prayers!

 Prison Ministry
           Recently, our congregation received letters from a couple of inmates who are interested in Bible studies.  We are planning to ask a couple of our young men to begin corresponding with these who are searching for God in their lives.

 Christina Report:
            Christina continues to show slow but steady improvement.  Lynn shares mothering duties with Christina’s mother, Tanya, preparing and delivering meals to Christina in the TB hospital.  If some of you would like to drop a note to Christina, please send it to the following address and we will happily forward it to her.   

 Opportunities
             Insulin – the church in Donetsk offers insulin to needy diabetics.  Currently the supplies are critically low.

            2 computers (or computer components) for Victor and Sasha (2 young men with cerebral  Palsy).  Victor writes with a pen in his teeth.  His teeth have begun breaking away from so much writing.

            The church in Shaktersk is in the process of buying a building to meet in.  It is an abandoned kindergarden building and could be an excellent tool for the church to use and to reach out to the community.  The building in being offered to them for only $7,000; however this congregation is small and additional funds are needed. 

 "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.  The Lord be with you all.  II Thessalonians 3:16

                                                                       Ray and Lynn