Russian Missionaries
"...you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
- Acts 1:8
In 2007 we supported three Russian missionaries. One on a short-term
trip to the Black Sea area, one full-time missionary currently working
in a Muslim country, and Ulyana who is training to be a missionary.
This is the story of Ulyana.
The Russian church is small, but strong in
their desire to please God. The Russian Chrtistians I've met are
dedicated to serving the Lord, including taking the gospel message
to other parts of the world.
Reports from Ulyana
are available for:
December 2007
Ulyana is being required to go back to Moscow
to obtain her student visa. A friend in South Africa has donated
the airline tickets, and she will travel to Moscow on Christmas
day.
She is currently living with a friend on
a farm in South Africa.
Ulyana has be helping us by translating emails
for Mission to America. We maintain correspondence with several
people in Russia and at times we need help with translation. She
just finished translating a long letter that discussed knowing God,
and God as the potter and humanity as the clay. It has been a huge
blessing to have her available to translate for us.
Please be praying that she will get her student
visa in Moscow and be able to return to school in South Africa.
November 2007
There have been sufficient pledges of support
to pay for her school expenses. Ulyana says that she will be able
to find ways to get the other things she needs. There is still no
word on her visa. Please be praying that South Africa will give
her a student visa so she can stay and complete her studies.
It is currently summer break in South Africa.
However, the school is working with Ulyana to help her get caught
up on courses she was not able to complete while she was home in
Russia. Regular classes will begin in January.
Thank you for your prayers.
October 2007
Ulyana has arrived at the seminary in Africa
on a three month tourist visa. She has been to the embassy to attempt
to get her visa changed to a student visa allowing her to stay to
complete her studies. However, she is being required to show that
she has sufficient financial resources, or sufficient monthly support,
to pay her expenses. She does not have the financial support needed.
Please be praying that the Lord will bring
Ulyana the financial support she needs to stay in school and finish
the final two years of the four year seminary program.
September 2007
This month Ulyana writes:
The past two months has been for me totally something new, some
problems with my visa also God made the things that were impossible
for me possible.
I am a Russian student going to Africa to finish my studies at
a seminary. The first of all was to get my visa. It was so difficulty.
The embassy has a rule for Russians to get a visa . Each Russian
has to pay for visa, and show they have 2000$ US on deposit. This
thing that they ask from each person.
The most problem was the paperwork. To get for your visa you have
to almost complete 100 papers; your nation, your past, parents,
ect all about you, and it took for me to get everything 4 month.
I am feeling very tired. But I know God wants to me see me complete
my study. I was even thinking not to go but I know God never leave
the things half way, to complete my study left only 2 years. I have
already completed two years.
At the moment I have a three month entry visa. As soon as I will
arrive I need to change my visa for 2 years study permit.
I thought I will never get my visa, because for us Russians and
especially I am student to find 2000$ it’s not an easy. But
one day I got an email from friends she told me, please Ulyana never
give up, so God made miracle and I can see God open the doors.
I prayed a lot and fast one month that God will open the doors
and showing me His will. I said I won't be let You go unless You
won't be Bless me.
I am happy that God is faithfully always and never leave He is
children.
My vision is, after graduation I want to go Muslim countries like
Arabia to reach Muslims for Gospel.
My back round is I was born in Muslim family, but God find me when
I was teenager from this time I am following Him and never leave
Him. I found Him and He testify my heart.
Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for my extending visa
- For my safety and protection in Africa, as you know there are
problemsthere.
- Please pray for my funds from this year the college going up
for our fees.That God will provide me in that.
- To be faithfully to Him always for safety journeys from Russia
to Africa.
Thank you may our God will be with us.
August 2007
I'd like you to meet Ulyana. She plans to
be a missionary in an Islamic country, so we are not using her real
name. This is her story.
Ulyana is from Samara, Russia, a city on
the Volga River in the western part of Russia. She writes:
"I was born into a Muslim family Central Asia. My parents
were lecturers in a technical university; life for me was very good.
I had a healthy family and good, educated parents. It seemed that
life was perfect, but for me, it never was. When I became teenager,
I became depressed. I couldn't understand why I was so down what
was wrong with me-- why I couldn't find anything that satisfied
my heart., This question started to badger me and I became more
and more depressed. Since I grew up in a Muslim family, I knew we
worshiped only Allah, but I didn't even know how to do that. One
day in the darkness I cried out and said, "God, if you really
exist, help me, as I am tired of not finding you. I even don't want
to live because I can't see any purpose to my life. Where can I
go, what can I do? I seek, but don't find anything!".
"After we moved to Samara, I met a guy from the college named
Sasha. He was a Christian. I found him interesting as his life was
very different than mine. One day he came to me and invited me to
visit his church. I told him, "I'm Muslim so I can't go
with you." But he was very persistent, and every time he
saw me he asked again. One day I gave up and said, "Okay, I
will go with you." That same day I accepted the Lord Jesus
as my Savior. From that time I began learning His ways and He started
to teach me. Today I know that He is the only one that can satisfy
my heart."
"Later on Sasha told me that God led him to pray for me. So
he prayed for me for two months and God answered. I became His child.
I am thankfully that Sasha was obedient to God's voice."
"It has been 13 years since my conversion and my desire today
is to serve my Heavenly Father. It has been difficult as my family
rejected me and my faith. For many years I didn't see my parents.
They returned to their home in Central Asia and wanted nothing to
do with me. Today my younger sister is also a believer, and my parents,
although still Muslims, do not refuse to see me anymore. I continue
to pray for their salvation."
"Last year I began a degree in theology. My goal is to become
a missionary to Muslim people, and achieving this degree will allow
me access into the countries that so desperately need to know about
Jesus. I really want to complete my studies. My vision is for Muslim
counties like Saudi Arabia. It has been my heart from the beginning
when I repented and became a Christian. Today I have a big passion
for Muslim people to reach them for the Gospel."
"I will be very happy if in your heart you have any desire
to help this Russian girl who God has called to give His message
of hope to Muslims. I will accept your help as God's blessing."
"I pray that God can open the doors to complete His plan through
me and I want to be only an instrument His hands."
Ulyana
Ulyana must travel outside Russia to attend
seminary. She has two more years of school before she graduates.
We invite you to join us in supporting Ulyana with your prayers,
and if possible financially. We will post her prayer requests on
this page as she sends them to us.
Financial support may be sent to: Mission
to America, P.O. Box 974, Tualatin, OR 97062. Please include your
name and address if you would like to receive a receipt. All donations
are fully tax deductible. Thank you.
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