Whitman's Prayer Updates

Dear Friends,

Almat, one of the kids who was at our camp “Butterfly” for disabled kids last year is now in St Petersburg recovering from an operation to straighten his legs. Although he has not been able to come to church, he always keeps in touch. He and his mother plan to return to Krasnoyarsk on the train, even though Almat will be in a plaster cast from the waist down! Please pray for them, I think they are going to need it!

Preparations are in progress for this year's “Butterfly”, which starts on the 17th of June. The workers are beginning to come together and several families are interested in sending their kids. Last year “Child Evangelism Fellowship” helped us out financially, this year we are raising the money ourselves, and so far we only have about a quarter of what we need. Please pray for the camp and for our financial needs – if you would like to help follow the link to find out how.

Edik deserves a mention here for his heroic performance at the regional violin competition. Our kids had all had a stomach flu, which only lasted for a couple of days, but meant they couldn't keep any food down, Of course Edik succumbed on the morning of the competition. He had been practicing all year, so we decided he would go any way. His teacher was delighted with his performance, he even placed fourth amongst the mainly older kids. It was a good lesson for him about overcoming difficulties.

Thanks for remembering us before Him,

Dave and Luda.

P.S. Here's the video from last years “Butterfly”. VIDEO

Dear friends,

Happy Easter!

Russia celebrates a week later than the West, so we are still gearing up.

Before celebrating on Sunday we will be showing the Jesus film, on Saturday. We hope to have a few people to start an evangelistic group a week later. Please pray for our easter outreach and for the group.

Babushka (grandmother) Shura, is over 80, she was born in a Christian family in the Ukraine. She has lived through famine and persecution, outlasted both her son and her husband. Now she lives in an old peoples home in Krasnoyarsk and wants to get baptised! Please pray for her as she prepares.

I asked you to pray for Aldar a three month old from Tuva. He has just left Krasnoyarsk after a follow up visit. The doctors are very happy with his progress and don't expect to see him back again! His name translates as “Glory”, his father gave it to him when he survived the first few days against all odds. Please pray that he and his family would continue to glorify God.

Thanks for remembering us before Him,

Dave and Luda Whitman

Dear friends

I was recently asked to help take responsibility for some of the pastors in the central area of Krasnoyarsk. These churches are mostly in the city, but some are up to 80 miles away. In that role I was privilaged to visit a church in the city that started after the Jesus film campaign in 2005. I was there for the baptism of their 28th member and for the ordination of their first Deacon. Please pray for the Pastor, Valera and the new Deacon, Zhenya.

Peter put on 8 pounds during his first two months, more than any of our previous children have managed. He has been blessed with excellent health, which is why were especially glad to help Aldar, a little boy from Tuva (a republic in the south of Krasnoyarsk territory, bordering with China). He was sent to Krasnoyarsk because of blockages in his esophagus, which make it impossible for him to eat. In his short life he has already had four operations, the last two in Krasnoyarsk. His Grandmother is a Christian and stayed with a family from our church. Luda was able give them some of her milk, because his mother did not have enough. Aldar is doing much better now and has been allowed to go home. Please pray for his health and for his parents that they would trust God.

This weekend (16-17^th) we are going for a day away with the men from the church. Please pray that we would have a productive time together.

Thanks for remembering us before Him,

Dave and Luda.

The kids camp still needs to raise some money to fully pay for the camp they just held (see earlier post)

You Know you're celebrating Christmas in Russia when (thanks Chris):

...you still have to go to work, because most of the country isn’t celebrating Christmas until January 7!

... if you don’t celebrate it well enough, you get a “Take 2″ (see above)

…you have no presents to open because Russians give gifts on New Years, not Christmas.

…the price of tomatoes and cucumbers climbs to higher than meat!

…there's no sign of rudolph, but his relatives are found "in part" at the market and on some people's boots!

…there's no fireplaces for santa to come down, just a garbage chute.

The winter children's camp in Krasnoyarsk is aimed at teenagers, a particularly important group for churches. It caters for sixty kids, many of them from children's homes and other socially needy situations.

The It will take place at the beginning of January. They need another 1000 pounds to help subsidize needy families and to cover the various costs of the camp. Those parents who are able, pay the full cost for their children.

You can give through Stewardship services: http://www.stewardship.org.uk/give-funds/give-funds

my account is Number 20110478. Please drop me an e-mail (or leave a comment) if you do decide to give so that I know to pass the money on.

Thanks.

Here are some pictures from last years camp:

(download)

Click here to download:

winter-camp-appeal-GzfaeBjtsuEqgkpxwEdw.zip (147 KB)

In theory we had almost two weeks left until our baby would be born. 

to see the maternity hospital from our windows!

Both Luda and the baby are well.

Vital statistics: 

weight: 4050 grams, length: 55cm.

Thanks for remembering us before Him,

Dave and Luda.

Dear friends,

Last week I received an interesting text message, “Hello! I am very glad to communicate with you. I want to believed in God. But I don't know how to do. I am a Chinese. Can you help me?”. After a few more messages we agreed to meet at the local food court and talk, although I had a name I did not know if I was meeting a guy or a girl! It turned out that this student (a guy) had received an invitation to our church whilst sitting on a bench outside the university, at the time he had not wanted to talk, but afterwards he realised he needed to know about God. Please pray that he would come to Christ and that I would be able to get him a Chinese Bible.

Almat's operation went well and he is working hard in physiotherapy. His legs should be less spastic now, which will make it easier for him to walk – at the least we will get kicked in the ankles less when helping him! We are preparing a camp reunion on December 10^th, which will also be an opportunity to meet the parents of the kids who were with us in the Summer. We are also planning a Christmas event for disabled kids after New Years. Please pray for these events.

Please pray for the church in Kazakhstan and for Luda's Mother in particular. A new law has recently come into force requiring all churches to re-register. One of the new, stricter conditions for registration, is that the church must have 50 or more members, many assemblies in smaller towns have less, including the one that Luda's Mum is part of. At the moment they plan to continue meeting in the hopes that the law will not be strictly enforced.

Here is a summary of the prayer points:

+ Please pray for the Chinese student I shared the Gospel with, that he would come to Christ.

+ Continue to pray for Almat's rehabilitation, and for the camp reunion on December 10^th.

+ Pray for the Church in Kazakhstan faced with oppressive new laws.

Thank you for remembering us before Him,

Dave and Luda

Dear Friends,

This week we finally got around to seeing a doctor and having an ultrasound
scan, so now I can officially announce that we are expecting a little boy on
the 27th of December. Everyone is pleased, although some thought it was
about time we had a girl again!

Almat one of the kids who came to our summer camp for kids with disabilities
has been coming to church for the last few weeks. Almat already knew some of
us from the camp and he has no problem communicating so he has fit right in.
At the moment he is in St. Petersburg recovering from an operation on his
spinal cord, hopefully it will help his walking. Please pray for him.

Our class for those wishing to join the church has got off to a good start,
we have about fifteen people attending (although they have never all been
there at one time!). Please pray for them to be firmly grounded in the
faith.

Here is a summary of the prayer points:

Please pray for our little boy due on the 27th of December.

Pray for Almat (one of the kids from our summer camp) recovering from an
operation on his spinal cord.

Pray for our class for those wanting to join the church, that they would be
well grounded in the faith.

Thanks for remembering us before Him,

Dave and Luda
www.whitman.ru