|
Comforting Those Who Mourn
Report C
September 19, 2006
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you... 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18 & 20, NASB)
May we, as Christians remember what they did to our Lord, lest we should ever begin to expect 'better treatment.' They will treat us like they treated Jesus. This is something that The Lord has been fixing my attention on, and hope to write more about later. Christian, be thankful for the rights you are blessed with, but do not ever begin to think you 'deserve' them. In fact, Jesus said quite the opposite regarding the last times. Reading The Gospels, one cannot get around the truth of what Jesus said: everybody is going to hate us because of His Name. This in one promise of God that we too often (and perhaps very willfully) overlook; but it is just a true a promise as His promise to forgive your sins. I'm not saying we are to act stupid, and then cry, 'See! They're persecuting me because i'm a Christian!' (They may just be persecuting you 'cos you did something stupid.) i just want each of us to remember what Jesus promised us. And be that as it may, would any of us choose to gain earthly acceptance and give up our eternal inheritance? May it never be! Realize that persecutions are coming, but Greater Is He Who Is in you than he who is in the world! (1 John 4:4)
i thank and bless The Lord for all His faithfulness in what He's doing here, and i thank all of you who continue to pray and support this service. The CD that's been mentioned about in these reports is one which God blessed me to finish before returning to
r e a l l y slow, and i haven't yet had one go through successfully.) These reports hopefully give you more insight into what's going on here... though they obviously are snippets. Too much to write about!
Monday, 9/11/06 – Vitalik (a young brother in the church here)and i went to Vladikavkaz. Coming back to Bsln, we hung out for awhile at the church's building. We had tea and coffee, and ate some as we talked. God blessed me with the opportunity to tell him of what a great field of ministry they have here. Lord, please raise up more laborers from Bsln – to Bsln. Went and taught English to Madina. (Her family, the Tsabolov's, lost their 10-year-old boy, Marat, in the school massacre.) While eating with Madina and Zalina (her mom), Zalina told me how she watched a special last night on September 11th, and it was very hard for her to watch. i taught Madina, and she did well. I went and visited the Nogayeva family, bringing them my CD and some other small gifts. (Taisya and her 4 daughters were all in that terrible gym; all lived except the second oldest girl.) We talked some, and i had tea and ate some with Taisya and some of the girls. Taisya told me how she and the girls also watched the feature on 9/11. i came back to the church's building for the hour of Bible reading (in Russian). It was God and me today... may He bring who He desires to bring.
Tuesday, 9/12/06 – Saw Kazbek, and we talked some. He lost his younger son, Khasan, in the nightmarish bloodshed that took place 2 years ago. He told me that Khasan did better in school than Zaur does. (It's got to be hard for Zaur, as i know he's heard at least once things to the effect of, 'your brother who died did better than you do.' i know his parents love him very much, but i myself have been present on at least one occasion when such a sentiment was expressed.) i went to try and visit the Botolayev family; three family members were in the school during the tragedy – the mom (Fatima), the son (Edward '90), and the daughter (Elvira '91). Sadly, only Edward survived. God blessed me to visit with the grandma (Seena), but it was a very hard visit – she explained to me that she doesn't understand Russian. It was frustrating, but Jesus helped me to be able to speak to her a little in Ossetian. I told her i wanted to give them some gifts, and gave my CD, chocolates, and some other things. She invited me inside the gate to sit with her for a little. I explained that many people in the
I walked through the old school's gym, and saw Zaur and some friends outside. (Zaur lost his younger/only brother in the tragedy – 14 year old Khasan.) Zaur and i talked for a little, and he likes my disc and Lecrae's “Real Talk.” After heading away, he called back out to me, wanting to make sure no one was messing with me. I said no, and he reminded me to call him if i ever have trouble. I took out my cell phone, which he and friends got back for me after a young guy stole it last year, and said i remembered how he'd helped me before. I thanked him, and he told me to stop by and visit. i went and visited the Mokrov family. The father, Vladimir, was in the school with his youngest son, Stanislav ('94);
I then went and visited with Zarina's other babushka, and God also blessed me to have a good opportunity and visit there. (Little Zarina survived the massacre, but lost her younger sister in it.) The Lord enabled me to testify of His justice, and how Jesus loves them and their people... she told me that she has strong faith. She also shared a lot about how much the massacre has affected them. She lost her younger granddaughter, Zalina, in the tragedy – Zalina was found without a head, and so forth. Babushka told me what an amazing girl young Zalina had been, and before i left, said – 'See, our girl,' and showed me what is basically a shrine to the little girl that they've set up in their living room. I told her to call me if i could help in any way. Much more was said during that visit, but i can't recall all, and i'm getting very tired. All glory be to you, Jesus! Father glorify Your Son, Jesus, and keep and make me more humble! O Lord, how i thank and bless Your Name for all You accomplished today. I attribute all success to You, and acknowledge all failure as being my own. Forgive me where i failed and or sinned, and see my heart to follow You no matter what the cost. I love You, Jesus, my Lord.
Wednesday, 9/13/06 – Went to the
Thursday, 9/14/06 – Went and visited Khetag (whose younger/only brother died in the school massacre) in the Infection Clinic – had a good visit with him and Alla (his mom). The Lord blessed me with opportunities to speak of Jesus being Able to change hearts, The Scriptures, explain about the JWs, and pray for Khetag. Glory be to Yah, it was a time greatly blessed by God. After that, i went and taught Madina (Tsabolova) English.
Friday, 9.15.06 – A nightmarish sort of day... had to go to Vladikavkaz 'cos of a problem with my registration here. It's still unresolved, so please keep this in prayer. It's a long story, but in short, the building where I'm at is officially owned by a ministry in a far off city – but to be registered with the government, one has to show the official proof that they own the property and agree for the guest to stay there. So i'm looking for an apartment at the present time; pray for God's favor, and a good/quick find.
Saturday, 9.16.06 – Azam (a teenage boy who survived the school massacre) and his friend Taimuraz stopped by and we hung out some. Gave them my schedule and CD. The lady came to collect for September's gas bill; when she found out my name was Alan as well, she really seemed to think that was quite amazing and that perhaps i'm meant to be here or something along those lines. Perhaps so... that is really interesting to me as well. (Though Bsln is located in
Sunday, 9.17.06 – We had our church fellowship today; Yah blessed me to give my CD to Vadim and Madina (two young adults who sometime attend the meetings). After service, i taught guitar to Madina. She already purchased a guitar and is taking lessons, and doing well for an early beginner! Atsa and Azam stopped by, and we hung out a bit. Atsa (in 10th grade) survived the massacre, but lost a younger sister there. Azam (11th grade) also was in the school during the terrorist attack. YHWH blessed me to give both of them copies of my CD, and my schedule to Atsa. And by God's grace, i later went and visited Marina (a woman who lost her only child in the school massacre) and her new family. She is now 'married' to Alan, who lost his wife in the terrorist attack (it's a sort of 'common law' marriage... not a legal one – such 'marriages' are quite common here). The Lord blessed us to have a nice visit, and it's so sad to know about much of the pain that these two families have gone through. As mentioned above,
Please pray for:
· God to exalt His Son, Jesus, in everything that's done here;
· Jesus to continually comfort and give peace to the families you've read about above;
· The Lord's help in getting my registration finished and out of the way;
· More laborers, for here and everywhere.
May The Lord lead you in His paths today, and show Himself to us as He really is... not simply as we believe Him to be. Thank you once again for your love, prayers, and support which are touching so many lives here. And here's a plug for the CD that i've been listening to over and over again – if you like rap, you really should go out and pick up “After The Music Stops,” by Lecrae. The lyrics are so awesome and focused on Jesus, and the music is rad, too. It's a very encouraging CD and is just really, really good, as is his “Real Talk” CD. Don't like rap? That's okay – think of a young person you know who does, and pick it up for them. It's evangelistic for the unsaved, and exhorting for those already in the family. Praise God for saints like Lecrae and you who keep reaching out to our people there in
Reminding you that He's still got the whole world in His hands,
jason
jalazone7@yahoo.com
His lovingkindness is to everlasting...
Psalm 136
|
|
|
