Beslan Mission Trip 2005, Calvary Chapel Pittsburgh

Comforting Those Who Mourn

Update from

Russia

, 11. July 16, 2007

If you’re in Christ, you are a new creature!

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

7/9/07, Monday: Vitalik, one of my Christian friends here, stopped over and we talked about Scripture and things. (Vitalik and his older brother, Vova, are new believers, and they have real interest in the things of The Lord and what His Word teaches.) …Many of you know of a teenage girl named Madina from reading these reports – she’s the one who lost her ten year old brother, Marat, in the terrorist attack; I’m very close to their family, and visit them regularly. Had her brother, Marat, not been killed in the Bsln massacre, he would have turned 13 today. Needless to say, this was an especially tough day for Madina and her family.

7/10/07, Tuesday: One of the local pastors, Aslan, dropped by in the evening, and he asked about the possibility of getting Christian materials in English to help their congregation to learn. He/they are most interested in: The Bible read in English (CD or mp3 format), standard Christian hymns and contemporary church songs, Christian children’s songs, and so forth. I told him i/we would be happy to try and help, and so I ask you to pray and think about participating in this if The Lord places this project on your heart. If any of you are interested in sharing in this effort, please let me know. I’m not trying to dodge responsibility, put there’s already a zillion things needing done here and so I ask for your help to spearhead this! I would just ask you to pray, and see what The Lord might have you do if He so leads you to participate. In particular, here is what I think would greatly benefit Pastor Aslan and his fellowship – and I think most of these things can be ordered over the internet, CD or mp3 formats being most recommended: *The NASB Bible, read by E.W. Jeffries; *Teachings from Chuck Smith (particularly on 1 John, John, etc.); *Standard Christian hymns; *Contemporary church songs; *Christian children’s songs. And of course, I’m open to your ideas and thoughts, so please feel free to write with your comments or suggestions. (Please keep in mind that the culture here is quite conservative; though I myself love heavy Christian music, such styles would probably not be very smart to send here. And, though this should go without saying, the last thing this region needs is more false teaching… there’s already more than enough here. Anything by Benny Hinn, the PTL posse or the like, will be properly disposed of in the trash.) If The Lord does move your heart to want to send something, please let me know before purchasing anything so that no one buys the same thing twice and so forth. I can give you Aslan’s address, and then you can send all items straight to him.

7/11/07, Wednesday: Had a good visit with Madina and her family. Again realized how popular music videos are with the youth here, and am hoping The Lord might use us to help introduce good videos to Bsln. You would be amazed to know that the trashy videos you can watch there in the

are being watched by many here as well. Perhaps we could secure rights to legally copy contemporary Christian videos and distribute them here? Also thought about trying to put together a music video for one of the new songs The Lord blessed me to write about Bsln. May The Lord build as He sees fit. …Later went and visited with a grandma who lost one of her young granddaughters in the school massacre. She told me how her other granddaughter, who survived the attack, has changed so much since that nightmare: she (Zarina) has become much more isolated, and thinks so often about her younger sister who was killed. …Zarina has no other siblings.

7/12/07, Thursday: Had English and guitar classes. One of the little girls who studies English with me managed to memorize John 3:16 in our language, and so she received the promised reward: ice cream!

7/13/07, Friday: Went and visited Mairbek and his family; gave them a CD-ROM with translated letters and photos on it from Peggy, one of the believers in the

who shares in this ministry. I also gave a ‘More than a Carpenter’ book in Russian for Kristina, Mairbek’s aunt who’s in university now. While there, I saw how much Mairbek wanted to spend time with me... I really feel bad for him – his mom was killed in the terrorist attack, and his dad rarely seems to be around.

7/14/07, Saturday: Had the first English lesson for a new group in the nearby city of Vladikvkz – a group of believers from Taimuraz’s fellowship who want to study English. (Pastor Taimuraz is the father who lost four of his five children in the school massacre.) The lesson went well, and Lord willing we’ll be going over Psalm 23 in our next lesson. …Afterwards, went and visited a grandmother (Taiya) that I know who lives nearby. Taiya lost her daughter in the terrorist attack, leaving behind two young children (Tamik and Toma). The Lord blessed me to have a really nice visit with Taiya, who shared a lot of things on her heart. She shared how it’s hard living alone – and she realizes that more and more as time passes, and she’s without her daughter who was killed in the attack. Taiya’s worried about her grandchildren… their dad, Valerik, is often not home, and so Tamik and Toma rarely see their dad – they’re mostly with their grandfather (Valerik’s dad). Taiya doesn’t see the kids very much either. God opened up some opportunities to share about The Lord, and she told me that she has a Bible and reads it when she’s feeling down, and it helps her. She showed me some family pictures, and I spent several hours there.

Please pray for:

* YHWH to provide good English materials for Pastor Aslan and his fellowship;

* Vova, for The Lord to give him wisdom, strength, and encouragement;

* Young Zarina, who lost her younger sister in the attack and has since become more isolated;

* The Lord’s blessing on, and guidance for, the English lessons;

* Those translating The Bible into the Ossetian language, that Jesus would grant them love, wisdom, and unity as they labor in this very important ministry;

* Artur, who is a drug addict and needs to turn to Jesus and be set free;

* God’s help and blessing on the new music CD I started working on this Sunday, that He would raise it up for His glory and use it to draw many to His Son… with His help, I hope to complete it before September.

All the glory be to The Lord our God - Rich in mercy, and Mighty to save! Thank you so much, all of you who pray for and support this ministry: realize that this update details the people and lives whom you are touching with the love of God!

Jesus makes all things new,

jason, jalazone7@yahoo.com

You’re a new creature if you’re in Christ!

(2 Corinthians 5:17)