The latest e-mail from Tracy
November 2010
Newsletter
Hello Everyone,
“He who calls you is faithful, He will surely do it.” 1 Thess 5:24.
This verse has broad applications in the life of the believer as we
think about the sanctifying work that God is doing in each of us. Zhenya and I both included this verse at the end of our
wedding vows to one another. We know that God is the faithful One who will
accomplish His work in us and through us. We stand upon this truth as we share
what our faithful God is doing here in
Thank you to all of you who were praying for our wedding and sent cards, gifts and emails. Our day was blessed by the Lord and we are so thankful that we could celebrate here with our parents and the Bishkek church family. It was the first Christian wedding that most people attending had ever seen. We pray that our lives of service together here would be an example of God’s love and grace. If you are not on facebook and would like to see photos, please contact me. I will give you a link to the book that my dad put together of their trip which you can view online.
Christmas is coming up quickly and we are so pleased that locals are taking initiative this year to plan the celebration for the church body and to reach out to the lost. Pray for us as we plan music, a play and activities for the children. We as a church are creating Christmas gift shoe boxes (in the style of Operation Christmas Child). Families are “adopting” a child from the Krashnaya Rechka orphanage and getting a gift together for them. It’s so nice to see the church body reaching out to the orphans in this way.
There are many Bible studies throughout the week. I continue to lead a Saturday women’s study through 2 Samuel. Slowly, the ladies are feeling more comfortable with the inductive Bible study method and taking turns leading. Our overall prayer for the church is that we would be people of the Word who would desire to read it, study it, understand it and apply it. Zhenya actively participates in the youth group and mentors many of the teenagers who attend our church. Pray for God to give Zhenya wisdom in discipling them and for the boys give their hearts totally to Christ. Many struggle with worldly temptations.
Both Zhenya and I have taken a break from Kyrgyz language lessons. Pray for us to discern whether to continue with our old teacher, or try a new method or teacher in order to reach fluency. We both have a desire to continue growing in our language skills.
An overall prayer request for our church is that people would grow in faith. Many people are hearing the Word and surprised by what it says but are not believing it to the extent of applying it to their daily lives. Some are in sin, some are in depression and some are just stagnate. Please pray that people would not only know Jesus and His Word, but that they would believe Him and walk in Him, obediently.
Praises and Petitions:
1) Wedding: Praise God for bringing Zhenya and I together. Pray that Jesus would continue to unite our hearts and be glorified in and through us.
2) Christmas: Praise God for all the locals who are organizing and participating. Pray that we would grow as a church body through this time of preparation and that God would save non-believers that come to celebrate Jesus’ birth with us.
3) Bible studies: Praise God for the many Bible studies throughout the week. Pray that people would read the Word on their own and apply it to their lives. Pray for those are teaching the studies. Pray for Zhenya discipling the youth and their full surrender to Christ.
4) Kyrgyz: Praise God that Zhenya and I have a foundation in the language and options for continuing our studies. Pray that God would show us how to continue studying and help us to attain fluency in order to share the gospel in Kyrgyz and fellowship with Kyrgyz believers.
5) Spiritual growth: Praise God that He is working in our church body and adding new people all the time. Pray that our church would be growing in faith in Jesus Christ and walking in accordance to what the Word says.
Thank you again for your prayers and support. Feel free to write us
personally if you have any questions or comments for us. May you take comfort
and strength in God’s faithfulness and His sanctifying work in and through you. In Jesus, Zhenya and Tracy
Here is the link to the
book: http://www.blurb.com/books/1728479