Ronald E and Wilma Priest

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

March 13, 2009

Dear Family and Friends:

Well the calendar says Spring arrived in Russia last week. But just yesterday we got hit with another pile of snow - about ten inches. So no daffidols showing here yet!

We trust this finds each of you well. Let us share with you a few highlights from ministry since our February letter.

Faith Promise- A few weeks ago we had our church had Faith Promise sunday. The pledges have all been received and we want to report that our people responded well and are grasping the importance of supporting missions. Last year our Faith Promise was 57,000 Rubles ($2300 at the time) but we received 75,000 Rubles ($2,700) For 2009 our people have pledged 95,000 Rubles which at the current exchange is about ($2,800). We Praise the Lord for His working in the hearts of our folk and for their sensitivity to His voice.

However, there is one concern we want to share with you. After the final count was in and we received the news at a board meeting, the Pastor was so excited and presented a plan for how to use some of the money for an internal project for the local church. I (Ron) was rather shocked by this and shared my disappontment and concern that if the church started using Faith Promise mission funds for purposes other than missions, that people would not continue to give to missions. Please pray that the pastor will not follow through with his plan.

February special events:

February 6 Wilma hosted a women's card stamping outreach. There were ten ladies that attended, three of which were non believers that had never attended an event before Wilma prepared a great supper, and the evening was a special time of felowship.

February 13 Wilma hosted another card stamping event for our Chinese students, in preparation for a community service trip to a local TB Orphanage. Ten of our students participated and they made fifty Valentine cards.

February 14 We had a special Valentine's Banquet for Russian Couples from our Church. We tried to especially emphasize getting mates who are not believers and don't attend church, to come. We had six couples, with one husband and one wife who are not believer's attending. We thank the Lord for this special breakthrough, as we have been praying for almost a year for these two mates. Wilma prepared a wonderful banquet, Ron shared a devotional, and a very special treat was the music...... Two of our Chinese students, Ye Qian, and Chi Chun, provided us with dinner music, with singing and playing the piano. The Russian guests were so amazed at their talent and how they are growing in Christ. It was a great evening of fellowship, sharing God's love , and integrating the Chinese students into the life of the church.

February 15, along with eight of our Chinese students, we travelled twenty miles outside the city to a TB Orphanage where the students held a Mini Concert and presented the children with Valentine Cards and chocolates. While the children also enjoyed the singing and playing, the teacher's kept asking if the students knew certain composer's music and asked them to play or sing it. A ten minute Mini Concert turned into almost an hour!

We were so proud of the students as they participated heartily and lovingly interacted with the children.

The Hearing Impaired ministry rejoices in another convert a couple of weeks ago. Pray for Sasha as he begins his walk with Christ. The next week after he accepted Christ he brought four of his unsaved friends to church!

The Church continues to have visitors each sunday for which we Praise the Lord. We are running consistantly in the mid 60s for morning worship and two weeks ago we had seventy five in attendance, which is the largest attendance we have had other than a Chirstmas or Easter service. Five people had to stand the entire service because we are only allowed to have seventy chairs in the room. We continue to ask the Lord for another meeting place so that we do not loose our momentum in attendance.

We are nearing the end of our New Converts Study with the Chinese students. We are planning a baptism in April.

March 18-30 we will be out of contry for a new visa. We will be getting it in New York City this time. Since we are doing it there, we are taking a few days vacation and driving to Ohio to see Jenna and David. David has been ill of late. Also, we will be in Nyack a couple of days to help Ye Qian go through the interview/ application process. She is sensing that the Lord wants her to get some Christian education in the area of Christian Music/Communications, so we are suggesting she attend Nyack.

You would love Bagdan.! Five weeks ago Wilma got a text message late at night from one of our hearing impaired Christians. She was asking if we would help a non Christian girl who was having lots of troubles. The next morning we made a trip to the public dormitory where she lives, and found a thirteen month old little boy standing in a crib crying while his care giver- a 23 year old guy - was lying on a bed with huge earphones on, listening to music. Bagdan's mother took him there after her mother told her that she could no longer keep Bagdan with her in the one room apartment with her and her brother. Anna stays there but Bagdan is not allowed. Her boyfriend walked out and her family disowned her after she refused to have an abortion. She has no family that cares anything about her, except a sister who lives in New York City. Anna is eighteen and trying to make a go of it. But, she needed some help temporarily while she found some place suitable for her and Bagdan. SO... he has been with us for five weeks. His emotional condition was not good when we got him. But he has come a long way. His mom comes every other day for a short visit before she goes to work. This saturday Anna is taking him to a new caregiver. Anna still cannot be with Bagdan in this new place. Pray the situation will be adequate and that Bagdan will receive proper care. By the way, in Uzbeki language his name means "God gave".

Bagdan has definitely won the hearts of our Chinse students.He has become the mascot of the group. On Mondays when we meet for group he is a popular guy for sure. The students are praying about how they can assist Anna in caring for Bagdan. They want to set up a schedule so that they can go play with him when he leaves us.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Our up-coming visa trip

Ye Qian, as she prepares to take her Tofel test ( an English language equivalency test she must pass to pursue higher education in the states) She will take it on May 31.

A larger meeting place for our church

The Chinese students as we prepare for Baptism

Bagdan and Anna for her to find a sutable apartment in which she and Bagdan can live and for a good caregiver. Also , pray for Anna's salvation.

Our son- in law, David, who last week had a biopsy done on his small intestine, following a period of illness. Dr.s are trying to determine the cause of pain and other symptoms. Pray for healing.

We have to be out of our apartment by May 6 as the landlord wants it back. Pray as we sell some things, pack to store, and pack to return on May 7 for a 6 month Home Assignement.

Everyday we are much aware that we can touch the lives of people here because people give faithfully to support the work of the C&MA. We really appreciate your sacrifical givng, especially in these challenging economic days.

In His glad service,
Ron and Wilma


Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
7 831 461 35 20

Please send all gifts for "Priest Outfit" and
"Priest Work Special" clearly marked to:

The CMA
PO Box 35000
Colrado Spriongs, CO 80935-3500

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Praises:

A goof Faith Prmise response from our Church family

Fruitful ministry in February.

7 Chinese students who are preparing for Baptism.

We are trusting the Lord for:

Another successful visa trip MArch 18-30

A new meeting place for the church

Wisdom and strength as we pack up and head for Home Assignment on May 7

Russia

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