Dear Prayer Partners:

The darkness of Ukrainian villages has been very apparent recently as we have seen Satanic opposition to the medical ministry.  In organizing a medical team, we have had several participants drop out and various difficulties. Usually we go to Kharkov for the second week of a team, but that did not work out for this trip. So I had the opportunity to plan clinics in several villages in the Odessa area who have been requesting help for a long time, but I had not had time to visit. However, two needy villages Lonya and I approached about a clinic were not able to work out the logistics. So just this week I finally got the last day of clinics planned.  But I am excited about taking the ophthalmologist with his free eyeglasses to Krasnoznamenka, Builik and Ilinka! Dr. James Oakman is returning for his 5th trip to Ukraine, praise the Lord! We will serve in 11 different villages in the next 2 weeks. The team arrives in Odessa Friday.  Please pray for our ministry, that God would give each of us wisdom in medical care, that we would show Christ's compassion to every patient, that this team would be the Light of Jesus in a dark sinful world. Pray that the Lord would open the hearts of some patients to salvation, and that the pastors and church leaders in each village would have great opportunities to meet with new contacts to lead them to eternal life.   "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor 4:6).

We saw that light shining at the baptisms in Krasnosyolka and Kubanka Sept 12. Vika had been touched by the testimony of one of our elderly members, the clinic ministry, and our youth group handing out Easter invitations. What a joy when she publicly professed faith in Jesus last spring!  Her husband is not a believer and reluctantly gave his permission for her baptism.  He was very worried she would get sick from getting baptized in the Black Sea. He did come to the service.  He got a cold a few days later, but she didn't, praise the Lord!  A great personal blessing to me was the baptism of Nadya in Kubanka, who came to a clinic first about 10 years ago. Initially she expressed interest in the gospel and attended some Bible studies.  Then she lost a leg to diabetes a few years ago and turned away from God. About 2 years ago, she sent word for me to come see her.  She had some medical questions and I was also able to talk to her about her spiritual need.  She was saved a year ago, has been involved in regular Bible studies, is hosting a Sunday afternoon service in her home, and evidences new life! Because she is an amputee, she was not comfortable in being baptized in the sea. But Lonya took a bathtub to her house, filled it with warm water, and immersed her with joy! Pray for their growth in faith.  Several new ladies from the clinic are attending the services in Kubanka. Pray for their salvation.

Thank you for praying for Angela.  A few weeks ago, I visited her at home. Usually her mother constantly interrupts any conversation I try to have with Angela.  This time, she was quiet, and Angela and her sister Taya listened intently to God's story of redemption. God is at work in their lives!  Angela and Taya are very close to accepting Christ. I hope to visit them again next week. Please continue to intercede for them.

At the last clinic in Kubanka, we were urgently called to visit Petya at his home.  Just 3 months ago, he had one leg amputated. Now his other leg was black with gangrene from knee to toe. He said he was going to hang himself. His wife had died, and he had no children or relatives. Lonya and I talked to him and his neighbor and offered our help. He finally agreed to go to the hospital. The ambulance had no money for gas, so Lonya and I drove him the next day and prayed with him on the road.  Amazingly, he survived the 2nd amputation. We visited him several times, bought medicines for him, took some donated medical supplies from the US to the hospital in payment for his surgery. Lonya has developed a good relationship with him, and Petya is reading the New Testament.  We visited him at home last Sunday, and he had lots of good questions, and begged us to come back!  Pray for his salvation and for the salvation of Nadya, the neighbor who is caring for him.

There is so much more I could tell you! But I'm still in the midst of preparation for the medical team so must stop for now.  Your prayers are greatly needed so that the Light of Christ can pierce the darkness of sin here!

Leaning on The Rock,

Miriam

John 8:12