Ministry in Kazakhstan

Many of you may know that my family on my mother's side originally came to the United States as refugees from Stalin's Kazakhstan. Of course then, it was part of the Soviet Union. They struggled through many obstacles to reach the United States; and with a sponsor, a job, and knowing the language, they entered into this great country in the early 1950's. They, as many of us who were born here, have felt blessed to be here.

I owe a great deal to my grandparents. They instilled in me values and respect, but most importantly, introduced me to who Jesus is. Little did my babushka (grandma) know that the seed that she planted in me would later grow, be harvested, and then help spread the Gospel just as she still does to this day.

With all of this said, our church helps support missionaries in Kazakhstan who have recently invited me on a missions trip to Astana, Kazakhstan in October of this year. What a wonderful opportunity! I will not only get to see the land that my grandparents came from, but even better, I will be able to spread the seeds of faith back to the lands from which they came.

This trip is being arranged by the International Missions Board through Bob Hartman International Ministries. This particular mission trip is being designed to expose pastors and church leaders to the possibilities of being on mission in Kazakhstan. During the trip, I will...

• Prayerwalk strategic locations across the city of Astana (the facts about Astana: almost 1 million people - only 1 Baptist church).
• Be given the opportunity to preach in a local Baptist church in Astana or in a church in another city or rural village.
• Discover how we could develop a one on one prayer partnership with the pastor and local church where I will preach.
• Meet with unchurched nationals who speak "some" English and interact with them and share your testimony with them as God allows.
• Sow Gospel seed with SlipDiscs (frisbees) that have the gospel printed on the bottom in two local languages in local parks and near campuses. Learning to throw a frisbee is still very much a novelty in Kazakhstan and we can easily engage locals in wanting to learn how. We will give them the SlipDisc as a free gift. This will give access to the gospel to all who live in their home!
• Experience what it's like to be a missionary arriving in a new place without any language skills and limited cultural knowledge. One afternoon, our group will shop and purchase items at the bazaar - on our own - and then come back and fix a meal - all from scratch!
• View the wonderful beauty of the Kazakh Steppe (the flat, grassy, semiarid plains of central Kazakhstan) and the modern new capital city of Astana.

To be able to do all of this, I need your help.

First, please pray for our group that is going, the missionaries that are currently there, the local churches, and that the people's hearts will be open to the Gospel. The Lord answering your prayers for this trip will make this trip a success.

Second, if you are financially able, please prayerfully consider sponsoring me on this missions trip. I will need to raise a total of $3,200 by the end of August to be able to go on the trip. Your sponsorship of any amount (and I mean any amount - $5 to $500 or whatever you can) helps make this ministry trip possible. Your donation, if sponsoring by check, is tax deductible. If you are interested in sponsoring me, please email me and I can give you more details on the trip, who to make the check out to, and where to send it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. Please be in prayer. God bless!