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Even though there is only one way of salvation, people end up hearing the Gospel through a myriad of different ways. The past couple months, we have been reminded that God brings the Gospel to the lost through different times, places, and people.

SAW OUR SIGN

     Back in December, a young man showed up for our Thursday mid-week Bible study and prayer time. He had passed by our meeting place many times in the past, wanting to visit. “V” gained enough courage to come to a service and has been faithfully coming on Thursdays since. Due to his busy work schedule and being a more private individual, I have not met with him outside of service. Please pray for “V” to continue coming and for us to help him take whatever next steps he needs to in his life.

CHANGING TIRES

     While waiting in line at the “vulcanizare” to get our winter tires put on our van, I met a man whose son has come to our kids ESL classes. Being Orthodox, he was concerned about us trying to convert his son. He invited me to his house to talk further. After I told him that only English is taught and not “religion,” he began to ask question after question about things from the Bible and what we believe. Several weeks later, Stephanie and I were invited to his house. We gave them an Orthodox Bible (he wouldn’t receive anything else) and spent a couple hours answering additional questions. Please pray for “M” and his family to read the Bible and continue asking questions.

AT THE PENITENTIARY

     A Moldovan brother in Christ, who preaches at the different prisons throughout Moldova, asked us to do a Christmas program for the officers who work at the Soroca Penitentiary and their families. Our team worked together to provide a rich program for the families that included Christmas carols, games, snacks, and preaching the Gospel. Around 75 people were in the great room and heard about why Christ came. We were pleased that many of them also asked to receive a Bible at the end of the program. Please pray for further contact with these dear people and for those open to seek the truth.

1-Day VBS

     On January 6th, the day before “Old Christmas” (Orthodox still follow the Julian calendar for religious holidays), we held a two-hour Christmas VBS at our house in the morning and then the same program in the afternoon at our meeting place in Soroca. In total, there were 25 children who came and learned what the Bible teaches about Christ’s birth. Most of those who came also came to our summer VBS. Please pray for these children to continue to grow in the truth and personally accept Christ as Savior in the future.

CAROLING AND CALENDARS

     The next afternoon, we went to the village of Bulboci and joined a couple of the ladies from the village to go door-to-door caroling, Traditionally here, people (often children/teens) go house to house saying poems or short songs about Christ’s birth and, in exchange, receive gifts from the homeowners. Gifts can include cookies, chocolates, fruit, or even a sit-down meal. We went to a number of houses, sang a couple of carols, and then gave each home a calendar packet that included the Gospel. Due to the tradition, we had an open door and were welcomed in each place we went.

DEATH

     Within the past year or so, several neighbors we had witnessed to in the past have passed away. While it is doubtful that most of them were trusting in Christ for salvation, the most recent death was different. Shortly after moving into our house, I had met our neighbor Nadia at the well right outside our gate and asked if I could visit her at her house. Later on, I spent several hours talking to her about the Gospel. Her father had taught Orthodox priests and was later sent to Siberia during the rule of the USSR. Nadia grew up in the traditions of Orthodoxy, but when I went through the Gospel, she testified that she is not trusting in her works for salvation but in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. For the next five years, she was part of the Bible study we held on Sunday evenings. Though she had a difficult life, being a widow who took care of her bed-ridden brother, her daughter, and grandchildren, I don’t recall her ever complaining.
In December, her health rapidly declined until she passed away at the end of January. The day after her burial, her brother passed away. We are thankful to have shared God’s Word with her and to have been blessed to know her. Please pray for her daughter and grandchildren to seek the Lord through this.

OTHER NEWS

Two other things. Sarah Bodaly made it back safely from her furlough. We will have a mission team come help us at the end of March. Please pray for the 10 young people coming from Lighthouse Baptist Church to be blessed and be a blessing while here. Pray for wisdom on our parts as we prepare for their time here. Thank you all for praying for us and partnering with us here in Moldova.