February 10, 2003

A Three-fer!


“From the Tropics to the Tundra”
An Update from the Blair family in Kazakhstan
                                                            February  2003

E-mail:   blairstan@hotmail.com - Do you get our e-mail prayer bulletins?

NEW Mailing address:                                               Mission:
Blair’s                                                                        Pioneers
Almaty 43                                                                 10123 William Carey Drive
P.O. Box 101                                                            Orlando, Florida 32827-6020 USA
480043 Kazakhstan                                                    www.pioneers.org
Home Phone (7-3272) 550128

Our Church: International Christian Fellowship, Almaty  www.icf.nursat.kz
 
Aloha from Arctic Almaty!

New Year, New Opportunity – A “Three-fer”

We now works with East West ministries, located right next door to Tien Shan School. The centerpiece of their ministry is a one-year training program for key church leaders, Central Asian Leadership Training Center (CALTC) begun in 1995. CALTC has both Russian and Kazakh language departments. CALTC has over 40 students, and qualified national pastors lead both departments. Mark is pleased to have no administrative duties so far and concentrates on teaching and mentoring national leaders.

We call this move a “three-fer” because there are two other training opportunities connected with East West here. One is their Regional Training Centers (6 so far) in key cities in the “stans” – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan. Center number seven will open this September here in Almaty. These centers provide training for church leaders who cannot attend a residential course because of family, church, or work responsibilities. There are total of 125 leader/students taking weeklong modular evening courses, held every two to three months at each center. After four years studying at this pace they will complete the course. Mark will teach a course on “Old Testament Prophets” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan soon. The third program of East West is Central Asian Theological Seminary (CATS), offering summer courses since 1996. These are Master’s degree level courses designed for proven church leaders to receive higher academic training. Through these courses a couple national leaders have already completed a Master’s degree in an American seminary in just one year. Mark will teach a two-week intensive course on “The Biblical Theology of John’s Gospel” in CATS. We are now exploring making CATS a year round program. Future seminary professors, regional church leaders, and key ministry leaders could receive advanced ministry degrees without leaving their homeland. It is not yet a reality, but an exciting prospect. We are thankful to be on the East West team and thus expand our involvement in training leaders to serve the growing church here in Central Asia. See their web site at – www.eastwestministries.org

Open and Closed Doors

Jesus said “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Revelation 3.7

Central Asians: Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Tajiks, Kyrgyz, + 495 other People Groups
The “stans” – ‘homelands of Turkic peoples’
70 Million People
0.02 % Evangelical Christians
The Largest Unreached People Group in the World

We are thankful the “stan” with the greatest freedom of religion now is Kazakhstan. There are a few incidents of persecution and harassment here.  But we rejoice in the openness with which the Gospel can be preached. Pray with us the door will remain wide open. By contrast the most repressive “stan” is Turkmenistan. Last Sunday we met a discouraged expatriate brother from there in our worship service at International Christian Fellowship in Almaty. With tears in his eyes he said that he had not been in a worship service for over one year. As a “tent-making missionary” in Turkmenistan he has been subjected to constant harassment by police, followed, telephone taps, etc. And finally after six years of service he was forced to leave Turkmenistan. Last year there were 74 foreign Christian workers there - he was the last to leave - now there are none. The Turkmen believers who remain have been forced “underground” in great fear for their safety. Several leaders are in prison. Others have been exiled. With all the focus on Saddam in Iraq, you may have never heard of the megalomaniac Turkmen President, Saparmurat Niyazov, but pray for this enemy of the Gospel.  

(NOTE – I wanted to put the following in a “box” but couldn’t figure it out! Help!)

1991                2003

Kazakh Christians                     8                    8,000+

Kazakh Churches                      0                    in 70 cities

Kazakh Scripture                       0 %               NT  100%
OT    30%


An Upgrade to Business Class and The Marble Treatment

“Ah, Mr. Blair, you know how things work in this country. How much do you want to pay for a Business Class seat?” These words of an airline employee came as quite a surprise, even in this country. My surprise was because I had merely asked whether there was any corner of our Economy Class confines where I could find some more legroom! But now if I gave this guy $70 (per person) more than what we had already paid for our tickets, we could sit in the Business Class. Apparently his connections were just for seat assignments. (Maybe we could have paid the flight steward for a culinary upgrades too.) Here’s another strange slice of life in Kazakhstan – this one from the national carrier – “Air Kazakhstan.”

Having already paid enough for economy, I told the man I had no money left for leg-room. But as we boarded the plane we found that our boarding passes were all for Business class seats! Not really sure how that happened – but we did not complain! The leg room was great. We even enjoyed the same cuisine as those in “our class.”

As we approached Almaty we prepared for landing and waited, and waited. We eventually learned Almaty was fogged in and we were heading north to the nation’s capital – Astana – which was –20 degrees! We dozed for the next hour anticipating adventures ahead. We landed on a cold and clear night in the middle of the frozen steppe. After sitting in the parked plane for two hours, we deplaned - cheered by the flight crew’s promise of accommodations. We got through baggage clearance and customs inspection which is never fun or easy anywhere, especially in Kazakhstan at 4 a.m. Finally, we “jumped through their last hoop” and made it into the main terminal. There we learned that the airlines had arranged the marble treatment for us. We got no hotel room. We got no beds, blankets, or pillows. But we could freely enjoy some quality time on the beautiful marble floors in the terminal. In fact, we had the entire hall to choose from. So we stretched our bones across their stones; thankful to be alive, telling the boys that these are experiences that family history - and prayer letters - are made of. The next day we got our marbleized carcasses flown safely home to Almaty.

Tien Shan School: Double Champions

This has been the best year we have had at Tien Shan School: great building, talented staff, and 125 eager students from 10 nations. One highlight this fall was that both the
High School boys and girls Volleyball teams won their league championships. It was quite a shock to their well-endowed competitive schools that this little school which can not pay its teachers could produce two champions. We especially savored the wins as Josiah and Aaron were players and Dayna was Assistant Coach for the girls. 




The ongoing challenges of staffing and supplying the school’s needs are similar to those faced
by most Christian schools, magnified here at “the ends of the earth.” So it is a constant adventure. Dayna has a full load of teaching in the Jr. & Sr. High School, also carrying the duties of a key teacher who is on furlough. Gillian from New Zealand, the principal and founder of TSS, will permanently leave for a new assignment this summer. A new principal, from South Africa, plans to come in May. Pray for a smooth transition. Mark is again teaching Bible to the 11th and 12th graders. This includes our Josiah, the only 12th grader this year; destined to graduate top in his class…and bottom. We are constantly on the lookout for adventurous, excellent teachers, who want to enjoy a wonderful opportunity with eternal benefits, contact tienshan@pactec.kz
 



Update from our eldest son, Nathan / first year student at University of Hawaii, Hilo

It has been six months since I left my folks. I am learning about being independent. But I still collect some allowance! Doing things on my own has been a step to maturity. All in all, it has been an awesome experience. The day I left my parents, I was thrown into a world beyond their comfort. Yet the Lord faithfully brought me to a place abundant with family and friends. The story would have been different if I got stuck in the Midwest

 The first few weeks were hard for me. It took awhile to connect with people. I was used to traveling around the city as I pleased. In Almaty I was conditioned to be always on the go, with some sort of task in mind. Public transportation in Hilo is not really an option. So after classes I would hang out at my Tutu’s (Hawaiian for “Grandmother”) house where I also live, just a few blocks from the University campus. Maybe it was due to my reluctance to being in Hilo, but it took me a few weeks to establish any friends. Once I did so, I shifted back into gear. I was ready to take on what was at hand. As I gradually opened up more to people here, I transitioned to this slow-paced, laid-back land of Aloha.

The first few weeks of school were pretty slow. I am undecided as to what I want to do with my life and so I just chose some general classes. My pastor asked me to help out with the junior high at my church as a part-time youth worker. It has been a real blessing to be involved with the youth. The kids are awesome and have been patient with me; I have a lot to learn about the ministry. I have grown up in the church, but it is a lot different when you become involved yourself. All I can say is that: God has been good. He doesn’t hesitate to forgive me for my faults. He goes out of His way to bless us. I have a worldwide family (all of you) that has been so generous to our family and to me. I can never repay you but I may be able to pass on the love that you have shown.

During winter break I was able to go to the West Coast. I had a wonderful Christmas with my aunt, uncle, and cousin in Southern California. They were so kind to me. From there I traveled to Oregon and stayed with a family that worked in Kazakhstan with us. There I was able to meet with two other high school classmates from Almaty. One flew in from Florida; the other is now studying at University in Seattle. We were able to hang out with each other once again. While we were in Almaty we did not realize how privileged we were to be living there. Reflecting on what we left behind, we were nostalgic for the good old days. I look forward to when our paths meet again. Now we must do our parts to be where He wants us to be. My last stop was with my aunt, uncle, and cousin (on my mom’s side) in the Bay area. I had a great time snowboarding on the slopes of the mountains of Tahoe with my uncle and some of his buddies - as well as hanging out with my cute, little cousin. We were the talk of the lodge as I carried her to and fro.

I have recently begun my second semester of University. I am excited to see how these next few months will play out. Is it going to be a time of trial or a time spent carefree? However the circumstances I am confident the next semester will be the best ever. Have a great beginning of this two thousand and third year.

Mahalo nui loa, Nathan Blair  email: nafante_boards@hotmail.com phone: 808-961-5429

Publishing Notes

This mailing contains a booklet on the Christian life co-written by Mark and Peyton Harris. Peyton, a good friend who pastor’s an Assembly of God church here in Almaty, liked these ten letters on discipleship which Mark had written. He said their AG denomination had sent funds for evangelistic materials, but their budget for discipleship materials was fully spent. So Mark asked him to write the evangelistic introduction, which widens the usefulness of the booklet, and to pay for this “evangelistic”/discipleship tool. He kindly agreed. The ten discipleship letters were first written and used during our ministry in Uganda, now revised for Central Asia. The sketches are by a well known artist here who has recently become a believer. You are free to use or reproduce the material in any way you find useful.



Mark has written a book on “Preaching” and it is being translated into Russian and Kazakh. The Russian version is in the final editing stage and will soon be ready for printing. The Kazakh is coming along more slowly. There is an interest in these books from the church leaders here. We would like to be able to provide copies at minimal cost. It will be possible to make a hardbound copy of the preaching book for about $ 4.

Travel Plans

We plan to be on home assignment from this July through January 2004, Lord willing. During July and August we want to be in California and then go to Hawaii for the boys to study during the Fall semester. We do hope to see you and share with you. Let us know if it will be possible to see you.



We are very grateful for your generous support and faithful prayer,

Mark, Dayna, Nathan, Josiah, and Aaron Blair

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