April 10, 1999

Waiting for Winter to End


“From the Tropics to the Tundra”
An Update from the Blair family in Kazakhstan, Central Asia

                                                            April  1999
E-mail:            blairstan@hotmail.com

New address:              Send support money to:
Blair’s                         Pioneers
c/o KECS                    12343 Narcoosse Road
P.O. Box 244              Orlando, Florida 32827
Almaty 480000           [checks are to be made out to “Pioneers”
Kazakhstan                  - noted for Blair’s on a separate paper]

Phone (from USA) -  011-732-72-636790  [we’re 14 hrs ahead of Pacific Standard Time)

Aloha from Almaty

Hallelujah! He is Risen! We pray that you are experiencing His joy this wonderful Easter season.
           
            About a year ago as we read a book entitled, “Waiting for Winter to End” about Central Asia. (We highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about this part of the world.) As we read in the warm tropics of Hawaii it seemed a strange title for the book. Now we recite the phrase daily - with feeling - waiting for winter to end!! Just today the temperature climbed above freezing - may it keep climbing.

            Many great things have been happening in the last few months. We are glad to be able to share some of them with you through. We are very grateful for your support through “Pioneers” and especially ask for your continued prayers. We love hearing from you, remember our e-mail address is the best way to write, if you are “on-line.”

A NEW BEGINNING

            We have ten new students in the seminary this term. Eight of them are from churches pastored by our graduates. This is living proof of the power of the Gospel and the growth and maturity of the Church here -- a new generation of leaders being raised up for Kingdom service. Katherine and Roman are mother and son. She is divorced. They both came to know the Lord about two years ago and now lead a “home meeting” in their house. They have been growing in Christ and leading others to meet Him. She thought she was too old for studying (she’s all of 40!), but praises God for this opportunity. When I asked Roman what he thought of studying with his mother he said that it was a great privilege (of course, she was listening!). Four of the students are Kazakhs, studying at the Russian language campus. This is a manifestation of the reconciling power of Jesus. Two of them are men in their early 40’s with families, eager to be trained to share with their countrymen. Jhanat is a young woman who has recently completed a Teen Challenge program to break a drug addiction. She is still new in the faith and needs prayer for continued strength. She shared that her past life, including time spent in jail, has burdened her to reach people in similar troubles. A Korean Russian lady, Louisa, is a retired beautician in her early 50’s. She is filled with zeal for the Gospel. She shared about a prayer service she led in the hospital ward where her daughter is recuperating from surgery. Many, including atheists and Muslims, asked her for prayer and saw the power of God. Marina, is a young Russian woman, with several years experience in church ministry; she brings much maturity and wisdom to the class. Another student is Ben-Chur, a Korean Russian man retired from the KGB, recently went on a short term mission to South Korea. Experiencing loneliness in that foreign land gave him great appreciation for those who have left their homelands to serve the Lord.

Several students  told of lessons learned through their two months of evangelism. A number of people came to know the Lord. One Kazakh team in a city without a church (and there are still hundreds in this country), led 19 people to Christ. So one of  the students on that team has left the seminary and returned there to pastor these new believers. We now have 24 students in the Russian Department and 29 in the Kazakh. Most of them are relatively young believers (as is the whole church here). They face many struggles. They have financial problems as they care for their families. Jobs are very difficult to find and the economic prospects here are poor.  Many face pressure from antagonistic family members who attack their faith. Pray with us that God will prove Himself faithful to them as they step out in faith. These 53 students are the primary reason our family is here and we thank you for your support that we might give to them. 

TIEN SHAN SCHOOL REPORT by Dayna

            We are back into the routine after our long six week break. I  enjoyed the rest and  having no schedules to follow. I am glad to have a new colleague from Australia, Phil Tucker, who teaches the math and science courses. During the first week back we had a very special and  heartwarming time of sharing among the students. Mr. Tucker shared how he grew up as a “Missionary Kid” in Papua New Guinea, attending boarding school. He shared how God called him to serve here as a missionary. He spoke appreciatively of  “receiving”  the training he got as an “MK.” Now he wants to be on the “giving” end to each of the students here at TSS . As a teacher, one of my concerns is to see the high schoolers understand God’s grace in their lives, that they would want to be committed to Jesus. Each of them come from Christian homes and they know all this “stuff.” So, I thought it would be fitting to ask them what God has taught them during the break, or  what goals they set for the new year.  I rejoiced to hear how God was busy working in their hearts. These were some of their statements: “I was far from God and didn’t understand the Bible, but now I feel so close and happy in Jesus. I now read His Word and it is making sense;”  “I always worry...especially about my courses and studies and what will happen when I get back to England,  but God has given me a verse…;”  “I am struggling to understand what God is doing with my life, but I know he loves me and I am learning to trust Him;”  “I was angry with my parents and teachers for getting after me to study harder; and I was mad with God, but I am going to work harder;”  “I have committed my life to the Lord and I want to be a missionary.” These, and many other expressions, blessed my overflowing heart, and brought tears to all of us. It was a powerful time of prayer and rejoicing in the Lord as I realized how God is at work in their lives. We miss two of our students who moved to boarding schools, in Australia and Pakistan. This has pushed the remaining  students to further spiritual growth. God’s timing is the best! We have gained two new Korean girl students who add another dimension to the class atmosphere. We look forward to each day as I see these young people grow stronger in their Savior!

            Winter Volleyball -’Tis the season for the  Jr./Sr. High PE class to have volleyball. As we got ready for our first class, my colleague, Mr. Tucker, and I remarked that this was going to be a new experience for us! Yes, we both know how to play volleyball, but in the snow? We had to bundle ourselves in  jackets, warm caps, gloves and snow boots. We all looked like eskimos as we began the class. We had four heavy balls made in Kazakhstan, yet we started to teach the basic skills to them. It was  hilarious as  we slid and fell attempting to return the balls successfully. As one tries to volley, or set, the ball, a flurry of snow covers your face. It is hard to return the ball while you are wiping the snow off your face. So it took a while for our students to learn their skills. Half-way through the class, I had peeled down from my jacket, cap, gloves and scarf. It was too hard moving around, slipping and sliding like a stuffed bunny. By the time class was over, my pants were soaked, and my face, fingers, and contac lenses were frozen. It is quite different from playing volleyball on the warm sands of Hawaii.

            We have some great news about our Tien Shan School, we were able to purchase our own building. For the five years of our existence we have moved several times from various rented facilities. Next year we hope to play indoor volleyball in the gym of our new building -- it will be boring by comparison! Please pray for the transition and preparation of the building for our move this summer. There are still some funds needed for equipping the facility, pray that all the needs will be supplied.

MUSTARD SEEDS AND KINGDOM  HOPE

One cold gray winter Sunday I traveled to a village about an hour outside the city.  Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city with about one and half million people, is quite unlike the rest of the nation. Here there are shops filled with goods from around the world, electronics, cars, fashions, anything money can buy. Even if most of the city’s residents can not afford to buy them, the fact that they are here creates an impression of relative affluence. That impression is shattered in just a short drive. Small, poorly built, houses contrast with fancy, solid looking Islamic tombs. Most houses have no running water. If there is electricity, it is not predictable. Heating comes only from wood or coal stoves in the kitchen. Most family members all sleep on the floor in the same room. If the nation was “on the way up” then people might view their humble circumstances as a beginning to brighter days. But people here know that the glory of the Soviet empire, if  it ever really existed, is past. There are plenty of factory buildings which used to provide jobs for village people. The only thing they now provide are bricks, electric wire, plumbing parts, and wood which the villagers steal from their collapsing buildings. The gray skies matched the colors of the buildings. Paint, if it were available, is way beyond the survival budget of the householder. One shining new factory dominated the horizon, an American owned cigarette manufacturing plant!

So when we arrived at a small home my spirit was as dreary as the day. Taking off my shoes according to local custom did not change my mood, it just froze my toes! Yet, God began to warm me from the inside. The family who live there are Kazakhs. She came to faith in Christ last March, her husband just last August. Her gracious spirit of Christian love broke his alcoholic heart, and he gave the pieces to Jesus. Since then they have never looked back. As we waited for others to come, their three children, 6, 8, and 11, sang praise songs in Kazakh, beaming with joy. The first to come was a powerful looking man,  a former member of the Soviet army’s equivalent of the Green Berets. He traveled the world fighting for the cause. He spoke with quiet humility about Jesus, his new commanding officer. Another man and woman came who also had been long time alcoholics (as are perhaps 70% of the people here). Our seminary graduate who leads this group brought out a letter which the woman had written a couple months before. It was her suicide note. Indeed she did die, to her old self, now she has everlasting life in Jesus. A woman whose husband is in prison for murder, shared how Jesus is helping she and her kids daily. A kind of spiritual thread tied the members of the room. The first person to receive Christ in that village said, I brought her to Jesus, then that person said I brought him, and on it went. It continued on up to that very day when someone brought a new person to that meeting. I did not hear the newest person share a testimony but when we left, her head was bowed and tears filled her eyes. One wonderful thing about the Kazakh church is that everyone is eager to share their testimony of faith in Christ. The place is  too cold for anyone to warm the pews. No one is there who has not counted the cost.  Several people shared about how Muslim leaders in that village had been to their homes that very morning, warning them to stop attending this new church. Some had been threatened with physical harm. Yet our graduate and these new believers continue to visit from house to house in that village, sharing what God has done for them.

Throughout the meeting Victor, our Seminary driver who had brought us, sat in silence. He is a fine Christian from the Russian Baptist church. Each testimony brought me near the point of tears, his words pushed me over the edge. You should know that there is little love between most Russians and Kazakhs in this nation – sadly, even in the Church. John’s words, “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4.9), fit the situation here. In this country it is acceptable for Russians (40% of the population) to be Christians, but not Kazakhs (about 50% of the population). We hear weekly about Kazakhs who have become Christians, and as a result lose their jobs, their homes, and their families. Hundreds of years of mutual mistreatment have taken their toll. In fact, the looks given to Victor and our Russian translator Alexander in that room reflected lots of pain and misunderstanding. As Victor sat in silence their suspicion level rose. Then he finally spoke. He said that his grandfather had been a Christian, as had his father, and he was born into the faith. He shared vivid memories of his grandfather pleading for God to reach Kazakh people with His love in many church prayer meetings. Such prayers were beyond people’s imagination; everyone knew that Kazakhs were only Muslims! But tears came to Victor’s eyes as he said, “Today I have seen the prayers of my grandfather answered. God’s salvation has come to the Kazakhs.” The Kazakhs cried too as we all praised God with one voice.

Being a Christian in America I have often said, “Jesus is our hope.” And it is true, no matter how wealthy a nation may be. But viewing the hopelessness of this broken Soviet wasteland it is very clear, “Jesus is our ONLY hope.” To sit with my new brothers and sisters, Kazakhs and Russians, freezing together in faith, was conclusive proof that our hope in Him is true.

LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR NOSE!

            Our family has grown to love the family of a Kazakh pastor who serves as the leader of our Kazakh seminary, Malik and Jhanna. They are blessed with three lovely daughters who are also growing into Christian servants…three daughters, our three sons, that’s another story. Humanly, they are the reason why our seminary has a Kazakh department. Malik attended the seminary (Russian department) about five years ago. He was one of the first graduates and soon became one of the first Kazakh pastors. He and Jhanna are former ballet dancers, although for Malik that was at least 100 pounds ago! Their heart for reaching their kinsmen is inspiring. Upon coming to know Jesus, they immediately began to share their new faith. Dozens of Kazakhs, many now Christian leaders, can trace their spiritual birth to their witness. Malik is also a professional producer of recordings and has done much to present the Good News in audio and video tape for Kazakhs. His excellent guitar playing has been used often in worship. They had the initial vision that their people needed a theological seminary and believed God for an excellent facility one block from their house, in a village 8 miles out of Almaty. This site was a former Soviet Kindergarten with 45 rooms. Some of you know the Lord provided it for just $ 16,000, given by a church in Korea. If it sounds like I am describing a busy guy here, you’ve got the picture.

            One consequence of being a busy pastor is not having much time for sermon preparation. Malik’s course at the seminary was only eight months long and it did not include much about preaching, that was five years ago. I have wanted to be helpful to him in this area, but did not know how to bring it up. Asking some American preachers to talk about improving their preaching is similar to saying, “I don’t like your face!”

            Not so with Malik. When I shared the general idea of talking together about this subject, he was enthusiastic beyond my expectation. In fact he did not want to talk alone,  he invited 20 other Kazakh church leaders! The result is a weekly evening gathering which has been going great. One leader shares a sermon, we started with Malik, and the rest of us have a “talk” about it. I also give a teaching about preaching. One thing I’ve sought to show by my example is “constructive criticism.” The Soviet educational system is “shame based.”  Somewhere somebody decided the best way to educate children here was to send them through an emotional meat-grinder. So by the time they’re sliced and diced down to humble pie they will unquestioningly submit to authority - at any level. It “worked” for 70 years at least. Even today in “free” Kazakhstan there has been no shift in  educational philosophy. I did not want turn these meetings into a blood-bath. So we’re learning many things together. And what I continue to learn with joy is the fresh enthusiasm which drives the church here. There is not much personal agenda or peacock flashings; people just want to help one another be the best communicators of God’s Word they can be. Even in a message which one might consider poor in organization or presentation, the power of eager innocence in faith is compelling.
 
            It has been a great privilege to gather with these friends. The church here is like “wet cement” and it is such an opportunity to have some small part in its formation. Pray that God would raise up great spokespeople for His Kingdom. Out of these meetings has come the invitation to write a book on Preaching which will be translated in Kazakh, and perhaps Russian too. I am working on this now. Though perhaps I’d prefer the more humble title of “booklet”. As such, I’d appreciate prayer on this assignment.

AND THE CHURCH GROWS…

            It was my joy to witness the baptism of nine Kazakhs, six men and three women. It was certainly the most unusual baptismal event I have ever seen. Word of the event came a week before, when one of our pastors invited me to attend and preach. I said yes. His second question was whether he could use the seminary van to transport the congregation to the baptismal site and back. I said no. Then I did not hear from him again until the morning of the event and I assumed it was a package deal. Maybe he wanted only a van, not a preacher! So it was a pleasant surprise to get his call the morning of the event.

            The van, and the whole issue of finance and properties, has always been my least favorite aspect of missions. Our family is living rather simply here, at least by American standards, but we are among the upper class of the city. One example, we can afford to pay $ 2.50 to squeeze the five of us into a sub-compact taxi going across town. Most local families pay $ 1 to squeeze onto an even more crowded bus which stops at every corner along the way, to get even more people. Some are forced to walk, or stay home. So to refuse any request for material assistance pains my heart. I am trying to find a balance between giving enough to help launch the new churches, and not so much to make them forever attached to our made in the USA umbilical cord. I am praying and teaching that churches need to take on projects which their members embrace and support. So my conviction was that the church which believes they need to baptize their new members should pay the price. I was happy to see they paid in ways beyond my expectation.

            I had the seminary van drop me off at the “church” - I  felt somewhat like a hypocrite but the driver was on his way to do some other necessary business. The believer’s meet in the apartment of the pastor and I arrived to find about 30 people gathered. After the customary cup of tea, we walked down the four flights of stairs to board a fleet of taxis they had hired. All of them were Muslim drivers, rather typical; and Islamic charms dangled from their rear view mirrors. The car I was assigned to ride had, “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is his prophet” written in bold Arabic script across the top of the windshield. So the joyful throng squeezed into these chariots and we sang Kazakh worship songs to ‘Isa (Arabic and Kazakh for Jesus) all the way up into the mountains. You guess it, this is still the dead of winter. We’re all wearing heavy coats and warm caps. We wind around to a mountain stream. We climb down trails of ice and snow to the water’s edge. There the pastor gives a sermon which included his biblical justification for the necessity of baptism by immersion.  I wondered whether the Jordan River was an arctic stream, but I kept my mouth shut.

            The nine daring candidates, stripped down to whatever was decent, stood by the rivers edge. The pastor and his associate entered the frigid stream with a gasp. One by one, beginning with the men of course -- sorry ladies – they made their confession standing in the stream, held by the pastors on either side. Then they went all the way down into the water. I was the photographer. I am sure some of the prints will show true blue believers as they emerged from the water breathless and stunned, yet filled with joy! How glad I was to be a seminary director and not a pastor at that point. Though it was unusual, it was wonderful. What a great joy to see the Kingdom growing. I rejoiced with the angels of God. The Muslim taxi drivers stood on the bridge above and watched. One joined us for worship service back at the pastor’s apartment following the baptism. He may be next, and the church grows…

            Love and blessings to you in the name of our Risen King,
                        Mark, Dayna, Nathan, Josiah, and Aaron

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