Yesterday
we had a wonderful Easter service at International Christian Fellowship in
Almaty. More than 300 people met into the beautiful hotel ball room where we
meet for worship. People gathered from around the world, every continent except
Antarctica was represented. A number of people
were first time visitors. Some mission
workers from other cities in this huge nation – who do not have services in
English – were thrilled to praise the Risen Lord in their “heart” language.
Some who had never before visited a Christian service of worship left pondering
His claim on their lives. Many who knew the “old, old story” were “hungering
and thirsting to hear it like the rest.” Mark preached from Paul’s message of
Jesus and the resurrection which he addressed in the Areopagus in Athens
“In
the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people
everywhere to repent. For he has set a
day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He
has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17.30
As that solemn day draws ever closer, we must tell the world about our Risen Savior and Lord. Yesterday we echoed God’s command to repent in our multi-national assembly. Then one Kazakh young man stood and gave personal testimony of his faith in the Risen Lord and was baptized. He preached the best message as he narrated his faith journey and pledged his trust in Christ. His atheism was cracked when he “happened” to see the “Jesus” film on state television on Christmas day several years back. What God began that Christmas we sealed in baptism this Easter.
For
two days before Easter Dayna and Mark joined the teachers of Tien
Shan school for a retreat. Twenty plus people met in a sanatorium
high in the Tien Shan mountains. This year the cold temperatures have lingered
into the spring. We had fun on snowy slopes in the day and warmed to a
crackling fire at night. Late at night we had “treat” which is highly prized in
this part of the world - a hot sauna followed by a cold plunge into an ice
pond! Our speaker was a woman who leads an MK school in another country here in
the CIS. She is a great communicator with much wisdom about the special students
we have here – “TCK’s - third culture kids.” A TCK’s primary connection is not
to their home country, or their country of residency, but to a “third culture”
forged through their wide experiences in different cultures. Often such kids
excel in life, although like any child they need TLC – “tender loving care.” Of
course, our immediate reference for prayer and concern are our own three sons,
but we pray God’s blessings on all our TCK’s here.
One
wonderful benefit of overseas service is having a front seat to witness God’s
unique work. We have seen an encouraging work of God just outside our window.
Perhaps you remember when we moved into this apartment about two years ago we
lamented that our neighbors do not always place their trash in the receptacles.
Well that is the nice way of saying it! As more than six months out of the
year, the trees are frozen and barren, sometimes all we seem to see is our
“trashscape.” A couple times we have cleaned
the area. As we cleaned more than one passing neighbor questioned who gave us
“permission” to clean, but a few other neighbors joined us in the task. Not long after each clean up, the refuse
reappeared. Well our last work outing, in which several neighbors spontaneously
joined us, appears to have succeeded! We made a huge pile and some government
authority came the next day with a mechanized scooper and dump truck and hauled
the pile away. They also posted a sign forbidding dumping, which has been
obeyed! Now spring has come and a field of grass has emerged from the former
trashscape. One man’s trash has become another man’s fertilizer. We thank our
Heavenly Father for this new vista to His working, right outside our window.
“The
earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalms
24.1
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