Almaty is about as far from the sea as one can get on this globe. As our temperature hovers around 100 F. this week, we’re pining for trade winds and the ocean roar. But we have been enjoying a five-star resort right in the city – free of charge! For six weeks we teach a Conversational English class to the manger employees of the Intercontinental Hotel. The class meets just three hours a week, but the compensation is membership in the ‘Spa’ – exercise equipment room, pool, sauna, and relaxation! Not quite Hawaii, but….
Church Family
Our International Christian Fellowship (ICF) moved into our seventh venue since 1995. We have up-scaled from a bar to a bank! We found a nice auditorium within a modern bank building in the central part of the city. After two years of church in a bar it hardly seems like a ‘real church’ without lingering smells of cigarettes and beer, somehow we are managing to cope. Seriously, we are so thankful the Lord ‘lifted the cloud’ and moved us to a cleaner and cheaper place to declare His glory. We are continually having new people come. Pray that we will be effective in reaching and discipling English speakers from many nations who live in this growing city.
One of the bright spots in our ministry at International Christian Fellowship is the ‘Professionals.’ When they launched they called themselves the ‘Young Professionals’ but now some of them are pushing 25! There are a couple of foreigners but most are Kazakhstani. They meet weekly for sharing, prayer, and study of Scripture. Now there are about ten regulars. Recently, as I was walking out from their meeting for the bus home, one young man offered me a ride in his car – they ARE professional! As we drove I started with a simple question, “Tell me about your family.” Then B’s sad story poured out. He is a University graduate in his early 20’s with a good job in one of the biggest corporations in the country. He is a devout believer who has been a part of ICF for about a year. I had no idea he had such troubles at home.
The troubles stem from the one word that wreaks such havoc in so many hearts and homes here – alcohol. He and his sister have never known their father not to be a drunkard. In fact his parent’s entire married life has been marred by dad’s wild, drunken behavior. B shared that even his father’s father could never keep a job because he could not hold his liquor. Then he looked at me with firm resolve saying, “I will not touch alcohol.”
The sad details sound much the same in any home ravaged by this sin in any land. The whole family hurtles along on his drunken roller-coaster from his wild, terrifying, violence to his sobs of remorse and promises of ‘never again’ – and back ‘round again, and again. It just seems that there are so many tragic cases here. As we motored down one of Almaty’s newest modern roads, B shared his father is a highly educated road engineer. “Just look at all the jobs he could have with all the growth here!” he said. But alas, Dad just lost another job, again. Now Dad is sorry, sad, and yet starting to drink all over again!
Like most of our Professionals, B is the only follower of Jesus in his home. His mom is mildly sympathetic but thinks if B really wants to follow God, then he should be Orthodox like a good Russian. When he is sober his dad does not say very much. Once when his dad was drunk he stormed into B’s room and ripped a Christian poster off his wall and tore it into shreds. That was the only statement on religion B has heard his dad make. But B is praying faithfully, loving his family, living as a loyal son, and trusting that God can change even them. He mentions with hope that his mother has stayed with his father “all these years” despite his antics. Divorce is the norm here. B sees her endurance as a sign of God’s blessing and His better future for them all. Now I understand why when B was in our home for dinner not long ago he signed our Guest Book, “…Just being able to see the kind of family like yours is really inspiring…” ICF has become B’s real family. We are so thankful to be able to love and encourage him, and his Professional colleagues, they are the hope of Kazakhstan.
Cover Girl
One of our local friends who works for ‘Esquire’ magazine in Kazakhstan asked Dayna to share her favorite place in the city for one of their features. So Dayna stood in front of ‘Banya Arasan’ (the Turkish bath house) for a photo shoot which appeared in the magazine last summer. In the Russian text in the box she says the Banya is the next best thing to the beaches of Hawaii…
Going Postal
Mark, and our co-pastor at ICF, recently got a one year accreditation for ministry here in Kazakhstan. This is a procedure we go through every year, and each time it is a new excellent adventure! This time the biggest snag was in receiving the necessary documents from our American sending church. Despite the fact that they sent it properly, the regional Post Office where we have our box (Almaty 43) received no information about the vital letter. The on-line tracking info from USPS said the letter was in Almaty, but our branch workers knew nothing about it. So I went to the central Express Mail Service PO downtown. I gave them the tracking number of my letter and after 20 minutes of checking, in an office not much bigger than a phone booth, they said "It is not here, but we know where it is." It was accidently sent to another regional PO, Almaty 11. And if I came back tomorrow they would try to have it back at Central. Well, I did not relish spending another hour going to and fro across the congested city again. Besides, this day my co-pastor had loaned me his car and driver to collect this letter. (His accreditation has been waiting on mine as we did them together.) So as there were several PO workers who seemed to be just standing around the office idly, I announced that one of them needed to come in the car with us and go to region 11 PO. They looked at each other, and finally one stepped forward. Then I had to convince my colleague's driver to take her in the car. He was afraid he'd have to drive her back! After convincing him that I'd give her some taxi money to get back to Central, she came on board. Thirty minutes later we arrived at PO 11. She walked in and greeted the ladies at the counter like long lost friends, with kisses! Two minutes after walking into the back room, she appeared with the letter. Then when I offered her the taxi money, she said, "No thanks, I will stay here!" More fun in the outer regions maybe! So we even 'go postal' in Kazakhstan, they go with you! Thanks to God it all worked out.
Going South
This Saturday Mark heads to a city in the South of Kazakhstan. He will preach this Sunday in a local church there and then go with about 80 church members to be the Bible teacher for their summer camp. Dayna needs to remain in Almaty to continue the English class…and/or spa? We are grateful for your prayers.
Going Forward
It is our sincere desire to share the Lord Jesus in word and deed here. After ten years we have gained a good understanding of the people and place. We have great freedom and many open doors. And praise the Lord we are healthy and happy. But we are also severely financially challenged. For the last five months our monthly allowance has been finished by the middle or third week of the month. We are in additional debt from medical travel and care in April. We fully understand that we are not alone! We all face a global economic crisis. But we ask you to stand with us in prayer and giving as you are able. We do want to press on here.
Gratefully in Him,
Mark and Dayna Blair
Our Mission
Pioneers - 10123 William Carey Drive - Orlando, FL 32832 - USA
www.pioneers.org
Our Blog
www.blairstan.blogspot.com
Our Ministries
International Christian Fellowship www.icf.nursat.kz
Tien Shan School www.tienshanschool.org
Our Mailing Address
Blair – Almaty 43 – P.O. Box 13 – Kazakhstan 050043
