Central Asia Update

Hello again from Central Asia. We have a lot to share with you from this past week. The week was filled many visits with our local friends. We asked The Father to give us more opportunities for more intentional conversations and He has provided. Here is a glimpse into the past week.

We truly learned the art and etiquette of hosting this week more than ever. After hosting five times in six days, we feel pretty comfortable in the “do’s and don’ts” of the process. We enjoyed having Mulan over three times this week. She was joined by her friend Gretchen, two out of the three times. 

On Wednesday of this past week, we were able to discuss some deep topics with Mulan. We discussed fasting among other things. She told us about her desire to fast and join in with the Islam Religion during Ramadan. Mulan is not able to join in because her father will not allow her to participate. This conversation led to more topics and the evening ended with her desire to read The Word. We had some other opportunities for meaningful conversations with a few of our other guests as well. It was good to get to know them. We also went walking with another friend of ours on Sunday evening.

Please continue to be lifting us up to The Father and the area in which we are working. Here are some ways that you can remember the people here specifically.

• In our time spent with local friends we have come to understand that there is a great desire to find self identity. Girls look to find their self-worth in many places. Please remember the teenage girls here in Central Asia, that they would find their identity in The Creator.
• There is also a great deal of pressure placed upon teenagers to perform academically even by ways of cheating. Lift up the academic programs and the students within. Think about the teachers who are instructed to follow the rules of the school whether or not they are fair. Our supervisors are some of those who will be teaching in schools such as these. Please keep them in mind as they walk along the very narrow line of following rules and following ethics. Many times the teachers are instructed to award the students with an A whether they deserve the grade or not.
• It is not uncommon for husbands to cheat on or even beat their wives here. Please remember the many women who are in abusive relationships. Along with these women, there are usually children and relatives who are affected by these relationships as well. Ask The Father to place those who can be examples of a true father in these family’s paths.
• Upon our visit to the mosque and in visiting the burial sight of many Muslim followers, we have been faced with the somber realization that there are SO MANY who are blinded and do not know the Way. Please join us in lifting these MANY people up to The Father. “..How can they know without someone telling them?”

Thank you for joining with us in this way and following along with us on this journey. We will have one more news letter before we travel back to the United States. We look forward to sharing more of what The Father is doing here in Central Asia in the last news letter.

Because of His love,

Lauren and Olivia

Ministry of meals

We have had many people over for meals in our apartment throughout the past two weeks. Six different groups of people have come to share a meal with us. Some of them came for lunch but many came for dinner. In this culture, it is common practice for guests to bring food items as a gift for the host. Olivia and I enjoy the anticipation of what our guests will bring. Some of the items have included, juice, various cakes, chocolate bars, and then once we were given a meat pie that was referred to as a “cake”. We were quite shocked to find a pie filled with meat after opening the box. 

Pray as our local team members continue to develop these relationships, looking for opportunities to minister to our new friends.

Five Fingers

We were invited for dinner at Mullan’s home. It was the first time that we had been invited into a national’s home since we have been here. It is normal for the host to show some family pictures to the guest after they arrive. The grandmother and the sister-in-law prepared the meal for us, but did not eat at the same table. We were served the country’s national food called Bishbarmak. This word means “five fingers.” This meant that we would be eating with our hands only. Bishbarmak consists of noodles, meat and potatoes on a big platter. Traditionally, the meal is served with horse meat, but we were served beef. After the main dish, we were served tea. Culturally, the host will put out plates and plates of different types of food items that cover the table. This is to show that the guest is being provided with enough food to eat.

Pray for Mullan and her family as they appear open to our friendship. Pray for the relationships that are being formed with them. 

English Clubs

We have had more students join us for English Club the last couple of weeks. A group of the new students can speak English very well. On July 4^th, we invited all of our students to join us at the park near the University to share a picnic with us. We explained to them about America’s Independence Day. We are still enjoying spending time with our students and others every Friday night for football.
 
We only have 4 more English Clubs left. Please pray as we hope to deepen the relationships that we have made so far. We want to truly be an example of The Father in the students’ lives and have intentional conversations.

 

English Clubs & the Truth

English Clubs are going really well. We have gotten into our routine of teaching now and are enjoying it.  We have enough people to split up into groups for beginners & intermediates. This past week, Olivia talked with the intermediate groups about fears. It was interesting; she mentioned that one of the students spoke of thier most common fear being death.  Please keep this conversation in mind as we try to build upon these topics & share the Truth with those in the classes.

Two days a week the 3 sisters we're developing relationships with attend EC. They are very sweet & seem to be enjoying learning what we have to teach them. We hope to deepen our relationships with them throughout the coming weeks. It's our prayer that sometime soon they will want to join us for fellowship at our HC.

Kingdom Family: Adam, Eve, & Martha

This past Thursday night we had 3 friends over. Adam, Eve, & Martha are all members of the Kingdom family. During dinner they shared their stories with us. It was so encouraging to hear what the Father has rescued them from & how He is working in their lives now.  

Please be praying for Adam, Eve, & Martha as they share with their friends, families & others in this city filled with lostness.