August 2011

Dear Friends,

A big thank you for all who joined with us in prayer in our last newsletter as well as to those who helped financially. Of the 21 prayer requests for items for the coffee house, 8 of these have been supplied, including new front door (on the left), outside tiles for steps, 40 chairs and 10 tables (on the right), coffee cups and glasses, freezer (see picture below), office desk, 2 oil heaters, and outside sign.

Right now, we are at an impasse with the cafe, as we have no more funds to purchase materials or to pay workers. Please join us in prayer for all of the following items to be supplied and or funds to pay for them. We need $14,000 to be able to finish the work and open the cafe. Thank you very much. If anyone is in a position to help, it would be a huge blessing!

Here are the items we still need:

• linoleum for kitchen, coffee bar and office

• acoustic materials for walls and ceiling

• carpet for cafe rooms

• 27 light fixtures

• music equipment including drums, 3 mics, guitar, bass, mixing board. speakers and amps

• sound system for recorded music

• projector and screen

• stove and exhaust fan

• microwave oven

• refrigerator

• plates and utensils

• 20 gallon water heater

What has been happening

In June we had helpers from a ministry called "Serve the City" who sent 6 people to help do repairs at the cafe. They were a tremendous help for a day. Three StreetCry brethren came from Russia for a week each to help work on the cafe as well. Two of them had come to the Lord through our ministry there, and one of them had returned to the Lord because of it - so all knew and appreciated the value of the cafe and the urgency of getting it set up so we can minister more effectively here.

The local YWAM ministry has had teams from Norway and Finland visiting this summer (see picture on the right). They asked us to help, so John was able to share a class on evangelism and then we were able to take 18 of them out doing personal witnessing and prayer for young adults. We took them out in teams of 3 and they were amazed at the openness of the Estonians and how easy it is to engage them in conversation about Jesus.

Two more people were sent to a Christian rehab center in Finland. These were addicts that Sara and Natasha met on the street. You can see one of them - Maksim, in the picture on the left with Vera, already going through rehab in Betel.

John preached on Living a Supernatural Life at Tallinn Vineyard Church, sharing some of His experiences in evangelism and God's supernatural protection, leading and supply.

A company donated 2 tons of frozen fish fillet to us. We were able to pass most of it on to the city food bank, run by a dear man who we met a few months ago. The remaining fish will be distributed to rehab centers and feeding programs. The laws in Estonia regarding companies donating food to non-profit organizations are very restrictive and soviet-esque. Please join us in prayer so that good food that is being thrown away can get into the hands of the poor. We are also seeing an increase in sharing food between rehab centers, the food bank and feeding programs. It seems that more and more, when anyone has more than they can use, that they are passing the blessings on to others. This has caused quite a free flow of food between people that don't ordinarily have that much contact with each other. This is wonderful.

We received about 100kg of used children's clothes which we were able to pass on to others. Neither the food or clothing distribution are part of our regular ministry, but we want to try to be faithful with whatever He passes our way.

As everyone knows, the entire world is in a recession and we know that those who give to our ministry are effected. We want to thank you for your faithfulness in spite of the difficulties and we are also very grateful for a couple of new givers to the ministry. Giving to the ministry is down to where we have about 1/3 as much funds as previously. We desperately need $2000 additional each month in pledges for the coffee house ministry. If you could help, or if you know others who could, it would be a very significant help to us.

News from Lana Moroz in Africa

Hello Everyone!

It is winter here in Mozambique, but we feel it only during the night, when the temperature goes down to 10˚C (50 F) sometimes even lower. It is still hot during the day and can go up to 30˚C (86F) or higher.

Unfortunately, the reopening of our clinic is still in the process and for now we don’t have any information when it is going to open. Please pray for wisdom for the leaders and others who are involved in this issue. Due to the absence of our clinic, we are limited in our abilities to help people outside of our orphanage compound. We have no right to give even the simplest assistance as, for example, putting a band-aid on a cut finger, although of course we cannot stop helping the needy .

We are only two nurses here who are permanently on the territory of the center taking care of 267 kids. We are in great need of your prayers for health of children and for strength and wisdom for us.

Little Inácio feels excellent. He is growing fast and gaining strength! Next week, a Mozambiquean family that cannot have kids is planning on adopting him. God bless them!!!

Last week, an 11-year old girl here named Helena died. We took her to the city hospital 5 times, but each time she was released without any treatment. When we went there for the fifth time, we insisted that she would undergo a lumbar puncture and thereafter be left at the hospital. Next day we were called and told that tests showed she had meningococcus and that she was diagnosed with meningitis. This is what we had been telling them since the first time we took her to the hospital. Three hours later she died. We were shocked! The good news is that one day before Helena died, one missionary felt that she should pray with her. Helena loved to worship the Lord, to dance and to sing for Him. She also loved to pray. We were convinced that she experienced His presence and that she knew Him. So, when this lady prayed with her, Helena started repeating the words and declared Jesus Christ to be her Lord and Savior. Nobody could imagine that within two days she would be dancing with Jesus in Heaven.

The greatest shock was the attitude of doctors to patients, and a medical system that is worse than anywhere I have ever witnessed! People wait in 2- 3 hour lines to see a doctor and finally they are prescribed things that have nothing to do with their illness. On rare occasions they are sent to undergo medical tests. But this also requires waiting in lines for several hours. In majority, doctors don’t even examine patients, at the best they just ask questions. In general, every time we need to take a child to the hospital we run into difficulties where we have to fight and persevere on their behalf, for them to even be examined. It scares us a lot, when we think of all the other local people, because we are “white westerners“ with medical education, it’s harder for the local doctors to get away with certain things with us that they do every day with the local poor. Those who come to get a doctor’s help don’t even know what a thermometer is. Each week, and even more often, we hear that somebody died. Medical care here is on a very low level. And if somebody is in hospital, usually he is on his deathbed. They don’t have ambulances at all. When people get sick, they use public minibuses (the only transport they have). However, minibus drivers don’t like taking sick people, becuase of the fear they would die on the bus and bring a “curse“ on them. This is the capital city of Mozambique!

While I was writing this letter, we received more news. This week, the ministry of public health is coming to inspect us and they already have questioned us about few things. They demanded that we provide them with time-schedule of our staff because they are convinced we break their legal regulations. According to new laws, doctors and nurses are allowed to work only 8 hours a day. But as you understand, in the children's healthcare center, we have to look after kids 24/7.

Generally, we see that local government is jealous about our work. We are a thorn in their side. But, if God is for us, who can be against us? Please, support us in your prayers, especially now. Our leaders, directors and a lawyer need your prayers. Please pray for God’s peace in their hearts! For His wisdom how to talk with authorities. Let God open their hearts so that they could see what God is doing in our center and His love that is poured out here.

This time my letter seems to be sad, but actually we rejoice because every day we see what He is doing here and how He pours out His Holy Spirit. Recently, we prayed for one very old woman, that lives on the garbage dump where we weekly go to evangelize, and she received her eyesight back after years of blindness due to diabetes. She was blind because of diabetes but now she sees again!

Two days ago, we visited a nearby village where we met local children. They were so interested in our visiting them, we told them about Jesus, and the children wanted to receive Him as their Lord.

My last news for now is that I had an opportunity to receive a visitor from Russia for two weeks. Her name is Nastya, and we worked together as nurses in Russia. She doesn’t know the Lord yet, but I saw how God was touching her heart while she was here with me. Two times she even cried because of His touch. First time, when children were praying for her at church, and, second time, when she went to the garbage dump with me. We entered into people’s houses to pray for them, and after we prayed for the first woman, I opened my eyes and saw Nastya laying hands on the lady the same way I did, and she trying to pray for her. And after our last visit to a paralysed lady, Nastya was literally wailing. That day God healed many people and I believe He was healing her heart as well. Can you imagine – an atheist Russian doctor (that is how she calls herself) is crying while she prays for sick people on her vacation visit to a city and village in Africa. Now, when she is back to Russia, so often she asks me in her letters to pray for something or she tells me that she prayed for something. Lord, save Nastya!!!

Thank you very much for your prayers!!!

With love,

Lana Moroz (My nickname from Svetlana was previously Sveta, but Lana is easier to pronounce here)

June 2011

Dear Friends,

As many of you already know, we now have the keys to the building for our evangelism cafe and we are busy repairing it in preparation for opening. Thank you all for your prayers and support!

A few weeks ago we sent the following info:

"In the second week of April we received a phone call from a Tallinn television station. They wanted to do an interview about our new coffee house. We told them we had not heard back from the government yet, regarding final word. We asked how they heard about it, and the interviewer said they had read about it in the newspaper (newspaper article is above)! We called city hall, and they said, "Yes, the project received final approval on April 6, the building is yours." We asked how it was already in the newspaper, and how it happened that we had not been informed. They said the press was on hand at city hall for government announcements and that is how they heard. They said they were planning on telling us the next week!

This is so much how we have seen God do things so many times. He gets the word out, He arranges the advertising and inspires interest and hunger regarding what He is doing. All we have to do is watch and marvel at His ways and go through the doors He has opened!

We are excited, thrilled, overjoyed about this - to the point of tears of thanksgiving. We have so much confidence in God's love, ability and desire to reach the Estonian youth. Now, the next phase begins. Meeting with Christian musicians, evangelists and other volunteers and have a larger base of people in on the prayer and planning meetings, as well as building repairs and equipping the building."

On the 20th of April we signed a contract for a 5 year lease on the building and were given the keys.

Since then we had the blessing of hosting a team of three (Sven-Inge, Timo and Victor - picture on the left) from Elim church in Sweden, who came to help with some of the work. Over the two full days they spent with us, they built a stage, outside steps, a wall and poured a cement floor (see photos below). They purchased the tools and all of the materials needed to do the job. Their trip was short but very fruitful. They came with one purpose only, to see some of the construction work done. They busily worked night and day for two days to see their goals met.

Our local team worked on spackling, cleaning, mixing cement and being their assistants. After that, Jaanus from the local church Toompea 3 came and did painting and plumbing work (picture below).

We have purchased paint for the entire building, carpet for the office, stainless steel sinks for the kitchen and coffee bar, snack sized plates, and have had counter tops donated from a local firm and a new industrial dishwasher donated by Village of Hope rehab center.

We still have many things to do before we can open, and a YWAM team and a brother from Russia will be helping us with work next week. Our money is exhausted, we are down to $30.00 (20 euro), so please pray with us for the finances to continue what we know the Lord has begun; and skilled workers to do the necessary jobs that still need to be done.

We need the following, so please pray with us for the provision of 18,000 euro ($24,000) for:

• new front door

• outside tiles for steps and wall

• linoleum for kitchen and coffee bar

• acoustic materials for walls

• ceiling acoustic material

• 12 tables and 40 chairs

• carpet for coffee house and stage

• 27 light fixtures

• music equipment including drums, 3 mics, guitar amp, bass amp, speakers, mixing board, guitar and bass, etc.

• sound system for recorded music

• projector and screen

• cash register

• cups, glasses, bowls, silverware, kitchen utensils, pots and pans

• microwave oven

• stove and exhaust fan

• fridge and freezer

• office desk

• new 75 litre boiler

• pump heater

• outside electric sign

• a God inspired name for the club that students can relate to

Thank you again for your prayers. We are so thankful for your hearts of love toward our family and ministry! Please help if you can!


Thanks and blessings to you!

John and Sara Russell

May 2011

In this newsletter we are featuring Sveta Moroz who is a StreetCry Missionary at a children’s orphanage with Iris Ministries in Maputo, Mozambique. She is supported through the financial gifts given to us at StreetCry. Her monthly support is 1/3 of the western missionaries she works with, and still decides to give much of her $500 month personal support for medicine that is lacking for the children. She can use your encouragement, prayers and financial support.

Here is Sveta:

Hello dear friends!

Time flies swiftly and imperceptibly. The days here are very eventful and seem very short.

Do I miss home? It is more “No”, then “Yes”. It’s probably God’s grace that works because of your prayers. I am very happy to be here! God has given me so much love towards these people.

One of the things that we do here is help mothers who have children under one year old (photo on the right). We help them on a regular basis providing milk and food.

Another thing is we hold crusades in the villages and prepare meals for the homeless. During one of these feed-ins I had such a great desire to witness, but my Portuguese is not very good. I just prayed for an opportunity and a divine appointment. That day we made a meal of chicken, home fried potatoes, salad and lemonade, and went to the streets where we meet homeless people.

On the street we started singing worship songs and preaching the Gospel. After that we asked people if they wanted to pray with us and later gave them food. At the end of our meeting a man came up to me. He was not a homeless person, but he was very inquisitive. I started to explain to him what we are doing here and asked him if he believed in Jesus. He said he does not. At this moment I understood that my Portuguese is very limited. I didn’t want to let him go but I could not do anything on my own. All of a sudden he asked me if I spoke English.

Thank God! This was my answer from the Lord. I started telling him about Jesus and what He has done for us, why it is important for us to be reconciled to Him! He came to this world for our redemption and to forgive us, and how it is important that we would be born again.

I asked the man if he wanted to accept Jesus into his heart and he gladly agreed. We prayed together and after prayer I looked at him and saw lots of joy in his eyes. God is wonderfully answering the desires of our hearts especially when our desires are His desire to save people.

Our God continued to do miracles. My friend went to a village far into the interior of Mozambique, where they held a three day crusade. After the first meeting, the pastor offered prayer. A girl who had a speech problem came up to them and asked for prayer for her speech to improve. Afterward she thanked him for prayer and left saying that is seemed to get better. The next day she came again and asked for prayer. When the team started praying they received a word of knowledge that the girl is deaf.

They tested her hearing and found out that she could repeat only words when she can see their lips moving. They prayed for her but nothing changed. The next day she came for prayer again, the team members prayed for her and tested her hearing. They spoke so that she could not see their lips. All of a sudden she started clearly saying the words that they spoke. Because of her perseverance she received healing. Ask and it shall be given to you! My friend also got healed from ringworm that she got from some of the children and could not get rid of it for along time.

A little girl was brought to us who was three weeks old. Her mother died three days after she was born. The baby girl was born premature, she was 2100 gr. As a result of all this she spent three weeks in the hospital and then was sent to our home. When she was brought to us she was 1900 gr, could not suck milk put of the bottle, and had a respiratory infection. We were very concerned about this little thing and prayed hard for her. A month later she gained weight and now she is 2800 gr, is eating well and has a beautiful smile. She is growing before our eyes, we can’t recognize her. A month after she came, another girl was brought to us. She was ten months old and 3.400 gr in weight. She is also gaining some weight but not as much as her little friend.

Also I started going to a village to help with evangelism and classes for new believers once a week. Please pray for the salvation of more people. There are only eight adults here with more than 200 children for us to care for.

A week ago we had troubling news. One of our friends, Katy, who helps with the work to the prostitutes and kids here in Mozambique, was taken to a hospital with an emergency to have an operation on her brain.

Two thieves got into her house not realizing that anyone was home. Katy heard noise and came out of her room and was struck severely on her head by one of the men. Her mother also was in the house and came out and the robbers then fled. Katy was immediately taken to a hospital in Maputo (the capital of Mozambique) which is an hour away from her house. Doctors said she needed an urgent brain operation but they could not perform it there. Praise God, South Africa is only two hours away from Maputo! She was taken to a hospital in the border city of Nelspruit, where they immediately operated on her. People in our center prayed for her since her life was really in danger. Every day we received good news from her. It was a miracle! She was out of the hospital in a week. I personally having worked in intensive care as a nurse in Russia, and I have never seen such a speedy recovery! It is awesome! Our God is more than just Almighty!

We continue to have classes for new believers. In our village two of the girls have decided to be water baptized. I went to the city dump where we hold church meetings once a week. Before the meeting we always go around and evangelize people at the dump and also go from house to house (shack to shack) that are built right there at the dump. It is the poorest district in Maputo. We met a lady who was sitting in front of her house. She told us that she was sick for several days. She had pain all over her body, especially in her legs and she could not walk. We prayed for her and after prayer she said she felt better and decided to come to church with us.

Iris Ministries also has a prison ministry here that until recently, I had never been able to visit because of my very tight schedule. One day I was able to go with a team. It is a women’s prison and there were about 30-35 women at the meeting.

Since my coming was spontaneous I had not prepared a message to share, I was the last one to say something. I came up front and didn’t know what to say. I started by saying: I came from Russia. The chaplain jumped out of her seat, pushed away my interpreter and said she wants to be my translator. She was very interested and asked me to tell them more about myself. I felt I needed to share my personal testimony with the women.

I noticed how all the eyes were fixed on me, they were very open to hear and receive. I told them how I came to Jesus, then shared about the first commandment and the blessing following it if we serve Jesus and not the idols, about forsaking all to follow Him.

After my testimony our pastor came up and shared from the passage Philippians 3:8-14. My message and his came into one whole idea. Holy Spirit was moving in a strong way at that place. Many women were crying, God was really touching them. This trip impacted my heart so much, I am praying for that ministry and women regularly.

Life in the center is in full swing. Days are going by fast here. There are five nurses right now in the center and we are very full out with work. One of the nurses just left for a holiday break and after that she is going to another center that has been just started. During the summer months there will be only three of us.

Please pray

• That God would bring nurses to our center. We have so much work that we hardly have days off.

• Unity between missionaries, for understanding and love among us. We are so different, from different countries, different backgrounds. Lately this area is very vulnerable.

• One of our children is in the hospital right now. The doctors can’t find anything wrong, but he has a high fever and very weak. Pray for wisdom for the doctors, so they can find the cause of his sickness, for his healing.

• Release of the Holy Spirit over the Iris Ministries and over me personally.

• For the grace and rest, since there is so much work needs to be done here

• Fruitfulness

• For people to be saved especially the kids that live in our center, so they can experience God in a personal way and know Him as their Lord and Savior.

• For healing of the sick: we have a lot of kids with HIV, diabetes, neurological diseases. For healing during evangelism meetings on the streets, hospitals that we visit every week and during church services

• For the mercy of God to released on Africa, repentance and deliverance for the people of Africa

• For signs and wonders, creative power, for open heaven and angels of God to be released upon these desperately poor and needy people whom God loves and died for.

• For my heart to be more broken for the lost and sick

• So I can know His will and His goals for every day of my life

• Ability to see things with spiritual eyes

• Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, increased ability to follow Him and be obedient to Him

• For the spiritual and physical protection from all the plans of the enemy

• For the release of the gifts of the Spirit and flowing in God’s love

• For improvement of my English and Portuguese

• For divine appointments, new contacts

• For the enlarging of my vision for my future

• For the things God will show you to pray for

With love,
Sveta

P.S. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement! If you receive anything from the Lord concerning me or ministry, please let me know! It is always timely!

JANUARY 2011

Dear friends!

Happy New Year to you all! Our hope is that you all have the most joyous, most fruitful year of your lives in 2011!

The Christmas feed-ins in Estonia and Russia went well, with several coming to Jesus (see picture on the left) and a bunch more inquiring about rehabilitation. The Christmas event in Harku women's prison also went well. All together, about 650 people were ministered to and at least 6 came to Jesus. There were testimonies and the salvation message from the stage and we passed out written copies of the Christmas story in tract form.

Special thanks to the pastors and helpers from Toompea 3 Church for the use of the building, equipment and staff for the event. To Victor and Anna Avdiakovy, Sven-Inge and Elim Church of Mantorp, for sending funding for gifts for the women in our prison ministry and gifts to many children we minister to including the ones from two orphanages! The chocolate was a big hit at all 3 events! You truly made the Christmas special for them and us!

Also to Ruthe Brookshire, the MacAnanny Foundation, Colleen Sherman, Jason and Kathy Roberson, New London Bridge Church, Marko Priks who all gave special donations for the feed-ins. They would not have occurred without your help. Also to the Bios band, Toompea 3 worship band, Ülo Lepik, Roma and Ira, Sergey and Zhenya, Katya, Tanya, Dasha, Olga and Natasha for the huge help they were! And thanks also to all who have generously helped the ministry this past year! We appreciate you and thank God for you!

It was our second annual Christmas feed-in in Estonia and fifteenth in Russia. Fifteen years ago, the Lord put it on our hearts to bring together the rehab centers from the St Petersburg area, to worship Him, marvel at His goodness over the past year and proclaim a harvest for the coming year. Over this 15 year period we have seen the vision for rehab centers grow and consequently the number of centers grows as well. Every year, we see more and more dedicated, praying, witnessing, on fire, Christian brethren being raised up to continue reaping the harvest. We know that running a rehab center and caring for ex drug addicts and alcoholics is a difficult, demanding and often thankless job, fraught with setbacks, lack of finances and much time spent on the knees! We have seen centers close down because of a lack of vision or lack of faith to continue. But we are excited by the Biblical faith and determination of many to continue with the vision that God has given them. We won't be rewarded by starting the race before us, but by finishing the race. And anything we can do to help each other finish, is something I believe the Lord is interested in promoting!

ESTONIA

The Feed-in was held in the same facility as last year, Toompea 3 Pentecostal church. Local church members again helped us with cooking, preparation of the food, setting up of the room, equipment, ushers, and greeters and so on. All a big blessing!

At the feed-in to help minister were pastors; former drugs addicts from the local Christian community and representatives of most of the drug rehab centers in Estonia. This year a lot of people responded with the desire to be involved in helping with the event. Drug rehab centers helped with providing ushers and greeters and food. We had a group of brethren from Russia as well as our daughter Katya that came and ministered with us.

We also invited poor, needy, lonely, and hopeless people from the streets and drug addicts from the five local methadone centers so we could share the joy of Christmas in the warm family atmosphere which most of them could not experience otherwise. Altogether more than 250 people were present. It was a beautiful time of worship and fellowship, bringing unity to the different ministries in the area; a time of giving hope to the needy who heard testimonies of lives transformed by the power of God. Three of them made a decision for Christ right there! Others received prayer and more than 20 inquired about rehabilitation.

Some brethren and an anonymous donor from Sweden donated gifts and knitted socks for the children. We were able to send some of the gifts to the children of the women that are presently doing their sentence in prison, also to an orphanage and to some poor families in Russia. This year a lot of people who came to the feed-in brought their kids with them (see picture above). Amazingly there were enough presents left to give to every child that came to the feed-in. Praise the Lord!

Besides that, our ministry team had a chance to conduct a concert in Harku women’s prison (see the photo below). This year the atmosphere was very different as the girls got more involved in worship. By the end there was such a strong presence of God as almost every woman got involved. There was such a release of joy that the place could have exploded in spontaneous praise if there were no guards. They were literally roaring for more worship - it was amazing. The guards who are usually very strict, let the worship team do one more song, after they had already said the event was over. We were able to give Christmas gifts to all the guards, which included a new book by Pastor Ago Lilleorg about the true meaning of Christmas. We shared several testimonies and the Christmas message with the girls assuring them in the love of God. We were able to give the girls nice presents as the Lord provided money for gifts and free chocolate from Sweden (which they were all craving for).

The day of the concert in prison our sister Olga Ryazhskikh went to meet some friends in Tallinn. As they were walking, they saw a car that was stuck in the snow and stopped to help. Afterwards the driver offered them a ride. They accepted and on the way the woman driving started asking Olga about her life. Olga briefly shared her testimony and how the Lord has saved her from a life of drugs and criminal activity. She also mentioned that she is here in Tallinn to help with the feed-in and the concert for the girls in prison. The lady’s heart was touched since she herself had a husband who is now in prison. At the end of their ride she gave Olga money to buy fruit for the girls in prison. It was an amazing divine appointment as we had just used up all the funds designated for the prison, and had bought fruit, but wished we had more. God sees it all and supplies! Olga came with two shopping bags of kiwis to add to the tangerines and other food we were taking to prison. The girls in prison responded quite positively when we shared this testimony of God's love for them.

We had the blessing of having our daughter Katya with us during Christmas and New Year! She helped us with the feed-in and concert at the prison. Some of the girls in prison know her from her previous visits. Katya was able to talk with them and encourage them to pursue the Lord.

On the way back to the States her flight from Chicago was delayed and she wrote us an e-mail:

“I’m in Chicago airport right now. Surprisingly I am not tired at all. I’ve been here for about 6 hours now. While boarding the plane in Sweden I met this girl, her name is Kiarra. She was super sweet and we started talking about what we were doing and where we were going to school. She was visiting her grandparents that live in Sweden for two months. We talked about everything from cultural stuff to parents, to school, to mission trips. She was Mormon, so I told her about Jesus. We had a great time together on the 9 hour flight. We landed in Chicago, went through the whole airport together, so I wasn't alone for the most part. We did get separated in customs, and security checking. Her flight was in 8 hours and I didn't get a seat on mine. So I had to wait for 6 hours for another flight. It went by really fast. This older black sister from a nondenominational church in Indy got a food coupon from the airline as her flight was canceled as well, and she had to spend it all at one place, so she went and got us food. It was so nice of her, and then later I got a coupon too. I had to use it all as well, so I went and got drinks from Starbucks for the whole row of people that were sitting next to me. They were thankful, and then everybody just started talking and getting to know each other, and the 6 hours passed really quickly. All of us were tired and completely exhausted but we had great conversations. I especially liked talking to Kiarra about Jesus. I love spending my Christmas like that! Serving people and loving them.”

RUSSIA

The Christmas Feed-in in St. Petersburg was held on January 7 (Russian Christmas is celebrated on January 7 and the holiday season goes all the way to January 14).

Compared to how things flow smoothly in Estonia, it was hard work and faith and determination by our Russian Christian brethren to make the feed-in a reality this year. Two families in our ministry in Russia really worked hard to make it happen. Basically, although the feed-in was the result of many people believing God and working together, it was ultimately the result of their personal faith. It was Sergey and Zhenya Abezin and Roman and Irina Kurshonkov (photo of all four of them and Sara above). There is such a strong vision for the harvest released at the feed-ins in Russia and a lot of intercession goes up to heaven for lost souls to be won during the coming year.

This year there were 8 Christian rehab centers represented. There were a lot of new people in the centers who were at the feed-in for the first time. Many were amazed at how many former addicts are now serving God. Their vision was hugely increased by seeing God work outside of their own environment. Several of the centers helped with transport and making food, as well as setting up and decorating the rooms. It was very encouraging to see everyone’s involvement and participation, the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. The men and women from rehabs were such a blessing in helping to prepare for the feast! Several local churches also helped with equipment, greeting and serving food. It was the most participation we have ever had in Russia as far as other churches and ministries being involved.

The leaders of the rehab centers came forward and led the time of prayer. This year worship was led by Bios band who are our friends from a small town near St. Pete. It is so hard to adequately describe the atmosphere in the hall where more than 250 people are gathered who know only too well that if not for Jesus they would definitely be in the cemetery today but instead they are alive. Such a joy to worship the Lord with the ones who were forgiven much and now love Him much! Several people from different rehab centers shared powerful testimonies! We also had a powerful time of intercession for the harvest of souls in the year 2011.

Irina invited a group of homeless people from the street (picture on the right), arranging with the local police for them to ride on the subway for free to this event. The policemen were surprised, asking if it is true that people who want to feed the poor still exist. The homeless came, but some at first felt out of place being among redeemed and saved, even though all had similar backgrounds. How sad to the heart of God it must be that people would be among former drug addicts and prostitutes, but because of a strong spirit of rejection, they still feel out of place, although showered with love and acceptance! After the time of worship we were able to introduce them to the leaders of rehab centers. One of them spent time talking and sharing the Gospel with them. As a result two of them gave their hearts to the Lord.

What these events do, among other things, is help people see that they are not just part of a rehab center, but also part of a big family of God and also gives added faith to them to keep on going further with God and to be used to help others get free from the clutches of the enemy. So, my personal feeling is that the feed-in is something God birthed, and important to Him. I felt that the Lord spoke to my heart saying that, "lives were saved because of the feed-in."

Sveta Moroz is continuing to minister to the kids in Mozambique. Christmas was quite a busy time for her and missionaries there as they had to prepare presents for all of the kids at the base. Please read news about Sveta in our next newsletter. Prayers for her health, well being, protection and wisdom are always greatly appreciated.

More next newsletter! It is so exciting to serve the living God, the maker of heaven and earth, who was and is and is to come!

PRAYER POINTS:

• For physical and spiritual protection for our ministry, divine health and strength for all of us during the cold season

• Unity, love and wisdom for those in our ministry

• For Vera Saba’s paperwork (she has applied for residency in Finland)

• For the work in Estonia – more souls saved, drug addicts delivered and placed in the rehab centers, and for establishing a greater, stronger presence there

• For prison outreach in Estonia, for more salvations, deliverance from drug and other addictions, freedom from peer pressure and fear of men, for physical and emotional healing, renewing of the minds of the inmates who just got born again, for their spiritual growth and developing steadfast personal relationship with Jesus

• Some of the born again women in prison are having parole hearings soon. Please pray that they will be able to handle the outcomes with grace and trust in God. One sister is petitioning the President regarding her case. Please pray for His will to be done with this.

• For a breakthrough with an abundant supply of finances for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We need more regular support. Every single person, church and ministry that gives to us helps our ministry to preach the Gospel. Every single donation is needed and received with much gratitude.

• For Sveta Moroz and her work among orphans in Mozambique. That she would have wisdom in her decision making and that she would walk in physical, emotional and spiritual victory.

Thank you again for all of your help! We love and appreciate you and thank God for you!

John and Sara Russell

for StreetCry Ministries