Sister Vera, who arrived at the beginning of September to teach Bible classes with Mugat Gypsy children, was in for two big surprises. Although the anticipation was initially to have no more than 20-30 children, during the two days of instruction 70 children came. In addition to that, three of the girls who are the best at mastering the Bible lessons, came in hijabs, which are Muslim head coverings.
There were also those who came to the lessons for the first time.
“Why did you come?”, was Vera’s question to them.
“Camp! Camp!”, is what the children answered in unison, who memorized this word in Russian.
“What camp!?”, she followed up. “Camp was during the summer, and it is the fall now. There is no more camp. We will be learning.”
“Oh yeah?!”, they replied with an apparent disappointment that was evident on the faces of all the children.
“During the first and second day, over half of all the children were younger than 8 years old” – continued Vera. “It was apparent that these starving children came here to have something to eat. What are we to do in that case? We feel so bad for these children, but we do not have enough resources not only to feed them, but also to be able to instruct them all. In addition, not every teacher will be able to handle them. This is, practically, an uncontrollable crowd of children who do not know how to behave, are not accustomed to discipline and understand only one thing - beating - this is exactly how they are treated in their families.”
“What happened?”, Vera asked her best Bible lesson students. “Why are you wearing hijabs?”
“Our Mullah told us that if we will not be wearing the hijab, then we will not go to heaven.”
“But you know that you can go to heaven only on the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as you repent and ask Him into your heart!”
“But Mullah says otherwise!”
That was our concern from the very beginning. The gypsies are nominal Muslims. No one shows interest in them until they show evidence that they may become Christians. Apparently, right now, Mullah is concerned and started the process of opposition.
What are we to do? We decided to continue the ministry that we began, and continue to serve. We pray that the Lord Himself would control the circumstances and protect the hearts of the children, and preserve the understanding of the Gospel which was taught by Vera and Pastor Shukhrat to them.
As they separated the older children to their own age group, Vera continued teaching the Bible lesson through a translator. The younger group were engaged in board games, and was sent to another room with a lady from local church. There were 19 people in the older group. After the lesson was over, she and the children began to prepare presents to their parents who were invited to the Harvest Festival.
These are the current ministry updates.
There is also some joyful news. Sister Matluba who initially served as a translator, and then wasn’t able to continue serving because she was coping with the death of her beloved nephew, came to help Vera on this day. Although she is not ready to resume her ministry to the Gypsy community, but her personal spiritual condition seems to have drastically improved. Vera spent a lot of time talking to her about the love of God for us, and how we ought to trust Him, even when we are faced with difficult trials such as losing loved ones. It is apparent that the wounded heart of Matluba began to submit herself to God’s will.
Please pray for future ministry among the Gypsy children, for the upcoming Harvest Festival which will be at the end of September, and to have more staff to help in this ministry. Continue also to pray for Matluba to find comfort and healing of her heart, and the hearts of the parents of the nephew. Please also bring Vera and Pastor Shukhrat to the throne of God’s grace so that they would have both the physical and the spiritual strength, as well as the wisdom to continue this difficult ministry.
May God bless you all!
Olga Avetisova
