CALVARY CHAPEL OMSK, RUSSIA

(The following update comes from our brothers and sisters in ABKHAZIA, by Rimma, a missionary from our church –

Pastor Max.)

“JESUS SAID, “LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT HINDER THEM, FOR THE KINGDOM OF

HEAVEN BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE…”

MATTHEW 19:14

JANUARY It was a month of several conferences:

At the beginning of the month we took teens to the youth conference in Moscow region. It

was a great time, up-to-date topics for teens and moderate studying of the Bible.

Aiza – a girl from Gudauta was at the Christian conference for the first time. To go from a

church with several families, and see more than 100 young adults from different cities who also

believe in God was very special! It was a very inspiring trip for her as well as for others. It is a pity

that not everyone could come. Not all kids from Abkhazia have the opportunity to travel because

of lack of international passports. That's why in April in Gudauta we are planning to have a youth

conference for teens from Abkhazia!

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

In January we had an annual

women's conference in Ramenskoye

(Moscow region). It was a special blessing

to attend sessions by Vikky Bentley. She

taught from those chapters and verses I've

been thinking about before the conference.

One more blessing was a gift of handbooks

for studying the Bible “Practical Meditation.”

WOMEN’S MEETINGS:

At our women's meetings we started studying this

handbook which was given to us at the conference. At the

first meeting there were 9 ladies, I was touched to listen to

comments from the first studying. Kassandra thanked God in

her prayer that she had been praying for studying the Bible

to understand it more. These guidebooks are the answer to

her prayers. Not long time ago she started reading the Bible

curiously and asking questions.

Irma said she found many answers for herself. She

prayed in Abkhazian language at the end which was also

special for us. There were so many prayers for women's

ministry and for many girls individually. God is moving us in this in an amazing way. And we

continue praying for each other, that the enemy wouldn't steal the seeds.

SERVING THE YOUTH: The Lord gives us teenagers from poor families that need to be fed spiritually but before

that we need to feed them physically, and sometimes give clothes and health care. Danil Khagush

(photo below) is one of these kids.

He is a kind boy, but is having a hard time at home. There are seven children in their family

and their mother isn't very generous with her love. For a long time, they have not had any water

in their house. Danil wears dirty and holed clothes. Brothers from rehab center are planning to go

and fix the problem with the water. Necessary clothes for the boy is being collected. Now Danil

attends youth services more often and after school he visits Misha and Marina.

As for Kassandra, we started going to the dentist to take care of her teeth. The Lord has

provided for that just in time!!!! She has had cavities for a very long time and started complaining

of a toothache. Me, Liza and Marina took her from the boarding school and went to the clinic. It

turned out she had exposed roots and one tooth with cavity. We had an appointment with no

waiting in line. The dentist deterged the nerve canal and put a temporary filling on an aching

tooth. The dentist also made an X-ray of all aching teeth. After that, we took Kassandra back to

school. People there don't know what Kassa's mother looks like, so at the hospital and school they

asked me if I was her mom. Her mom never comes to her boarding school. In 10 days we will take

her back to the dentist and there will be three teeth left to work on.

The boarding school is in the building of a former hospital for mentally disturbed people.

Before the Georgia-Abkhazia war, the hospital was active. After the war the buildings had been

renovated and now it is a boarding school. On the first picture there is the main building, and on

the second, there is an abandoned building that separates buildings from the exit. On arrival,

children come through this main building to the place they live.

Liza went to a website which helps the youth ministers who are working with

teenagers. It is surprising but there is advice we have been doing ourselves for a long time.

We see that God gathered us, so different, but together we work as a team and complete

each other.

At times it is hard with these teens, as I was used to serving adult girls, but I am glad

that God gives different opportunities to serve and

He opens different doors. Because in Abkhazia it is

easier to help them. Neither in a hospital nor at the

boarding school do people demand any documents

knowing we are neither their parents nor relatives.

There are many teens like that here. But God gives us

one by one with His wisdom so that we have

emotional and physical strength for each of them.

I've also spent some time at the hospital this month. I

visited Asida Khetzia (photo right). She is one of the

eldest sisters who got married after her mother's death and went to Gudauta to live. She

came to the hospital in Gagra with her one-year-old daughter with a fever. Asida was so

glad I came to visit her. She said she had called all her sisters to see who would come. We

had a great time and prayed. When she was living at Bzib I visited them quite often. My

heart was especially happy that she remembers many things we had been talking about.

LARISSA I continue praying for Larissa. We met again at Misha and Marina's daughter's birthday

party. She invited non-believers and Larissa came too. We sang Christian songs and talked about

God. Misha invited Larissa to their everyday prayer meetings.

Recently, I've been praying for her a lot and we often talk about faith. Marina visits her

sometimes. Larissa started posting some Christian stuff, but she is not ready to come to a church

service with many people present there. I offered her to read the Bible together and I invited her

to our women's meetings. She said she won't be able to join before her renovation of her house

ends to be ready for tourists to come in summer. But after it is all over she will be glad to come. I

am praying that her desire will become stronger in her heart and nobody from her family and

relatives will argue her out of this!

(below, left: picture of the party; below, right: Misha & Marina with their kids)

MINISTRY IN BZIB February, 22 - we had a playground in Bzib for the Khetzia's and people from Alakhadze

village.

We played some games, showed a parable from the Bible (one of those I took video of),

Yura gave them a lesson on this parable. Dima who is a minister from Gudauta had a workshop

for boys. He and his wife Anya are serving at the center for disabled people. Anya is on a

wheelchair and she can't walk.

Me and the girls made some cards. We are planning to do another thing like this at the end

of March.

Terms of stay for foreigners in Abkhazia changed. Now every 6 months Wendy has to give a

latter from the organization because she is living here for a long time and tourist visa isn't suitable

for her. That's why Wendy started working as an English teacher at a school in Bzib for free. Twice

a week she and Yura have some classes for the 3rd and the 4th grades. Radmir and Zamir – the

Khetzias brothers go to one of these classes.

OUR CHURCH

For right now, all the services are taking place in our homes:

February, 23 - we had the first Sunday service in our apartment. A woman named Sveta

came to the service. She attended services in CC Sochi and had been praying for about 20 years

to have a church in Bzib. Now when she doesn't have any physical strength to tracel long

distances, God answered her prayers. Here’s a photo from our first service:

PLEASE, PRAY WITH US FOR: • Danil Khagush's family, for other kids, that Danil will be rooted in God and all his

family will receive Christ. And also pray for ministry to teenagers

• Kassandra's teeth treatment. Pray for her mother. Marina has a desire to go and

congratulate her for the International Women's Day and give her a gift

• For women's meetings that girls will grow deeper in their relationship with God

• Pray for work among neighbors in Bzib

Abkhaziya is closed for right now due to the virus, but we continue to meet and pray!

Blessings, Rimma

If God puts it on your heart to support us in any way, please read the information below:

Make Checks Payable To – Calvary Chapel of Phelan

On memo portion of check, write - Omsk, Russia

Mail To: Calvary Chapel of Phelan

P.O. Box 291149

Phelan, CA 92329-1149

Any Questions, Contact Danitza Pearson 760-868-5102 ext. 119

Thanks again for taking time to read, pray and support us in God's work in Omsk! His

every blessing to you and your families!

In His grace, Max

Calvary chapel omsk, russia