On every trip there are great stories of how God moved and what he did. But we always have our favorites. There are some people that immediately grab a special place in our hearts and we always remember them. When I think back on Ryazan Russia 2010, I will always remember Natasha. God sent us to meet her Monday afternoon.
She is a 40 year old mother, battling cancer (upper left in the top picture). Her husband, like many men here, struggles with alcohol. At times when he's drunk he beats her, but like many Russian women Natasha patiently endures and won't leave him.
She is weak and thin from her illness and some days she doesn't leave the house. We got to sit with her Monday and share a bit with her and her friends. We prayed for her and her illness but we ran out of time! We didn't get to share the gospel with her and explain how she could be forgiven and have new hope in Jesus.
Angela, my teammate, and I both prayed for Natasha (as did many of you) and hoped we would get to visit her again. Wednesday we got that chance. She was feeling much better since we had visited and prayed with her Monday. She was strong enough to go to the market. We got to sit down with her and Angela shared the gospel with her. Natasha was so ready. She decided to receive God's free gift of forgiveness and make Jesus her Lord and Savior. It was great. We were able to spend more time with her and Angela helped teach her how to pray.
Angela, my teammate, and I both prayed for Natasha (as did many of you) and hoped we would get to visit her again. Wednesday we got that chance. She was feeling much better since we had visited and prayed with her Monday. She was strong enough to go to the market. We got to sit down with her and Angela shared the gospel with her. Natasha was so ready. She decided to receive God's free gift of forgiveness and make Jesus her Lord and Savior. It was great. We were able to spend more time with her and Angela helped teach her how to pray.
We invited her to our celebration service Thursday and she came. More than that, Natasha brought her friend Leana. Then we heard what happened Wednesday night. We left Natasha with some follow-up materials for her and her friends. That night Natasha shared what we had told her with her friend Leana, and Leana received Christ! Natasha was less than a day old in her walk with God and she already led someone else to the Lord! That's the way it should be. We were so excited to see them both Thursday before we left.
The picture below shows 3 generations of Christians. Angela shared Christ with Natasha who shared Christ with Leana! Awesome!
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