THE ADYGEAN PEOPLE OF SOUTHERN RUSSIA ARE LISTED IN A LONG LINE OF PEOPLE GROUPS AS ONE OF THE LEAST REACHED IN ALL THE WORLD. WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE I HAVE LEARNED OF ONLY 11 THAT WE KNOW OF THAT ARE CHRIST FOLLOWERS. THAT IS OUT OF A GROUP OF 130,000 PEOPLE. FOR THAT REASON WHEN ONE OF THEM COMES TO CHRIST, IT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL. OF COURSE, WHEN ANYONE COMES TO CHRIST IT IS A REALLY BIG DEAL, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. GOD GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT HAPPEN SATURDAY NIGHT.
ALL DAY LONG WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING OUT TO THE DIFFERENT VILLAGES(AULS) AROUND MAYKOP. IT IS REALLY COMPLICATED(AS IS ALMOST EVERYTHING IN RUSSIA) TO EXPLAIN HOW THE POPULATION OF ADYGEA IS SET UP. I'LL TRY TO SORT IT OUR FOR YOU EITHER IN ANOTHER POST OR WHEN I GET HOME. SUFFICE TO SAY THAT AN AUL (PRONOUCED AOOL) IS A VILLAGE OF ONLY ADYGEAN PEOPLE. AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT WE STOPPED BY AN AUL CALLED GABYKAI. THERE WAS ONE LADY IN THIS AUL THAT LEONID HAD COME TO KNOW LAST YEAR. HIS DAUGHTER (KSENYA)HAD MADE FRIENDS WITH HER DAUGHTER(ANGELA). THEY ARE BOTH 14 YEARS. THE MOTHER AMAZINGLY HAD BECOME A CHRIST FOLLOWER LAST YEAR AND, AS BEST SHE COULD, HAD BEEN PRAYING FOR HER DAUGHTER. THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I WAS INTRODUCED TO HER WAS THAT SHE WAS WEARING A MUSLIM CRESENT AND STAR AROUND HER NECK, MUCH LIKE WE WEAR THE CROSS. WE SAT DOWN AND BEGAN TO FELLOWSHIP (I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING "AT MIDNIGHT!", BUT THAT'S ANOTHER BLOG) IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE LEONID BEGAN TO TALK TO HER ABOUT JESUS. I LISTENED AS HE VERY THOUROUGHLY LED HER THROUGH THE STEPS OF SALVATION AND AS SHE SWEETLY ASKED JESUS INTO HER LIFE!!!!!WOOOOW!!!! AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT FOR ME. WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT,....FOR HER!!! BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN THERE. IT WAS A DRAMATIC STEP IN HER YOUNG LIFE. IT MEANS SOOOO MUCH IN THESE MUSLIM VILLAGES WHEN ANYONE BREAKS AWAY IN ANY FASHION, ESPECIALLY LIKE THIS. INCREDIBLE! SUCCESS HERE IS MEASURED IN SINGLE DIGITS. THIS IS HUGE SUCCESS FOR THE KINGDOM.
NOW COMES THE DIFFICULT PART FOR HER. GROWING IN CHRIST. IT WILL BE EXTREMELY HARD FOR HER. PLEASE BEGIN NOW TO PRAY FOR HER. IN FACT PRAY FOR:
ANGELA
MERITA(HER MOTHER)
GABYKAI(THE VILLAGE-AUL)
THE PICTURES ARE TAKEN ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THEIR HOME. IT WAS HARD TO GET HER TO POSE (KINDA LIKE IT IS TO GET SOME OF MY BOYS TO POSE). ANGELA IS THE YOUG LADY ON THE FAR RIGHTIN THE FIRST PICTURE. MERITA IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OTHER PICTURE BETWEEN ELLA AND KSENYA(LEONID'S WIFE AND DAUGHTER).
I HAVE SO MUCH TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS AREA AND THE WORK HERE, IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL POSTS, SO STAY TUNED DAILY.
I'M A LITTLE FIRED UP. SORRY. I FEEL LIKE I MAY BE IN THE MIDDLE OF GOD ANSWERING OUR PRAYERS AND SEEING WHY WE'VE COME TOGETHER AS GWOF.
GLAD TO HEAR YOU ENJOYED THE ANDY'S(STANLEY, NOT GRIFFETH). WAY IMPORTANT TIME IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. I PROMISE YOU, THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING. PRAY.
KATIE, LETS PLAN TO PURCHASE A TURKEY AND HAM AND HAVE EVERYBODY BRING THE FIXINGS. WHAT DO YOU THINK? YOU'RE PROBABLY WAY AHEAD OF ME ON THAT. LET'S PLAN TO MEET AT 11 ON THE 23RD AND JUST BE TOGETHER AND REALLY WORSHIP AND THANK OUR GOOD HEAVENLY FATHER FOR EVERYTHING.
REALLY LOVE YA'LL, YA'LL REALLY LOVE EACH OTHER.
