January 7, 2007... Year in Review and Plans for 2007
Dearest Friends,
Thank you for praying for us over the past year. I thought that you
might like to know what God did through your prayers. Our heart's desire is to share Jesus Christ with children, teenagers, and adults using puppets,
storytelling, and even balloons. This year, God has opened doors for us to work on five continents, sharing God's love with over 60,000 children,
teenagers, and adults. We trained and equipped many foreign nationals with tools to reach their own countries for Christ.
In the last 12 months, we have worked in the mountains as well as the major cities of Taiwan sharing with Buddhist children and seen many come to faith.
In rural India, God opened doors to share with Hindu children who were also very responsive to the Gospel. In March, we shared in the squatter camps of
South Africa with Moslems and in the Zulu nation to children with AIDS, many of whom will not grow up. James and Lyn Grant are doing a fantastic work there
and need your prayers. In June, we ministered in the Northeast of Brazil to children who live in desperate poverty. Please pray for Gerson and Fabiana
Simioni, newly married in December, who are doing an amazing job of reaching Brazilian children for Jesus. August found us traveling with an Irish band,
Reality, both in Northern Ireland and Ireland doing street ministry. Please pray for Sam Shaw as well as the band members of Reality, as they all work in
a very difficult place.
In September, we traveled to Ukraine and told orphans that there is a Father who loves them. We saw God do great things in France, beyond our
expectations. Please pray for Anna McIlwaine, as she is committed to reaching the children of France. Everywhere that we traveled, we saw hundreds,
thousands in some places, respond to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.
More importantly, the Lord blessed and enabled us to train and equip
nationals in all of these places who continue to reach their own children for Christ. These friends challenged all of us to love Jesus deeper and with
passion.
We also maintained an active ministry in the US sharing Jesus on the
streets, at churches, camps, in schools, and in prisons. The Father opened doors for us to train people here as well and we stand in awe of Him.
Personally, with the help of many friends who have been sacrificial with their time and strength, I enjoyed having college students in my home for lunch
(40 plus at a time). We also had a fall bonfire/hayride Harvest Party, a Jesus Birthday Party with lots of cookies, and did Christmas tours at my home,
sharing with 500 children. There is not room to list all of the people who made all of these outreaches possible.
MIKE
Since the death of my dear husband, our Director, God has proven time and again His faithfulness. He promises to be a
husband to the widows and He keeps His promises. I miss Mike every moment of every day, but I find my comfort in Jesus and I look toward the day that we
will be together again in heaven. There are no words for the longing that I have for his wisdom, company, and leadership. Please hold me before the throne
as we have much work to do in 2007 and I continue to feel Mike's loss very keenly.
WHY DID WE SEE THE FATHER DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS?
All of these things were blessed by the Father because so many people stayed on their knees. Your prayers are impacting
the world for Jesus Christ. Keep praying!
MORE PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for us as we make plans to share in 2007 in Slovakia,
Taiwan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Peru, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Moldova, and in the United States. Ask God to use us to show many children,
teenagers, and adults that He is their only hope. Please pray for the necessary funds to equip these teams.
We do need some new prayer warriors and team members who will support the puppet ministry financially. Please pray for these new partners.
Ask the Lord to bless Sam Shaw, our Assistant Director, as he makes plans to marry in June. We are all excited to have Silvana join our team!
Pray for young people in the U.S. to join the US team. E-mail me if you are interested.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9th, we leave for Slovakia to work with Bevan Stein and The Father's Heart. Please pray for many Gypsy and Slovak children to
come to faith in Christ. We will return on the 25th of January.
In Jesus,
Linda
For the team,
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
Jon Bova
J.T. Linville
Sam Shaw – Assistant Director
January 12th, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
MARIKA'S STORY
Marika is a beautiful little Gypsy girl with dark hair and big brown eyes. She loves to sing Christian songs. This Christmas she stayed
with a kind Christian lady named Maria, an older lady, who has devoted herself to sharing with Gypsy children.
Marika lives in downtown Kosice in a horrific place. Her home is like the home of many of the children that we are sharing with. From the street, you walk
down a long passageway that was built several hundred years ago, to a group of small apartments. These are not apartments as you would think of them; the
smell of decay is everywhere. She lives in a single room 4 meters by 3 meters with her mother, father and her 4 brothers and sisters. They have no
bathroom, no running water, no hope that life will ever improve. Her other 7 brothers and sisters live in an orphanage. There is no gas for cooking and
heat.
Just steps away, Kosice sparkles with shops full of beautiful things. People walk past the passageway that leads to Marika's dirty, smelly world and never
even know it exists. That is the big problem. Most people in Slovakia do not even know that these children exist. They walk past them on the street, but
do not see them. If they do see them, curses and insults usually follow.
Even Christians struggle to minister to the Gypsy children. One Pastor complained about the Gypsy children that come to his church. A Christian brother
challenged him to go and see where the Gypsy children live so that he could better understand them, but the Pastor refused. Before we condemn this man, I
beg all of us to examine our own hearts. Who do we not see? Who do we refuse to love? Please pray for Marika and her family. Please pray for all of us
that we might love the Gypsy children well. Please ask to help us all see as He sees.
CHILDREN AT A SHELTER
We did a puppet show tonight at a shelter for homeless families. We talked about hope, love, and peace... All of the things that
people hunger to find. We told them about Jesus, how he healed people and how He walked on water. The children listened spellbound. It was one of those
wonderful shows, where you see God's Spirit moving in a powerful way. When we led the children in a prayer to receive Jesus as Savior, they prayed with
enthusiasm. They wanted to know Jesus and called on Him in loud, clear voices. It was awesome! Heather was so excited! She thanked me for bringing her
to Slovakia and gave me a big hug. Please pray for these children to grow strong in their faith!
Ironically, we were not even supposed to be at the shelter tonight. The children at the orphanage where we had planned to got the flu and so they would
not let us come. God had another plan.
ALENA'S STORY
Alena, a young woman in her twenties, lives at the same shelter. After the show tonight, she came and asked if I would pray for her.
Her story broke my heart. Her father sexually abused her. Her mother murdered her brother and she is haunted by nightmares about his death. She wanted
me to ask God to take away her bad dreams. I shared my own testimony with her, talking about the child sexual abuse I had experienced from a kindergarten
teacher. I told her how Jesus healed my heart and promised her that He could heal her heart. We shared about how Jesus gives people a new way of looking
at things and redeems even the terrible things with His wonderful love. I talked with her about the deep hurts that we all carry, telling her how God was
even now healing my own broken heart. She listened carefully. Finally, I told her that God could take away her nightmares only if she trusted in Jesus as
her Savior. I asked her if she would like to pray with us and ask Jesus to be her Savior. Her answer was immediate. "Ano," she said. Dodo, our
translator, and I led her in prayer and she became our sister in Christ. She was so happy! We are picking her up for church on Sunday. Please pray for
Alena to become a bright light for Jesus.
In Jesus,
Linda for
Sam Shaw - Assistant Director
Heather Kelley
Mykala Kelley
Jon Bova
JT Linville
January 13th, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
CANCER HOSPITAL
Most of the children who came to this show were attached to IV's. These children are
very, very sick and most will not get well. One little boy that we met was only 12 years old. He has bone cancer and the doctors had to amputate his leg
at the thigh. His father talked with several of us and told us that
it is only God who gives him the strength to face this terrible time.
Many doctors, nurses, and parents came and listened to the puppet show and the Bible story. Their deep concern for these children and for some, their
personal pain, made them hungry to hear about heaven.
Years ago, when I first traveled in Africa with James Grant, our South African Puppet Director, I heard him give the sweetest explanation of heaven. It is
what I have used ever since that time. I said, "Heaven is a beautiful place. There is no pain there. There is no hunger there. Everyone would like to
go to heaven." These are precious words to a child who knows that he or she will not grow up. It so simply states the wonder of the promise that God
makes to us who believe.
Best of all, the doctor was so happy with the program that he asked Bevan to come again and often. This is a wonderful opportunity for their puppet team
at The Father's Heart, a fantastic ministry based in Kosice that trains and equips Slovaks to reach their own children for Christ. Bevan Stein is the
director of this exciting work.
YANKA'S STORY
Yanka is a little 13 year old girl whose mother has made very bad choices and now she pays the price. They live in a shelter at the
moment, but in less than one month they will be forced to leave because they will have exhausted their allotted time. Last night, Yanka cried after the
puppet show, begging Dodo's wife Mishka to pray for her. She said that she is very afraid and does not know what will happen to her. Her story is similar
to so many children here. They face hunger, cold, and homelessness because of decisions that they did not make.
If you want to partner with a ministry here to support a child who would otherwise be homeless, please contact Bevan Stein at this email address:
bevan_d_stein@msn.com. It will cost $100 per month to provide for a child like Yanka.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
It is so sweet that we are allowed to go into schools and share Jesus
love, with the children. One deputy administrator was very happy with the content of our program and surprised by the quality. She said, "We pay for many
programs and they are not as good as yours. Please always come again." It is strange the things that God uses to open doors for future ministry.
POVERTY AND RICHES
The Slovakian economy is improving every year, with more shopping
places and more expensive cars on the road. However, it still has the poorest economy in the European Union. There is a small middle class, but most
people are either very poor, or very rich. Mostly, they are very poor. True poverty has been best described not as the absence of things, but is the
absence of hope. The Gypsy children here have no hope. Jesus Christ is hope and he alone can comfort these children. They ache for the love of a father
and God alone can fill there heart's with a fathers love. These children grow up despised. They are denied access to restaurants, cursed by people who
see them, and judged by the color of their skin. There is no way for them to hide who they are. If change comes, it must happen in men's hearts by the
power of the Gospel. Please pray for us to have wisdom, show love, and be light in the dark.
Pray for Slovakia!
In Jesus,
Linda for
Sam Shaw – assistant director
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
JT Linville
Jon Bova
January 14th, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
PASSPORT DISASTERI wanted to share with you what happened in Frankfurt the day that I lost my passport.
It seemed that I was living out the mother's nightmare in the movie "Home Alone". I was very concerned about the young people going on without me and as
the day progressed, somewhat frustrated by my inability to reach them sooner. The airline was no help and I did not even know where to start. What do you
do when you are in another country and loose your passport? It was the German police that God sent to my rescue.
The police walked me through the entire process and even called the embassy for me. They wrote down the address and told me where to get a taxi, after
arranging for temporary papers for me. They were very kind.
I arrived at the embassy and exited less than 1 and a half hours later with a newly printed passport. In between, I was befriended by a security guard who
got me to the front of the line, a sweet lady at the passport desk, and an American serviceman and his wife. One of the things that really helped was a
laminated copy of my passport that Mike made for me to carry. All the time, I was praying, asking God to redeem this big mistake and He showed me mercy.
The serviceman and his wife talked with me for most of the time that I was at the embassy. He even stood to give me his chair. I talked with them about
what I did, sharing stories of the children that we serve. When they found out that I was a children's Bible teacher, they told me that they really liked
the Bible name Jonah, but did not like the part of the story where he caused the death of everyone on the ship. I smiled and told them that was not how
the story ended. Then I asked if they would like to hear the real story. I received an enthusiastic "Yes". They listened to that story and then asked if
I knew anything about Caleb's story. It was an amazing time and I am very grateful for their kindness and their questions.
I returned to the airport and arrived around midnight in Kosice. I was one of 4 passengers on the whole plane and the only one with checked luggage. I
had 14 pieces, more weight than all the passengers on the plane. The Slovak customs officials began to ask many questions and I was sure that I would
have to pay allot of money. Again, God intervened and they allowed my friend Bevan to come back into customs to help me explain. We left the airport with
all the luggage and no charges. Praise God!
THEATER PERFORMANCE
Some Lutheran brothers and sisters with great vision rented a theater and invited everyone to come for a fun afternoon featuring clowns,
a Christian band, dramas, and The Agape Puppets. Many people in the crowd were not believers and did not normally attend church. One lady came whose
husband had left her. Before, she did not believe in God, but now she showed a growing hunger for the Gospel. Her little son is very close to praying to
receive Jesus. The place was full and the afternoon was incredible. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit moving among the crowd.
Our friends are very creative. They wrote this very funny story about how we all arrived in a miniature airplane and then shot us with a ray gun to return
us to our normal size.
The lights in the place changed colors and flashed. As the theater went dark for a few seconds, 4 of us went out and knelt. As the lights came back on,
we began to grow proving the success of the clown's ray gun. Okay, it took Sam and Jon both to get me off the floor, but all went well. The children
laughed and laughed. It is a wonderful thing for children to enjoy a Christian program. They left with a sweet taste for the Gospel, both the parents
and the children.
PRAYER REQUESTS
1. Mykayla has a stomach bug and needs your prayers for a speedy recovery
2. Tomorrow we are going to a Gypsy village. Please ask the Father to pour His spirit on these 2 shows.
In Jesus,
Linda for
Sam Shaw – assistant director
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
JT Linville
Jon Bova
January 15th, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
TWO WORLDS
Today, we visited the place that I wrote about the other day, a place in Kosice where
many gypsies live. Most are children and all belong to one large extended family. One minute you are on the streets of Kosice and everything is beautiful
and smells nice. Then you walk through an ancient passageway and you arrive in another world. The smell is the first thing that you notice. The air
smells of decay, urine, and filth.
More than 50 people live in 5 rooms, 3 are upstairs and 2 are in the basement. They would not allow us to see that area. What we saw was so terrible that
I can not imagine what was below. Each room was the size of a large American bathroom and usually had only one bed. There was no heat and it is cold here,
usually colder even than now. They have no gas to cook with and no running water or bathrooms of any kind. I honestly do not know how they live.
I asked Jon what he was thinking when we left and all he said was "I'm sad." He had no other words. Heather said that what she had seen broke her heart.
We took carefully chosen bags of groceries to each family, full of the basics that children need to eat. We also made balloon animals for all of the
children. God used these small gifts that your gifts made possible to open their hearts to hear the Gospel. We prayed for the families in several homes
and had 2 good discussions with groups of adults. Let me share one story with you.
The mother and grandmother of all of the people there was talking about how hard it is for them to survive. All I could think was...What can I possibly
say that will not be dismissed as the empty words of a comfortable American? I was really praying for wisdom. I had visited with these people before and
had been told that over the last 2 years they had often asked about me. I felt like I should tell them about Mike and his death, maybe in that loss could
I hope to touch a common place of suffering. As I shared with them, God seemed to melt their hearts and a door opened for them to hear the Gospel. Praise
God! I was hugged several times by the mother\grandmother. She said, "Too young for him to die." Thirty years ago her husband died when he was a few
years younger than Mike. She still missed him and I could understand her pain.
Please pray for this group of gypsy families. Their greatest need is Jesus. There really is nothing this side of eternity that will change for these
children. I will be honest with you. I am crying and finding it difficult to type this email.
CHILDREN, SEWAGE, AND SONGS
Five years ago, Sam, David Thomson, and I first visited a small gypsy village. The
experience forever changed the 3 of us. Heavy snow and ice covered the ground as we entered a very small house. Seventy people crowded into a place that
would have comfortably held half that number. WE could not get the stage into the room and so the guys knelt and friends held up a curtain. During the
show, the weight of all the people caused the floor to buck and sewage came up from a drain field under the floor. Though the guy's legs were soaked,
they never moved. Eventually, I had it all over me and the equipment, but since the children stayed in place, we finished. Afterwards, a young man pulled
out an old guitar and began to lead in praise music. I have never been so convicted before that the focus must always be the cross. We left that place
changed, challenged, and really happy.
Tonight, after such a long absence, we returned to that place, but at a different site. The crowd was again too big for the space, but no one cared and
some stood during the whole program so that they could see the show. To our amazement, the adults remembered Sam and I and we were humbled by the joy with
which they received us. They clapped for everything. Again, the guitar came out and the singing of praise music filled the room.
Best of all, I think almost every child in the room was praying out loud with us as we gave the invitation to receive Jesus. I am so grateful that the
Father allowed us to return to that place. There is a small church there that needs your prayers! Also, please pray for these children and their new
faith to grow strong.
In Jesus,
Linda for the Team
Sam,
Dodo,
Mykayla,
Heather,
Jon,
and J.T.
January 17th, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
GYPSY SCHOOL
Today's story began two years ago on our last trip to Slovakia. We did a program where
the director of the school was not happy with us when we arrived. However, God softened her heart and was thankful at the end of the show, even treating us
to coffee. Often this is our experience, no matter which country we are in at the time. Often we see God turn people's hearts as you pray!
Now, God has placed a Christian as the director at the School. She had the children come to the local culture center. These buildings are scattered
across Eastern Europe by the former regime as places of political indoctrination. Today, we stood in that place and proclaimed the love of God to the
children. When we gave the invitation, we heard adults, Gypsy parents praying out loud. Though they began out loud, they became shy and quiet, but we
trust that since they had begun with such courage, they finished the prayer in their hearts. Everyone was amazed that they came and prayed. The children
called on Jesus with soft whispers and we were blessed.
Slavo is Bevan Stein's son and an amazing young man that Bevan and his wife Laura adopted from a children's home when he was ten. Today, twenty
years old, he joined with the puppet team and shared his story with the children. He talked about where he grew up, being sent to the children's home at
age three, and how God had provided him with a family. He said God blessed him with parents and he encouraged the children to talk to God. "He will not
disappoint you", Slavo said.
INTERESTING DIFFERENCES
A "potraviny" is a grocery store and sells wonderful bread and delicious Orion chocolate. I have enjoyed daisy/orange tea. All kinds of
fruit flavored teas are very popular here. Pizza is different, often served with carrots and corn on top. The other night, Bevan ordered tuna fish pizza.
Children here play "Red rover, red rover, send ______ right over." However, they say "king, give us a soldier and then name the child. In Ireland,
Sam calls this game "bulldog."
On top of some telephone poles are large nests, made of sticks. Some are three feet across. Storks live in them.
KOSICE
Kosice, where we have been based the first week of our stay in Slovakia, is a city of 300,000. However, we have spent most of our time in
neighboring villages and towns where there is so little Gospel and where many Gypsy settlements are located.
It has been an incredible first week. We have heard many children and even some adults praying out loud, asking Jesus to be their Savior. Some of
the places where we shared are Boliaro, Secovce, Hlinne, Hostovice, Zdana, and Moldova Nad Bodvou. Please pray for God to grow many strong churches in
these places!
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
The children walked with crutches, sat in wheelchairs, or walked very slowly. Most
of these children did not need to live in an institution, but this is where they were. At age eighteen, they will leave this place with no real job skills.
Most will not know what to do and have no place to go. A few will spend their entire lives in an institution, simply because no one wants them.
It was a special privilege to tell these children about Jesus Christ. Sam told a fantastic story and I drew the pictures for him. All of us were so
blessed by these children and broken by their hardships. One little boy, blonde headed and blue eyed, kindly offered me a seat. He could barely walk, but
he saw other's needs. I want to be like this little boy.
A GYPSY VILLAGE
As I looked out the office of the school's Director, I could see the Gypsy homes.
Honestly they looked like squatter camp homes from Africa. Ten by nine feet, they huddled close together, looking more like a pile of trash than someone's
homes. I cannot imagine what life must be like for these children.There is only one Christian teacher in this school and we had a great conversation with
her. She is committed to sharing with all of these children and teachers. Please pray that God will use our show to start many good discussions about Jesus
Christ.
TOMORROW…
Tomorrow at 3:30 A.M, we leave Kosice for a new location. It takes three hours to
travel there and we have five shows scheduled on the day we arrive. The next few days will give us the opportunity to share with children, adults, and
teenagers at 13 shows. Please pray for strength, God's spirit to move in the children's hearts, and the next 2 teams that we will train. We are finishing
our time in Kosice by training with the team from "the Father's Heart."
Pray!
In Jesus,
Linda for the team,
Jon Bova
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
JT Linville
Sam Shaw (Assistant Director)
January 21st, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
THE GIFT
Tonight, I received a beautiful gift. A little boy, who was at a school show that we
did earlier today, came this afternoon to the church show that we did. He came early and begged for a piece of paper. He made me a beautiful red paper
crane as a thank you present for the story that he had heard earlier today. I treasure this gift.
Later, we talked and he told us that his father hits him. He is a very big man who towers over the boy, I met him. He also came to the show. Please pray
for the boy's father to become convicted of his sin and ask Jesus to be his Savior.
Please pray for the little boy to put his trust in Jesus. He told us that he had not prayed before, but promised to think about it. Ask God to protect
him. His story is so many children's story. I love my red paper crane. My heart breaks for this dear little boy.
GODS PROVIDENCE
Yesterday, we were scheduled to have 5 shows, but God showed us mercy. Two schools combined classes so that were able to share with the
same number of children, but do fewer shows. This was a great gift to all of us as most of us are really sick with a bad cold, only Sam and Jon remain
healthy. We did not have much strength and our voices were getting weak, but the change in the schedule enabled us to share with hundreds of teachers and
students and do it well.
Please pray that we can quickly get over these colds. We are not sleeping well and our translator Dodo, especially needs to be well. He is also our
driver and getting very tired.
The Pastor was very happy with the shows and especially kind to us as we received the news of my mother's stroke. He said that if we needed him, he would
be happy to get up in the night and pray with us. I was very touched by his sympathy.
MY MOTHER
As many of you read yesterday, my mother suffered a mild stroke. Within an hour of sending out the email requesting prayer, we began to
receive responses from all over the world. They continued to come in today. Your messages lifted my heart and will be a blessing to my mother when she is
better.
I confess to you that I was overwhelmed by all the possibilities that this might mean. Coming so close to Mike's death, I was really scared. Talking to
God did what it always does, my spirit calmed and the tears dried.
I remain very concerned for my mother. I love her so very much, but I am not coming home. I know I am doing what she would want me to do. She is a
great woman of God who taught me to love Jesus. Please hold her in your prayers and ask the Father to help me focus on the needs of the children.
PUPPET SHOWS
We are very busy and very blessed. We are mostly recovered from the colds we have all
had and are feeling much better. We are traveling doing shows in Liptovsky Mikulas, Ruzomberok, Lucenec, Klenovec and many other towns and villages.
Please pray for daily strength and wisdom.
THE HIGH TATRAS
We have been in the high Tatras, a snow capped mountain range that shows the greatness
of our creator. The views are incredible, but the smiles of the children are the most beautiful sights we see. So many of them live in terrible places,
but they smile and enjoy the puppet show, able for a little while to forget. The lasting changes in their lives come as they pray and trust Jesus. Every
day we are more convinced that He is their real and only hope.
In Jesus,
Linda for,
Sam Shaw
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
Dodo
Jon Bova
J.T Linville
January 23rd, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
SNOW AND WHISPERS
Its snowing. We are all so happy. This is the mildest winder Europe has seen in 50
years. They have had no snow in Slovakia. However, today we enjoyed multiple snowball fights before and after the puppet show. We are in the village of
Klenovec.
This morning, we woke up to a white world that is getting whiter by the minute. We went to a school for mildly handicapped children and they were
delighted. So much laughter filled our ears and children's soft whispers as the prayed. It filled our hearts with joy.
KATKA BENOVCA
This lady is very special. For years she has been working with Gypsy children and other hurting children, funding most of the work
herself. Often, I know that she has done without personally so that she had the supplies she needed to share with the children. Can any of us give this
same testimony?
We are very excited to have brought Katka a set of equipment. She has Gypsy children that she has been discipIing and now they will have the opportunity
to minister. Your kindness to children you do not know made this gift possible. Your prayers opened the door for this mew ministry and enabled us to find
her. Thank you.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for this village, Klenovec. Ask God to call many children to himself.
In Jesus,
Linda for,
Sam Shaw
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
Dodo
Jon Bova
J.T Linville
January 24th, 2007 Slovakia
Dearest Friends,
BLESSINGS
There are so many stories that we have not had time to tell you. Enjoy these blessings.
1) In a small village 200 children gathered in a culture center. We were told as we are about half the time, that we could not pray with the
children. However, we were allowed to explain how someone can trust Jesus. God will always finish with the children.
2) Rejoice that two gypsies came to faith in Jesus. They were so excited about the message that someone had shared with them that soon ten
others believed. These new Christians got a Bible and began to meet in the woods, studying the word of God all night around a fire. When they felt the
need for leadership, God lead them to a local evangelical pastor. Now, there is a church in their village, meeting in an old house.
3) Thank God for His provision for this house. The older lady who owned it spent her life hating God and now her home is used to share God's love.
The people are so committed to coming that they wait outside for an hour before the service. That is when the bus runs and they do not want to miss
worship. What commitment!
4) Thank God for a director at an institution who came to thank us. He said, "You gave the children beauty today. Normally, we have many
programs that come, but they are not quality like you. They are not beauty. "I love the idea of calling the Gospel beauty!
5) All of us were blessed by the snow that finally fell and J.T. was excited to see his first castle.
6) I have been personally blessed by every member of this team. They have all been so dedicated and focused on the children. Thank God for
the faithfulness and kindness of Heather, Mykayla, Sam, Jon, Dodo and J.T!
7) Praise God for the precious children and young people (all gypsies) who prayed to receive Christ with us our last day in Slovakia. All were
desperately poor and many were orphans. In Jesus, they are rich and no longer an orphan.
DEAF CHILDREN
Today, we had to triple translate, from English into Slovak into sign language. Rarely have we ever had so many teachers that honestly
hated God. They despised our presence. One even interrupted the Gospel presentation to tell them they did not have to pray if they did not want to. I
always tell the children this statement, but he wanted to make sure it was said. The children knew nothing of God, nothing of Jesus. It was a matter of
constant prayer to know how to tell the story.
At the end of the program one child and one teenager came and thanked us. Another child gave Heather a thank you present. It was the only thing that
she had, a tube of nose spray. It has been my experience that when a child says thank you after a show, it is their way of saying I heard what you said. I
really listened. This is especially true when it is perhaps the only word they have in a language that you can understand.
THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
Yesterday, we worked at a church that is very old. The members survived 70 years of communist persecution. It is a joy to partner with them as they seek
to reach their children for Jesus. For so many years, the communist government forbids anyone under 18 to join the church. Today, many Christians struggle
to believe that small children can come to faith in Jesus. Please pray for God to teach these dear friends the simple truth that Jesus calls children to
Himself.
Thank God for those who already know that little ones can have real faith. Please pray for Pastor Benjamin and his wife Tara as they seek to teach the
children for Jesus. They are a very sweet example of people who have enthusiasm for Jesus!
HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow, at 5AM our time, we start for home. We leave Slovakia with great joy!
God is awesome! Watch for the final report in the next few days. Thank you for your prayers!!!!!!!!
In Jesus,
Linda for,
Sam Shaw
Heather Kelley
Mykayla Kelley
Dodo
Jon Bova
J.T Linville
