spring14

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2016 Copyright -

This website is protected by copyright, it's content in whole or in part may not be reproduced or used without the express written permission of

2018 Copyright -

Arslan Visit

Spring 2014

Last Friday Vitalik, Marina, Sherrel and I visited a young Tatar boy we have known most of his life. He is from Simferopol and his sister, Miriam, was on our team several times. Arslan was in Kiev for treatments for Leukemia. He and his mom, Lemon, were so glad to see us. We were overwhelmed with Arslan's joy and excitement when he saw us. His face lit up when he saw Vitalik. You could tell he and his mom had not had much to laugh about for a long time. We had a good time of prayer and when we were leaving the hugs Arslan gave us were long and very emotional.

In His service,

Rich

Lemon (mom) & Arslan

Sister -

Miriam

Vitalik & Arslan

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Sister -

Miriam

Arslan Visit

Maidan Works Update

March 11, 2014 -

A Call to Prayer

Today we have been talking with pastors and friends in Crimea. Many different emotions and needs. One pastor in Sevastopol said "people are afraid and are seeking God". He was excited. He pastor's a rehab center, mission school and new church. He asked for us to pray for boldness. Another pastor with a very heavy heart is praying that the strongholds will be broken!!!! Another pastor felt forgotten. Does Ukraine still know we are down here in Crimea and under occupation? Pray that many people will find Jesus and choose to serve Him as Lord and Savior. Pray God's sovereign victory in Ukraine and Crimea. Pray that the enemy's strongholds will be BROKEN and the Russian army and Putin will suffer complete defeat by the hand of God. Not one bullet will be fired. Pray for wisdom and boldness.

I just hung up from a Skype conversation with one of our missionaries in Kiev. The Least of These (TLOT) was scheduled to minister throughout Crimea during our Spring Outreaches. Our team has not been allowed to cross the border into Crimea. The reality of what is going on in Ukraine is much worse than the news media is reporting. Crimea – All banks have been closed by the Russian government in Crimea. Russia is not liberating Russians from Ukraine, it is oppressing Crimea. Kerch, Sevastopol, and Simferopol are being hit hard by the military while less affluent areas like Belogorsk being mostly ignored. The monetary system has already been changed over to the ruble. Our team was able to speak to a pastor friend in Kerch. He told our team that the Ukrainian banks in Crimea have been closed and the people in Crimea are beginning to run out of money. They are now dealing with people beginning to run out of food because of this. They have money; they just can’t get to it, because Russia, who says they are there to help, has cut off their resources. The Tatars have throughout history been persecuted by the Russians. We are told they are being terribly persecuted throughout Crimea now. One of our Tatar friends who has gone on missions with us, a beautiful young girl, her brother is fighting a battle with Leukemia. It is one sorrow upon another. Our team is going to Kiev to visit him tomorrow. Please pray for this family. We were told by an orphanage director in a town in Crimea that Russia commanded them to get rid of all the orphans. Orphans with parents were sent back to their parents, whether those parents lost custodial rights or not. We are told the true orphans may have returned to the orphanage, but we do not know what to expect for them. Today – I am told today has been a very emotional day for our team and friends. Russia has positioned its army along the eastern and northern borders of Ukraine. The Russian army has over ten thousand troops and many tanks, armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers, everything necessary to support their army. They are not preparing to take eastern Ukraine to support Russians there; they are preparing to take the rest of Ukraine. Kiev is just one hundred miles from the northern border. Our team, friends, and ministry center are in real jeopardy. Please pray for them to have wisdom and courage for the days ahead. Kiev – Maidan, where about one hundred peaceful demonstrators were gunned down by a corrupt, Russian-backed government has transformed into a place that is like “going to church. The peace and the presence of God are so strong there,” one of our team members said. People are coming from all over Ukraine to pray and to seek aid. One of those people is a pastor and friend from Kerch who has people in his congregation who are without food and starving. He needs help to feed them and others. TLOT will send funds with him to help out. Pray he is able to bring the aid all the way back to his people.

There are several prayer tents that have been set up since the beginning of Maidan. They are located behind the stage area. TLOT is working in an evangelical prayer tents just about seventy feet from the center stage and just a few yards from where one hundred people were murdered during peaceful protests. Included in these tents are the one our team is at, an evangelical tent, there are also Orthodox, Catholic, and Greek Orthodox prayer tents. All of them are open twenty-four hours a day. It is a profound scene as our TLOT team prepares sandwiches, cookies, tea, and coffee for the hungry masses assembled there. People were lined up for eight hours to receive nourishment and prayer. TLOT served over one thousand sandwiches and more than two thousand cups of tea and coffee! Our team is doing everything they can to bring support and relief to all who come. Our team has had the privilege of praying with pastors and others from all over the nation. Our hearts are heavy with their plight. These are real people who wanted a free nation – a nation free of corruption. They were peacefully fighting for this very thing when a neighboring country took advantage and the world stood by and watched. TLOT is determined to use the Ministry Center as a refugee camp if it comes to that. Please pray for the protection of what is left of Ukraine. Pray that Crimea will be released back to the Ukrainians. Pray that we do not lose communications with team members in Ukraine. We are told strange things are happening to emails, etc.

In many cases the reports/updates from Ukraine are going directly into receipts spam folders. Please check your spam folder. Pray that our team members will be kept safe and that the Ministry Center will be able to serve those in need. Pray for multiplication of TLOT finances and the ability to get aid to those in Crimea. Our every effort to get to Crimea has been thwarted. All vehicles without Crimean license plates are being turned back, all vans/buses are being turned back, and suit cases are being searched on the train to keep aid from reaching Crimea. Your help to support the efforts of The Least of These in Crimea has never been more needed than now. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to help those suffering. Please commit to pray daily for Ukraine, our teams, and a miracle to turn Russia away from the course it is on. Pray Ukraine will turn to Jesus through this crisis. With humble hearts the entire TLOT team thanks you.