Magistralny and Ulkan

Do you see a white color on the picture above? Could you please guess: what is it there?
The picture made on June 21st while we visited small churches in small villages in Irkutsk region, Siberia.
It's non-melted snow and ice right near to the road... at hot summer time! The temperature at that day was about 85 degree F.
Unfortunately, sometimes our hearts are still covered with ice and snow while other people could enjoy hot blessings of the Holy Spirit.

We had a privilege to visit Pastor Alexey and Dasha. They have three sons and one daughter.
They own a house and use it temporarily for the church services while the church building is still under reconstruction
 

Alexey and Dasha with their little princess

Building under Re-construction

Worship and prayers and teaching at Pastor's home

At train station with our friend: we are ready to go to the next small village!

God used us as peacemakers to reconcile relationship among Christians in a small church.
People hearts were covered by non-melted snow and ice. Praise God the Holy Spirit melted it and brought peace for many people. It was a hard assignment for all of us. Please keep praying!

Ust-Ilimsk City

Ust-Ilimsk city is located on the big river Angara, the only river coming out of the lake Baikal.

One of four electrical power station on the river Angara

It was a school building in the past. Now it's in a poor condition. Everything needs a touch of lovely hands from the top to the bottom, starting from the roof and going down! In a future, it's going to be a Social Center for elder people, homeless, and adaptation center after rehabilitation programs.

Leaders of one of Alco rehab centers in Ust-Ilimsk, Igor & Lena

People at rehab center are learning to take care for plants and animals.

A sheep-shearing event at rehab! Igor and Lena are getting new skills!

Lena and Olga

Yuriy is riding a horse! Fun time!

Leaving area at rehab

Bible study and prayer time at another alco and drug rehab center

Spending time with leaders of this rehab

On Sunday we had a church service at church. Pastor Nikolay introduced Yuriy as his first pastor

Our prayer ministry at the end of the church service. We prayed for blessings of people and specially for marriages.

Zheleznogorsk

One of Sundays we spent at church of the Holy Trinity in Zheleznogorsk city

Worship team is leading us to the the throne of God

Prayer of blessings for children

Yuriy is sharing his message to the local church

People pay full attention to Yuriy's message and testimony

Prayer of repentance of one man

Also, we enjoyed time with leaders and pastors: testimonies, prayers, and tea with delicious cake!

Siberia, Ust-Kut City

After spending a few days in a big city of Nizhniy Novgorod, we landed in Siberian city Irkutsk.  It was a good surprise for us to find out that new aircraft AN 148 flies every day from Irkuts to Ust-Kut city. Sure, we decided to fly an hour instead of going 28 hours by train and purchased the air tickets for the very next day. We could enjoy time and pray with our friends in Irkutsk.

On May 29 we arrived to Ust-Kut city and could see a high level of water on the river Lena.

On June 1st, every city and small town has a big celebration - Celebration of Children!

Lots of activities for children at this day!  The weather was perfect and many families spent this day together with their kids.  It looks like summer came to Siberia on June 1st!

The air was warm but the ground is still cold and planting potatoes and vegetables has been rescheduled to the later time - to the next week or so.

Christian Center "Good News" in Ust-Kut city. Exterior work is already done but interior work is still in a process for a long years...

At Sunday morning church service (above) and Wednesday evening leaders training (below)

We visited a Pastor's home that is still under construction.  It's nice that a family with four children has a space for living (for many years they had a flat with a small kitchen, one bedroom, and a family room). They purchased a small house located close to the church building and are doing reconstruction work, step by step, a little by little.

Nizhny Novgorod

Our first destination - big city Nizhny Novgorod with its own Kremlin that never been occupied by its enemies. 

Tourist ship on the river Volga

Some of Kremlin walls are under reconstruction

Sunday morning church service, Yuriy is speaking on unity and commitment topic

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Young generation is getting ready to make a step of faith: to make a covenant with their Savior Jesus through the water baptism.

In the afternoon we had an opportunity to visit another church and share testimonies. Praise God, we can build relationship with a young pastor.