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Profiles of Regular Attenders 2005 Last Updated 12/5/2005 |
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Byeram and I do all of the physical work on the Church. He leads worship and prayer time and shares in teaching our men's group. He is the gentle and non-combative one in the family, but he keeps his cool no matter what people do to him. He was a brawler and full of anger before he was saved. Goolmira shares teaching of the ladies group and helps prepare our weekly Sunday fellowship meal. She is a tough-girl who refuses to back down from God's word no matter how she is pressured. Her family's opposition has made her stronger and more sure of God's word. Eyedana is thoughtful, athletic, an excellent student, and a faithful witness for Jesus Christ. Moldir (the youngest) is nicknamed "grandma Moldir" because she maintains a steady chatter and gives her advice every few seconds. |
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Click here to see photo of Almaty International School Yes it is unusual for Russian speakers to be attending our fellowship. They looked for a Russian church that teaches the Word but couldn't find one. Yulia already knows Kazakh well enough to understand my sermons and Molly's ladies Bible study. Misha is still learning but I give him a copy of the Sermon notes in English and Molly translates for him. Misha owns our truck and car. We have to carry a notarized contract that has been approved by the city police department in order to drive the vehicles. Nationals also have to do this if they drive someone else's car. If we owned them we would have to go through the 1 month process of getting a new license plate every time our visas expired.
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Update on Kuterbye and Goolnara 2005.
Pictured left: Left to Right. (Kuterbye, Sahrat Ata, Byeram)
Kuterbye was the first person in Kalkaman to profess Christ during our ministry.
Pictured below left in the blue sweater: Goolnara.
Kuterbye and Goolnara both entered alcohol rehab at different centers in September of 2004. They had both professed Christ and were planning to be married after their 18 month treatment. They are doing well! It has been 13 months so far. They haven't been able to talk to each other in all of that time. They were also restricted to the grounds of their respective centers for 1 year. Goolnara's family has really come through for her. Their visits and support have been a great encouragement. Kuterbye's relatives live much further away and they have not been supportive. Pray for their reconciliation with him and for their salvation.
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Above: Our men. Left to Right: Byeram, Bakut Djan, Kereah Ata, Kevin, Misha.
Left: The Heinz Family. Left to Right: Noah (8th grade), Amanda (10th), Lucy (12th), Kevin, Molly.
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Right:
left to right: Byeram, Goolmira, Moldir, Eyedana. Byeram is our
full-time ministry partner. He will be doing the preaching when we
go on furlough. He is one of two men in Kazakhstan that we
trust. He owns the church building as well and will own the
ministry center. Foreigner's cannot own land here. Pray that
God would continue to give grace to him.
Goolnoor. Goolnoor is Byeram's wife's (Goolmira's)
younger sister. Goolmira's family lives a 3 day journey to the
west in a village near the Caspian Sea. She comes from a large
family but she only visits every 2 years. Goolnoor came to Almaty
for treatment of TB. When she came, she was not a believer, but
she has been attending Sunday services for months. We have been
covering the Gospel and evangelism. She lives with her older
brother who is strongly against Christianity. He told her when she
came that she had better not come back a Christian or else. Or
else means he won't support her. She has not professed Christ yet. 
Right. Left to Right.
Yulia and Misha Pankov. (and Dottie our
church guard dog). Yulia was the first and best friend we had in
Petropavlovsk during our first year in Kazakhstan. She met Misha
in 2001 when she moved to Almaty. They studied at The Master's
Mission in 2003-04. Now they are attending our fellowship.
Misha works for the US Embassy. Yulia works at the International
School here in Kalkaman.
Kereah
Ata. Kereah's grandmother had a Bible and turned it in
to the soviet authorities. Since that time he wanted to know more
about Jesus Christ. His wife is a devout Muslim. His
children are lukewarm on spiritual things. One is the manager of a
publishing house. Kereah is a faithful attender. He arrives
2 hours before service every week. Because of his cataracts he can
only read very large print. I print out special large-print sermon
notes for him which he reads before service. He refuses to have
surgery despite all our efforts for the last couple of years to convince
him to have it done. We are not sure if he is saved or not.
He professes Christ but it is evident that his understanding of
spiritual things is not strong. 
Goolmira
Apai. Goolmira Apai. her son, and two daughters were
saved and baptized in the early 90's. Her husband is not a
believer. Her daughters both married believing French men and
moved to Paris, France. Her son has a finance degree and works
with an investment fund management company here in Almaty. He is
hoping to study in France next year. He professes Christ but does
not find the time to attend church. Goolmira Apai is not permitted
to attend church when her husband is here. He is currently
visiting his daughters for a year. Goolmira Apai visited last
year. She is teachable and in many areas has been taught
correctly. But not attending church for such long stretches has
taken it's toll. Pray for her husband's salvation. His name is
Maidan. Pray for spiritual growth and discernment for her and her
children. 
Bakut
Djan. Bakut Djan is a cousin of Byeram. He (like
Byeram) was born in Uzbekistan and came here for a better life.
He is hard-working, ambitious, and practical. Like many 25
year-old single men, he is praying for a wife. He travels 2 hours
each way by bus to come to church on Sunday and men's Bible study on
Thursday. He attends youth group at another church, but does
not want to join that church because of the inexperience of the
leadership and some past problems that the church has had. He has
some discernment and not a lot of baggage in life or in wrong teaching -
a rarity in Kazakhstan. We thank God for the opportunity to teach
him as long as God permits! He is part of our unofficial youth
group (see picture below) that meets before and after service to play
cards in the church office. He has bonded with our three kids.
He works for an artificial limb manufacturer 9 months a year. He
went to school when he arrived in Kazakhstan about 4 years ago to learn the
trade. In the winter months he does remodeling work with his
friends.
