CIS Prayer: February News

[CarlaSun@aol.com]

Dear Prayer partners,

Greetings from a very snowy Moscow!   We have about a meter of snow on the ground and it seems to just keep on coming down.   The Moscow airports have been closed twice in the last three weeks because of the snow.   However, in the midst of the snow, I am always amazed at the faithful people that come to church.

I had the privilege of worshiping at Moscow First Church today.   This last week we lost a dear lady, Polina, who went home to be with the Lord.   She was one of the very first people that ever came to the Church of the Nazarene in the former Soviet Union.   She was attracted by the activities of the Youth In Mission Teams in the summer of 1992.   She was out walking with her granddaughter.   She has sat on the front row in church ever since the first day it opened.   Today, her seat was empty.   However, a new seat was full -- because her son Sasha was present.   Polina was quite the evangelist, telling people everywhere she went about Jesus.   She also prayed for her family.   About a year and a half ago her son, Sasha gave his life to Jesus Christ.   Sasha and the rest of the family would certainly appreciate our prayers.

Thanks so much for your prayers for Chloe.   She has received the results of her biopsy and they have discovered a very early form of cancer.   She will be taking oral chemotherapy.   Please pray that this treatment will work, and that she will be able to return to visit the Field in the near future.   It is her heart's desire.

Thanks for your prayers for Lena, the young lady that had been hit by a car.   The doctors say that it is a miracle that she is alive.   Not only is she alive, but she is recovering.   She is now up, out of bed and working on walking.   Praise the Lord.

The Mowrys continue to be on a medical leave of absence.   Please, continue to pray for the whole family.   Chuck is in St. Petersburg today meeting with the leadership team there, working on plans for the future.   Cinda will be returning home to St. Petersburg following her furlough, so please, keep her in your prayers as well.   She is very busy traveling around the United States.

Bob Skinner is also currently on furlough.   He is traveling the US with his son, Michael.   Colleen is in Ukraine with their two other sons and will be joining Bob soon.   Please keep them in your prayers as they are so busy with services and teaching their boys as well.   It's always a heavy burden being on home assignment.

Please be in prayer for our upcoming District Assemblies.   Dr. Diehl and Dr. Crocker will be joining us on March 4 in Astana, Kazakhstan.   Dr. Corlis McGee from EuNC will also be present.   Please pray as we travel together in Central Asia, Russia and Ukraine.   We have many kilometers to cover and borders to cross.   

Linda Russell is in a Creative Access area at this time.   Please be with her as she works on teaching and training leaders.

I thank the Lord for the way in which He works.   Today a new woman visited Moscow First Church.   After the service I discovered she is my neighbor on the 7th floor (we're on the 6th).   We had only met in the elevator in our building.   What a reminder that no matter what we do -- or where we are -- the Lord might use the situation to help bring someone to Him.   

I am so grateful to be a servant of the Lord.

Thanks for praying!

Carla Sunberg -- for the whole CIS Team!