KYRGYZSTAN KONNECTION

Tim & Rita Nickel – LCMS World Mission

May 23, 2006

 

  Missionaries Ablaze! in Kyrgyzstan

 

Before I came to be a missionary in Kyrgyzstan, I had a vision of Kyrgyz people sitting on the floor in a circle with their Bibles open, eagerly learning God’s Word and praying together. God has graced us with seeing this vision fulfilled scores of times. But there is a second part to the vision, which is only now beginning to be fulfilled. In this second part, someone else is doing the teaching and leading of the group. This is what is happening in the photo which was taken in Naryn city, center of Naryn province.

 

Naryn is a fairly large city in the midst of a mostly empty, cold, remote, and very mountainous region of Kyrgyzstan. The region is very poor, and the only business is raising livestock. There are more horses than cars and more sheep than people. Electricity is everywhere (thanks to Stalin) and even cell phones work. However, most other comforts and conveniences of life are nonexistent. And it is very cold. Most of the time and energy of the Kyrgyz people in Naryn is used up trying to find ways to keep warm.

 

 Ilias and Mimoza have gathered a group to form a new church in Naryn. This is significant, for there are only a very few small Christian churches in all of Naryn. Now the Lord has another small beachhead in a region under the control of the enemy of souls.

 

About 45 minutes away, over yet another mountain range is a town in a different valley, serving as the center for surrounding villages. Two groups of new believers were started in this town, and attempts were made in three surrounding villages. But threats of beatings and being driven out of town prevented more people from coming to the meetings. Nevertheless, the 15 new believers in these two groups are determined to remain faithful to their new Lord and Savior. Ilias will also be taking over the leading of these groups. There is no Christian witness in this town whatsoever and we heard that a couple of missionaries were driven out a few years ago.

 

Naryn province is almost 100% Kyrgyz by nationality and thus Kyrgyz traditions are very strong, including religious traditions, which are much more deeply rooted than in the north where we live. We are praying that this will be the right time to enter into this stronghold and establish a living, witnessing, growing Lutheran presence. We expect that the work will be slow and difficult, especially at first. There will be reluctance to accept Christ, and there will definitely be persecutions.

 

In July, Rita will be bringing a team of Health Evangelists to make two presentations of Women’s Health Issues. We are praying that these seminars will open some of the people to hearing the stories of the Bible later on.

 

We are praying about Naryn, and we beg you to pray with us. Our plans are to send teams of evangelists and health educators into the region in the next couple of years. We need prayers to know God’s plans, God’s people, and God’s procedures.

 

 

That was Tim and this is Rita, who promised you a glimpse of Africa. However, the trip to Naryn is so vital and so much prayer is needed that Africa will wait until our return to Bishkek in July.  It will happen, I promise. Meanwhile I will give you a tiny taste of my trip: It was hot. I slept in a hut with many creepy critters.  I did not get malaria. The Guineans are kind, gentle and full of grace.  I cannot carry anything on my head, but they can. I rode on the back of a mini motorcycle taxi, not once but several times. When I did this everyone stared. It was a funny sight.

 

We find ourselves in the midst of bags and boxes at the moment, as we are moving to a different apartment on Friday. Our landlord unexpectedly raised our rent by nearly one half and we cannot, in good conscience, remain here.  We found a great place in one day and hopefully will be almost settled in by the time we fly out on Monday morning.  Most of the bags and boxes are filled with books.  Tim has kept AMAZON in business for years!

 

We will be attending several conventions and speaking at three churches in June.  While in the States we can be reached at bishkek03@yahoo.com.    If you wish, you can leave a message with our good friends, the Masons, and they will alert us and I will return your call.  Their number is 585-964-8786.

 

We will write again when we return the end of June. Our next trip home is our furlough the beginning of August. British Air loves us almost as much as AMAZON does.

Bishkek Love, Prayers and Blessings to each of you,

Tim and Rita

 

Other News:

 

Tim wrote a book, Weapons of our Warfare. It was translated into Russian and distributed to the folks in our churches. If you would like an English copy of your own you may order the book on-line for $13.00, or $5.67 to download electronically. Go to http://www.lulu.com/content/138177 to read a description and preview and to order the book. Or go to http://www.lulu.com and under “shop for” type Tim Nickel and under “products” click books. Either way will get you there.