Aug ’09 – Greetings from Kharkov, Ukraine
Dear friends,
I had a safe trip here on Friday & Saturday. I met my friends in Donetsk; now two of them are with me here in Kharkov Region. Today we just returned from the town of Bogodukov (which means, “God’s Spirit”) and have wonderful news. In this same town, last March, I preached the Gospel in this orphanage, but later learned that many of the children and some staff were practicing witchcraft and magic. One girl, Olya, was being tormented by a devil. Many of you in Ukraine and in USA prayed for this orphanage and this girl. And our team prayed last night and again on the way, especially about Olya and the ungodly practices we had heard about last Spring.
Today, about 40 children at the Bogodukov summer camp heard the Gospel message. Later, we spent time with Olya and several others individually. One boy, Vovo was a trouble maker. He was very mean to the other children in the play yard and elsewhere. A teacher brought him to us and said, “Please pray for this boy. He is very aggressive with the other children.” I asked Vovo if he knew the Lord and if he ever prayed to receive Jesus. Since he said he knew God but never accepted Jesus, I spoke to him about sin and how it separates us from God’s love, and I briefly explained the message of Salvation to him. Then he indicated that he did not know how to pray, but he wanted us to pray for him to receive Jesus. So we prayed. Vovo repented his sins and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior!! Others later remarked something like, Oh, now he’s as gentle as a kitten!
Now about Olya, Yevgeniy said that last time he saw the torment in her eyes; she was being torn during the Gospel message between the Life God brings and the death of the devil’s hold. Today, several of us talked to her (not me yet), showing God’s love to her, and prayed for her. But then after the meeting and these talks, Pastor Yevgeniy brought her to me. He said, “OK, Alfred now let’s pray for Olya about what we talked about.” She was ready. Her heart was open and this time she looked like a sweet girl. She humbly prayed along as I led her to Christ and then I prayed for demons to be gone from her. The simple truth is this: darkness cannot exist in the Light. By inviting God’s Light into her life, she was saved and delivered! Praise God!!
I close with this one request: Ministry funds are critically low. We may have to borrow funds and/or curtail our orphanage visits when we return to Donetsk on Thursday. If you have not already given to this cause for the lost children of God here in Ukraine, please prayerfully consider making a donation now. On line, you can go to www.hearts4ukraine.org and click the “donate” button. Or if you prefer to pay by check, make it out and send it to “The Vineyard”, 8 Hilltop Ave, Kingston, MA 02364, and kindly write “Ukraine” in the memo line.
Looking forward to more victories for His Kingdom!
Alfred
Thank you and God bless!
Al Scoglio,
Missions Director,
Hearts for Ukraine