Iranian movie night

Blog submitted by Pat and Asad Hashemi

 

One of the first events with the Iranian church was movie night. The movie “Evan Almighty” was shown in English with translation to Russian and Farsi. Although this movie is a comedy of the story of Noah building the Ark, it contains much Biblical truth. We began with the story of Noah explaining that the Bible called Noah “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time.”

 

We explained that this did not mean that Noah was without sin, but that he loved God with his heart and desired to obey Him. We stressed the key verse of Genesis 6:22. Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

We explained the plot of the movie of a politician who wants to change the world. God hears his desire and prayer and calls him to do something which seems very foolish to the people around him just as in Noah’s day. We challenged them to think about what they would do if God called them to step out in faith.

 

After the movie and lots of laughter we held a discussion. We were surprised at the comments from about 30 people that attended. They talked about how Noah’s whole family was involved, not just him. They saw how in the end God brought the Ark right to the corrupt politicians getting right to the heart. A Christian lady said that in the Old Testament God was punishing the world for sin, but the movie showed the New Testament where God was wanting everyone to get on the Ark and people ran on the the Ark and were saved.  Another Iranian Christian man said, “The Ark represents Jesus. We are saved through Jesus.”  Another said God gave Evan an instruction book so that he could obey (Ark building for Dummies). He has given us an instruction book; the Bible teaches us how to love and obey God.

 

We had food served after the movie and discussion. Two men, one Ukrainian and one Iranian, prayed to receive Christ as their Savior. What a blessed night! We are always amazed how God uses the foolish things of this world (a Hollywood version of Noah) to confront the wise. He brought laughter to many that are alone and sad as students and refugees away from their country. He brought glory to His name and we testify that His work does not go out void. 

Iranian church members

Movie night at the Iranian Church

Members of the Kiev Iranian church during outside meal

Iranian Election Protest

Blog submitted by Pat and Asad Hashemi

 

Pat and Asad continued their work with Pastor Ali and his wife, Tonya who is Ukrainian. Please pray for their ministry.

 

At 2:00 p.m. on June 16, a protest against the Iranian election results was held at Iranian embassies around the world. Pat, Asad, Ali, and Tonya went to the protest at the Kiev Iranian Embassy. Our purpose was to invite the Iranians (mostly students) to the Iranian Christian church and to share Christ with them. We took fliers which listed the activities and open discussion nights on Christianity we had planned for the two weeks we are in Kiev.

 

 Many of the 200 (approximately) protesting students wore scarfs, surgical masks, and caps to prevent their identities from being revealed in the news or in photographs. The situation the students are in struck me. They have no free voice in their country and they are afraid of retribution from the government. There is no freedom of speech or religion in Iran. Many said they were afraid to come to a church, but were interested in learning about the Christian faith.

 

Involuntary tears kept streaming as I was introduced to some of the students. I tried to explain, “I am sad for Iran.” I thought of Asad’s inability to go back to his country and of how he has not seen his morther in almost 30 years as she cannot leave Iran. The future of this country should be in our prayers. Please pray for Iran for religious and government leaders that are able to see that true worship of God can only come when one has the freedom of choice. Love is a choice. Our Father wants worshippers who worship in Spirit and Truth.

Pastor Ali and wife, Tonya

Iranians in Kiev protesting the recent Iranian elections

Asad with Iranian student protestors

The beast has been slain!

Matt, Max, and Jason finished demolishing the triple brick wall in the new carpenter’s work room. It took a little longer than anticipated, but the wall is down and all the debris removed. On Thursday morning they will start preparing to hang the sheetrock on the ceiling.

The wall Beast is almost slain!

The wall beast is winning

The beast is down!

Team definition of "hammer and sickle"

Work has begun!

Frances Overby arrived safely from the States on Tuesday morning. The kids were excited to see her and vice versa.

On Monday morning work began on the first of many projects:  laundry building and carpentry shop.

After JC finished a few minor drywall repairs, Twila and Marcia began applying the primer coat to the walls in the laundry. The primer coat should be completed on Tuesday followed by the final coat of beige paint on Wednesday and Thursday. Rogers got to make his annual marathon trip to the EpiCenter “big box” and Metro stores to buy paint and other supplies. He has now visited 13 different McDonalds in Kiev. He even visited the US Embassy warehouse to pick up some items Barbara and Jane had ordered.

The goal is to have the laundry building ready for Team 2 to install ALL of the ceramic floor tile. In their all day trip, Rogers and Jane Hyatt ordered the floor tile and all associated supplies plus two new doors. The washers and dryers should be installed before Team 2 departs Kiev.

JC, Max, Jason, and Matt started demolishing a room to be used for the new carpentry shop. Essentially all the existing carpentry equipment and supplies must be moved to a new location to begin work on the building which is to become the new girl’s home. Unfortunately, the new space contains a triple brick wall that has to come down. The guys are diligently working hard to demo the beast! 

The building they are working in has a new roof, but the work area’s ceiling has extensive damage from earlier major roof leaks. The team is removing all the damaged ceiling material and insulation. Thank Rogers for bringing the dust masks!

In her “spare” time, Marcia is using the “Weed Eater” all over the territory. We do not get in her way!

Pat and Asad began their ministry with Pastor Alli and the Iranian church and refugee community. Much work is to be done including a meeting with an area university on Iranian outreach. More to come from Pat and Asad…

Marcia elevated to a new level in painting

 

Twila rolling on the primer

 

Max taming the Beast!

 

Jason removing the damaged ceiling

What a day (off)!

This post was written by Matthew Foley:

What a day (off)!

This morning  Max, Jason, and I (Matthew) went to church with Barbara Klaiber(missionary) and Twila. The church is run by Hillsong, a multi-national church based in Australia. It was certainly a memorable experience! Being challenged in the way of Slavic languages, we were blessed with translators. Barbara translated for Jason and Max, and a nice young lady named Natalie (sitting behind us) translated for Twila and me.  Having a soft voice in my ear put me to sleep after not too long into the service.  Barbara left quite an impression on Max with her translation skills. On the way back to the car, Max commented about how excellent the translation was and Barbara responded, “Well how do you know I wasn’t making all this up?” (cue the laughter and applause). After church, we came back to the Ark to eat… well nap, and then eat.

After intriguing conversation at lunchtime, I asked Barbara about the basketball court I thought she mentioned before. She kindly showed me where to find a basketball as well as the court. I shot around/wore myself out for a few minutes, and soon, some of  the boys at the Ark, as well as a few of the team came out to shoot around too!  We met Anton, Maxim, and Sergei. At one point, Sergei attempted what probably seemed like a neat trick at the time – the ball ended up hitting me square in the nose – it was a pretty neat trick, indeed .

I took what was probably a 2 hour nap this afternoon and Jane woke me up 10 minutes after dinner was starting. I think she was looking for someone else, so lucky me!

After dinner, Maxim came up to Max and me and said (without much wiggle room for a rain-check), “Football, 7:00.”  Max and I looked at one another like “oh boy…this is gonna be… yeah…I’m not gonna last long”.  It was a lot of fun! I forgot how much I liked playing soccer (for fun). At one point when Max was playing goalie (he was on my team), and a couple of our other teammates were being arranged to block the penalty kick,  Maxim motioned to me to come over and help block the kick, and I just said “No thanks” with a smirk.

After soccer (correction, football) and showers, we had a short devotion on keeping the Sabbath especially with a Sunday wait-staff.  Jason, Asad, and Pat were visiting the Iranian church whose minister they will be working with for the next two weeks.  Twila and Barbara had headed out for an evening service.

What a day off!

Spiffy new "football" uniforms

Max and Matt learning to play "football"

Team 1 has arrived!

Although split between three different flight groups, Team 1 arrived safely into Kiev on Saturday.  JC Edwards and Rogers Farr arrived on the previous Thursday.  No one experienced any flight delays or significant turbulence on any of the flights. Everyone navigated immigration control and customs with no difficulties. All baggage arrived!

Upon arriving at the Ark several people immediately took naps as they had very little sleep on the plane. They were still feeling minor jet lag Sunday morning. After Saturday lunch several team members pitched in cleaning out the laundry building in preparation for finishing the building interior: wall painting, laying ceramic floor tile, and installing the laundry equipment.

Twila Foust from Traverse City, MI is serving at the Ark as a summer intern. She was part of a 2008 mission team to the Ark and has enjoyed being back. She is fitting is well with our team and will be an asset in all our activities.

During meals several of the children ran to previous team members with hugs and smiles! It is great to be back.

Prayer request: Safe travels for Frances Overby traveling by herself. She departs Raleigh on Monday arriving into Kiev on Tuesday morning.

Team 1 in front of dining hall

Introduction

Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, has a long history of international missions work dating to its founding in 1945. Its association with the Ark Rehabilitation Center for at-risk children in Kiev, Ukraine, began in 2004 when, as a part of a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship mission team, seven members stayed at the Ark while working at another facility called the Village of Hope. Those initial seven members felt the Lord calling the church to work at the Ark. Forest Hills mission teams went to the Ark in the summers of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and now 2009 to conduct Vacation Bible School and other children’s activities and to undertake various construction projects. The church’s Minister to Farsi speakers accompanied the teams to Kiev in 2008 to work with Iranian refugees living in Kiev. His work continues in 2009. Over the years, seventy-five individuals have traveled to Kiev; many have gone multiple times.

The Ark was founded from the ministry of two American women from Georgia and New York. In 1999, Jane Hyatt and Barbara Klaiber started a soup kitchen in Kiev, where they provided food and medical attention for street children using their apartment. In 2001, they opened the Ark Rehabilitation Center that has a family-like structure, encouraging the children to reach their full potential as godly, loving, responsible, and skilled members of Ukrainian society. Children living at the Ark receive treatment for drug and glue addictions, an education, and the opportunity to learn a trade. In 2003, the founders purchased the Ark’s 12-acre property on the outskirts of Kiev that is well suited for rearing children. Father’s Care, Inc. is a 501-(c)-3 tax-exempt humanitarian organization incorporated in Georgia that helps to financially support the Ark, as does a foundation in Zurich, Switzerland.

 About twenty-five children are now living at the Ark instead of in manholes, underground steam tunnels, the dump, train stations, or abandoned buildings. These children are sleeping in their own beds, perhaps for the first time in their lives. Since coming to the Ark, marvelous changes have occurred in their lives. They are excited about learning, making friends, and playing outside. Most importantly, they are beginning to adjust to a normal life style where they feel safe and secure, knowing they are loved and cared for. 

Turnover among the children is a testament to the Ark’s staff including caregivers and medical and social workers, as they succeed in reuniting some children with their birth families, placing others with adopted families, or releasing those aging out of the facility. Over seventy children have moved through the Ark since its beginning.

 Two Forest Hills teams are working at the Ark during June 2009. The team members are as follows:

 Team 1 (June 12 – June 20):

JC Edwards, Rogers Farr, Matthew Foley, Jason Payne, Max Dresser, Lee Hall (Salisbury, NC), Marcia Kirtley (Salisbury, NC), Pat and Asad Hashemi, and Frances Overby

Team 2 (June 19 – June 27):

JC Edwards, Rogers and Sue Farr, Jason Payne, Max Dresser, Lee Hall (Salisbury, NC), Marcia Kirtley (Salisbury, NC), Pat and Asad Hashemi, Frances Overby, Pat Edwards (Huntsville, AL), Eddie Edwards, Faith Edwards, Beth Eakes, Alyona Eakes, Hank Stroup, and John Frye

Once in Kiev, the teams plan to update this blog periodically with stories, photos, short videos, and prayer requests.

Boys' home remodeled by previous teams

The race is on!

Friday night campfire with "s'mores" - Yummy!