Report from Joe R. Garman -- December, 2008

Thank you for remembering the Daughters of Ruth with a special gift this Christmas. It was so generous, kind and thoughtful of you. They/we are blessed to have Christian friends like you. God has given us 18 very special girls, anyone of whom I would die for, and you are helping care for. Again, thank you!

I am excited about the future of our home. We own a beautiful piece of property (about the size of a football field) on the outskirts of Chiang Mai City that's within walking distance to the primary and secondary schools, and a community tech college. Our next project is a dormitory that will house 50 girls.

Chiang Mai is in northern Thailand. Our girls are "country girls" who come from all around the city - north, south, east and west … some from as far away as the Burma border. All our girls were living below the Thai poverty level when they came to us and if it were not for the Daughters of Ruth Foundation they would face a bleak future.

Chiang Mai was originally divided into two parts, connecting on the south and east sides like the letter L. Ancient walls and moats, and even a river traverse the city. It seems that any type of flower will grow and blossom. It is one of the largest cities in former Siam and predominantly Buddhist, but the percentage of Christians is increasing.

This is the mission field you have chosen to support and I thank God for you. I pray you will always find the Daughters of Ruth worthy of your prayers and offerings. All 18 are good girls … they just need a break in their young lives. Christians like you caught that vision and, more importantly, have responded in Christian love.

I am returning to Chiang Mai in January to teach two Bible seminars and interview eight girls who have applied to stay at the Daughters of Ruth home. Thank you for going with me through your prayers and financial support! "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him (you and me) who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says in Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" (Is. 52:7)             

This month, we share a devotional by Kerry Decker, Rapha House Freedom Foundation Director.

 

Glory to Christ, my beloved brother! This is my brief report for November 2008.

 

1. IMMERSIONS. The prisoner in the prison camp #102 (Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine) A.A. Chernenko, who has there a many years term of conviction, and who was a well-known "criminal authority" in his previous life, has received a Good News about Christ from the elders (the convicts themselves), whom I ordained for that camp. Chernenko wrote a letter to me, asking, if it was necessary to be immersed in the camp, or if it was necessary for him to wait for his liberation for some years and then to be immersed in the presence of some big congregation and all his friends, relatives, etc. I replied, that if he loved the crowd, the friends and the relatives more, than Christ, he was not fit for the Kingdom of God (Lk. 9:62); but if he was fit for the Kingdom of God, he would have to accept the immersion immediately. And he has accepted it!

 

2. PRISONS. The ministers of DOM ARM in November had 16 visits to different prisons, camps, places of police detention, etc., including two visits to Abinsk district (Krasnodar Territory) court, where the process of bro Cherevatov (who had the conflict with the police) was going on. The court had no evidence against Cherevatov, and ordered to send him to Moscow to the central psychiatric institute named after Serbskiy. This institute was the center of the psychiatric repressions in the USSR and continues to be the one in Russia.

 

On 20.11.2008 a prisoner again was murdered in the Krasnodar prison, that produced a new scandal and disturbances.

 

3. MOSLEMS. On 16.11.2008 I had a meeting with S.V. Bagapsh – the President of Abkhazia. It took place in Moscow in the "President-hotel". Bagapsh remembered me, because of my previous visits to Abkhazia (when it had not yet been recognized by Russia as the independent state). Bagapsh also remembered the "Letter of Blessing" written by Max Goins on 15.03.2006 and addressed to the people and the President of Abkhazia.  I brought this letter to that region in 2006.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

In Jesus our hope! Sincerely, DOM ARM (www.ARM.org) chaplain, prof., etc. Nicholas E. Alyoshin

 

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Dear brethren in Christ,

 

May our wonderful Lord be with you, strengthening your hearts and spirit, and may this Christmas be full of pleasant surprises for you.

 

It is a joy and pleasure to share with you that I arrived after midnight Mexico City last night from Arrayan, Luvianos, Mexico, were nine families, they are so eager studying God's Word.  Amazing as it sounds, but I could not find any public transportation in Mexico City, at my arrival, and I spent the night in a small hotel, where I got after a half of an hour walking.  Also, I was so impressed to find so many people sleeping on the sidewalks.  Most of them being alcoholics, drug addicts, street children, and so on.  All of them were suffering from the cold weather.  Most of them get together with a dog to keep warm.  The temperature on the street was around 35° Fahrenheit. I was so thankful to God when I found the hotel since robberies are normal on the streets in Mexico City, especially after midnight.

 

During this month, our Bible Lessons sent by mail increased so much.  We sent our courses to 4,672 people, costing us $5006.00 dollars.  So, our budget was put under lots of pressure.  I had to walk great distances, as we did not have enough money to pay for transportation.  Our ministry is, indeed, in much need!

 

During this month, 46 people were baptized;  113 people graduated from our Bible Correspondence Courses.  Another area of our ministry is Church Leaders Training.  Our brethren in Las Tunas, Cuba, are asking me to visit them and have training seminars with them.  They want me to come in April.  However, there are two situations in order to travel there:  travel expenses money and the much work I have here in Mexico.

 

At this time, we are ministering to all ages.  The 82 churches planted through the Bible Correspondence School are asking us to help them train their leaders.  They want spiritual help as well.  Besides, we have different Bible Study groups, such as inside jails (90), alcoholics (36), University Campus (12), junior high schools (18), and other.  We are reaching more countries and people than any other Hispanic ministry in the world.  The Word of God is reaching many through us.

 

During November 14 to l7, we celebrated our Christ in Youth Seminar.  Due to the economic crisis hitting our country, over 100 young people had to cancel their attendance.  However, from the 16 done in Mexico, this one impacted youth the most.  All the young people who attended made a real commitment to serve the Lord with their lives.  As the Mexican economy is bad, I suggested we had to cancel these seminars, but all young people said no, and they committed themselves to help the next seminar eagerly.  They are motivated to serve the Lord where they live, and this seminar gives them the needed tools to achieve this.  Mexico is growing for the Lord!

 

In the name of the Lord of the Harvest, I thank you for your great support to us.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!  THANK YOU for your much needed prayers.

 

We love you in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior!   --  Alfredo José Aparicio

 

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