Greetings from Ivanovo , Russia from the Kotchan Family! We haven’t been sending any updates for a while and I just can’t wait to share with you our exciting news!
We moved our Christian book store to a new and great location in the Silver City Mall, we were able to purchase all new furniture and equipment and install 3 new computers connected to the internet which is bringing many young people to our store.I am going to send some pictures soon. Also, 2 months ago we started Alpha Club at the Ivanovo College where we are holding weekly discipleship outreach studies to students. While political climate is getting colder in Russia , our God is giving us so many unique opportunities to share the gospel with young people.
Our nonstop ministry at the Shuya orphanage is going great, I am sending pictures attached made yesterday at the first this year open field picnic. Although the weather was still pretty cold kids were thrilled to play outside and eat tasty pancakes with hot tea!
We want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers and for your generous support.
SPASIBO I DA BLAGOSLOVIT WAS BOG. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS.
I am publishing few pictures taking today at the birthday party our team put together at the Shuya local restaurant we rented for Shuya kids. Most of them NEVER ever had a birthday party with guests, nice food, cake with candles and gifts – simple things our kids taking for granted. Celebration of their birthdays is one of the ways we want to show orphans they are special and loved.
Thank you for equipping and sending us to minister to Russian Orphans by praying and supporting our work. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Today we had a great time of ministry at the Shuya Orphanage and I am publishing few new pictures:
Now we begin our Bible lessons with worship songs led by Liza.
Alexander is reading from Genesis about God creating heavens and the earth.
Memorizing Bible verses together.
Next 4 pictures: Building paper models of different fishes and animals.
We are trilled to see children changing and growing spiritually. God has a great future for these little ones!
Please, help us to impact lives of Russian Orphans by sending your tax-deductible donation to:
Life Fellowship Intl. “for Russian Mission”
c/o Mary Max, 1100 Crestview St.,
Covington, TN 38019-3002
Thank you for being co-laborers with us in the Russian harvest.
We thought you might like to see pictures made last week at the Shuya Orphanage: our daughter Liza teaching kids about Daniel at the lions den and also conducting a competition of the best play dough lion sculpture.
Thank you for your prayers for the Shuya kids and supporting our work.
Greetings from Tiberias, Israel: a little town on the bank of the Sea of Galilee. I am with the team of 40 Russian Christians, first ever Russian group from different evangelical churches from all over Russia visiting Holy Land. This morning I had a privilege conducting baptism service in the Jordan River, baptizing new believers in Christ. That was a very special time and I am publishing few pictures made today.
Please, keep me and Alexander, my assistant in your prayer as we traveling. We’ll be back in Ivanovo on the 15th. Please, also pray for Tanya as she’s taking care of the church while we gone.
We just got back from Shuya and I wanted to share with you new pictures made today at our first “Shopping Day” at the orphanage. About one month ago within our outreach program we began giving away “talents” to children (Matthew 25:24). Talent is our official orphanage currency we using to teach children basic economic skills. They receive talents each weekend as a bonus for memorized Bible verses, well done crafts and home work or just for being nice to teachers and care givers at the orphanage. They can use talents to buy toys, candies, table games, books and other nice things or they can make an investment, open a bank account or make donation. So, today we and kids had tones of fun at our first shopping day! Enjoy the pictures!
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? (Proverbs 24:11-12)
There are things the LORD hates: hands that shed innocent blood. (Proverbs 6:16-17)
Please, keep us in prayer as we continue outreach at the Ivanovo Technological College . We present some pictures from the last week seminars.
Tanya begins with icebreaking story about “the woman she ones knew”- powerful testimony of how God spared Tanya’s life years ago.
These young Russians for the very first time have a chance to face shocking truth about abortions.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. (Psalm 139:15)
Holding silicon models of the babies lives unforgettable memories.
Each student receives a free copy of “the Theme” – Christian antiabortion newspaper that we publish.
Sharing His Truth, Saving Lives, Impacting Russia for Christ!
About one month ago I have been asked by the Shuya orphanage administration if we would like the idea of taking kids home for the weekends. This is how our program actually began to work even though we still don’t have the building for our center, we using our homes!
So, the last 2 weekend’s different children from the orphanage came to Ivanovo with us. Usually when our team (5 volunteers from our church) comes to Shuya orphanage each Sat, we begin with the 10 minutes lesson from the Bible and after that kids are leaving to 3 different classes: drama, crafts and English. We want to thank you, our partners, for supporting our work, because of your help we never come to the orphanage with empty hands. Each time we bring supplies in which kids have the biggest need, at our last 2 visits we bought for the orphanage 2 boxes of hygiene products for girls and 100 pieces of soap for all children. Ladies from our church discovered while giving baths to orphans that their skin was in terrible shape because of the usage of cheapest technical soap. I am sorry to say, but most of us would not use this stuff even on our pets. Now, we make sure that orphanage staff has good soap for children.
Now, after our classes are over, we leave back to Ivanovo taking the happy ones with us. Tomorrow we will take 3 children – 2 girls and 1 boy. On Sunday morning children are coming to our service to worship with us and then Liza teaches them at the Sunday school. Before children leave back to the orphanage we feed them big lunch.
We are trilled about this great opportunity to impact lives of these little ones. Our biggest challenge is that Shuya is located about 20 miles away from Ivanovo and taking children back to the orphanage on Sunday evening, we have to use public transportation which works terrible in Russia. We need a van for our work, this is our prayer request. Please, also pray for the Shuya children and for our team.
Please, join us in prayer for the biggest ever outreach campaign we begin at the Silver City mall. All the time we keep hearing talks about the changes taking place in Russia but in spite of the political climate getting colder we have to press on and share His Truth with Russians like we never did before until it is still daylight!
In my hands you can see the “Ultimate Questions” brochure, which is the best Christian tract ever published in Russia. Within the next 4 weeks we are going to pass 8000 copies of Ultimate Questions right next to our Christian bookstore. Each brochure has a colorful sticker in the front page with the information about our bookstore and phone number of our church.
Please, pray for the Great Harvest of souls, for His protection over us as we go, for the open hearts and forever changed lives. Together we’ll impact Russia for Christ!
As we continue our free distributing of the New Testaments to the college students, Orphans and young people visiting our bookstore we still need to buy 1500 copies; the cost of one copy of the New Testament in Russian is $ 5.00 and if you would like to help us, even with a small donation, please click on Make a Contribution above thie post.
Together we are planting seeds of His word into good soil, young people – the future of Russia!
Posted by tkotchan 
Posted by tkotchan 
Posted by tkotchan 
About one month ago I have been asked by the Shuya orphanage administration if we would like the idea of taking kids home for the weekends. This is how our program actually began to work even though we still don’t have the building for our center, we using our homes!
children from the orphanage came to Ivanovo with us. Usually when our team (5 volunteers from our church) comes to Shuya orphanage each Sat, we begin with the 10 minutes lesson from the Bible and after that kids are leaving to 3 different classes: drama, crafts and English. We want to thank you, our partners, for supporting our work, because of your help we never come to the orphanage with empty hands. Each time we bring supplies in which kids have the biggest need, at our last 2 visits we bought for the orphanage 2 boxes of hygiene products for girls and 100 pieces of soap for all children. Ladies from our church discovered while giving baths to orphans that their skin was in terrible shape because of the usage of cheapest technical soap. I am sorry to say, but most of us would not use this stuff even on our pets. Now, we make sure that orphanage staff has good soap for children.
Please, join us in prayer for the biggest ever outreach campaign we begin at the Silver City mall. All the time we keep hearing talks about the changes taking place in Russia but in spite of the political climate getting colder we have to press on and share His Truth with Russians like we never did before until it is still daylight!
