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To our dear family and friends,
"Vam Privyet Yesho Raz" from Ray, Rebecca, Elizabeth, and Dara
Curran in Khabarovsk, Russia! We are well. We pray all is well with you
and yours. As most of you know, we visited California and Oregon in
February. Since our return, we've been busier than usual as we moved to
a new apartment. The Lord provided a wonderful new place for us and at a
lower rent too. We thank Him.
Normally, we report on recent church news here and sometimes a testimony
of a new believer. I'll say up front that the church continues to do
well here. Sergei Matyshenko pastored very well in my absence. But what
we want to do this time is share what the Lord has done personally in
our lives the past few months.
As most of you know, the second half of 1998 was a rough time for our
family health-wise, like we never experienced before. Rebecca and the
kids seemed to chronically have the flu. I (Ray) was the worst. I
suffered from dysentery, severe flu bouts several times, pneumonia, and
bronchitis. Finally, in January,
the Russian doctors said I had Hepatitis B. All the recent several
months of sickness pointed to the possibility that this could be a
chronic condition. It was possible too that Rebecca had this condition.
In late January, we were forced to return to the States to secure new
visas. But we thought it would be good to return anyway to see a doctor
there and rest. As we were flying back, we began to have doubts about
our future in Khabarovsk. I myself was facing possible treatment for
Hepatitis B that certainly would prevent me from living in Khabarovsk,
nevermind the fact that my long-term health was threatened. Rebecca was
just tired of always being sick. We also were expecting our 3rd child to
be born in late June (I guess we weren't that sick :-). What we were
talking about doing was returning again to Khabarovsk in late February
like we planned, but only stay a couple months more to wrap things up.
Then permanently return to the U.S. before the new baby is born.
Needless to say, on the flight to California, we were very discouraged.
We didn't know it at the time, but the Lord was actually preparing
people and circumstances to greatly encourage us and confirm his
calling.
Shortly before we left Khabarovsk, I received an e-mail greeting from a
stranger in Orange County, CA named Mike Hendershot. He was from a
Calvary Chapel there and found our church on the Internet and was
inquiring about our ministry in Russia. I get e-mail letters like this
from time to time.
Just a couple days before we flew home, I finally wrote Mike back and
shared that we're actually from Orange County too. In fact, we'll be
heading there in a couple days. Mike wrote back wanting to get together
with us when we were there.
We got together several times with Mike and his wife Brenda. They were
so friendly and generous to us though we never met them previously. They
gave us gifts. They took us out to dinner twice. They connected us with
a Christian doctor that tested us for free. Mostly, they were just full
of Jesus, full of smiles, time, encouragement, and energy to these two
weary discouraged missionaries.
They may not have realized it, but we knew later they were the first in
a chain of people sent by God to minister to us at this time.
After more than a week in California, our lab results came back and
showed we did not have Hepatitis B! I don't know if the first test in
Russia was mistaken or God did a great miracle, but I'll lean to the
miracle. Whatever the case, I learned quite a lot about myself and God's
calling in the 2 1/2 weeks in California. We were greatly encouraged by
many believers there, including those from Son Light Christian Center
where I spoke one evening. I wanted nothing more than to get back to
serve the Lord in Khabarovsk.
We headed to Oregon on Feb. 13th to spend 1 1/2 weeks with the two
Calvary Chapels there that are our primary supporters. As has always
been the case, the believers there were very welcoming, warm, and
generous to us. We were further encouraged greatly. I spoke at both
churches. Rebecca and I often talk about how the Lord has brought so
many wonderful brothers and sisters from Oregon into our lives these
past almost 5 years.
We flew down to San Francisco on Feb. 25th for our flight back to
Khabarovsk. Rebecca however was still a bit unenthusiastic about
returning to Russia. She contemplated more sickness and the
inconveniences there that exasperate it.
I'll let Rebecca share what happened next:
*****
As we approached the Aeroflot counter in San Francisco, an amazing thing
happened to me. I heard the check-in lady speaking Russian to us. It
sounded like music to my ears, like an old familiar song. I recognized
the woman's Russian features and typical expression that cannot be
mistaken for an American and I felt an incredible nostalgia for going
back "home". My spirit lifted and my heart was filled with a
wonderful peace about living in Russia that I hadn't felt for a long
time.
When we got off the plane in Khabarovsk, there was snow on the ground
and the most refreshing cool air and clear sky. There were church
members there to pick us up and I delighted to talk to them in Russian.
I really missed their fellowship!
In the days that followed into March, I've never felt better! I have
incredible amounts of energy and enthusiasm. Also, we've just moved into
a new beautiful apartment.
My friends, this is such a contrast to most of 1998 and a total miracle
of God. Thank you all so much for your prayers. God has answered above
and beyond what we asked for or thought!
Rebecca
3/29/99
*****
Thank you all so much for your involvement with us and this ministry.
Your generous financial gifts have helped maintain us here physically.
Your many powerful prayers have help maintain us here spiritually. We
love and appreciate you all very much. To God be the glory!
As we like to say this time of year: UUCYC BOCKPEC!
Ray Curran
3/29/99 |
