Hughes News #87

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends, 

 

If given the choice, I always want to hear the bad news first.  Since I can’t find out your preference, that’s what I’ll share first.  In our last prayer letter, we mentioned hoping to start Bible studies.  We were disappointed when neither the couple nor the college student agreed to start a study.  No one has given us a hard “no” so we pray one day they will change their minds. 

 

I wrote about “V” last time- a young man who had been attending midweek services for almost a year.  His work schedule changed in November, causing him to miss most weeks.  My prayer is that his desire for spiritual things will not wane during this time.  We’ve stayed in contact with him and have other ways in mind to meet with him and encourage him. 

 

Attendance has been down in both Soroca and Bulboci.  A strong believer in Soroca left in December to visit her family in Russia.  A believer from Bulboci moved away from the village.  Another believer is in Chisinau with her daughter for the cold months.  

 

The oldest believer in Bulboci has had health issues that have kept her from services for a couple of months.  Her story is a good segue into the good news I have to share.  While she is not back to full strength, she has recovered enough to again stay in her own home.  The sister in Christ that is staying in Chisinau had been on a ventilator in the hospital with Covid and double pneumonia, but the Lord is bringing her back to health and she has been out of the hospital for a few days now. 

 

There are several things we are excited to either resume or start up in January.  Barring another Covid case at the children’s home in Cosauti, we should be able to restart our kids’ weekly Bible club there.  Later in the month, we plan to reopen our doors for English classes.  Also, we are scheduled to begin an evangelistic Bible study in Bulboci on January 21.  Two people have specifically expressed interest in attending and several others have been invited. 

 

Something else new is a group Bible reading project.  In both Soroca and Bulboci, we are attempting to read the entire Bible this year as a group.  Each person will be encouraged to choose a book, read it, then pick another that has not been read yet.  This Sunday we will be asking people to pick their first book. 

 

The Lord has blessed us with good health, a mild winter so far, and a pleasant and meaningful holiday season.  We enter the New Year wishing some things were different but hopeful that the Lord will work in those areas in 2021.  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. 

 

In His service, 

Jacob and Viola Hughes 

 

For Prayer: 

1. Evangelistic chronological Bible study every Thursday starting January 21 

2. That “V’s” interest in spiritual things would continue to grow 

3. Contact with the kids and workers at the children’s home and with our ESL students 

 

For Praise: 

1. A few visitors to services the last couple months 

2. “Z” attending services in Bulboci and planning to come to the Bible study 

3. Wiring is being done at our house