Hughes New #71

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends,

In our last prayer letter we mentioned Viola and Sarah’s new Romanian teacher.  “I” continues to ask them spiritual questions and Viola was particularly pleased with one conversation recently.  Would you pray with us that this lady would be saved?  As we also mentioned last time, the ladies still feel they are not progressing as they would like, due to the structure of the lessons.

Since you heard from us last we resumed English classes.  We have been pleased with the attendance in each of the classes and with the new acquaintances we have made through it.  Following the class time for adults and young people, David is teaching Bible lessons on words that relate to salvation (sin, faith, etc.)  One lady faithfully stays for the lessons.  We are praying more would stay.  Also we were granted permission to hold a Bible club at a children’s home.  We spend about an hour on Tuesdays singing songs, teaching them a Bible lesson and showing them love and attention.

 

Viola teaching the more advanced ESL students

At the end of September we were gone several days for a vacation.  We enjoyed the rest, the sights, the food, the slow schedule and, best of all, the time together.

 

Our vacation

We are planning a baptism for later this month.  One young person is set to follow the Lord in this.  We are concerned for “D,” a young lady who had been attending services.  She expressed interest in baptism, and we met to discuss the possibility.  Since then we have lost contact with her.  We suspect that something has happened, leaving her discouraged.

There are several kids who often knock on our door asking to play on our piano or to borrow my basketball.  Desiring to have spiritual influence with them, I’ve decided that when they come I’ll read a Bible story to them.  My hope is that they will enjoy the reading and that God will work in their hearts.

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

For Prayer:

1. Upcoming baptism and young lady “D”

2. Viola and Sarah studying Romanian; their teacher “I”

3. The kids who visit us at home

For Praise:

1. Good spiritual conversations with “I”

2. Consistent attendance, more contacts through English lessons

3. Vacation/anniversary trip

Hughes News #70

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends,

In our last prayer letter we mentioned our upcoming team retreat.  The few days away gave us an opportunity to look back on the previous year, evaluate and pray for current ministries and make plans for the upcoming months.  We felt the time was very profitable for our team.

David and Stephanie Gross with their kids, Sarah Bodaly, and the two of us

Shortly after we arrived back in Soroca, we found out that Viola and Sarah’s Romanian teacher had moved to Chisinau.  It is a praise that they already have another teacher, but we would like to mention a couple prayer requests.  First, due to the structure of the lessons so far, the ladies don’t feel that they are progressing.  Our request would be that the structure could be change to aid the ladies in their learning.  Second, their teacher “I” has been very open to discuss spiritual things.  Would you take time to pray for the ladies to have wisdom in talking with her and for our Lord to work in her heart?

Next week we plan to resume teaching English.  This year we are going to try having one class for young people and adults on Tuesdays and another for kids on Thursdays.  Also on Tuesdays, David will be hosting a Bible club for neighborhood kids.  If we receive permission, we may duplicate the kids’ club program at a local children’s home (as we understand it, it is foster care in more of a group home setting).  With each of these ministries, we desire opportunities to point people to our Savior.

So far, the water company has said there is nothing they can do about the water main on our property.  They told me they would talk to the mayor’s office again and have an answer for me in a few days.  There is still an outside chance of starting on the foundation this year, but it is looking doubtful.

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

For Prayer:

1. Viola and Sarah studying Romanian; their teacher “I”

2. English classes (Bible lesson following) and kids’ Bible club

3. Resolution of problem with the water main

For Praise:

1. A profitable team retreat

2. A new language teacher

3. Two new ladies at our services

Hughes News #69

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends,

Greetings from far-off Moldova!  Recently I have been thinking of Paul’s statement in II Corinthians of God’s grace being sufficient for him.  It has reminded me that God’s grace is already available to me.  Our hope is that our Savior will give you glimpses of His grace to encourage you on your earthly way.

We were pleased with our family evening activities, even though they were different than planned.  We had good weather and were able to hold them three of the four Friday evenings in June.  Our hope was that families would participate in the activities together.  The way it worked out, very few complete families came by.  However, several kids and a few adults stopped by to play the games, do the crafts or eat the snacks.  We were able to introduce ourselves to more individuals in the city, give out some Bibles and literature about the family and learn how better to run this type of activity in the future.

Crafts at our family activity

The Lord gave us two good weeks of VBS.  The first week we met at our coworkers’ home and invited children from their neighborhood.  We averaged 16 kids a day with 25 different kids coming throughout the week.  The kids listened so well during the Bible lessons.  The second week we met at our rental location in the city.  With having fewer contacts and it being our first VBS in the city, we really didn’t know how many would show up.  That week we averaged 12 kids a day, which included 20 different children.  The second week had a different dynamic as we had kids who knew only Russian or Romanian.  It was a blessing to see a couple of kids show up that we had met during our family activity, and to see one of the kids memorize the books of the Bible.

Games at VBS in Zăstîncă

Sword drills at VBS in Soroca

Next week our team will seclude ourselves and talk over plans for the upcoming twelve months.  Would you take a moment right now to pray for the Lord’s guidance as we make plans?  We are considering starting an ongoing children’s ministry to, in part, follow up with the kids who came to VBS. On a personal note, our construction permit is in hand, and a builder is ready to start on the foundation, but we have discovered a problem.  The city water main runs directly through our property, right where the house is to be.  Would you pray for resolution to this problem so that we could at least get the foundation done this fall?

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

For Prayer:

1. Viola and Sarah studying Romanian

2. Ministry planning for upcoming months

3. Resolution of problem with the water main

For Praise:

1. Good results from our family evenings in the park

2. Two good weeks of Vacation Bible School

3. A helper for the month of July- Deanna, our coworker Sarah’s friend