Hughes News #108

 

 

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

 

Dear Friends, 

  

As we mentioned in our last letter, our niece Haileigh Geiseman spent the summer with us.  Thanks to modern technology, we talk to her family fairly often, but it was so fun to have her with us and to get to know her even better.  Viola prepared several lessons for her and our coworkers’ daughter, Abby, joined them for a couple days a week.  Haileigh helped prepare for and run VBS, did household chores alongside us, taught Sunday school for the first time, and cared for a couple dogs we were watching for friends.  She has a desire to attend Bible college – we pray the Lord will use her in His service.  Now we just have to figure out which niece or nephew is coming next! 

  

Us with Haileigh

VBS in Bulboci

We accompanied Haileigh back to the States at the beginning of September.  We had a few days with some of Viola’s family, a couple days just the two of us, then a few days with Jacob’s family in celebration of his parents’ 60th anniversary.  After two weeks Jacob returned to Moldova while Viola helped her mom for a couple more weeks.  It was a blessing to have a quick visit with family! 

 

With Haileigh's family

With Jacob's family

In years past we probably have mentioned that many churches in Moldova have a Harvest Sunday – a day to thank the Lord for that year’s provision.  Instead of celebrating on two different days in two different places, the folks from the Bulboci service joined us in Soroca.  Most were able to make it and we had a wonderful day remembering the Lord’s goodness and spending time with one another. 

  

Harvest Sunday

  

We don’t have anything too big planned for the upcoming month.  We continue with our regular services and Bible studies, and we are working to get our house and yard ready for winter.  Often the days and weeks seem typical and unremarkable, but we pray that the Lord will help us faithfully serve Him and will use us as He sees fit.

  

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

  

For Prayer: 

1. “V” – a lady who made a profession this summer 

2. “L” and “S” – two older ladies we have a study with 

3. The Lord’s work through our weekly ministries 

  

For Praise: 

1. Summer with Haileigh 

2. Good attendance, response to weeks of VBS 

3. Quick trip to see family

 

Bonus Pic - On these fall mornings our pup likes the space heater!

 

 

Hughes News #107

 

 

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

 

Dear Friends, 

 

We send our greetings from Moldova as we just crossed the threshold into summer.  May was cooler and rainy – some of the earlier fruit trees have suffered, but the fields are green and the crops look really good.  We had a few special events around Resurrection Sunday.  The Thursday before, our service focused on Christ’s sayings on the cross with several songs about His death.  On the Sunday in Soroca we ate breakfast together before our service.  On Monday we had an evangelistic outreach in Bulboci, in which we shared what the holiday means to us.  Just one grandma and a few kids came but it was a pleasant time and we enjoyed a meal and fellowship with the believers there afterward.

  

 

On May 4 Ghena Catlabuga and Simeon Gross were baptized.  Ghena is the adult son of a man who was baptized last year.  The Lord began working in his heart years ago through a serious health problem and he professed faith in Christ after visiting David’s Bible studies with his dad.  The Lord worked out the timing that Ghena’s wife, who was working outside of the country, was able to attend his baptism.  Simeon is, of course, our coworkers’ son.  It has been neat to hear of his interest in spiritual things and his initiating discussions with his dad.  We combined services and our group from Bulboci joined us for the day – a special service and meal afterwards.  We had just enough room to fit everyone in.  Out of the blue, a lady showed up on that day, when her niece “happened” to be there from Bulboci.  Each was surprised to see the other.  It seems the Lord is working in the aunt’s life – she’s been to services four of the last five Sundays. 

 

  

We are still waiting on word regarding our application for citizenship.  Because that isn’t decided yet, the time has come to renew our residency permits.  I can’t say the process is especially difficult, just time consuming and, at times, inconvenient.  We know the Lord will help us navigate the upcoming days. 

 

We are so excited to have our niece spend the summer with us!  Her dad will travel over with her this week and stay a few days before heading back.  We know we will enjoy it, but we are praying the Lord will make it special for her and use it in her life.  Thank you for taking the time to read our news.  We’d appreciate you lifting up our needs in prayer.

 

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes 

 

For Prayer: 

1. Preparation for VBS - June 30-July 4: Zastinca; July 14-18: Soroca; July 28-August 1: Bulboci 

2. Our niece’s visit 

3. “L” caring for an older lady with dementia-like symptoms; we continue Bible studies with her and she is considering baptism 

 

For Praise: 

1. Baptism of Ghena and Simeon

2. Bible study in Visoca going well 

3. Encouraged by believers around us

Hughes News #106

 

 

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

 

Dear Friends,

 

At the beginning of March the ladies hosted an outreach for women.  The theme this year was the wisdom of God.  Our goal is to encourage the believers and regular attendees to our services as well as share the Gospel with visitors.  As with any special event, not everyone that we expected to come showed up, but in the end, those who did come seemed to appreciate the day and it was our largest attendance yet.

 

 

A group from the village of Visoca joins us almost every week from most Sunday services.  Since it is difficult for them to join us for midweek services, we have held a study out there during the winter months when people typically have more available time.  After thematic studies the last two years, this year we studied the book of Ephesians, with David and I dividing up the lessons between us.  Attendance was good throughout the ten weeks.  Of those who came, a few are saved and baptized, another we are planning to baptize this spring, and even those who haven’t yet made a profession participated in the study.  Even though the weather is warming and people have work in their gardens, they have expressed a desire to continue meeting.  We plan to commit to a couple more months and evaluate things moving forward.

 

As mentioned above, we are planning a baptism in May.  One has committed already.  He is the son of a man who was baptized last March.  A couple others are possibilities.  Please pray that David and I would know the appropriate amount of encouragement to give, and that the Holy Spirit would lead them to take this step. 

 

We are both well.  The Lord gave us good health through the winter months and we are enjoying our ministry and other work.  Our citizenship application has been submitted.  We are waiting to hear an answer from the government.  Our hearts go out to several loved ones who are going through difficulties, but we are glad to know the Lord that is with us here is with them in their respective locations.  Thank you for your prayers in our behalf!

 

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

 

For Prayer:

1. Evangelization in Bulboci after Easter

2. Plans for baptism in May with candidates “G,” “L,” and “S”

3. Continued study in Visoca

 

For Praise:

1. Good turnout and participation at ladies’ outreach

2. Encouraged by studying and preaching on Heaven

3. Our application for citizenship has been turned in