Hughes News #73

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends,

In our last letter we mentioned having special plans around Christmas.  A majority of our ESL students came to a Christmas-themed class.  In addition to the lesson, David led a Bible study that clearly explained the identity and purpose of Jesus.  Our candlelight carol sing was the next event.  Several others joined us, including our team’s language teacher.  It was the first time “I” and her son had been to a service.  We enjoyed our Christmas Day service, but were a little disappointed that none of the invited acquaintances came that day.

Candlelight Carol Sing

This year has started in an encouraging manner.  The kids at the children’s home continue to open up to us.  Having a break from ESL afforded us extra time to spend with them after we ran our regular program.  A man who had been coming to services in the spring but whom we had not seen since July came back a couple weeks ago.  Four other people visited our services for the first time in January.  By my count, we had 16 different people come to at least one service last month.  We long for some to join with us and to allow us to come alongside and disciple them.

After a recent Sunday service

Very soon we will be heading back to the States for a four-month furlough.  We plan to visit churches, spend time with family and attend Viola’s sisters’ wedding.  If we are unable to visit your church this time, we can still make our presentation video and new prayer cards available to you.

On a personal note, Viola was thrilled with a fairly heavy snowfall in early January.  It permitted a jaunt to a monument on the edge of town to snap some pictures of the city under snow.  Jacob has been enjoying playing basketball with a team from Soroca.

Snow Day

In His service,
Jacob and Viola Hughes

For Prayer:
1. Tasks in preparation for furlough
2. Gross family and Sarah Bodaly as they minister in our absence
3. God to work in the hearts of people in Soroca

For Praise:
1. More visitors = more souls to encourage in the Lord
2. Deepening connections with kids at children’s home
3. “V” coming back to services

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