Hughes News #83

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends, 

 

We’ve just finished two weeks of Vacation Bible School.  As in years past, the first week was with kids in David’s neighborhood and the second in Soroca at our rental.  We were pleased to have a variety of kids join us- returnees and newbies, 5 year olds to 13 year olds, churched and unchurched, boys and girls.  The Lord gave us good weather both weeks and very minor behavior problems.  Our lessons focused on Moses’ life up to the crossing of the Red Sea.  Covering the Passover lamb for the Thursday lesson provided a natural segway into sharing the Gospel.  During our second week, one girl asked to talk more with Sarah about salvation.  The Sunday following the week in Soroca, we invited parents and grandparents to a special review/awards program – something new for us.  The time went well and I’m sure we’ll consider doing it again in the future.  As you know, VBS takes a decent amount of preparation and lots of energy to keep up with the kids, but we enjoyed the weeks so much.  Our prayer is that the lessons they heard, songs they sang, verses they memorized and Bibles they took home with them would all be used to draw these little ones to our Savior.

Zastinca

Soroca

We take a break from teaching English classes in the summer.  Back in April we had a special lesson in which we focused on the topic of Easter.  We had done something similar in the past with Christmas, but this was our first time with Easter.  Viola was especially pleased how it went with her ladies.  In the spring we did something new for our Thursday night service.  Instead of simply teaching a lesson, I prepared worksheets for different ages and together we studied the book of Esther.  We played sacred instrumental music and each person read and studied on his own.  We’ve finished that now, but we may use that format for another study in the future.

 

Our house project is actually looking like a house!  Since we last wrote we sorted bundles of metal then began assembling.  We finished that in the middle of June and in the past month a crew has put all of those different wall panels, floor joists, spacers and roof trusses together into a unified structure.  We are currently digging trenches for water and sewer lines and the next steps will be the roof and getting plywood on the walls.

  

Assembly of first panel

Our house as it currently stands

We have two specific people we’d like you to be praying for.  “O” is an older lady who comes faithfully to our Thursday evening study.  She seems to have a desire for spiritual things, but we are not sure if she yet understands salvation.  “P” just turned 90 last week.  He attends our service in the village and very much wants to be baptized and join our group there.  We have some questions regarding his understanding of the Gospel and need God’s wisdom to know how to proceed with him.  We would also appreciate your prayers for a yearly planning meeting we have with our coworkers in a few weeks.  We want to be led by the Lord as we make adjustments to current ministries and plans for the upcoming twelve months.  Thank you for your involvement in our ministry!

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes 

 

For Prayer:

1. Two older people in our ministry, P and O. 

2. Yearly planning meeting with our coworkers in August

3. Decisions regarding our house and further progress to be made

 

For Praise:

1. Two great weeks of VBS

2. Encouraging progress within the ministries our team is involved in

3. Our house structure is now standing

Hughes News #82

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends, 

 

There are times that when I sit down to write another prayer letter, I am amazed at how much time has passed.  The last time I wrote we were still eagerly awaiting a visit from family.  The two weeks they were here were wonderful- we can’t wait for them to come again!  After their visit we had our special Christmas activities- Sunday service in Soroca, a candlelight carol sing, a service and meal in the village, and a program at the children’s home.  One highlight from these events was a young woman expressing her desire to draw closer to Christ in 2019.  It was a joy to hear this from her.

 

Visit from family

Candlelight Carol Sing

Christmas program at children's home

Christmas program at children's home

Before the cold weather set in, the crew working on our property finished the foundation and slab.  In November our architect ordered the metal studs for the structure and they were delivered a little after Christmas.  Our next step is to sort the bundles of metal.  Once they are organized and we have good weather, we can start assembling the various wall sections.

  

The slab for our house

Our erector set ... I mean, house

By far the most impactful matter of the past few months was the passing of Viola’s dad.  Paul Hitz went to be with his Savior on January 28 at age 80.  Due to the steady decline of his health the last few months, his death was not a surprise.  It is neat to look back and see how the Lord orchestrated everything during that time.  Our coworkers had returned from furlough just over a week before Dad passed.  Their being here meant that both Viola and I could return for the funeral.  We purchased tickets to be back for three weeks, thinking that we would probably be the last of the four out-of-town siblings to leave Oklahoma.  On the contrary, we were only the second to leave.  We were able to be there at the beautiful funeral service and then have several days with family.  Having so many of us together doesn’t happen very often, so we just soak up and treasure the times it does happen.  We are now back in Moldova, ready to continue ministering here.

  

Time with family in Oklahoma

Time with family in Oklahoma

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

 

For Prayer:

1. For Viola’s family (Mom especially) after Dad’s passing

2. For those committed to a new ESL group next week 

3. Decisions about opportunities and the house project

 

For Praise: 

1. Dad Hitz’s walk with the Lord, ability for us to go to the funeral 

2. Our coworkers’ return 

3. Family visit and Christmas activities

Hughes News #81

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

Dear Friends, 

Greetings from Moldova!  This fall our little corner of the world has benefited from a plentiful harvest- a blessing for an agricultural society.  We hope you are well.  Thanks for taking the time to catch up on our news.

 

With coworkers on furlough for a few months and school-year ministries resumed, our weekly responsibilities have shifted a bit.  Sunday mornings we have our service in Soroca.  Viola plays the piano for the service and I speak twice.  A couple times a month she teaches Sunday school.  Sunday afternoons we travel out to a village to lead a service there.  We now have more time overall with the people, which we are trying to use to get to know them better.  I have temporarily stepped away from language study in order to give time to our house project, but Viola still has lessons twice a week.  Tuesdays we have an hour program at a children’s center.  Our coworker, Sarah, teaches the lesson, Viola preps the game time, and I lead it when I am there.  Tuesday evenings Viola and I each have two English classes that we teach.  Our midweek service is on Thursdays.  I lead our midweek service on Thursdays- a study on the prayers in the Bible and a prayer time.  Viola teaches a ladies’ Bible study that meets once a month.  As with anyone, there are lots of other little tasks and responsibilities that pop up, but that will give a glimpse into our lives.

 

As with any ministry, there have been some difficulties in the last couple of months, but I’d like to share some bright spots that have stood out to me: 

    - A man that attended services in the past started coming again after an absence of several months.  His unsaved wife has been coming with him. 

    - Viola and I have each seen some more progress in our language abilities. 

    - I recently met a brother in Christ from a city a little over an hour away.  He told us that his church has been praying many years for a Baptist church to be established in Soroca. 

    - I have been thrilled with the actions of “M,” one of the boys at the children’s center.  He has listened, answered questions, behaved, and made some mature choices.

These have each been an encouragement to us.  Will you rejoice with us?

Our house project is moving forward.  Since I last wrote, we received the architectural plans and our building permit.  We demolished the old house on the property, and a crew has started on the foundation for the new house.  Lord-willing, they will finish the foundation and slab this fall.  There is a lot more to do, but we are thrilled with the progress we have seen.  

Trench dug for the footer

 

First pour for foundation

Forms for second pour for foundation

 

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

For Prayer:

1. “V” who has come back to services and “L” his wife.

2. Paul Hitz (Viola’s dad) is recovering from a mini-stroke he suffered a week ago

3. Some visits we hope to make in the next couple of weeks

4. The crew to be able to finish the concrete work; decisions regarding the construction 

 

For Praise:

1. Little glimpses of God’s grace and His working

2. House progress: good timing and weather, reliable workers, further contacts

3. Family planning to visit in November