Every month, we try to share with you the progress of our ministry among one of the unreached peoples, the Mugatas in Uzbekistan, which began a couple of years ago. We want to remind you how it all began and where we are now in this ministry.
This ministry was started by a small local Baptist church, represented by its pastor, Shukhrat. He began communicating with two Gypsy families and sharing Christ with them. After holding a camp for Mugata children last year with the participation of V. Khripunov, a member of the Association's missionary department, and his team, the story of how the Mugata children eagerly received the Word of God touched the hearts of about twenty Christians from various churches here in America. They began praying for this ministry, and some of them began supporting it financially on a regular basis. This led to a natural partnership of Christians who are separated by a huge physical distance, but united in spirit with one purpose: to bring the Gospel to another people group.
On the Association’s website: Ministry to Gypsies – Mugates in Uzbekistan, you can find all of the previous articles about this ministry. The letter from one of the team members – Vera, who is essential to the work with the Gypsy families provides information about what is happening with them right now, and what prayer requests they have right now.
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Greetings, dear brothers and sisters, and those who support the ministry among the Gypsy-Mugata in Uzbekistan! We are grateful to the Lord for you, and your kind hearts. The Lord works through us among this people.
Twice a month, I travel to Bukhara to teach classes to the Gypsy children. We've already learned a lot about God. The children are happy to sing songs, and reaffirm everything they've learned about their Creator. They love to sing, and I use their love for singing to help them grow in their knowledge of God even more.
When I was there last time, we began the topic about: "Who is Jesus and what did He do for us?" As we explored this topic, we continued to learn about Jesus through songs about Him. In addition, crafts, coloring pages, and games help the children go deeper into the Word of God and come to know Christ as their Savior. I'm currently making songbooks in two languages, Uzbek and Russian. The children want to learn Russian.
Every time we come to see them, they run, hug, try to kiss me.
I am very grateful to God that He restored our interpreter Matluba, and she is once again translating my lessons into Uzbek and Tajik. Praise the Lord for that!
Many children come to the classes, and because of that, we are now dividing them into subgroups. The older group goes through the spiritual lessons, as well learn to read and write, and usually includes about 12 to 15 children. The younger group is led by another assistant who speaks Russian, Uzbek, and Tajik. Although she comes from another church, but she has a great desire to serve God with these children. I also try to teach them spiritual truths. While being with them, we sing songs together, and they sing and praise God with great passion. There are always more children in this group, and is usually between 15 and 25 children. Usually, when they see us, they run to us because they see our love for them.
We see the children changing. They become more obedient, argue less, and hit each other less. From time to time, their parents are beginning to come as well. They keep a close watch on their children and examine us closely as well.
During the week, Brother Shukhrat and his assistant go to the village to the house of Aziza, who gathers her loved ones in her home for a time of fellowship and to study the Word of God.
Thank you for your prayers and for your sacrificial support of this ministry. Without your support, we couldn't do what we do for these children. We need you, your prayers, and your help.
Pray for the meetings held in the village with the parents of these children. Pray for brothers Shukhrat and Said who attend. Pray for wisdom in the sermons and for the spiritual awakening of these adults.
Pray for me, Matlyubd and Shakhnoza, who lead the children.
Thank you for interceding for us in prayer, and especially for these forsaken people, the Gypsy-Mugatas. Thank you, and may God bless you!
