5/24/2006 - Martin's Update Report
Dear Friends and Family,
It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote to you. I have been extremely busy lately with reorganizing the feeding program. I also had a guest from American for about a week who came with a team from Virginia. He stayed with me last year, and it was nice to see him again. Unfortunately, I was down with a stomach flu that has attacked much of the city for about a week, but I was able to go into work four of the five days. God is still faithful, and His word remains true.
I have a good report about Sunne Gregg! She went through the surgery successfully, and is now home. I received an email from her the other day, and she is praising the Lord. A nurse that was in the operating room with her went it to see her. She said that she wanted to meet her. She told Sunne that when they removed the old valve from her heart that she picked it up, and it simply disintegrated in her hand. She told Sunne that she didn't know how she was still alive with a valve in such bad condition. Sunne told her that God was looking out for her, and the nurse told her that she believed in the same God! Thank you for praying for Sunne. Now pray for a full, uncomplicated recovery! We are waiting for her and Wayne in Bulgaria.
Well, today is another national holiday here in Bulgaria, and around most of the Slavic world. Today is Sts. Cyril and Methodius Day. Here in Bulgaria they use this day to celebrate their culture and literature, but without eating goat, or its many parts! Cyril and Methodius were brothers that were born in Thessaloniki, Greece, and lived in the ninth century (800's AD). There father was Greek and their mother Bulgarian, so they knew early Bulgarian. They were sent by the Patriarch of Constantinople to convert the Moravian people (around the regions of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria) at the request of Prince Rotislav. Earlier German missionaries had failed at this mission, but because of Cyril and Methodius' knowledge of the Slavonic language, they were able to reach them. Not only did they convert the Moravians, but Cyril developed what is now called the Cyrillic alphabet (what you probably would know as the Russian alphabet), and translated the sacred books into that language. This met with great opposition from Rome, and after their deaths their disciples were persecuted and driven away. Three of their main disciples settled in Bulgaria/Macedonia, and the new alphabet was embraced, and the Bible was translated into their language for the first time. Today the Cyrillic alphabet is used in Buglaria, Belorus, Ukraine, Macedonia, Serbia, Russia, other former Soviet Republics, and even Mongolia. As I reflect on the lives and accomplishments of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, I wonder what can I glean from them? Then I remember that one sixth of the world's population speaks Russian, and that doesn't include the other Slavic languages that are spoken around the world. Because of their commitment to bringing the Bible to the language of the Slavic peoples more than a billion people today have access to the Word of God! I pray that I might contribute to propagating the Word of God as they did.
To give you a bit of an update on Stantzia Nedezhda, our day center, we started a Saturday Kid's Club last Saturday. A lady from Child Evangelism Fellowship in Veliko Turnovo came and did a wonderful lesson. There were crafts waiting for the kids to do as they arrived, then music, a story, and games. We ended up with a snack, and getting to know some of the children.
I have run into a couple of them this week on the street, and they waved excitedly. I am sure that this will be a very successful program.
Unfortunately, our feeding program is still not operating. To be honest we have not been receiving any donations, and we cannot afford to run that program right now. I am trusting the Lord that soon the money will start coming in to operate that much needed program. We have been closely examining the way things have been operating, and we have come up with some good money saving ideas. We have also had to make some painful decisions in regards to cut-backs in our operation here. I am believing that with pruning will come forth more fruit--even much fruit! (It is funny that I brought the book, Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson, with me this time to reread. I had no idea when I came how I would need the lessons and encouragement from that little book! God knew!)
I appreciate your faithful prayers and financial gifts. They are both crucial to the work of this ministry. If you would like to make a tax-exempt donation to support our ministry you may send your check or money order to Obedient Life Ministries, P.O. Box 267, Clarion, PA 16214, or you can make a donation by credit card by our secure PayPal link on our website. May God use you mightily to spread His Word and Message!
Be blessed in Jesus' Name,
Martin Sutton