1. The team visited Bishkek Humanities University to randomly engage students and build contacts. When we got there, we saw one of Tina’s friends, a Turkish Muslim guy named Osan. As he was starting to tour us around campus, he saw one of his language teachers and introduced us to her. Rabina, the teacher, heard us speak English and told the team that the English faculty is in need of “native” English speakers. She later introduced us to the teachers in the faculty room who later invited us to join their classes to have their students practice their English! We ended up going to three different classes that afternoon.

It’s just mind-blowing how God orchestrates things to happen. What we thought was just a random visit turned out to be something more fruitful! We later on invited the students we met to the “farewell party” we were planning to hold a week after. Later on that evening, I learned from Tina that the original group of missionaries had tried to tap into the University three years ago but they couldn’t. And that day, without even trying or even thinking of it, opportunities just came! The English faculty head asked for resumes to be submitted and some of the teachers asked the team to be back and to help out with their Talking Club!

God really moves in ways we cannot imagine. We were hoping to engage students in going to the university. But we did more than that as we got to meet several teachers, the English faculty head, the translation faculty head and even the dean of the European Language Department. Now there are open doors to minister not only to the students but their educators as well. One teacher we met, by the way, is Christian. So she may be helpful in reaching out to the students and teachers.

Another note-worthy thing is how God used a Muslim for all this to happen. He was really instrumental in all this and during the English classes, Osan was bringing more and more of his friends to join!

2. During the second party, we had a “Pera O Bayong”-like game. The girl that got to the jackpot round, Salta, was a new believer who just accepted Christ last August and is being discipled by Nazgul. She chose the bag instead of the 1,000 coms being offered to her. The whole time, she stood firm with her decision of picking the bag despite Dan increasing the amount he was offering in its place. Because she chose the bag, she won a brand new cellular phone! It was evident how surprised and happy she was winning the phone. Later on, she shared with some of the girls that the whole time, she kept praying to God that she makes the right decision. And God answered her prayer! Her winning the phone proved to her how good and faithful God is!

3. I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful and full of initiative Aytbek turned out to be. He and Ilyas helped Dan shop for stuff for the second party. And when he got to the venue, he immediately asked around what he could do to help. During the evening, I got to talk to him and somehow the he said something about the team living lives that are “right”. And the way he said it was as if he was amazed and not at all offended in any way. It was such a blessing to hear what he said come from a self-confessed atheist. I couldn’t help but feel really blessed and privileged at that time to be used by God to “speak” to a non-believer so audibly even without actually saying anything!

4. Celebrating a Muslim holiday in the village was a treat. Even if Artyk and Iskinder knew we were Christians, they still invited us to their family’s farmhouse in the village. Their relatives took the time to prepare a feast for us. They even slaughtered a lamb for the event! It was such a wonderful just to be part of something that they really value.

5. Askhat and Artyk are being reached out to but not yet believers. Since they are always hanging out with Dan and Rodel, they see how differently they live their lives. Without being forced to, Askhat chose to quit smoking on his own and said he wanted the lives Dan and Rodel have. It’s now been over a month since he quit. As for Artyk, he promises to quit by the new year.

6. During the two Mondays that we were there, Merlee was the “guest speaker” during the girls’ weekly small group meetings. For both meetings, the girls said that they were blessed. But hearing what they had to say was more blessing to the team.

On the first Monday, Merlee talked about purpose. Before the session started, Albina seemed really sad and disengaged. But after the session ended, she seemed a lot better and was even the only one asking a lot of questions. When I asked her how she found the session, she told me that it was very helpful. She said that she was feeling really depressed but after hearing what Merlee shared, her troubles just faded away because she understood that in everything there’s a purpose and she isn’t alone.

On the second Monday, the topic was about repentance. We shared with the girls how, with repentance, we turn away from our sinful life and turn to God. And since it’s a process, speed is not important as long as one goes toward the right direction. Begaiym then shared her desire to turn from her old ways and be more serious in serving Christ. She’s really hoping to be able to come to the Philippines next year and enroll in SWM.

7. Nazgul has been really helpful during our whole stay. More than just being a translator, she was a great encouragement to the team with the passion that she has. She has seen the importance of discipleship and is actively discipling others. She works part time so that she can do “ministry work” in the afternoon. She is also hoping to enroll in SWM next year!