Christmas Expedition 2002

Christmas Program
Our Christmas trip of 2002 was a very special time. We were blessed to be able to share the Good News about Jesus Christ and His birth with a lot of people! Many made decisions, and many more were seriously interested in knowing more about God. It was WONDERFUL. There is no greater JOY than following Jesus even if He leads you to the ENDS of the EARTH! This expedition was filled with lots of JOY! It was wonderful to be able to SHARE Christmas, instead of just celebrating it.
	During the two weeks of this expedition, we walked over frozen rivers, rode horse sleighs to a village, traveled in small Russian cars/vans over icy roads, visited orphanages, schools, invalids, nursing homes, rehabilitation homes, homeless shelters, private homes, and a hospice. We shared the love of God and the Good News about the birth of Christ to over one thousand people. Most of whom knew very little or nothing about God.

	In the schools, the children knew very little about Christ, other than that His picture was on a religious icon. I often asked them, "Where was Jesus born?" The answers were interesting: "The USA, in a church, in Russia, etc." The children listened intensely to every word we said. Parents came to us later to say, "Thank you so much for coming. This is the best thing that has ever happened to our children in their entire lives! They live here and have no place to go and nothing to do. They will remember you for years and years."

	On this expedition we were visiting the homes of the elderly, widows, and invalids ang giving them our Agape Health Kits. One of the women we visited with was an 84-year old lady who had lost her husband. Maria made tea, and we all sat down at her small table. She told us how she had been a schoolteacher for over 40 years, about the war, and her family. We gave her an Agape Health Kit. Soon the conversation came around to spiritual things. We asked her if she believed in God, and she said, "Of course!" But she said she didn't know if she was saved or not. We read Maria the verses about the steps of salvation. She said many times, "I think God sent you here to tell me these things. I never knew!"

	Agape conducted Christmas programs with orphans and the elderly. Many children listened to the Christmas story for the very first time. This time our team was small. Still on this Christmas expedition, over 1,000 people heard about God's love. Many cried and asked Christ to come into their lives. Hundreds more were touched by the Christian literature, Agape Health Kits, school kits, and our personal testimonies about God. We found that it is so true what Jesus said—it is more blessed to GIVE than to receive.

	The Agape Health Kits provide a way for us to "open the door" by offering both physical and spiritual healing. This combination of physical and spiritual help is what Jesus used the most when He walked the earth, and we have found it to be the best way to open hearts to share God's love. You cannot share the love of God unless people are listening. People want us to explain the Gospel, and to hear more about God.

	We greatly appreciate your help and support so that others who have never heard can hear and find Jesus. Without you we cannot GO to these remote places where the name of Jesus has almost never been heard. We invite you to "be involved" in this work with the unreached people who live in northern Russia. Better yet, we invite you to COME to the harvest ! It is not easy, but there is no greater JOY than following Jesus to the Ends of the Earth!