Thoughts from a friend...

I received this letter from one of my dearest friends, who lives in Russia!  There are so many terrible aspects to this War with Ukraine that it is easy to make an unfair blanket judgement on all Russians- this is just the opposite of what our Lord Jesus Christ taught ( Matthew 7:1,2/ James 2:13)!    I was greatly encouraged by my brother's writing and heart!  So it seemed important to remind all of us of the amazing, faithful saints who are serving Christ in Russia and weathering many hardships of their own, but with great hope in Christ!      

Shalom, dear and beloved brother of the Lord.   Once again I wanted to thank Jesus for the wonderful gift that He made through you and thanks to which we could spend with you, dear friend, a wonderful time in Turkey. It was an amazing and blessed time.   Separately, I would like to thank you for your work in the Lord, which you have done and are doing in me and Lyuba. Thank God that thanks to you I began to learn what Shalom means.  This is amazing. Such peace and rest in the Lord. Now I have shalom every day.  Thanks God.   As I told you, some of our brothers have left.  However, the Lord began to work very strongly with those who remained. We see how the Lord begins to awaken people in the Spirit. It literally breaks and drives out in people the spirit of limitation, the spirit of poverty, the spirit of despondency. The Lord reveals people. Those who preached little or no preached began to do so with great boldness in God.  We see how the Lord creates everything new. As if it activates what was hidden in people.  This is amazing. We believe that God's Kingdom will expand within every brother and sister   At the same time, we hope that the Lord will give us the opportunity to see you again, as we feel very good with you. And we see how the Lord has truly cemented our relationship with intimacy and friendship in Him.  Hug tightly.  Brother Boba