USA, Moldova June 2009
CARELINKS USA
Brother Charlie Klennert writes:
The gospel is being spread throughout the world, even in western countries like the USA. A few of us here in the states have been sending out Bible Basics and other materials to those who have requested information from all over the country. It has been exciting helping people understand the essential doctrines we all have come to know and love, knowing that God is the one who calls, and we are just His tools. To help someone see the truth about the kingdom of God, and what the devil truly represents among many other things is one of life’s most rewarding things we can be a part of. People are finding the Bible Basics and Carelinks sites from all over the world and wanting to know more! Granted some people are just curious, but others grasp hold of our Bible loving culture and desire to seek the truth from the Bible and dive in head first into a brand new way of reading the scriptures.
Recently we had the pleasure of assisting JOSHUA to be baptized! Here are some of his emailed questions and thoughts he had for us along the way as he was reading Bible Basics and our web-sites.
“Once again thanks for all your correspondence. I have not been confused reading all the material, I think it has helped that I already knew the passages that you have talked about . It has been interesting though to see the Bible in a whole new light! To see it as a book, divinely inspired obviously, but a book with respect to literality here and analogies there, and one which was written during a time not of ours, thus true study is required to see the language in its use of the day, and yet that is the most amazing thing to me is how universal it has become even though it addressed the issues of the day.... what I was reading made sense and took the confusion out of some doctrine, but in turn put the sole responsibility on us, showing to me even more the power in Christ's death, and how I could relate to him and what he did ... what got to me the most was a true look at heaven and hell and death. The explination on death really got me thinking, I have never been more afraid of death until I realized that it was a complete unconciousness,... I found the passages on baptism very enlightening, its interesting even though sprinkled at birth in a presbyterian church, the pastors always said that this will have to be done later, so even though I have known this, it has never clicked till now that I needed to get rebaptized as I have come to full understanding of the gospel!... the lightbulb clicked that I had known what I needed to do but hadnt done it yet...
[After baptism:] As for the baptism my heart just would not allow me to sleep without doing this. What really struck me was the obedience factor, of knowign what is to happen, and then knowing that I havent done it! Now finally I feel that when I pray I can approach the throne in God's court and His son sitting next to Him is saying yup that ones mine. Feels good to know for sure that I am in the family!".
So please pray for our new brother!
The world is hungry for the gift we have, we could share so many more emails from people we are in contact with throughout North America. We have contacts who are giving away Bible Basics on their own accord, one many recently ordered a whole box and has already distributed them! We have people asking question after question, wanting to know the truth found only in the scriptures. Please pray that the Father will send more harvesters to the harvest. None of us know when Jesus will come back and with all of the unrest in the world, our prayer is that it will be soon! For our hope is for His return!
Peace
Your Brothers and Sisters from Carelinks USA!
MOLDOVA
The brotherhood in Eastern Europe is coming of age. On a trip to Moldova last week we reflected on how we first came here in 1992 preaching the Gospel with fliers and placing press adverts. Many of those baptized then are still strong in the faith, despite living in a country which is one of the poorest in Eastern Europe. Many people survive only on the funds sent to them by relatives working abroad; many are working hard for little pay. One sister told us that she hasn't received her salary for the last 6 months, and lives in hope she'll get something some time, so she keeps turning up for work as there's no other work on offer. You may've read of the recent storming of the Moldovan Parliament by protestors- there's not only unrest and corruption everywhere, but a depressed spirit amongst those who do work, as they are earning so little compared to the cost of living and are often not paid. Several are still in debt for Winter heating bills and risk losing their apartments, so we were able to settle these for them. One sister works all day selling things on the street, working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days / week. She gets about one sale / hour, and so she's now started working from 6 a.m. some days, as she gets some sales from 6 - 8 a.m. This is so she can provide for her children and grandchild.
The highlight of the visit was a wonderful afternoon and evening with sister Elvira and some other sisters. For many years Elvira has faithfully taught the Bible lessons to her grandchildren, and it was our pleasure to discuss with them and then baptize them, VESTA and MASHA, in the Dnestr river at Vadul Lui Vode, a spot where many of our Moldovan brothers and sisters were baptized. There was great joy amongst the little group of believers who assembled, as there surely is in Heaven.
Photo: Smiles all round as Vesta is baptized
Photo: Sis. Elvira drying off her granddaughter
We then held a very moving outdoor breaking of bread. Sis. Elvira was so happy to share the bread and wine with her grand-daughters!
Our young brothers Maxim and Zhenya ran the event and also the baptismal service; it's great to see their growing confidence and maturity:
Looking back at our files, we have pictures of Brother Zhenya attending his first Bible School as a very little boy, going swimming in the river; sitting through the studies; getting baptized; and now, he can give a talk at the breaking of bread:
Brother Zhenya last week at the outdoor breaking of bread: 
What's wonderful to reflect is that these families were secular, irreligious folk raised in the atheistic USSR, who have now solidly come to the Lord Jesus Christ and the life which is in Him, and who have responded so well to our pastoral efforts with them. It's wonderful how it's all unfolded.
We also distributed spectacles, received with much joy: 
One touching thing was the presence of 83 year old Olga. She's a refugee from the fighting in Georgia / South Ossetia. We read of these things in the news at the time and perhaps forget the huge long term impact upon the people involved, which the news rarely covers as they go on to the latest sensation somewhere else. Olga has nothing and nowhere to live, and so sister Luba showed absolute grace by inviting her to live with her. Luba works horribly long hours in the open air all day and at weekends, and struggles to provide for her children and grandchildren. Yet she went more than the extra mile in taking in this lovely old lady. Olga's amazingly fit for her 83 years, and is now studying towards baptism. She's done 10 of the 11 chapters of Bible Basics and is likely ready now for baptism, but it's a big step for her and she wants to be extra certain of everything. We're hoping she will soon be baptized.
Photo: Olga, with her large print "Bible Companion" and new reading glasses we gave her [many thanks to a brother and sister from Maidenhead, UK ecclesia who donated them]:
Photo: Sis. Luba, who has adopted Olga, at the outdoor breaking of bread:
For all this joy, grace and progress of the true Gospel we give thanks.
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks
FOOTNOTE: We're pleased to announce a new, nicely produced Powerpoint presentation by our treasurer Brother John Thatcher, about "Jesus- God or man?" - see http://www.aletheiacollege.net/TRINITY3.ppt