Update from: Natasha Shutkova

Transition

For these two years that I spent in Kyrgyzstan it was a breathtaking to see God work in a Muslim city like Bishkek and nearby regions, seeing young people’s lives being radically affected and changed by God, people crawling out of themselves, out of the bondage of traditions and cults; to suffer with those who would, by choosing Christ, lose a family. And my heart is just indeed full of appreciation to all of you! who made it possible for me to come to this country.
I am very thankful that God used YFC and each of you who supported me to bring me this far, to bring me to this dream, here and provide for all of my needs but now God is calling me to leave the organization and continue to minister here in Kyrgyzstan in and through the local church likewise He called Peter to step out of the boat teaching Him to trust Him along with his life.

Although I have been working with Calvary Chapel most of the time, this will be official and my ministry will be more focused on ministering through the local church and in the church. Most of the things that I’ve been involved in I continue to be doing, with sports and English club, worship, translating the services and Bible studies, attending orphanages and just helping with different preparations; helping the church established and getting people and young people more connected with the local church.

Please keep me in your prayers as I am making this transition.
My prayer for you is everywhere you go you see Him, that your life would truly honor Him, that you would be overflowing with love for other people, that your hearts would be wide for the world.

Prayer update:
-pray I continue to grow spiritually and learn about our awesome God more each day
-pray as I begin to be ministering with Calvary Chapel
-for support needs
- pray for Alona’s (little gypsy girl) family. This 8 year old has to spend all her days standing on the street with her invalid mother begging for money. Pray we find a way for them to make them passports. Pray they truly come to the Lord.
- pray that young people who are attending English club would come to know the Lord.
-pray for my flight to the Ukraine to attend Calvary Chapel conference (17th -21th of May) and safe return.

Kiev CC Conference, family reunion
It was almost like a flight into the future, everything around has changed so much, people, places, lifestyle, fashion. Me now sitting in this beautiful luxurious couch in our seemingly huge living room feels almost like a dream. It is hard to believe how wealthy people can become without noticeable outward happiness and content. After being around of quite a big number of believers I realized once more that people need the Lord everywhere, here Ukrainian Christian formalism needs the Lord, and in K-stan people need the Lord amidst the occult and traditions. Most of the time I am spending with the family, especially my dad, a strong man who for the past few days started to share with me, for the first time, all the horrors of those years when he had to work on Chernobyl after the accident. My heart would deeply hurt for him, since I didn’t consider where his anger came from when I was a child. I realized that he was about to die when we left him and moved to Kiev not knowing the things he was going through suffering the symptoms of radiation sickness. I pray he comes to the Lord very soon.
The time at the Calvary Chapel conference was amazing, filled with worship and deepening into the Word of God, time full of encouragement and fellowship. I praise the Lord He allowed me to be a part of this event. I am so thankful to Jed to provide my trip to the Ukraine.

It is also neat to meet people from my church and my friends to communicate with them. I do miss my cello playing, I miss our English classes with Kyrgyz students, our sport group, I miss our local church in K-stan, I can’t wait to come back and be with my other family, but it is also good to spend more time reflecting and reading and studying the Word and also sharing with churches and organizations and ministering here to those who d become dry walking the road of this day to day life.

Please pray for
-salvation of my dad
-support needs
-living opportunities in Bishkek
-church in Bishkek
-greater love for the Lord