Peace and grace to all missionaries around the world. We live in a hard time in Ukraine. We have a full-scale war with Russia, they bomb our cities, and kill our nation. The Word of God is fulfilled that brother will fight with brother.
In the first picture, I am with women who sell vegetables and other stuff at the bus stop. They are Maria and Aurika. Maria is about 80 and her husband died about 25 years ago. But he repented 8 days before he died. His husband Alex stole often and he was prisoned a couple of times. He visited the church several times and reconciled with God. I told Maria on his buried that it is very rare such cases when somebody repents right before death. You need to do this in time. You worship icons, kiss them, and keep orthodox traditions. On the crosses close to Christ were two thieves and both of them had a chance to receive salvation. The thief on the left blamed Jesus but the other accept Him as a King. He was crucified with nails on the cross, he did not make a cross sign on his body, he did not kiss icons, but only appealed to Jesus: Remember me when you will come to Your kingdom. Then Jesus replied to him: Truly I say to you today you will be with me in paradise. Maria, it is so easy to repent and to get into paradise, you don't need to keep all orthodox traditions. Jesus accepts thieves like your husband and like that one on the cross.
Aurika is a member of the church and she told how she accept Jesus 28 years ago. And she doesn't regret it.
In the second picture, I am with Zhenia who is around 80. She can not walk for 6 years already. She attended the orthodox church for many years and she knows a lot of verses from the Bible. She was glad to meet me and to talk about the Bible again. I encouraged her to read the Bible and to pray before the reading may God open her His will and she could taste the kindness of God. We talked for an hour. She recognizes that members of the orthodox church don't know the Scripture. She sees the hypocrisy of the priests that they only keep the job and tradition with no soul. I am glad that she reads the Bible and she sees the difference and discrepancy between tradition and the Bible.
Please pray about these women and their families.
My family is really grateful to you for your prayers and your support. We pray for you, love you, appreciate you, and bless you.
With respect to you, missionary Vasiliy Preutesa.
