Kazakhstan (MNN) — A mission team is seeing God's hope and mercy in shelters for men and women in Kazakhstan, and remembering a woman who devoted many years to the ministry.
The House of Hope and the House of Mercy are separate men's and women's shelters that rehabilitate drug addicts and alcoholics, and are an outreach of Teen Challenge. A team from Global Aid Network is currently working with these two shelters and seeing the
fruits of their labor.
February 8 was the one-year anniversary of the death of the boy's program director, Zariah. A woman of passion who helped boys out of the slavery of alcoholism, along with three others, were killed by a drunk driver. Zariah would even live on the riverbank with the boys until they could find housing stated Tim Burns, a member of the GAiN mission team.
After sharing about Zariah's life and ministry at the women's House of Mercy, which was started in 1995, the large group broke into smaller groups to tell their personal stories. During this time the team prayed with Sonia, a twenty-year-old mother who committed her
life to Christ.
Though exhausted after five and half hours at House of Mercy the team left for House of Hope men's shelter. The shelter residents lined the driveway and warmly greeted the team with clapping and cheering.
The team's spirits were restored and the hours they spent with the men were truly a blessing. "Because of your visit here, the men have had a happy time," said Doug
Boyle, the team's bus captain. He explained to the team that while their message that the men need Jesus is important, the most important message to those men is that Jesus becomes Lord of all their life.
The team is being encouraged even while they encourage the men and women in Kazakhstan. Please pray for the people they lead to Christ and the living out of their faith and for healing and restoration from their addictions.
