ISTANBUL

2011 January – March

Hello, my dear praying friends!

I spent practically all of January and the first week of February in

Moscow. It was so wonderful to be in the presence of family. My
younger sister Yulia, her husband, Alexei and my stepfather, Victor
Fedorovich, all live together in a small 2 bedroom apartment with three
dogs and two cats; and they are always happy to have me as well. When
I was in Moscow, my Sciatic nerve was in terrible pain, and Lesha (Alex) brought me to their place to
recuperate; he even gave me his bed and slept on the floor! Yulia gave me injections and made all sorts
of delicacies, Grandpa and all the pets sympathized with me. Please pray for my relatives. Although
they do not loudly profess the Word of God, I can see evidence of God working in their lives and I am
grateful for that.
Thank you for praying for my health. On my trip to Moscow, I had an ultrasound to further
examine the formation, but it appears that though it has halved in size. After some hesitation, the
operation was put on hold for another 3 or 4 months. I really hope that the surgery is not needed.
I ask you to pray for our Moscow church, for Pastor Vladimir Teplov. The church is not big, but the
members are spiritually mature, it always has a warm and welcoming atmosphere of a spiritual family.
Pray for church growth and the implementation of Pastor Vladimir’s mission plans (up to
Vladivostok!).
When I returned to Istanbul on the 8th of February, there was a whirlwind of changes. First, I had
to move because my landlady’s relatives were coming. Now I live with Tiina, a missionary from
Finland.
The church was also under the threat of having to relocate because we are chronically short of
money to pay rent. We have even started to look at new buildings. But praise God, this evil will not
fall on us! In Pastor Matti’s latest Art Exhibition in Finland (which opened on February 28), a few
expensive paintings were sold.
Please continue to pray for the finances of the church! Unfortunately, our Turkish church members,
in general, either do not have work, or are overworked, but do not earn much. We do not count on
support from abroad because of all the financial problems around the world.
Another happy, but at the same time, sad piece of news: the Robbins, a young missionary couple is
expecting a baby. They returned from Baltimore after Christmas holidays on the 15 th of February, but
poor Liz felt so sick from morning sickness, that she was admitted into the hospital for 2 days and
finally decided to return home to Baltimore. I accompanied them to the airport. What a pity to have to
part with Liz! She bravely held herself up, despite being so weak that she boarded the airplane in a
wheelchair. The smile on her pale face, surrounded by her crown of red hair, shone like the sun through
clouds. Please! Pray for Liz’s health and the health of the unborn baby (whether it is a boy or girl).
After participating in Eurocon in the end of March Roger returned to Baltimore as well.
On 7th of March we had a wonderful concert of an Azerbaijani musical group from our church in
Baku. The name of the group is “Dan Ulduzu” (Morning Star). They have beautiful national style
spiritual songs, written by members of the group. They have amazing plans to travel in Iran with their
concerts. Please, pray for them!
During Eurocon11, 15-20 of March in Budapest, besides all spiritual blessings we could earn
(together with Tiina at our Turkish booth) almost a one third of our church monthly rent payment, what
was a very special blessing for us!
The next week after Eurocon11 we spent with Nubar, one of “my girls” from Baku, running around
Istanbul, visiting all kind of old castles and monasteries. As you know, Nubar is not from the
orphanage, but she is the key person in the ministry at Mashtaga Mental Hospital. She came to visit me,
to have some brake in her work in Baku and brought a lot of blessings with her. Please, pray with me
for fulfillment of her dreams! She has a lot of them: starting from learning how to be a pilot unto being
a missionary in Afghanistan for example.
On the last Sunday of March two young Romanian Ladies came to our church service in Istanbul.
They came to Istanbul for a short mission trip to do their practicum after a Bible school in Romania. It
was such a special blessing to meet them and to know that believers in the small formal communist
country, Romania, are praying for the Middle East and getting ready to go to the mission field there.
Please, pray for them, their names are Georgiana and Elena.
AND MY LAST SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST:
Please pray for the new openings in the mission field of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, etc. Now
the doors are open and with new opportunities, we need a lot of new workers! (Matt. 9:38).
Thanks that you had read this too long report till the end! Thank you to everyone for remembering
me in your prayers! Drop me a note with your news. Hugs!
YOURS,
NINA FROM ISTANBUL

On the photographs:

1) My stepfather, Victor
Fedorovich. On January 31, we
celebrated his 83rd birthday.
2) Liz and Lael (daughter of Umid
and Gulshoda).

3) ”Dan Ulduzu” after the concert in Istanbul.

4) Nuray (Kubra’s mum, who is now studying, while rehabilitating in Baltimore) together with her old
children Dilek (girl) and Batukhan (boy); and Nubar. Please pray for the Bible Study I have with
Nuray each Thursday.