Celebrate!

Today marks one year of Zhartvystan! During our first year, we’ve:

• Prayed for Muslims in Central Asia during Ramadan
• Prayed for persecuted Believers in Central Asia
• Adopted the Shughni-Roshan people group
• Sampled Central Asian cuisine
• Travelled to Kayzi, to proclaim the Sewyewnchew there
• Listened to Central Asian music
• Met others interested in Harvest Work in Zhartvystan
• Campaigned for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhni’s release
• Supported the Harvest Work in Zhartvystan with our finances
• “Read” the Sewyewnchew of the Injeel in Central Asian languages
• Read books about Central Asia
• Studied the book of Daniel, which took place in what is now Iran
• Learned about traditional Central Asian handicrafts

It’s been quite  a year! Praise God for the work that He is doing in Central Asia, and for the opportunity to be involved in that work through Zhartvystan. I pray that the coming years will yield a great Harvest for the Lord, and that He will call many Workers to the Fields.

Letter from Pastor Youcef

It’s a double posting kind of day. Pastor Youcef wrote a letter earlier this week to those who are concerned for his welfare. You can read the English translation over at ACLJ. Continue to keep him in your prayers, as well as his family, congreation, and the Iranian officials and his lawyer (whom I’ve heard was recently arrested. I apologize, I don’t have a source at hand for that news.)

Passion

I feel like God is stirring up all sorts of passion for different parts of His kingdom in His people these days. As I was coming back to my desk from the bathroom, I thought “Wouldn’t it be great if there was some sort of organization or group that could bring all those passions together in one purpose?”

Then I felt really stupid.

There already is a group like that. It’s called the church.

Praise God for Thursday afternoon revelations.

Turkmen Horse Day

The last Sunday in April marks Tukrmenistan’s national Day of the Horse. The Akhal-Teke horse is a national emblem in Turkmenistan, and the Turkmen take special pride in the animals. In honor of the day, a program of races is held in the capitol, Ashgabat. Akhal-Teke horses are known for the metallic sheen of their coats (although not all horses display this trait) and their athleticism. There are estimated to be about 3500 Akhal-Teke horses in the world, mainly in Turkmenistan and Russia, although there are some in Europe and North America as well.

A Sterile Uzbekistan

More in the realm of women’s welfare in Central Asia. Today, the BBC reports about a secret forced-sterilization program taking place in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan’s OB/GYNs are given a quota of women that they are expected to sterilize. One doctor states that their quota is 4 women a month. It’s not uncommon to see quotas of 8 women per week in the more rural areas. Often, these women don’t even know that they’ve been sterilized until long after the procedure, because they are sterilized during caesarean sections and are not asked for the authorization to perform the procedure.

Pray for the authorities and practitioners compliant with this unofficial policy, that their eyes will be opened to God’s gift of children. Pray also for the women affected, and the practitioners who refuse to cooperate, that they will find comfort in Christ Jesus, who loves children and implored them to be allowed to come to Him.

Follow-Up Regarding Migrant Workers

On Women’s Day, I posted about the situation of female migrants from Central Asia who live either illegally or as undocumented workers in Russia. RFE/RL has another article today about some measures being taken in Kyrgyzstan in the name of protecting the women. The parliament is drafting a bill that would prevent women under the age of 22 years from leaving the country for work. Pray for women in Central Asia, that God will provide them with work that is glorifying to His name and honoring to their dignity as His creation.

Nowruz – New Year

Spring Equinox marks the time of Nowruz, or Persian New Year. Nowruz is widely celebrated across Zhartvystan. Nowruz is a Zoroastrian festival and many believe it to have been created by Zoroaster himself. It was originally celebrated in the Persian empire, in what is now Iran, 3,000 years ago. The festival survived the implementation of Islam and is still celebrated to this day.

The Nowruz celebrations differ depending on the location of the celebration. In Iran, it is celebrated with spring cleaning before the holiday, the purchase of new clothes and new flowers (the photo shows Tajik girls carrying sprouting seeds). The new clothes are worn on the first of a twelve day celebration as Iranians visit their relatives, beginning with the elders of the family. They eat outdoors at a picnic on the thirteenth day.

The first day of Nowruz finds families sitting around their table which is set with the Haft Sīn, awaiting for the exact moment of the arrival of spring. The Haft Sīn are seven elements symbolizing seven yazatas, or Zoroastrian concepts. The family will exchange gifts and then later in the day, the youth will visit the elders, who will then reciprocate the visit. These visits tend to be short, so that there is enough time to visit everybody. Despite the shortness of the visits, hosts will serve sweets and nuts, as well as tea or sherbet to their guests.

#Nadarkhani and CSW’s Month of Prayer & Action

CSW is hosting a month of prayer and action for Pastor Nadarkhani during the upcoming month. His birthday is April 12…he’ll be 35.

(The photo of the hand is part of CSW’s solidarity campaign which is encouraging supporters to hashtag their hands with Nadarkhani and then upload a photo to their facebook page.)

International Women’s Day

I hope that everyone has had a lovely Women’s Day. Since today is International Women’s Day, I wanted to share an article that I read today regarding the situation of women from Central Asia who live as illegal or undocumented migrants in Russia. Their numbers are increasing, and they face many challenges beyond even what their male counterparts endure. Pray for these men and women, who have travelled so far from home in hopes of bettering their lives only to find more troubles, that they will find Jesus to be the only true salvation.

Update: Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani

 
It is being reported that Pastor Youcef was hanged early Saturday in Iran. The ACLJ has since confirmed that these reports are false and that as of Saturday, after the reports were being circulated, Pastor Youcef is still alive. His execution order still stands. Please continue to pray!