NOTICE: First, please don't write me emails using the correct spelling of the country I am going to.   I do not want search engines to find the correct word. "A-stan" or "Astan" will work.  Believe it or not, folks are snooping and what we are doing is not exactly okay to do.  I am going to stash this page behind encryption as soon as I can figure how to do it. 

So here is what is going on:

I am going to spread the gospel in an area our church has been focusing on for almost a year, an area where there are 0.0000% Christians right now.  We have partnered to set up a school, library, computer setup and in the Fall, sent our first team out to teach English as a second language.  The results were very encouraging.  Classes were split between men and women.  Most were medical and teaching students and were young, smart and devout. 

I have been working as a part of this effort, but all stateside.  Now the Lord has provided me an opportunity to delve into some seriously hard work first-hand doing witnessing. 

Here is where I am going.  (Yes, I know this has the name on it, but it is a graphic.)   

On the 31st of January, I and two other believers will fly Aeroflot from LAX to Moscow, then down to Toshkent, Uzbekistan.  From Toshkent connecting to Termiz.  Last year shortly before going to Cuba there was a notable air crash, and just a couple days ago, January 13, the very Termiz/Toshkent flight bit the dust on landing.  Oh well.  I am thinking safety will be at its highest on Uzbec Air a couple weeks after a crash.  From Termiz, we basically walk over the river/border and head on in. 

Why am I going?  Because there are almost no missionaries in this dark corner of the earth and there are less local believers.  It makes sense to focus efforts were there have been none before and see what the Lord will do.  I have been reading 1 Samuel 14 where the Israelite army was frozen into not attacking the Philistines, resulting in everyone sitting on their butts.  Jonathan and his armor bearer secretly hiked  close to the Philistines and Jonathan says, "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few."  Then he heads in and God uses him to begin a rout of the Philistine army.  So my thoughts are, "If I don't even attempt a move like this, I can't be used as a tool for God to begin a rout of the enemy.

So what do you say?  Want to go with me next trip?  If you get the vibe this is something you would like to consider, please let me know.

What do I need? 

First prayer... REALLY, for my family while I am gone, that I will be a pure and useful vessel, health and safety.  It seems that every time I go on a mission trip, something rather serious goes wrong.  This is no exception.  I have some especially good reason not to go (I won't explain here, but if you want to hear some whining, just call me up and ask me what is up), yet my family and I consider this to be very important work.

Second, we have about 5,000 books in English (teaching English is a big in) BUT we have almost no good Christian literature.... family counseling, Francis Schafer, C.S. Lewis, Christian apologetics, Bible study etc.

Finally, the cost is about $2,200.  I tell you this, not because I want to put the clamp on you for some $$.  The Lord will provide if I am to go.  However, that said, if you want to share in this work, click on the flag below to do a PayPal or mail a check made to Evangelical Free Church of the Conejo Valley, 999 Rancho Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320 with a note it is for Craddick going to Middle East. 

There is so much more, but it is better if you call me and we talk than to put it here. 

In Christ,

Donald 

If you want to share in the work with $$ click on the cool flag below to donate via your credit card or bank account.

A-stan flag

Welcome Sign                                                                        Reliable transportation

Locals

 Leftovers from the Soviets                                     Local version of polo with a dead goat.... real manly game!!

This is old Russian map of the town