June 2014

Greetings from
Nizhny Novgorod
Ministry
Joy
Stress
Joy
Peace
Packing
Ministry
Packing
Stress
Peace
Joy
This list pretty much sums
up our life these days as we
transition from one ministry
to another, one culture to
another, and one home to
another.
nnn
As we write this letter we have
less than 55 days before we
leave Russia. Our hearts are
truly torn in two directions. We
love Russia and the many many
friends we have here. Our
ministry here is fruitful and
needed. At the same time we
find ourselves excited about the
prospects of our new work in
America. We know that the Spirit
is directing us back to the United
States to bring the Gospel to the
addicted community and to
church plant.
Be careful what you pray
I was browsing through some old
newsletters and came across the
following excerpt from 2 years
ago:
“Michael was in New Castle, Indiana
much of the past month due to a
death in his family... He spent some
time with Pastor Jim Becker from
the New Castle Foursquare Church.
Pastor Jim is concerned about the
drug problem in his part of the
country and he is seeking the Lord
for a way to reach and disciple the
addicted in Central Indiana. If God
can do it in Russia, why not
Indiana?”
That trip pressed upon Michael’s
heart and we began to pray for
the huge problem of addiction in
Henry County, IN. In the gospel
of Matthew 9:38 Jesus told His
disciples to ask the Lord of the
harvest to send workers and so
we prayed little suspecting that
we would be the answer to our
prayers.
And so, we find ourselves in this
period of transition. We are
already saying our good-byes to
some people, packing things,
and giving other things away.
We have learned over the years
to hold things lightly and to be
ready to give them up in order to
follow the leading of the Lord.
Ministry here in Russia
Our local ministry still continues.
During May we taught weekly in
the three area drug rehabilitation
centers. We love these brothers
and sisters. All three centers
have had new people arrive
during the month. During the
teaching times we have seen at
least a dozen people find new life
in Christ!
As we visit each center once a
week we can see the new
spiritual life in people bring actual
physical changes to their
countenance. Faces begin to
change from hard and skeptical
and reflect a softness and joy as
these men and women begin to
experience new life in Christ.

Our Friend Sasha
There is great joy and frustration
that comes with discipling those
MI C H A E L & K A R E N MC D O NA L D
S E RV I N G T H E RU S S I A N C H U RC H
F O U R S Q U A R E M I S S I O N S I N T E R N A T I O N A L - H O P E C H A P E L N A S H U A N H
N O R T H E A S T D I S T R I C T O F F O U R S Q U A R E C H U R C H E S
!USSIAN HARVEST
June 2014
who are struggling with addiction
In 2011 we met a young man named Sasha at the
homeless rehab center in Nizhny Novgorod.
(Sasha’s story here, http://mikeandkaren.blogspot.ru/
2012/02/meet-my-friend-sasha.html)
He was a troubled young man with a history of
violent abuse perpetrated against him by his father.
Sasha was homeless and nearly destroyed by
years of drug addiction. He had such a cocky
defensive attitude we didn’t think he would be one
who would make it, but the gospel took root in his
heart and he flourished.
Sasha
In the fall of 2012 Sasha went to Bible school in
Moscow and graduated in 2013. He seemed to be
doing really well and came back to the area to help
minister to addicts. As sometimes happens
however, Sasha slipped back into addiction and
disappeared for almost a year. Imagine our joy and
surprise when this week we saw him back in
church, worshipping the Lord!
Working with those struggling with addictions is
hugely rewarding and at the same time can be
extremely frustrating. Many begin well, but many
drop off along the way. There is inexpressible joy
when those prodigals who fall get back up and
come home to the Father. We have great hopes
for Sasha and the thousands of men and women
we have ministered to over the years.
It is the Holy Spirit and our hope and confidence in
the gospel which changes people taking them out of
death and into life that is leading us back to the
United States to open a recovery home to disciple
those with addictions.
If you have not seen our new Facebook page for
Freedom House, our soon to be opened ministry in
Indiana, you can find us on Facebook here.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freedom-House-
New-Castle-Indiana/1398071267074390
Prayer requests:
1. Pray that we will be able to sell our car and
a few of our possessions for the best price
possible. We are giving away most of our
stuff in order to bless others, but we face the
reality of needing to buy a car when we get
back to the states.
2. Pray that we will find the car that God has
for us at a price we can afford.
3. Pray for lowered stress levels as we
continue to minister while breaking apart the
home we have lived in for the last 10 years
4. Pray for traveling safety as we go out to
Siberia for the last week of June and the
first week of July to minister for the last time
5. Please prayerfully continue to financially
support us in our new ministry. We will be
living by faith and drawing no salary. The
demands of discipling require our time and
involvement 24/7 and therefore, part time
work is out of the question.
Thank You to all who pray for us and financially
support our work. We could not be here without
you.
Important Giving Directions! Please make checks to “HOPE CHAPEL” and write
“Russia” or “McDonald” in the memo portion. Please mail your check to: HOPE
CHAPEL NASHUA, PO Box 1458, NASHUA, NH 03061-1458.
Thank you so much for your partnership. Individuals may send support to our home
church at the address above.
Direct electronic giving link through Foursquare
https://give.foursquare.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=477&frsid=67