Prayer partners, pray for our colleague and religious persecution in Simferopol — could have immediate and long lasting repercusions, and could even spread beyond Crimea. May it prove to be a tempest in a teapot.
Georges

 

———- Forwarded message ———-
Date: Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 5:40 AM
Subject: Situation update

Hi Georges,

The situation seems to be getting more serious.  

xxxxx works for the Mayor and said the Muft. (leaders of Mslms) have approached the city council demanding this issue be addressed.  K, who was in charge of the Christmas party and lives on the Grinns property, said no one has come out to talk to him yet.  Today we are loading up all the PBT materials on the property to take them elsewhere. [PBT translated the Bible into Crimean T, finishing in 2013, planning to publish this year or next. The leader of PBT in Simf is on leave in the US. GC]

I had hoped to move back home tomorrow, but I called

 xxx today and she seemed to be trying to convey something over the phone, but couldn’t openly, but it sounded like I’d better not move back yet.  If I get connected with all this, I could be deported. (And this in the midst of trying to get registered! So glad my registration address is not in Fontani! [where she actually lives and where the Christmas party was held – GC])

The internet is covered with articles and some videos from the Mslms.  Zhenya S advised K. to write up a report and include the pictures I took of the tv crew as well as a video online showing the crew telling the kids to go home, so it’ll be ready when he has to present his case.

I told Zhenya Ust. all about this so he could relay it to the Simferopol church.  I’m praying my name doesn’t get associated with all this, but if it does, this could definitely affect the church’s registration of people in the future. 

[That includes LaVerne and I. GC]

Doesn’t seem to be something that will just blow over this time . . .  Zhenya S. reminded me that we are to expect persecution at the nearing of the CT Bible publication. Somehow, that has given me comfort, because it should be expected.

http://www.0652.ua/news/449975 is an example of an article and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tlQ35D1EBw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D-tlQ35D1EBw&app=desktop is a video.  

I deactivated my account on FB for awhile.

Please be praying for our wisdom – that is greatly needed in all this.  Thanks so much!