Craig and Debbie Rayner

Debbie — Last month we mentioned that we wanted to join a trip to visit for the debrief of the school that has been running for the Y family, in Astana. To be able to do this we had some hurdles to jump, and a good lesson on the MD’s timing to walk out. The timetable for getting report cards and transcripts done for the school is a fixed date, as the graduates need transcripts to be postmarked (or DHL marked June 30th) for various universities. The principle is the transcript guru of the school, was at a conference in another country and then got stuck not able to get back because of a visa issue and we were told she would not return until July 2nd. The school director was also in yet another country and he was delayed by a week as well with similar visa issues. So it was down to Craig and I and our lovely registrar who came back off maternity leave to get the transcripts and reports done. This year we had two of our head teachers leave before exams and they were travelling until June 23rd – when they could mark exams. There are in the States so if we where to get any marks from them it needed to be within 24 hours of them getting home. Otherwise, we would be heading onto a 20 hour train ride, and needing to turn around a comeback after less than a day in Astana- not a happy thought! The teachers where wonderful, and got us grades by Thursday night so Friday morning we had a blitz morning of transcripts reports and had only a few questions to e-mail the principle on. The registrar kindly took on the responsibility to see the transcripts and reports finished. So we left with no need to return until the team was coming back for graduation, July 1st. When we returned, we found the principle had been able to get back into the country on the 29th and so had the 30th to do trouble shooting and see the transcripts sent out. It is such a reassuring thing to know that the MD cares for all the communities we are part of and all types of service are important to Him.

Craig — Last year was a busy year for us. We travelled almost all year, and at no point did we have a place that was 'ours.' When we arrived in Kazakhstan we were so grateful for the flat, and after the year of travelling we had a place that was 'ours,' as long as we continued to pay the rent. It has taken six months, but for the first time since we arrived in 'our' flat in Kazakhstan, we travelled and stayed overnight at another location. Our trip was to support the participants of our Y-family school in the debrief of the practical. Last month we mentioned a 28 hour train ride to Astana, but the good news is that the trip was a mere 20 hours each way. It was a thrill to hear the reports of the MD's work in the lives of these young people, and to see the growth in their knowledge and understanding of the love and majesty of the MD. We were also able to encourage and chat with the students, some through translators; some via a strange mixture of Kazakh, Uzbek, Russian, English and sign language; and some directly.

We also joined the team in a final practical task, chatting for the OSCE (The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) conference in Astana. (http://www.osce.org/astana/) The banner called for a conference on tolerance and non-discrimination. As we were chatting about this theme for the conference I felt that tolerance was far short of what the MD wanted for people in this world. Tolerance is the ability to ignore the other person, and the results of tolerance are currently being worked out in the exodus of non Kyrgyz people groups from Osh and Jalalabad. Love is the required response of people to other people. Love is demonstrated in the Y-family school participants from 9 different ethnic backgrounds all working and playing together. Love demands that we engage with people, tolerance allows us to hold people at arm’s length. Tolerance fosters misunderstanding; love demands intimate understanding and knowledge. Tolerance will let inappropriate behaviour slide, love will seek to correct behaviour so that quality of life is at its best. Tolerance is not a strong word. Sometimes the lessons that we receive from the MD are very much in your face. I am so grateful for his love, and not his tolerance.

Debbie — I was very touched by a family who we met on the last Sunday of June, they had just moved to Astana. Moved into an area where Sunday clubs did not exist, they have been there one month. The meeting had about 5 people in it and some of our school, so we doubled the numbers. They have been meeting for a month, and the y-school walked beside them and helped with some practical renovations, and encouragement. To see the beginning of a club was eye opening and a faithful family stepping into a new city to bring light and the MD’s love. It was a gift to join them.

Contact Details

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Almaty 050060
Republic of Kazakhstan

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Contact details were last updated on the 18^th December, 2009.