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Thanks to Doug Holmes and Marcia Patton for this direct message from someone
in Russian-invaded Georgia:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Douglas Holmes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 2008/8/19
Thought you would all find this letter compelling and interesting.
We lead such protected lives here in our immense citadel.
Doug
Rev. Marcia J. Patton, Ph.D.
Executive Minister
Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches
409 Third Avenue South Suite A
Kent WA 98032
253-859-2226 FAX 253-859-1537
The Rev. Patricia Duckworth sent the follow prayer request.
I received this from Walt White, our ABC global specialist missionary for
Muslim work. He is asking for earnest prayers for his friend and colleague
Merab in the Republic of Georgia. The letter below, which Merab sent to
Walt, explains his situation. In addition, Walt added this:
This is one of the key guys that I work with in Georgia. He is a wonderful
man with a beautiful young family. I would like to request special prayer
for the people of Georgia, and our Baptist partners in particular. The
Baptists have been very strong opponents of the Russians, and could very
conceivably come under some retribution for their role if Russian control
expands.
I have confirmed with Walt it is okay to put all this on the internet.
I have become a refugee myself
Yesterday, after finishing work at Beteli Center at 10 p.m. I went home by
public bus. On the way home we faced the Georgian Military troops returning
from South Ossetia. I got from the bus and noticed my neighbors were putting
their belongings into the vehicles and trying to escape from Tbilisi. The
rumors were being spread in the city that Russian troops started to Tbilisi.
Everyone kept saying: Russians want to arrest Saakashvili and change a
regime and bring Igor Giorgadze to power. Mr. Giorgadze used to be KGB
minister in Georgia and was convicted of the attempt to kill Shevardnadze in
the terrorist attack. He managed to flee to Russia and has lived there for
10 years.
Everyone seemed to be discouraged, despaired, disappointed, and frightened
in the fact that Georgia has been abandoned alone by the most powerful
countries into the world. The place I live in the city is a gate to come to
Tbilisi from West Georgia. Because of this special location, the Georgian
Military Troops started to base next to our block. My neighbors kept saying
to the soldiers: "please, we do not want your protection; go and protect
parliament and governmental buildings. I realized that it might be dangerous
for me to stay home overnight. If Russian troops had entered to Tbilisi, our
house could have turned into great battle field. I have never experienced
such terrible feelings in my life. I was thinking what to do when Rusudan a
female bishop of Kartli region phoned me asking if everything was okay. So,
she heartily invited me to stay in their house. Without any hesitation, I
accept this invitation. So, I, as the bishop trying to help the refugees
became a refugee myself.
No one feels secured, protected in the country. We do not know what would be
next. They have already occupied many cities in Georgia. That is why,
everyone is in panic. No one wants to live under Russian boots, but we as
small nation are unable to persist.
Last night, I finally managed to call brother Vaso a deacon in Khashuri
church. He said to me: "there are a lot of destroyed houses and many dead
and wounded people in the villages. We have not know yet what happened with
our brothers and sisters there. There are 35 baptized members living in the
hottest spots in the conflict zone and about 100 members in the
neighbourhood of Gori.
Before the war broke up in South Ossetia, we had started raising money to
the Cathedral to celebrate the transfiguration festival to the mountain. Of
course, we have changed our mind and this collection will be used for the
refugees. I made this public statement before the Georgian TV channels and
challenge other religious leaders to do the same. There are a lot of things
to be done. I have just received a call from brother Nukri Lashauri, a
regional secretary of Kartli (Tskhinvali, Gori) region: "there are already 6
refugees from our church in my house and we are coming to Beteli Center". We
are expecting more refugees to come to the center.
We will be more than happy if you can contribute something for the benefit
of the refugees.
Many thanks for your prayers!
Yours in Christ,
Merab Gaprindashvili
P.S. I took my family to East Georgia. (some of you asked about my family
situation). We will inform you about our specific needs.
Merab Gaprindashvili
*American Baptist Churches of the Northwest Prayer Connection, administered
by John Ellis*
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