Skip to content
Accueil » News » News from the Belanger family in Slovakia October-November 2022

News from the Belanger family in Slovakia October-November 2022

Conflict and price hikes

Until recently, the conflict in Ukraine had affected us little. However, deprived of its usual influx of Russian natural gas and oil, Slovakia is now increasingly affected. Diesel has been up 70% since January, currently selling at C$2.60/L (US$7.30 a gallon). This increase has, among other things, increased grocery prices.

The conflict has also raised the price of firewood by 20% to 50%, and created supply difficulties, as demand has greatly increased. As far as we are concerned, instead of paying Can$2400 (US$1800) for our wood this year, we will have to pay Can$3000 (US$2200). Moreover, while we were supposed to receive our wood in August, more than half has yet to arrive. However, we consider ourselves blessed as some suppliers have doubled their prices.

Pray with us for this need, for God’s provision, in His way and in His time, for what we need to meet this rising cost of living. We pray, of course, also for the return of peace between Ukraine and Russia.

Our first

Our first youth group meeting, mid-September, was a wonderful time. After a time of welcome, games and praises, we began a series of studies on what Christians do and why. Our first lesson was on why Christians read the Bible and was an encouragement to all. It was the perfect opportunity to distribute our first devotional. The evening ended with pizza and more good time.

The meeting was not yet over, and the young people were already looking forward to the next one. We thank the Lord for Nikolas, Myriam, L'uba and Slavic, who are present and enthusiastic about the youth ministry. Let us pray together that other teens, including Noemka, would soon join us.

You can also pray more specifically for our relationship with Slavic and L'uba. We want to connect more with them. However, they arrived from Ukraine only a few months ago and communicate with some difficulty in Slovak for the moment. In addition to this, they are rather shy. Pray with us that God would show us how to move these relationships forward.

The last weekend of October, our church had a baptism. We were very excited because Myriam and Andrej, from the youth group, were both baptized. Andrej is one of our leaders and Myriam, a 17-year-old girl.

You can pray for the latter. We thank the Lord, her grandparents and parents are all committed Christians. In addition, she grew up in the church from her childhood. Currently, she is studying the transverse flute intensively in a specialized school more than an hour from home and church. She does feel a little lonely there, struggling to find other Christians and living there all week in residence. Despite everything, she radiates her love for God when you meet her.

Training up leaders

We started going through the foundations of youth ministry with two men from the church. We want as much to equip them so that they know how to run the ministry well, as to communicate to them a passion, an urgency, for the ministry with young people. The goal is for them to understand how to have a fruitful youth ministry for God. That is why we look together at the biblical principles and elements that are part of good youth ministry, and the role that each of these elements plays. We pray that a woman would join these two men eventually for the sake of the ministry in the long term.

Mid-October, I was able to complete two more courses towards my Master’s degree. It was very interesting, and formative, to explore the counseling relationship and the systematic doctrine in greater depth. Until Christmas, I will be studying the Hebrew language and doing the second part of the systematic doctrine course.

Thank you for your prayers, it is quite the challenge, but, by the grace of God, things are going quite well and this training allows me to grow, preparing me to be even more useful for the work of God.

Andrej and Janči, our two first youth leaders!
Andrej and Janči, our two first youth leaders!

Our little family

Isabelle and I celebrated our fifteenth wedding anniversary at the beginning of October. It's amazing how quickly it went. We are immensely grateful for all that God has allowed us to go through as a team during these beautiful years.

More years, more love!
More years, more love!

May the Lord bless you!

Philippe and Isabelle

phil_et_iza@yahoo.ca

* Our support comes only through churches and individuals that God puts at heart to encourage us financially. We do not receive any support from other organizations or missionary groups.

If you have on your heart to support us financially, you may send your donation by using the link below and following the instructions.

Categories

Latest posts

Myjava et ses environs

The Belanger family in Slovakia – Prayer letter February-March 2023

March 21, 2023

On your marks, get set, go! After a last youth group on February 18, we left the ministry in the care of Andrej and Janči. Along with the teens, they will study the life of Joseph, a teenager who did not have it easy, but who remained faithful to God. Let us pray for the… Read More »The Belanger family in Slovakia – Prayer letter February-March 2023

The Belanger family in Slovakia – Newsletter December 2022-January 2023

January 27, 2023

End the year in style Praise the Lord, we have already been doing youth ministry in Stará Túra for five months. We have had the opportunity to cover many basics of the Christian life with our teens. It is a blessing to be able to move forward in our relationships with them and occasional visitors.… Read More »The Belanger family in Slovakia – Newsletter December 2022-January 2023

Myjava et ses environs

Newsletter Belanger family – July-August-September 2022

September 23, 2022

Let’s go! We had already been preparing for this for some time, now it is happening. After months of research and prayers, we know where God wants us to get involved. For nearly six months, we have joined a brethren assembly in the small town of Stará Túra. Over the course of these months, I… Read More »Newsletter Belanger family – July-August-September 2022

Support JET Mission.

To support a missionary, a participant or a project.