keeping you as He is sooooo faithful to do for the Hess family each day and

each hour. WE SURE NEED HIM. Don't you feel that way? Each day facing

challenges bigger than ourselves and doing battle with the most tricky enemy

known to man. The last few weeks we sure have been under "fire" from the

Devil's "troops." PLEASE PRAY FOR US. Particularly pray for my dear wife.

The mission field is trying for missionary wives and my wife is no exception

(I mean she IS quite the exceptional woman, but.. Well, you know what I

mean). Dawn is missing her family worse now than ever before (perhaps her

husband feels the same), but this Christmas if you think to pray for the

Hess family that would be the best present you could give us. We sooo need

your prayers in our 3rd year here. The culture shock is now starting to

subside a little and we are down to the day to day work of language,

ministry and plain ol' survival. Although it is basically what I've always

done since graduating from college, it is altogether different and over all,

more challenging here. Personally, I believe it is just a matter of

spiritual warfare. So, all that to say, we really NEED your prayer in this

next year, more than ever! -Just a little sharing from the heart, now down

to the business at hand (the Lord's business)...

NEWS AND NOTES (of Praise):

This fall I did a "Super Spectacular" Activity for our youth and challenged

our kids to bring friends. The 1st part of the activity was a scavenger hunt

to find . . teens. Long story short- Praise the Lord, we had more visitors

than our normal crew of youth. It was wild, but they all had a blast and

when my Russian Bro. Seriosha gave the Gospel more than 10 kids raised their

hands indicating they wanted to receive Christ as their Savior. We prayed

with them, and we ask you to continue with us in praying for them.

Couples Conference was great last month. The Lord wanted me to speak on the

5 "building blocks" of a solid marriage. The conference was a help to our

couples, I believe, and especially to Dawn and I.

This weekend, Joshua Christian and I are heading to Odessa (large city

north-west of here) to preach the Anniversary Sunday Service for Bro.

Spillman, missionary brother also with BIMI.

Gena and I have been planning an outdoor evangelism for his area with

preaching, choir singing, testimonies and tract distribution. On our planned

day we had some seriously cold and rainy weather a couple Sundays back and

now we must reschedule for a time with more sunshine and better weather. It

now gets dark here about 4:30.

This country is absolutely going to Hell. We are ever endeavoring to reach

the reachable and teach the teachable. The government now is showing concern

for the youth in this country. There is a new advertisement going out all

over the city which says, "WHO WILL HELP THE YOUTH OF THE UKRAINE?" Some of

the things I see these days out in public, I can't even share with you in

this letter. Many youth are so desperate for sensual satisfaction; hardened

by sin, blinded by rebellion and deception, plus addicted to cigarettes,

alcohol and drugs before they even reach 18 years of age. Stealing is a WELL

accepted "way of life." What we see is shocking and heart breaking. Pardon

me for being negative here, but a brief look into the life of many of these

people over here may affect your prayer life: one young man, 10 yrs. old,

his sister - in my class, has become a little terrorist for his family:

stealing things from family members and if they resist, he hits them. Twice

he has sent his sister to the hospital by kicking, punching and throwing

things at her. When he doesn't get his way, he goes into the kitchen and

breaks dishes in order to persuade Mama or Grandma. Just a couple weeks ago

he hit grandma and left her bruised. We have tried to give counsel to the

family, and grandma listened some, but Mama has it fixed in her mind that

spanking him is not the answer and instead she believes that if we just let

him have his way and try not to upset him, when he calms down all will be

ok. She foolishly believes this behavior will just improve by itself.

(Thanks again "Dr. Spock" for all your great idea's in raising children.)

Here we have another fruit of his Godless, Humanistic philosophy. She is

actually raising a criminal I am afraid. PLEASE PRAY FOR SASHA and MASHA (14

yr. Old teen in our church) and the MOM and G'ma. Of course #1, they need

JESUS. Pray for wisdom in how we can help this hurting, confused Mama.

Please don't forget to pray FOR LABORERS (Matt.9:37,38). We need more in the

former Soviet Union. Perhaps it's you, reading this letter, who God will

send.

Well, I must close. Again, we give thanks to our Lord for ALL HE DOES FOR US

THROUGH YOU. GOD'S RICHEST AND SWEETEST BLESSING BE YOURS DURING THIS

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS SEASON. Dawn and all the kids send their love and hugs.

We remain...

Yours for Precious Souls in the Ukraine (and abroad),

Bro. Tony Hess and the whole family

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

Tony Hess 44 Chaykovskogo St.

Simferopol

Crimea, Ukraine 95017