A Wounded Soldier
Daniel served for 17 years as a helicopter technician for the Soviet Army in Kazakhstan. The harsh realities of military life, an absent father and a broken marriage left Daniel hopeless and alone. He ended up in the Siberian wasteland, a reflection of the "cold, loneliness and darkness I felt inside," he recalls.
Over the next five years Daniel fought the despondency, depression and darkness that brought his soul to the brink of despair. "I can barely remember what happened during those years," Daniel says. "My life was a mess. I wanted it to end"
Ahuva, "the beloved"
"He couldn't speak," says Ahuva a young girl who met Daniel "by chance." Ahuva recommended he get some professional help. "Some days he was catatonic," Ahuva remembers. "He couldn't eat or sleep. I was moved to tears just seeing him like that," she said. Daniel was admitted to the local mental hospital just beyond the Arctic Circle.
Ahuva stayed with Daniel in spite of everything, but nothing seemed to help. She brought a friend over who had been to a revival meeting in Ukraine. The friend prayed for Daniel. "At first I didn't know what was happening," Daniel recalls. "My mind was so confused I couldn't even understand what she was saying," he said. As the young Ukrainian continued to pray Daniel's countenance began to change. He became peaceful. A smile he had not known for many years slowly appeared.
"That prayer changed my life," says Daniel. "I can't explain it. All I know is that 15 years later I am a different person," he says.
Two weeks after that visit, Ahuva also gave her life to Yeshua, Israel's Messiah. They began sharing the Good News of how the Messiah could help others. The couple got married and started a home group for new believers in Siberia. "I feel like Yeshua gave me my life back," says Daniel. "Everything I had lost God has given back to me, and more. It is a miracle," he says.
"If you are a Jew, what are you doing here."
Daniel heard the Lord speaking to him about his Jewish heritage. In 2001 the couple together with their extended family made Aliyah to Israel. "We used to hide the fact that we are Jews," says Daniel. "My family even changed their name so that no one would know," he says. "We love living in Israel. We love it at Beit Immanuel Congregation where we are learning to grow in our faith and restoring our rich Jewish and Biblical heritage," he says.
The couple have a boy born here in Israel even though the doctors in Siberia said it was impossible for Ahuva to bear children. Their faces light up when they tell the story of how their little boy is the most precious thing in the world for them. "He is the God's love gift to us," they both chime.
The couple are leading a home group in Israel. Ahuva is on the worship team and Daniel is our "go to" man for just about anything and everything for the needs of the fellowship. Daniel works as a truck driver and in his spare time is taking courses at the Israel College of the Bible. He is praying about finding another job.
We are privileged to serve people like Daniel and Ahuva. We are thankful for the wonderful ways in which God works in our lives. Let us continue to join in prayer and faith that many more will experience this amazing grace of God's love for our people.
We always love to hear from you. Please write and let us know how you are and how we can pray for you.
Yours,
David and Michaella Lazarus
