Well, in the beginning we planned a trip to encourage russian churches to reach out muslim people, especially in the Central Asia. The trip happened 24.5. - 13.6.2019. Here you can read a story about the car we traveled by. We = Matti and Marko.

During the first trip we traveled by car until the until the border Russia-Kazakstan, where the car was broken. We left the it in the city of Aktobe for repair. We continued the trip to Tadzikistan by plane. Later in the autumn we made 2 trips to Kazakstan to sell the car, but ended up leaving the it in yard of a church in the south of Kazakstan.

Trip to Tadzikistan at summer 2019

First, we got the idea to travel by car just because it was practical. Then later we got idea to sell the car to Tazdikistan and come back by plane. We had heard it is profitable to take this kind of cars there. Decision to buy this bus came actual when our friend told us that in one of his buses has broken engine and he was ready sell it very cheaply (less than 1000 euros). So we paid almost 2000 euros for fixing the engine.

The trip itself went very well with the car – until the border Russia-Kazakstan. Before that, we had air-condition fixed in Ufa. That operation led us to meet a bishop in Ufa and had a really wonderful fellowship with him. It actually changed many views we had on Russia and christianity there.

Interestingly, after the car was broken, Amir, a tow truck driver, prayed a prayer of repentance while towing it. And when the car stood without engine on the yard of a church in Aktobe 6 months, the church experienced church growth and started youth ministry because of the car, at least that is what the pastor says. Don’t know if they are already waiting our next trip… :)

To the border of Tadzikistan in 22.11. - 2.12.2019

Then at the end of year 2019 we were able to continue our trip after many hardships. After one hour driving we noticed a leak of engine coolant and a problem with the charger. First we thought to return to Aktobe and fly back home. Finally we found people in Khromtau who helped to fix the problems and met with local pastor. We stayed one night at the pastors home and were able to inspire him to reach out muslims.

After Khromtau we drove without any problems with the car. In Kyzylorda. There we stayed in church where they had really good facilities for many kind of ministries, the only lacking thing was proper toilets. The fellowship with pastor Alik was really encouraging and inspiring.

From Kyzylorda we drove to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, We spent a night in customs formalities. The formalities were complicated. In Tashkent we heard that we were lucky because we crossed the border only in 8 hours. In Tashkent we were helped by a pastor who was a friend of the pastor in Aktobe. From Tashkent we drove to border of Tadzikistan. Some uzbek men had told us in Khromtau that it is better drive through Samarkand and so we did.

Now on the Tadzikistan border we heard that we are not allowed to enter country because we don’t have visas. We were really disappointed and asked for any possibility to take at least the car to Tadzikistan, but then we had to go back. We felt really tired, it was evening and dark outside already. We decided to ask our friends if there were any churches in Samarkand to stay overnight. We thanked God we were received by The Full Gospel Church of Samarkand.

The pastors wife had day before a dream of white microbus donated to them

The next morning we had a breakfast made by the senior pastors of the church. It was really interesting to hear how the church is growing both in numbers and in quality. The leading pastor told us he had thought that God has given them microbus when he had heard of us coming by white microbus. He had prayed and asked God about it and God had said ”No”. With Marko we were disappointed to hear that, or course. We were just ready to ”get rid of it” by any means.

That day we visited some kind of boss of customs. The pastor wanted to help us to get rid of the car. We heard that we were not allowed to leave the car in Uzbekistan even temporarily. Well, we decided to take the Mercedes back to Kazakstan, we had got contacts of a Full Gospel Church close to Shymkent.

The way back to the church in Kazakstan took ”only” 12 hours. Now the customs officers of Kazakstan were really impolite and were not allowing us to leave the car in Kazakstan ”for couple of months”. At 6am we got dinner and at 7am we went to bed.

Next morning was Sunday and I, Matti, went to the church meeting. Immediately I was given word and I told how we had ended up there and why. After church meeting we had lunch and after that we flied to Moscow. On the way back we made a letter of attorney to Sergei who had promised to take care of the car in Kazakstan.

Corona closing the borders in March 2020

We were preparing to go to Kazakstan to take the car to Tadzikistan in the middle of March. Then the borders were closed by corona and we had to wait. Every two months Sergei visited the customs to get a new 2-month permission for the car. Sergei also told us that it was a big help to have the microbus because they were allowed to move in spite of lockdown. Anointed finnish car? :)

Now have got information that the economy is down (because of corona) and it is not profitable to sell the car to Tadzikistan any more. All the borders are still closed, so it is not possible to take it anywhere. Now the officials are threatening that they will confiscate the car.

God speaks by giving ideas and through dreams

At the end of summer we had no idea what to do with the car. In Finland we had prayed and prayed. Then Pavel, pastor of the church close to Shymkent, told his church to pray for the car. After that Sergei got new ideas what to do. First we thought about opening a commercial company and then use the car under that company. But then Pavel heard about possibility to donate the car to the church as ”humanitarian goods”. After having made decision to donate the car pastor Pavel saw a dream about one document with two copies and clear instructions to give the copies to those who ask and leave the original to himself.

From Finland to Central Asia: Now leaving the car in Kazakstan

At first we had the aim to create a way to take the gospel to the nations of Central Asia. Now we have at least got many contacts on the way. Well, it seems that our plans with the car did not succeed, but maybe it was meant to be ”donkey of Bileam”. In that story donkey prevents Bileam to go to destruction. This car has made us and our mission known in many churches in the Central Asia.

Well, all this has cost money. We still owe 6500 euros for the repair, the second trip etc. Of course it is just money, but it is inhibiting us doing any big moves before it is paid. I believe God knows what is the case. Waiting for His answer. Matti Anttonen