JazzerCycle Roadshow hits Kyrgyzstan

Moving right along from Albania via Turkey, we landed in Kyrgyzstan, joining a couple from Australia and 6 others from the arts team in Istanbul for 2 weeks of outreach. This was our 5th time ministering in Kyrgyzstan but first time in the southern, more unreached Osh region where people are more devout. Laws are strict preventing anyone from sharing their faith in a public setting.

From June 8-18 our team of 10 presented our JazzerCycle Roadshow to 2,470 people in 12 events. With Jazz music, unicycling, dance and drama we creatively shared a message of hope and encouragement to our audiences. Usually we could not talk about God from the stage but we were able to share openly one on one and pray with people.

Three of our shows were in the Jalal-Abad region. For each of these shows we jostled along potholed roads for 6 to 8 nauseating hours round-trip from Osh. We presented in 2 city squares 3 times and invited people to a follow-up meeting after the third show.

After our first show, the pastor and church members were gushing with excitement. They were so thankful the city could see "Christians presenting such a wonderful, beautiful, professional show". They sensed Dustin's sharing was from his heart and saw girls crying, overcome with emotion as Katie danced. Though we were very restricted in what we could share, the pastor's friend who's been in prison 7 times and was recently released gave his life to Jesus that night!

After our third show in Jalal-Abad, a guy came up to Katie saying, "You have a positive in your life. Pray for me to have that positive, too." Then a lady asked, "Is there a reason you do these shows?" Through these conversations we were able to share about the Hope that we have in Jesus.

From Osh, we drove through the village of Communism to get to Uch-Korgon for a special show at an orphanage. Dustin shared with the kids that God is a Father who loves them and will never leave them.

Then we had 3 shows for students. Two of them were 5 blocks from Uzbekistan in a village called VLKSM (stands for All-Union Leninist Young Communist League).

Unfortunately, one of our audiences was 200 preschoolers who came crying, cried throughout our show, then left crying. They didn't understand why their breakfast was interrupted to come out and sit in the hot sun for an hour. It was a new, almost comical experience for us to hear their dull wailing fill the school courtyard. All was not in vain however, since hundreds of mothers also came and listened intently to the message.

After each of the schools shows, our local partners handed out Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to the kids.

A local English club ministry invited us to join their informal cafe meeting 3 afternoons where we had the opportunity to share testimonies and the Gospel with students.

To wrap things up, we did a show in a church where we could share openly. This was a last minute event so wasn't very well attended but thankfully at least 10 non-believers came and heard the Gospel as Dustin shared then led in a prayer of surrender to Jesus. We were also able to encourage and pray with many new believers.

Hushed but not Silenced in Central Asia

From 2-14 August, 2016 our team of 11 from Korea, Canada, Australia, USA and England joined a team of 4 Kyrgyz nationals as we presented 12 events for over 3,300 people. 

Music, dance and unicycling were the creative elements of this UniShow tour. We unexpectedly lost Chris, one of the main vocalists of the band, 4 days into the tour as he was diagnosed with hepatitis and had to fly back to Istanbul for weeks of bed rest. Thankfully, JuYoung, Arielle, Erin, Hannah, Misun, Rose and Andy were still able produce quality music together. Dances were done by David and Katie while Dustin cleaned up on unicycles and JaeHyeok put his expertise to work running sound. 

Because of new laws in the country, we had to be very closed during our show.  Local organizers tried a new method of having us present our public show, including sharing only a positive, neutral message while inviting the audience to a follow-up event later that day hosted by a local church, where we could be totally open. In theory this was a great idea and was not in vain, although most follow-up events were sparsely attended by those already connected to the church. There seems to be a stigma attached to Christians and churches, especially in small villages, where people won't risk the gossip that would inevitably come from being seen attending a church event.

After flying into Bishkek then orientation and rehearsal in Tokmok, we had our first show in Balykchy on Lake Issyk Kul. During the follow-up meeting that night, a guy asked David to pray for strength because he wanted to give his life to Christ!

Though we could not be open at the show in Cholpon-Ata, a girl told Dustin afterward through tears, that she had been crying as she listened to him share about how his heart used to feel empty, and she felt like he was describing her life. When she asked him what he found that did fill his emptiness, he was able to tell her that it was Jesus alone! Also, a lady told Arielle she felt kindness and truth from her while she was singing. Arielle told her Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life so it was Him she was experiencing. These conversations were so encouraging and show us how God can work through these events even when we can't be open from the stage.

After the show in Karakol, David was able to connect a guy who wanted a Bible but had never read it before, to the local pastor where he will be able to receive his first one in Russian. This man came to the follow-up event as well, where Andy shared his testimony, as did Rose before she played her harp and sang. David and Katie did a dance and the band played Turkish and worship songs. Dustin presented a cross Gospel illustration and gave an invitation, leading people in a prayer to surrender to Jesus. At least 4 people indicated they had just prayed the prayer for the first time!

One of the pastors in Kyzyl Suu told us that our concert helped improve the believer’s image in the community. He said that as people saw our talent and enjoyed the show, they were impressed and intrigued that the church had brought us. He expressed gratitude that God has not forgotten their small village and sent us to encourage them and hopefully inspire Kyrgyz youth to go out and reach the world for Christ.  

Next in Tokmok we presented in the city center then in a church for the follow-up meeting. Both were lightly attended but seeds were planted. In Kara-Balta the church had rented a stage for our performance. We were able to share more openly about what God has done in our lives and though the police came, they had positive memories of Dustin's unicycle performance there last year so all was well. The youth pastor said he's been trying to get a neighbor lady with a Turkish husband to come to events at the church for a long time. He thought it was a miracle she came to the follow-up meeting. Also, some of the kids who came said they will be returning for Sunday school for the first time.

Because our show at a children's rehab center in Bishkek was canceled, we seized a last minute opportunity to present our final show at Bishkek Park, the largest, fanciest mall in Kyrgyzstan.  It was a beautiful venue with around 2,000 people watching throughout the program from 4 floors.  The mall organizer interviewed our team afterward and was very positive about the show and seemed excited to host us again for bigger events in the future.

It was a privilege to scatter seeds in Kyrgyzstan as we partnered with local believers. We pray God will multiply our efforts and continue to draw those impacted through our events closer to Him.

A Song, a Dance and a Wheel in Kyrgyzstan

For the 3rd time we joined TACO (Turkey AfriAsia Creative Outreach) for an outreach tour in Kyrgyzstan from 17-31 May. We had a very busy two weeks with 14 shows in 11 days. Rain and stomach issues threatened to hinder outreaches but thankfully we didn’t have to cancel any events and we did even more shows than originally scheduled. Our team consisted of Dustin unicycling, Katie dancing, Chris singing amazing operatic vocals, accompanied by Erin on clarinet and Hannah on guitar. To add to the mix, some locals sang songs in Russian and Kyrgyz and a couple days a teenager joined us with his hip hop dancing.

We did shows in city parks, schools and churches. Some of our favorite shows were in several orphanages. It’s so special to have the opportunity to share with precious kids that God is a Father who will never leave them. In contrast, we also presented in several elderly homes. This was equally special and meaningful to share how they can have eternal life with God after life on earth is over. At one elderly home we received gifts of warm homemade bread; at another, a thank you certificate with the seal of Kyrgyzstan, along with wool flowers and yurts.

One of our shows was on a proper stage in Kara-Balta in front of the main city government building. A small but active local church used this event to invite people to church and connect with their community. One young member said he saw how much God loves them because we came from other countries to share with them. He said that through our program a fire was lit in them to use what they have to share God’s love with their community. We also got to meet a local Christian family who have 28 kids (4 biological, 24 adopted)!

In Balychky our show was hosted by a ground-breaking ministry who run a shelter for abandoned kids. The couple who started this ministry, introduced the concept of foster care to Kyrgyzstan a few years ago. They were responsible for getting government cooperation and legislation to support it. They didn’t want to start another orphanage where kids are housed in mass, but want to get kids into families. Over 350 kids have come through their shelter which houses up to 10.

It was a privilege to partner with churches and ministries to help strengthen their community impact. Overall we were able to be surprisingly open with the Message and share God’s love freely. Many indicated that they prayed to surrender their lives to Jesus for the first time during our events! Thousands heard the Truth of God’s love during these 2 weeks, many for the first time!

First show at a village school.  Where's Dustin?

School kids shared a performance of their own.

Dustin heating things up at an elderly home.

Orphanage show.

Community outreach in Tokmok.

Great turn out in Victory Park Bishkek.

Dustin and his many fans.

Show in Kara-Balta.

10 of the 28 kids in this special family.

Park outreach in Bishkek.

Final show in Balychky for shelter ministry.

Wrapping up the TACO 2012.

Our last shows in Kyrgyzstan were at elementary schools and a university.  Some local students joined David doing hip hop during our show at the Ak Bata School in Tokmok and shared their fancy moves.

We were warmly received by an enthusiastic and engaged audience at the International University of Central Asia.  Many students there are studying English so we had great conversations after the show.  We were gifted with IUCA hats and t-shirts and hope to keep in touch with students we met.

Our 11 shows in Kyrgyzstan all went well and much truth was shared.  We learned after our show at the Disabled Men's Home that some men who had responded to the invitation had approached believing caretakers asking what they should do now since they just gave their lives to Jesus!  We also heard that students had told believing teachers they wanted to know more about the message we had shared.  We know God is at work far beyond our hour and half show!

On our way back to Istanbul we had a 14 hour layover in Moscow and did some fun sightseeing around Red Square.  All the trouble we had getting our Russian visas were forgotten as we experienced the sights, sounds and tastes of this historical city.

We had one last show in Istanbul at Cevahir Mall before heading back to the states.  Katie was a bit sore from running the full Istanbul Intercontinental Marathon two days before but still managed to pull off a good show.  The stage was round and a bit wobbly since it had the capability of elevating at least 25 meters!  Unfortunately there was a bit of drama at the end of our show when we did a drawing with names we had collected from interested spectators and tried to hand out DVD's with a message as prizes.  The management had been informed this would take place but still got upset and caused a scene.  We know that thousands still heard a clear message of hope and we pray that God will use that truth to have an eternal impact on their lives.

International University of Central Asia

Moscow!

Istanbul Cevahir Mall