Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thank you for patiently waiting for the annual update after the unprecedented year of 2020. COVID-19 changed a lot of my work schedule — beginning in March with the ceasing of the home Bible Studies with ladies in Brooklyn, New York. My home visitation with the homebound also stopped. The church transportation was no longer needed. What a strange stop.

Here also the Russian-speaking church had to start to experiment with online ministries. They have done a professional job as a whole. Welcome to the digital age! They did not lack expertise in technological or in cultural level. But I did lack in both; plus, I had no experience with digital connections whatsoever in the beginning of March. Many of us felt unprepared for Zoom, or how to make conference calls. But we can all learn!

Thank God one needed way to minister to people stayed open — to work by phone. The regular weekly call list got longer than in previous years. It’s a joy to bring the right Word to those who are all alone and long to hear it. They could even ask for prayer for their needs or needs in their family. What a strenuous consuming task, a huge responsibility and new adjustment for me. How many times did someone say, “I have been waiting so long for you to call.”

Sometimes, the phone conversations needed a follow up — to bring a box to the door of a friend. These homebound people of mine do not yet have better cell phones. To those without internet connection, our church made a special conference call by a regular landline number. No one has been complaining about their circumstances; rather they have been thankful and ready to share their stories.

Then slowly, in the beginning and throughout the summer, it was possible to visit some of my Brooklyn friends — just walking in a park with social distancing and mask rules. We can even smile with our eyes if we have joy within our hearts. Beginning in July, the Brooklyn church has started to get together outside in an open parking lot by the church building. The church transportation was needed once again for several elderly ladies living far from the city. Some families have suffered either COVID-19 or another viral infection, from which it takes weeks to recover. Now, they are meeting indoors with restrictions.

One grandmother of a large family, Sveta, happened to arrive at her Brooklyn apartment earlier in July after spending a long time with her family in New Jersey. She narrowly missed the virus, as all her family became ill in less than two weeks after her returning home. They have all recovered well — thank God. Sveta and her extended family were among the last of those my husband Alex loved to teach from the Bible. They are serving in church leadership these days. Work in the Lord is not in vain.

In October, I celebrated my Seventieth birthday with my children, Miriam and Sarah. All four grandchildren were present and brought much joy to everyone. I am grateful for receiving plenty of blessings, cards and even flowers from the church family.

One of my favorite verses is “Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:13). Learning to truly yield to God still continues. It is a good fight of faith to “be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use” (2 Timothy 2:21).

Thank you for supporting this work. Please designate gifts for “Anna Deikun” and send to the following address: Slavic Missionary Service, PO Box 469, Annandale, NJ 08801. May God bless you and keep your beloved families safe!


Anna Deikun,
SMS Missionary

PO Box 1099 • Baldwin, NY 11510 • (516) 771-0839 • adeikun@juno.com