Due to its mountainous terrain, Kyrgyzstan is isolated from its neighbors and farther from the sea than any other country on earth. It also has one of the most preserved ancient cultures in the world. As a crossroads of ancient civilizations – from the Silk Road to other commercial trade routes – and a land of nomads itself, its people are an almost pristine picture of the great warriors who walked the land centuries ago. The birthplace of Islam for Central Asia, Kyrgyzs consider themselves more cultural Muslims than devout practitioners. When in Kyrgyzstan we will share the ancient truth of how God, the ultimate warrior, conquered death so they can live victoriously.
Type of Government: Republic; Bicameral Parliament with 60 deputies in upper (legislative) chamber, 45 in lower (representative) chamber.
Official Name: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Religion: Muslim 75 percent (Sunni Muslim but do not have strong tries to Islam), Russian Orthodox 20 percent, and other 5 percent.
Language: Kyrgyz (official); Russian is the second language of communication.
Currency: Som (KGS)
Different foods they eat: Besh Barmak
Population: 6 milllion people. Ethnic groups; 72% Kyrgyz, 9.0% Russians, 14.5% Uzbeks, 1.9% Dungans, 1.1% Uyghurs, 1.1% Tajiks, 0.7% Kazakhs and 0.5% Ukranians. There are more than 80 different ethnic groups in total in Kyrgyzstan.
Climate: Warm and sunny summers, cold winters, and subtropical weather in the southwest (Fergana Valley)
Fun Facts
1. People in Kyrgyzstan love tea. It is like a replacement for water there, and you drink tea with pretty much every meal.
2. Handshaking in a very important part of Kyrgyz culture. While shaking hands is really big among men, it is not very common to shake hands with a women.
3. Break bread (national one – lepeshka) with hands. You are not allowed to cut it with a knife.
4. In the yurt (a tentlike dwelling), sleep with your feet pointed towards the door.
5. Women must cover their heads when entering a church or a mosque.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for protection over my team while we are there.
2. For hearts ready to hear the Gospel. That God will give my team and I the words to say and His divine plan to reach the people. That God will make us a light in the darkness.
3. Pray for the missionaries we will be working with. That we can be a breath of fresh air to them, but also for God to align our team under the right leadership.
4. Pray with me for divine meetings to happen while my team and I are there. That God is already setting up meetings with people that are an influence in the culture and doors are open to reach whole people groups with the gospel.
