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The elderly Botlikh man implored him, "Come and see me—I may not have many years yet to live." The year was 2004 and this Botlikh 'man of peace' [see Luke 10:6] was living in the capital city of Dagestan in southern Russia, 200 miles from his home village up in the western mountains of Dagestan. The Christian friend responded and that afternoon Khalil, with a noble spirit, welcomed the grace of Jesus into his life while his aged wife, Patimat, watched attentively.

A few years later Khalil died; but back up in the large mountain village of Botlikh no others had yet come to Jesus. Traditional Islam, tinged with ancient folk customs, holds sway in this region. The people of Botlikh, speaking their distinct Botlikh language and Russian as a second language, number at least 7000. Botlikh village is high in the mountains but it sits in a secluded valley. The region is famous for its fruit trees, even grapes and apricots, which grow bountifully in this unusual environment amidst the rugged mountain ranges of western Dagestan.

NAMES OF BOTLIKH VILLAGES: An-kho, Ashino, Mi-arso, Botlikh (central town of Botlikh), Batlakhatli

* Scripture Prayers for the Botlikh in Russia.

Pray that the Fruit of the Spirit, which was born in Khalil's life that fall afternoon in 2004, will multiply 30-60-100-fold to his relatives and descendants among the Botlikh people.
Pray that the few urban followers of Jesus in Dagestan who have connections into the Botlikh culture will follow the voice of the Spirit like Philip did on the road to Gaza in Acts 8, and reach key men and women inside the Botlikh world.