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From the rushing waters of the Andiskie Koisu River at the lower Karata village of Nizhni Inkhelo, the mountains catapult upward to the east in the Karata region. Just three miles in, the mountains already tower to nearly 7,000 feet. Add another three miles and the mountain ridge to the south reaches 8,500 feet.

The Karata people in western Dagestan live in 10 major villages in this mountainous region and speak their distinctive Karata [accent on last syllable] language. They have been Sunni Muslim for more than 500 years and are defensive of their Muslim traditions.

The most famous mountain in the Karata region is rendered by translation—The Eye of the Needle. Unlike the Rich Young Ruler story in the Gospels, the Karata are not plagued by riches. But other factors in the Karata world make it difficult for them—like 'through the eye of a needle'—to find their way into the kingdom of Jesus' grace. Pride & defense of tradition & penalties against violating 'collective conformity' are three major barriers in front of a Karata person who would consider a new spiritual option.

On the other hand, in mountain Dagestani cultures such as the Karata there is a deep, abiding hunger for: 1) unselfish overflowing love and 2) for true spiritual power. A courageous person will even go through the eye of a needle when they find the pure love that their heart has been longing for. We know many stories such as this from within Dagestan. But it has not yet happened for the first Karata person.

Rugged terrain, pride and defense of religious traditions keep the Karata people from the sin-forgiving Savior.

Pray for a first 'Cornelius' or 'Lydia' among the Karata to courageously respond to the resurrection power of Jesus.
Pray for loving Christian friends to honor the Karata language and culture and become 'bridge people' into Karata relationships. Acts 10:1-48 Luke 10:6-7 Acts 16:13-15
Pray that the Word of God will be infused into Karata culture by creative linguistic efforts, and find its way into receptive Karata hearts.
2017 UPDATE!--in early 2017 a new, small effort is underway to translate The Lord's Prayer into Karata! Pray for this effort. Luke 18:1-8

Scripture Prayers for the Karata in Russia.