Where has the time gone!!!!

I just cannot believe how fast the time has flown this year.  We leave for Russia in just about one month.  I went today with Elya to drop off our visa applications in Washington, DC.  Please pray that everything will go well and that we will be able to pick them all up safe and sound!!  We are gathering all of the final supplies that we will need to pull off two VBS's each day that we are in Vibity and Soltsi.  Please pray for our team members, for the children we will meet, for the adults we will encounter, and for the church in Soltsi and those that they send to support us on this journey.

Thank you to everyone who came out for our Russian dinner fundraiser.  I think I can say we all had a great time of food and fellowship and we are all so grateful that God has called us to go on this trip this year.  I know God has great things planned because Satan has been trying to get to each member of our team.  But our God is greater and He will guide our steps and set us exactly where we need to go.  I have to admit that I have lists everywhere so that we don't forget everything that we think we may need, but I was reminded tonight that even if we took not one craft or one decoration with us, God would supply everything that we would need to accomplish all that He would have us do.  I think my emotions have transformed from anxious to excited!!

If you are interested in joining us on the fantastic journey, we desperately need your prayers.  Just leave a comment and let us know you will be part of our prayer team.  We are also still taking monetary donations which will be used to support the projects that we will be doing in Russia as well as offsetting the cost of the trip.  We would love for you to partner with us on this trip and will keep you informed on what God is doing through our team.  Thank you so much for your support.

Thoughts on Russia

Russia - what do you think of when you hear the name?  For most of us in the United States, our first thoughts are of coldness - the cold winters, the Cold War, cold hearts of Communist leadership opposing our way of life.  Much of Russia's recent history has also brought about a spiritual coldness.  While 80% of the population professes to be members of the Orthodox church and therefore Christians, most of them rarely attend church, and their spiritual beliefs don't extend outside the church.  Non-traditional religions, including Protestant faiths, are considered to be cults.  Despite official freedom of religion, evangelizing is highly discouraged and even outlawed.  Yes, Russia is a cold place.

 

We will be there in the heat of the summer, watching people around us freezing to death, yet curtailed as to what we can do about it.  We need your help!  Please pray that we will be able to encourage the church there and suggest creative ways to evangelize in a non-threatening way.  Pray that our efforts in conducting VBS will continue to break down the negative feelings about Protestants in the children as well as their parents.  Pray that we will be able to demonstrate by our actions the importance of Jesus and His love for us, and not the importance of religion.

 

Our Vision:  To see Jesus exalted to His rightful place in the eyes of the Russian people

 

Our Objectives:  - To partner with the Sol'tsy church in VBS and other outreach 

                                  methods

                                - To demonstrate and teach Christ's love through VBS to the children 

                                  and their families

                               - To encourage and disciple the Sol'tsy church in the faith

 

Please keep the Sol'tsy church in your prayers and please keep our team in your prayers as we prepare to go on July 27th.  Pray that we would always be open to God's leading as we go.