A week ago, I returned from my third trip to Russia. This trip was unlike all my previous trips to Russia or anywhere else because I went as a leader of sorts!
Several months ago, the Foreign Mission board of my church asked me to take the position of Foreign Mission youth leader. Part of my duties is to lead/help lead youth mission trips. Russia was the first trip I took in this position. It was awesome to travel with my good friends and fellow missionaries Greg Greve and Dennis Hilman on this first trip. They are and always a pleasure to travel with...and I always learn a lot from them. Also with me on this trip were Brian Niematelo, Thomas Questad, Jaclyn Somero, and Debbie Rokala. Here is the trip in picture-form:
Here is are whole group minus Dennis. This is as we are leaving Schekino for Moscow at the beginning of the trip. From Moscow we caught a train to Yoshkar-Ola. In Russia, there is always lots of travel by bus, train, subway, tram, car, etc.
Sergei and Luba shared a beautiful testimony with me as we were visiting after the short service we had in their village. Unlike most families here, Sergei was the first member of his family to come to faith. He said that he felt God's call for 10 years, but it wasn't until this small mission church was planted here a few years ago that he listened. Before he came to the church they were always fighting and had considered getting a divorce. Now, however, he confided to me with a smile, he was so happy that his wife was there beside him and that God had brought them together again in faith!
Eating cotton candy in Cheboksary! :) We went walking in the evening and the cotton candy caught our eye!
It was awesome to be in the country for Oksana's wedding! There were two ceremonies--one civil ceremony in town (required in order to be married in Russia) and then a religious ceremony in Oksana's home village of Guruz Purga. Dennis Hilman took part in the religious ceremony.
The youth camp held immediately after the wedding was a highlight of the trip! We had lots of kids show up--more than was expected! We almost ran out of places for people to sleep. We combined English teaching with time spent around God's Word. On the last evening we all shared personal testimonies and then Dennis, Greg, and Brian prayed for all those who requested prayer. Immediately following the prayer our van arrived and we said quick good-byes and headed off into the night!
Greg and I stood as godparents for the daughters of Yuri and Julia in Yekaterinburg. Angelica is 4 and Veronica is 1 1/2. Please pray for this family that they will continue to raise their daughters with the love ad fear of God! Angelica and I became friends over origami frogs and cranes after the service. Veronica is happier hanging out with her godfather... but hopefully I'll be able to spend more time with them both next time I visit!
It's always fun to hang out with kids! This is me playing with the kids in Gargarka. These kids come from difficult homes. Most are dirt poor and, statistically, many of these boys will be in prison before they are out of their teens. Many of the girls will be pregnant. Many, if not all, will be alcoholics. Please pray that God will touch their lives, give them a living hope, and raise them out of the poverty they live in today.
Our group in Rzhev with Maxim. Maxim first heard about living faith when Pastor Valery (the local pastor of the Lutheran church there) spoke at his school when he was thirteen. He was the first one to come to faith, followed by his mother, Olga. They both attend church now as well as Maxim's little two-year-old brother, Jacob.
I'm going to stop now! Lots more stories and pictures can be found on the foreign mission blog: www.foreignmissionnewsblog.blogspot.com.
I'm in New Hampshire now, but I'll be on my way to South Africa next week. Prayers always welcome!
Several months ago, the Foreign Mission board of my church asked me to take the position of Foreign Mission youth leader. Part of my duties is to lead/help lead youth mission trips. Russia was the first trip I took in this position. It was awesome to travel with my good friends and fellow missionaries Greg Greve and Dennis Hilman on this first trip. They are and always a pleasure to travel with...and I always learn a lot from them. Also with me on this trip were Brian Niematelo, Thomas Questad, Jaclyn Somero, and Debbie Rokala. Here is the trip in picture-form:
Sergei and Luba shared a beautiful testimony with me as we were visiting after the short service we had in their village. Unlike most families here, Sergei was the first member of his family to come to faith. He said that he felt God's call for 10 years, but it wasn't until this small mission church was planted here a few years ago that he listened. Before he came to the church they were always fighting and had considered getting a divorce. Now, however, he confided to me with a smile, he was so happy that his wife was there beside him and that God had brought them together again in faith!
Eating cotton candy in Cheboksary! :) We went walking in the evening and the cotton candy caught our eye! 
It was awesome to be in the country for Oksana's wedding! There were two ceremonies--one civil ceremony in town (required in order to be married in Russia) and then a religious ceremony in Oksana's home village of Guruz Purga. Dennis Hilman took part in the religious ceremony.
Our group in Rzhev with Maxim. Maxim first heard about living faith when Pastor Valery (the local pastor of the Lutheran church there) spoke at his school when he was thirteen. He was the first one to come to faith, followed by his mother, Olga. They both attend church now as well as Maxim's little two-year-old brother, Jacob. I'm going to stop now! Lots more stories and pictures can be found on the foreign mission blog: www.foreignmissionnewsblog.blogspot.com.
I'm in New Hampshire now, but I'll be on my way to South Africa next week. Prayers always welcome!
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