Thank You!

Our plane touched down at 2:00 AM Tuesday after all going smoothly except a 3 hour delay in Chicago.

Thank you so much for praying for our team in Russia. I was extremely proud of our coalition and especially of Heritage Bible Church for the service to our Lord on this trip.

In just over 24 hours home (a lot it sleeping!) I've heard from many who have enjoyed the blog, and we look forward to seeing you in person.

- Jim

Home Again, Home Again

Our last night here. Wow! Almost seems like a dream now.

Larry, Jim and I spent this Lord's day at a small but very alive church. Sweet people, who love the Lord. Right after our service today I was tackled by a woman named Kate--I got a hug and an adament request. "I must hear you sing." I looked at her and laughed. But she was dead serious. She returned my look with her bright, piercing, steel blue eyes and said... "Now!" Church was over, however, the congregation stood in the very small worship room chatting with one another. Seemed a little awkward to me and "NO" didn't seem like and option so...Ok.....the only song that came to mind was Wonderful, Merciful, Savior...so I belted it out. Her blue eyes were locked on mine the entire time (I sang only one verse--I felt bad because people were trying to visit). She loved it.

During the service I had heard her singing. I didn't have a face to match the voice earlier but when she approached me I knew it was her. Her voice is husky and beautiful--full of emotion.

After the service came lunch. After lunch, came a special treat!!! I got to use their facilities--special! Slavabogo for plumbing people. Twice today I had this special privilege--really???? I thought I was going to make it out of Russia without this honor but alas--rotten bladder, I did not. Let me tell you, it is a lot to manage in a dress, tights, full SQUAT, and a cold draft. Did I mention--at the gas station this morning there was Ice on the floor--one wrong move people and OH MAN--unthinkable.

Anyway, I am so excited to be coming home I just about can't stand it. Please pray for our return adventure--smooth and safe!

Jen

The Pneumatic Tube

Larry, Jen and I just returned from a delightful day of worship and fellowship with the church in Kirsanov. Young Pastor Anatoly Alipichev is a superstar among the brothers here. He just finished preaching through the entire Gospel of John, which he accomplished in a year and a half. Anatoly has taken the crown as the youngest ordained pastor in the Baptist Union of Russia.

Scott Freeman, Dick Shaw and Marsha Harris: Greetings from Kate, the dear sister who teaches English there. As soon as I regained my breath after her bear hug she told me to greet you. Dick, she's the lady with which you sang "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." I'm pretty sure she now understands that Scott is not my son.

Heritage Bible Church: Greetings from Alexander and Luda, the couple who adopted all the kids when the orphanage closed. They're the ones HBC raised money for, so they could get gas heat in their two houses. Several of the kids are out of the house and the "little" ones are growing up fast.

Coalition Leaders: The money we designated to start the well-drilling business in Kirsanov has been multiplied incredibly. Our $2000 investment has grossed $20,000, provided employment for 4 brothers, drilled 75 wells so far, provided similar equipment for three other places to start the same business, and provided money to start the business (in the renovated space next to the church) of cell phone repair. They get the concept of doing business to enable the church members to support the pastor, and they show no signs of letting up. As soon as I get home we'll release the $500 (from Praise International) we have been keeping on hand for starting the phone repair business. We thought we needed $2000 for it to start, but they did it on their own. The money we send will allow them to purchase more equipment and parts.

For Larry, Jen and me the only remaining portion of our trip is the journey home. Before the Eberhardts left I suggested they think of themselves as entering a bottle that goes into a pneumatic tube to be sucked to its destination. The good news is that this tube averages over 200 miles per hour. The bad news is that the trip is over 7000 miles. Lord willing we'll leave the church between 4 and 5 AM (6-7 PM Sunday in Idaho) and we're due in Boise just after 11 PM Monday night. Our "bottle" has several stops and some connections to make . . . please pray that it goes smoothly.

One of the brothers from the church who has a good car will drive us straight to the airport, saving a lot of money and bypassing the overnight train ride. We get to have Anya with us all the way through check-in at Domodedovo Airport and she will watch to make sure we clear passport control without snags.

There's no doubt in my mind this has been the most eventful of my 10 visits to Russia. What a joy to bring a team from HBC and to do so much! They want us back for camp next year :)

I'll pray for your worship and fellowship to honor our precious Lord this morning, and expect to see you next Sunday at the latest.

Слава Богу!
(slava bogu, Praise God!)

Спасибо за молитву!
(spacebo za moleetvu, Thanks for praying!)

- Jim

Rehab

Yesterday I was imprisoned briefly. Today Larry and I were in Rehab while Jen rested. We traveled to Lipetsk (1.5 hours each way) to the facility where 12 people at a time live in a full-time in-patient drug and alcohol recovery program. This is the same facility where summer camp is held.

Dick Shaw (pastor of First Baptist in Caldwell) and I visited this place 21 months ago. The leaders of the Tambov churches liked what they saw, but there were some struggles with the director of the progarm over the philosophy of the rehab ministry. At that time there was a dream to have such a place for the Tambov region and for it to be 100% devoted to Bible study, prayer and fellowship. We prayed it would be so.

The answer to the prayer was much different than expected. The leader of the rehab facility abandoned the faith and turned to the Orthodox Church. He was excommunicated from his church and the ministry stopped. A lot of progress had been made on renovating the extensive facility, but the future was uncertain.

In the fall the doors opened again. This time the ministry is led by Vasiliy, who is totally committed to doing it without any medications or worldly psychology. He himself is a former addict. To get into the program (which requires 2-3 months to complete) a person has to interview with one of the pastors in the Tambov region and his or her commitment to change is assessed. Only those approved by a pastor can enter. Now in the best of hands, this ministry is changing lives one at a time. Not all become believers, but the vast majority kick their drug and alcohol habits permanently. The ministry is being supported by the churches of Tambov.

One of the graduates of the program was in our class this week, clean and sober and saved and reunited with his wife and daughter. He went with us today to visit the place, and brought his wife who has not yet become a believer. Please pray for her to be saved; she is attending Vadim's church with her husband. Wish I could remember their names.

Without Rader and Megan here, our I.T. department is absent, so you'll have to wait to see photos of this place. It's another example of how much ministry our Russian partners accomplish with so few resources by our standards.

Tomorrow we're off to church in Kirsanov, then back to pack and be ready to leave early (4 AM'ish) Monday. God provided us with a skilled driver who will take us directly to the airport and save us a lot of money we won't spend on a train ride. Monday is that 34-hour long day when we cross 10 time zones. Please pray it goes smoothly for us as it did for Rader and Megan. The connection in Munich is a little tight, and the Eberhardts had just 5 minutes to spare.

- Jim

A Quiet Day

So very tired this morning. I couldn't even drag myself out for my usual 7am run. In fact, it is about 3pm right now and I haven't even showered yet. I can't believe that we have only two days left. I wonder what re-entry will feel like. I am still not 100%--this suped up virus I received here in Russia hangs on like the Black Plague.

Life has been non-stop since we got here. Go here, go there, and there, and there, and there. I am not at all used to this pace nor do I care for it. I am an introvert. Though I love the company of friends and meeting new people, my battery doesn't recharge in non-stop noise and constant bussle. Today, I elected to withdraw myself from the planned activities. Not because I am not interested in all that is being accomplished here in Russia--but I have a very acute understanding that I can't get it ALL or do it ALL the first time. My brain is on overload and I know my limits. Today is my limit--I need a break. The quiet this morning has been absolutely GLORIOUS--thank you Lord! I am alone--my battery is on orange--but I feel the green coming. I am stitching because this work is medicine to me. I am processing. I am thinking about all that has been said and done here. My mind wanders wherever it wills--there are no boundaries today--no interruptions. Occasionally I find myself singing.

This has been an incredible trip on so many levels--I am not in the slightest bit capable of articulating much of it either by word or by type. I have been on an emotional roller coaster. The kind of ride that scares the crap out of you--but when you get off you find yourself looking at your friends, panting, wide-eyed, smiling and saying--wanna go again? I don't know what the Lord plans but lets just say--If He wills it--I will!!

Class this week was amazing. We are so blessed to sit under faithful teaching--slavabogo. Can I tell you all something???? I cried only once this week. Only once. Election people--this is the concept that brought tears to my eyes this week. Election. I don't even pretend to fully grasp this part of the Doctrine of Salvation. The bible says it. I believe it. It just hurts to think about sometimes in my human understanding. I need to learn to just hand it up to Him who CARES FOR ME. Maybe this only makes sense in my mind and I guess that's ok. The struggle is for those of us who have people we LOVE who do not know the Lord or are not walking with Him. People we aren't sure of in terms of where they stand on the matter of salvation. It's only LIFE or death hanging in the balance. Yikes. I mean this. Where they will spend eternity hangs in the balance. That weighs on my heart for so many people. The thought of even one person that I love spending eternity in hell sucks the air from my lungs--I pray to God that is not the case. I plead with Him often over them--calling them out to Him by name. Oh friends and family, if you are reading this and you have not yet repented--now is the time. Every single time you resist the truth of the gospel you are hardening your own heart--just like Pharaoh. How many more, God loving you and calling you, opportunities will you decline before God himself ceases to knock at the door of your hard heart (or worse--read Pharaoh's account). I beg you, repent and be reconcilled today! Admit your status--you are a sinner! Understand you can't clean your mess up on your own--you bring nothing but your sin to the table (failure at any level with regards to complete holiness puts you in the class of sinner). Recognize He already provided THE WAY, Jesus Christ (God's only Son) who can (because He lived the perfect life we can't) and did make atonement for you! Ask Him to come into your heart and into your life as SAVIOR AND LORD and begin the process of making you into the person He created you to be! Redeemed--go and tell others the good news.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures...

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

If you don't know Him this is my prayer for you all! I don't know anything else of importance, except this, this will matter for eternity. FOR - E - VER. God bless.

Behold, I am coming HOME soon (heeheehee). I can't wait for the cozy Temper pedic bed and pillows. I can't wait for an hour long, smokin hot shower. I can't wait for a BIG salad with all the trimmings. I can't wait for a long stretch of pavement and a new pair of running shoes. I can't wait for a clothes dryer. I can't wait for the quiet of home. I can't wait for a cup of coffee from a Keurig coffee pot doused with Vanilla-Caramel CoffeeMate Creamer (ooohlala) - THANKYOU MIKE and CASIE (I love you both and miss you like CRAZY). I can't wait to stop living out of a suitcase (NICOLE--holy crap, I feel your PAIN--this is no small thing). God has blessed me beyond measure and I am unworthy of it all. Lord, let me live my life in a way that honors YOU. In a way that reveals that I am not the ultimate owner of anything you allow me to possess---but oh GOD, I am so greatful for it all!!!!

Now, I am ready for my RUN!

Love to all! Jen

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord . . .

Class was a success. Then came the tough part, which Jen apparently found quite amusing. You know if you've read the previous post.

The real story of the imprisonment . . .

We're playing cards and relaxing and get called to dinner. I had just thrown on a shirt after our shopping trip. It wasn't fully buttoned and the shirt tail was not tucked in. Anya was standing in the door of the guys' room talking to me, so I ducked into the restroom to tuck in my shirt tail. I doubt I was in there more than 15 seconds.

I came out to find the room empty and the door locked. I could hear the voices of my "friends" reverberating as they were starting down the stairs (we live on the 4th floor). They couldn't hear me yell or the pounding on the door over their banter. Time: 5:58 PM.

6:02 PM. I start my computer and wait for it to boot up. I plug in MagicJack and wait for it to boot up.

6:04 PM. I call Anya and get no answer. I try again in case she didn't feel it vibrate in her pocket.

6:05 PM. I remember noticing that Anya left her phone in her room when we were called to dinner. Surely they've noticed by now that I'm not at dinner. Shouldn't be long.

6:06 PM. Waxing brilliant, I place a call to Jenni Myers who is in Ohio. I know she will have Vadim's cell number on her phone and I know Vadim is at dinner with my "friends." Three rings, then a cheery voice answers: "The person you are calling has a voice mail box that has not been set up."

6:07, 6:08, 6:09, 6:10, etc. I entertain myself by calling Jenni over and over. Same result. Did I mention that the only chair in our room is in the other room where we were using it during our card game? Being on my knees at the computer table is getting a little old.

6:15 PM. I hear some voices and figure my "friends" are coming for me. Wrong. Someone too far away to hear the pounding or my voice.

6:20 PM. I redeem the time by copying sermon notes to my thumb drive so that if I'm released from prison I can print them to use Sunday in Kirsanov. Doesn't kill much time.

6:25 PM. I notice we have oranges, apples, bananas, grapes, some candy, milk, bottled water and tea bags in the room. Looks like I can survive here for a few days if necessary.

6:30 PM. More voices, and these are closer. I pound, and female voices reply in Russian. I don't know what they're saying, so I call out in my pig-Russian what I think means "Where are Anya and my American "friends? I need a key!" One of the voices replies in English (praise God for a dear sister in Christ who is from Aurstralia) "What do you need?" I explain and hear the wonderful words "We have a key!"

"Click," and the door opens. I'm greeted by two very amused ladies. Rick Kirschmann is just walking down the hallway toward my room. My "friends" sent Rick instead of facing me themselves!

6:35 PM. I arrive downstairs where all but one person in the room is truly amused. The stone cold plate of food at my usual place is the only thing left on the table after the whole group finished dinner and cleaned up. My food is warmed by the gracious cook who would have been home with her family by now if weren't for my "friends." I'm sure glad I gave her some of Marsha's toffee as a thank-you gift this afternoon!

By the time I finish a nice talk with Vadim, get my notes printed and get back to my room my "friends" are guffawing in front of my computer which they have helped themselves to in order to post their twisted view of the event on the blog .

First time I've been imprisoned in the cause of serving Christ.

- Jim

A Locked Door (hee,hee,hee,hee,hee)

I can't help but laugh hystarically while I type this. This is a funny story guys. Anya, Larry, Jim and I were playing Phase 10 when we got the call -- time for dinner. We had just dealt another hand (I don't mind telling you I was getting trounced--total sewage for cards--and dinner seemed like the perfect relief). All the cards went face down and we decided to return after dinner to finish the game (much to my distain). Off we all went.

Side note people---our rooms lock from outside with a key. Larry is the keymaster (appointed by Jim). I'll say it again Larry is the Keymaster. Did you guys get it??? Okay. Hold on to your shorts---here we go...........

Dinner plates flying...Oh the pasta tonight is delicious (minus the meat--not a fan), veges, bread, and cookies wooohooo my favorite. Jim's taking a while so we pray and get on with---yum. Dinner is done now and more people have arrived---hmmmm where is Jim???? Larry said he's on "his throne". Taking a while.....Hmmmm???? More people come and we are engaged in serious conversation. Where is Jim??? What on earth is taking so long???? We have finished out meal, our dessert, and our tea. Still, NO JIM????? Others continue to arrive---more conversation. Where is JIM????

Finally Jim-----what the heck? Come to find out. Keymaster had locked Jim in their room. He tried to call Anya (she was with us...no phone). He tried to call Jenny in the USA (no answer). Finally he heard someone in the hall.... KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK--HELP ME!!!!!! The faceless rescuer went for a key.

Jim gave "SKIPPER"/Keymaster quite the look upon entry. Told his story and laughter erupted around the table...dinner was served---to JIM.

The funniest part about all this is we all had this conversation about 2 weeks ago....what if?....Jim talked about tying sheets together and pulling a Rapunzel if need be. Dang it!

Larry and I are still laughing!!!! At this time, we do not know where Jim is.

Jen

P.S. MISS YOU MEGAN!!!!!!!

Home - Part Two

I'm going to try and be brief. As usual Megan has already covered a lot more ground than I could hope to, and with a lot more eloquence.

Two weeks ago I looked around Red Square in the frigid night air and couldn't believe that I was standing a half a world away from my home, my family, my life. Our mission had just begun and I was exhausted and euphoric that we had actually made it this far without a major disaster. In 24 hours we had crossed the globe and at that moment I felt like the world was so small, and I even smaller. As I type this from the comfort of my desk I still feel very small and can't believe we are finally "home." I wanted to give you all some of my final thoughts on the trip.

Life is hard in Russia. I don't mean that in any kind of condescending way. I mean that in the most sincere and sympathetic way that I can. It is an incredible understatement to say that I take my American life for granted. I can't think of one single aspect of life that isn't more difficult in Russia. Even so, God has used the conditions here to purify and refine a faith and zeal for serving the local church that can't be found in the good ol' US of A. Vadim is fond of the phrase, "Suffering for Christ". Usually he used in a lighthearted joking manner when talking about how we were adapting to the local cuisine. However, I believe this is absolutely true when it comes to the people here and how they approach their everyday activities. There is an air of humility in their suffering, an understanding of the fact that this isn't their permanent home, that heaven awaits for those who are faithful.

I know that two weeks anywhere is probably not the right amount of time to generate a complete understanding of a people or culture, however, this place is a paradox to me. Brand new buildings look 50 years old, there is wireless internet connectivity in a building with 3rd world plumbing, and a gold encrusted orthodox church is being built by the government next to a crumbling subway system. There are many more examples. Then it occurs to me that they are just trying to be like us! They are running so fast to catch up since the fall of communism that they have been skipping some steps. I liken it to building a house. First they frame up the walls, then put on the roof, hang pictures on the wall and fill it with furniture. Once that is all done they start thinking about putting in the foundation, electrical, and plumbing.

In the end we are the same, it's all about how it looks on the outside and instant gratification, we can't get things fast enough. In America we just have more money and more "building codes."

The trip has been a complete success. We have served our brothers and sisters in the local church and in orphanages in Russia. God has been glorified in that work. Our eyes have been opened widely to the blessings we have here in America and in Christ. God has been glorified in this. Our perspective on God's greatness and my "smallness" has been re-tuned. God has been glorified through this.

Hopefully we have inspired you to find some way to serve in your local church or in the mission field. I highly recommend taking advantage of any opportunity to explore new cultures, language, and people whenever possible.

Please pray for Jen, Larry, and Jim as they wrap up the final week and travel back home to us.

Thanks for reading......-Rader

Home!

This is Megan writing from Boise! We're home! A favorite moment during traveling was when we stepped off of the plane in Chicago, walked across the tar mack, and were greeted by the guards who check passports. There was people arriving from all different countries, but when we handed him our American passports, he said, "Welcome home!" Truly, I have never been so glad to be standing on American soil. To be able to read the signs! To be able to speak English to everyone! To use the fantastic bathrooms in Chicago O'hare! (Really, be thankful for your toilet and your high-quality plumbing! The nice toilet paper too!)

Never have Rader and I said "Praise the Lord" so many times with such genuine meaning as in the past two weeks. And we said it a LOT yesterday...especially as the wheels of our plane touched down in Boise. We were delirious on that flight...totally out of it! Minutes started to feel like hours, and we were talking in a mix of English and Russian. (Rader did really well picking up phrases in Russian. Megan has a total of about ten basic phrases: yes, no, please, thank you, good morning, hello, good-bye, chocolate, and PRAISE THE LORD!)

Thankful! It's really incomprehensible how blessed we are. Thankful for two kids tucked into a warm bed. (We had to wake them up and hug them even though it was almost 1:00 in the morning.) Thankful for a shower with endless hot water! Thankful for my bed in a new way! If you possess a padded mattress with a mattress pad and fitted sheet, you are blessed, my friend! I have more fruit and vegetables in my house right now than I ate in the whole two weeks I was there. The baby carrots which used to seem like a boring staple, I am now savoring like a fine delicacy! I feel like royalty! (Thank you, Judy, for a clean house and a refrigerator stocked with groceries!)

I read something while I was away and it really struck me.

An excerpt from a book by Tim Hansel,

"A young Jewish girl, surrounded by the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, had the grace and composure to write the following poem. Her words have seared themselves into my mind because I recognize how often I lack the gratitude and maturity she must have had.

From tomorrow on

I shall be sad

From tomorrow on--

not today.

Today I will be glad,

and every day

no matter how bitter it may be

I shall say

From tomorrow on I shall be sad

not today.

I get slightly embarrassed when I read this poem...for though we live in the wealthiest nation in the world, in an age of overwhelming opportunity, we have written a less grateful adaptation of the above poem which goes like this:

From tomorrow on I shall be happy,

From tomorrow on.

Not today.

And every day, no matter how good things may be,

I shall say

from tomorrow on I'll be happy

not today."

Jim preached on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 while we were in Russia.

"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Thankful that in Him, we can rejoice always...trusting in His perfect plans even in the midst of the bitterness of life.

I have faces in my mind. Faces that I won't forget. Faces of orphans that make my eyes brim with tears. I have a new desire to "pray without ceasing." It's the only thing I can do now that I am here, and they are there. I pray for the churches to grow, for the believers who serve by faithfully visiting the orphanages, for the pastors who teach, for the beautiful people I met who are called to live and serve in Russia.

And of course, I can give thanks in everything! Be glad for the abundant resources I am blessed with! Be thankful that I can share with others! Be thankful for our partnership with the Russian churches! Be thankful that God has a plan for my life.

This is good perspective on a day when I'm feeling a bit shaky from jet lag. A bit overwhelmed with "normal life." I feel like maybe I could just hide away in my house for a few days and hug my kids close. And maybe it's okay to take this time to just be quiet. To pray. To give thanks. To figure out how to be normal.

I am especially thankful for the many people who made it possible for us to go! Thankful for our two sets of wonderful grandparents who took awesome care of our kids. Hunter and Hadley are chatting a mile a minute telling us what they did with Grandma, Grandpa, Mimi, and Poppa. I'm thankful for Miss Lisa who came and walked Oliver every day! I'm thankful for Auntie who invited our kids over to her house repeatedly. (They were telling me all about how they got to have breakfast at your house in their pajamas!) I'm thankful for the friends who drove my kids to Awana. I'm thankful for the many who prayed and who are still praying! I'm thankful for notes of encouragement at just the right time. I am realizing that God works through the simple things. That ordinary moments can be extraordinary through His power.

My heart is changed.

A lot quieter now

According to online flight tracker Rader and Megan will land in Boise in less than an hour. For us it feels like 40% of the team is gone (because it is!), including the chief Blogette and photographer. Needless to say, it's lot quieter here now. The Eberhardts' departure is only half of the reason for the calm. The other half is that the training class is not the level of chaos and activity that the other events were.

I teach from 10 to 4 every day. Through three days we're on schedule or ahead of schedule and I like what I see so far. Yesterday we finished studying God's role in salvation, including election, predestination and foreknowledge. Today (it's Thursday here) we look at man's response and start on all the benefits we receive from what Christ did on our behalf. They finish with their final exam on Friday.

Last night I spent two hours teaching and answering questions with the youth group at the church. I got the usual five minutes' notice before the meeting and tapped Anya for another two hours of translation after all day in class. Bless her heart--her job is exhausting and she does it better than anyone else I have ever seen.

Our weekend will be full and interesting. Saturday we'll travel to Lipetsk and see the drug and alcohol rehab facility where they take in up to about 12 people at a time. They have a success rate over 80%, using no medications or secular pschology and psychiatry--only prayer, Bible study and discipleship. It's the dream of the Tambovians to start such a ministry here so people don't have to go so far away and they can reach more.

Sunday we'll go to Kirsanov for church and I'll preach. Young Pastor Anatoly Alipichev is doing a fantastic job leading this church. He is committed to expository preaching and he has rallied young men in the church to begin starting businesses which are quickly taking this group toward no longer needing our financial support. Their example is spreading through the region and we're delighted to see the results. An intial $2000 investment from our coalition has turned into businesses that are supporting several families.

After class today I'll meet with Regional Pastor Anatoly Yarmoluk, whom most of you have met at HBC. We'll be reviewing everying we do in our partnership and making plans for 2011-2012. There are a couple really important things we need to talk about, so I appreciate your prayers that God's wisdom will be clear to both of us, to the other Russian brothers, and to my fellow coalition pastors.

OK, one fun item for this post (at least it was fun to me). Yesterday after class Anya had some things to do until dinner, so we were without a translator for a couple hours. I asked her if it would be OK for me to take Larry and Jen to a bookstore I've visited before and she gave us her blessing for an Americans-only adventure. She also gave me her phone and set it up for one-touch dialing to the phone of one of the girls she was going to be with. I vowed not to use my Phone-a-friend lifeline. We bundled up for the cold and breezy weather and started walking. I remembered the store is about a mile from the church. I have a tradition of buying a Russian calendar with puppy pictures on it for my home office. I also wanted to get Larry and Jen a map of the Tambov region so I can mark all the places we've been.

About a half hour into our walk, things weren't looking as familiar as I expected. I recognized the area but I didn't recall walking there. We kept going. Then I spotted something familiar up ahead and we pressed on even though it seemed too far. At last we arrived--at the train station. I swallowed my pride and called Anya.

It seems the store is a little closer than I thought. I led the expedition right to it but I wasn't yet looking for it and we were having a nice conversation as we walked. We had gone more than twice as far as necessary, but we found it on the way back. Then came my shining moment.

After we looked around awhile, I couldn't find what we wanted. This must be the Year Of The Cat--lots of cat calendars and not one dog calendar. I went to the clerk and used my Russian. I said (I think) "Excuse me, please. I am from America. Where are the calendars with dogs on them?" It worked! She led me to all the calendars I had already looked at, pawed through them (nice pun), and told me they didn't have any with dogs. I said "Thank you" (and I'm sure of that one).

Then I went back to her and asked "Where are the maps of the state of Tambov?" It worked AGAIN!. I selected a different calendar, got maps and Jen got some pens as souvenirs. Then I actually paid the right amount on my own. All those hours at the computer with Rosetta Stone and all the silly questions I've asked my translators and bilingual American friends are paying off.

As we left the store Anya called and asked where we were. She said dinner was an hour earlier than we had thought, and it started ten minutes ago. Our little flock scurried safely back to church, marching double time.

Please know I appreciate your prayers and I'm getting really antsy to be back with you at HBC.

- Jim

Farewell!

Valya is amazing at braiding hair. This hair-do sweeps in circles and is my final fancy braiding before I get on the train. She told me that she learned to braid hair when she lived at an orphanage for a short time.  She came to know Christ as a teenager, and now she is serving as a missionary.  I told you the story earlier about how I discovered a hole in the arm pit of one of my sweaters. Seeing that she was wearing a similar style of sweater, I asked Valya, "Would you like this sweater? Do you know how to sew and fix it?" She grinned and explained (through Anya), "Sewing is my profession!" I laughed and expressed that I would have no idea how to fix it myself. She joked, "God was preparing that sweater for me!" Then she added,  "There are no accidents with God!"  Not ten minutes later, Rader's new friend Edward stopped by to give him a video that he had made at the orphanage.  Before he left, he said, "It was very good to meet you. There are no accidents with God!"  It is so neat how God has bonded us to these friends in such a short time, especially considering that we don't even speak their language.  I'm learning that God can speak a great deal in just our actions...a hug, a smile, a willingness to braid hair, doing a craft together, singing a song in another language, even playing funny games together. I am so thankful for my time here. The word Jen came up with was AVAILABLE! Just making yourself available can speak volumes. I hope that lesson translates to my life back at home.

Our final dinner in a little bit, then we're getting on the train for a ten-hour ride through the night. Because we're crossing time zones, tomorrow will be 34 hours long, but Lord willing, we will arrive home just before midnight on the 12th. We appreciate your prayers for safety in traveling! Keep praying for the ministry of Jen, Jim, and Larry...God is doing some cool things here!

My last blog??? I may have to comment from home.  But, this will be the last one that I type from Russia.  Jen, you're on!

Megan

Team Tambov!

Here we are standing outside our rooms...the flag says "5 Judges" and includes a handprint of each judge. (We were known as the judges of the Olympic games during winter camp.) Our flag is a source of great pride and humor. We're all modeling a hand-knitted hat to compliment the scene! Megan requested this moment as one of her final Russia photo ops.

Soup!

Oh how we love the Russia soup! We've loved all of the varieties! Jen says, "My mom makes some mean soup, but some of this rivals hers!"  Today, we finally got to have the traditional borscht (beet juice soup.)  Yum! I consider this as a special treat for our last day here. (The side dish is kind of a buckwheat rice with pork chunks. Super good!) --Megan

Super Seven

This is our group of seven that has been virtually inseparable for the past two weeks. We hang out from sun up to sun down, eat all together at the same table for three meals a day, and serve side by side wherever we go. And by God's grace, we still like each other! It's going to be really hard to say goodbye today.  Jen, Larry, and Jim, I'll get to see again in a week or so.  Only the Lord knows when I will get to see Anya and Misha again.

Larry's talked about how once you go on a mission trip with people, you're bonded for life~ it's so true! Even people I've known for a long time like Jen, Larry, and Jim, I now know SO much better. God is so good! He has blessed us with joy, unity, and His grace! I'm so thankful that God gave us the gifts of laughter and friendship.  We've been in some dark places and seen some really difficult things during this trip, and those gifts have been a wonderful source of His light. 

Jen, thank you for your awesome hugs and for being the person who was willing to talk for hours in the middle of the night. I can now call you my dear friend!

Larry, thank you for your joyful countenance! You have been our constant smile during this trip! Your joy in the Lord is truly contagious.

Jim, thank you for your faithful teaching, your humor, and your gracious spirit to us Russia newbies.

Rader, thank you for being my gracious husband and shoulder to lean on throughout this trip. I would like to report that thanks to Rader's steady arm, I have yet to slip and fall on this trip.  That being said, I'm probably going to do a face plant on the way to the train station.

Anya, thanks for making fun of me and making me laugh! You really are a dear for putting up with our tears at all hours. God is using you in amazing ways, and your desire to serve is a beautiful example.

Misha, thanks for learning to laugh alongside us strange Americans. Thanks for your faithful translation and for helping me filter my thoughts.  Thanks for standing as a man of God wherever you go.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Megan

Missionary Friends

Just as U.S. churches send missionaries to other countries, Tanya (far left) is sent as a missionary to Tambov from her home church in Ukraine. (Though it is formerly part of the Soviet Union, there are many more Christian churches in Ukraine.) Valya (far right) is serving as a missionary as well, but she is from this region.  It's been fun to rub shoulders with these girls and serve alongside them at winter camp and at Immanuel's Child events. They are also taking Jim's class this week.  We took this picture on a day when we all happened to be wearing the same color.  Tanya also has some fabulous pink tights that she wears!  We will be praying for Tanya and Valya as they serve here. They will be living in the Tambov area for another year. It really is neat how God has bonded us to new friends so quickly! I'm sad to be saying good-bye to everyone today. I'm also praying for my missionary friend JEN! She is here for one more week, and I know that God has neat plans for her remaining time here.
--Megan

Class of 2011

This is the Doctrine of Salvation class!  The group is made up of regional pastors and missionaries, and of course Larry and Jen as well.  It is a fun group, and there is a good deal of laughter along with learning. But it  is serious business...Jim even gives quizzes each morning.  Jim is an excellent teacher, and he is well respected as a seminary professor.  It's neat to see him operating in this role.  At Heritage Bible Church, we get to see him as pastor and friend.  Here, we get to see him in his other profession...training pastors to preach in an expository manner and giving them the seminary resources that they have not previously received. Most everyone in this picture is staying here on the dormitory floor with us. As mentioned previously, this church is a hub for training and mentoring in the Tambov region. 

--Megan

Tugging at the heart strings

This was the sweet little boy at the orphanage that Larry wanted to take home!

Photography By Larry

Larry's not much for the blogging, but I'm posting one of the great photos that he took at one of the Immanuel's Child events.  --Megan

What's everyone staring at?

Laddy and Jimmy Joe!

Anya gives Larry the award for most likely to stand out as an American.  Is it the hat or the camera around his neck?  She teases Jim for the way he wears his hat and scarf as well.  We definitely draw the stares when we go tromping around together.  To be fair, Rader says that I tend to draw attention to myself  with my constant picture-taking and loud laughter.  Jen got major attention at Winter Camp for her loud laugh and gum chewing.  What can we say?  At least we've provided a little entertainment for the locals.

--Megan

Beat me to it

I was going to post something about the start of class today but one of the blogettes beat me to it. Must have been Megan, because her signature is to not sign her posts.

All I have to add is that our evening adventure included taking the Russia Rookies to the Orthodox Church where a service was going on. You would never think it's a service. No one sits, which is fine because there are no seats. People stand near the rail that surrounds the center of the church. From behind huge gaudy gold-laden doors the priests recite back and forth in a manner almost like chanting. At certain intervals the worshipers bow and cross themselves. You never see a priest during the service, but sometimes after the service one of them will come out through the golden doors and say a few words to whoever is there.

The church is always dark and reeks of incense. All day people come and go, stopping to bow in front of "icons," the polite word for the bountiful idols. People light candles in conjunction with their prayers, pray quietly to the pictures or statues, and kiss them when they're finished with their prayer. It's flagrant idolatry in the name of Christ, wrapped in superstition.

We were whispering among our group, with Anya and Misha answering Americans' questions about what was going on. A lady caretaker showed us how they welcome visitors. With a scowl on her face that would put the fear of God in most anyone she scolded us for talking at all, even though we were disturbing no one. Then she rebuked Anya and Megan for wearing their gloves inside the building. We were cued in advance that the men have to take of their hats inside the building, but the glove thing was apparently a bit of creative legalism. When we left Anya explained that the Welcome Lady made up the glove rule on the spot to get rid of us.

After we received our rebuke (which, ironically, caused more talking because it had to be translated) Larry whispered to me "I'm ready to go. I've had enough baloney for two sandwiches."

What incredible spiritual darkness and hopelessness grips this culture! For nearly everyone, to be Russian is to be Orthodox. It would be sad in any setting but when you put all this stuff out there, sponsor it by the government and call it Christianity, it's unthinkable. Problem is, it's real.

It will be truly refreshing to return to class and bask in the light of God's word and the truth about salvation which is freely available to all through faith in Jesus Christ.

- Jim

P.S. Megan adds... It was very interesting to learn that the government and the Orthodox Church are one in the same. Right next to this church, there is another monstrous Orthodox church being built. I asked Anya why the government would want to spend so much money building these churches. She explained that the Orthodox church represents Russia.  Others have explained that most people in Russia think they are Christians because they are Orthodox.  However, it truly is a very dark place where the rituals do not provide lasting hope or true transformation by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Class is underway!

Jim just concluded teaching on the first day of class...the Doctrine of Salvation.  Larry and Jen will be attending the class all week.  Anya is translating. Rader and Megan played hooky and went sight seeing in Tambov with Misha. Tonight, we will have a final hoorah in Tambov, including a repeat visit to Burger Klub.   Tomorrow,  Rader and Megan will pack and attend part of the class. We will get on the train to Moscow late tomorrow night with Misha along as our translator while the rest of the team remains in Tambov until Monday. Keep praying for Jen's health. She was able to attend the class in the morning but had to go to bed during the afternoon, because she's still not feeling well.  Anya's been sick, and so far her voice is holding out, but she would appreciate prayer for wellness as it is very grueling to translate all day.  For today and tomorrow, Misha is able to give her a break in the afternoon. Pray for Jim, as this is a crucial doctrine that includes the balance between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility...

Thanks for your prayers!

Community Chest

We have our Monopoly metaphor alive and well. Of course, Jen owns Water Works. And we've landed on all the railroads.  This is our community chest.  It's our attempt to have a little bit of home with us. There's the Starbucks Via, the fresh fruit, and little chocolate concotions that Megan delights in finding at the outdoor market.  We have some fun fellowship around our little stash each evening. And we're all major tea drinkers now. Rader says he's had more tea in the past two weeks than he's had in all of his 35 years. He told me, "I think I'm going to keep drinking tea when I get home."

The Trenches

On our Skype call with Heritage Bible Church, we talked about how you really get to know people in the trenches! So, for those who don't know, Jen is a total NEAT FREAK! And Megan, by the merits of the fact that she is married to Rader, is pretty neat too. So, the following photo will show you just how far removed we are from our normal lives.  Total pig pen!  We have a tiny washing machine (praise the Lord) and dryers are not common here. So, you can see the drying rack for our clothes.  However, it is very humid in Russia, so the fastest way to dry things is to hang them from the radiators.  Also, there is no such thing as a fitted sheet here.  So, you just tuck in a flat sheet to sleep on. When I wake up in the morning, my sheet is in a ball, and I'm laying on a bare mattress.  All this to say, welcome to our wallow!

Pray for these precious ones!

Look at this sea of children at the orphanage! Loud! Chaotic! This is their HOME! We were only there for an hour or so, and it tore at our hearts and wrenched at our guts.  This is their LIFE! May we be faithful to pray! Keep reading, there's at least ten posts from today.

Greetings to Dirk

Dirk, your friend Pasha sends his greetings! He's known as the gum-trader with us, because he's always trading his Russian gum for American gum.

Pasha is on the road with us. He's the rear end of the donkey in the Christmas play! Kerry, we need a donkey costume like this! It's a hit with all of the kids!

Greetings, fellow laborers!

Paul and Bear,

This girl came up to us first thing at the Goreloe Orphanage and asked for you by name. The kids remember you from the Vacation Bible School you put on here this summer.  What an encouragement to know that you have made an impression through the love of Christ!

Pray for Truth Church!

We already worshiped this morning with our friends at Truth Baptist Church. This is the church where we have been staying.  It is four stories, and we "live" on the top story.  It is bustling with activity! There's always SOMETHING going on here whether it's camp, or Bible Study, or seemingly constant services, or Antioch Initiative classes which begin tomorrow. This place is a hub for the gospel. With Vadim as pastor and Anatoly as director for the region, there are exciting things happening! They have a vibrant youth ministry, an orphanage ministry, a rehab center, and an active dormitory. For as many cultural differences as there are, this place feels remarkably familiar, a home away from home. It is neat how the Spirit bonds us together in unity. You can see us on stage singing "Tee Ha Ya Noach"--we've definitely gotten some mileage out of that song. For as many neat things as are going on here, they need our help! Imagine Heritage Bible Church trying to reach the whole Boise area all alone. The resources would run thin in a hurry...and keep in mind that there are eight other coalition churches that need our prayer and support as well. There is a stark difference between this church and the other coalition churches that we visited.  This one is new and modern; the others are much smaller and older, but the Word of God is being preached! What a privilege to come alongside these believers in prayer and resources!

Mama Anya

It is Anya who initiated Truth Church's relationship with the orphanage. She has a great team that she takes to the orphanage twice a month. They focus on the older kids, as they will be the ones who have to leave the orphanage first. They bring Bible lessons and crafts, and the kids simply love her.  When they arrive at the orphanage there's a joyful shout , "The Baptists are here!"
Pray for this ministry! Pray for the vision of a halfway house for the orphans, so they have a safe place to come and learn more after they leave the orphanage.  Most of the kids who leave here will fall into crime or prostitution...may the truth of God's Word prove to be a beacon of hope!

Papa Laddy

Papa Laddy talks a lot about how he misses his grandkids, but he got lots of kisses today!

Shining light into the darkness

Today was our final day of handing out Immanuel's Child stars.  We only saw a fraction of the stars that were handed out throughout the Tambov region. We attended six or seven IC events, but we simply couldn't be everywhere at once.  These are some of the orphans who received gifts today.  There was lots of generic "Heritage Bible Church" stars as well as familiar names like Marshall, Eisenbarth, and Day.  Let us be faithful to pray that the seeds of God's Word would spring up in their hearts! We are looking forward to sharing many more photos when we get home.

Now the tears flow

Goreloe Orphanage...over 100 orphans crowded together. These are the kids who will never be adopted because they have some sort of disability.  Sometimes, kids are just sent here because of government cut backs. Kids with minor learning disabilities become socially backward and unable to function normally because there is no concept of inclusion. They are starved for attention, and it was a ministry just to take their picture and show it to them. They jumped up in down in front of the camera, just crying out for someone to think them important enough to take a photograph. I took Sasha's photograph with one of Heritage Bible's stars. I took his photo and smiled at him, and that it all it took for him to latch onto me and not want to let go. He squeezed both arms around me and asked me my name.  I told him that I was so thankful to be able to give him a Christmas gift, but I wanted him to have the best gift of all...Jesus! Misha helped me translate a simple gospel message, and this sweet boy said he believed...but I think he would have said anything so that I would keep hugging him. He held onto me as we walked down the halls. He kissed my cheek over and over when I said I had to go. He made me promise that I would come back and visit I said yes, Lord willing!. He stood by the car as we pulled away. And somehow, during the whole event God strengthened me to smile when I felt like crying. To leave when it seemed impossible to leave a single one of those kids there. Sasha tried to give me his star. I showed him where the top was torn, and explained that I had the other half at home, to remind me to pray for him. I have never been so inspired to pray! Pray with me, brothers and sisters! Pray that the love and light of Christ would shine in this place. Pray for the faithful believers who visit this orphanage twice each month. Pray that despite the odds, God would be glorified through the life of fourteen year old Sasha and others like him. God gave me the strength to not cry then, but the tears are certainly flowing now.  --Megan

Recharge

We've been on a break-neck pace every single day...traveling from church to church, visiting multiple places each day.  This being his tenth trip to Russia, Jim has perfected the art of impromptu naps, and we finally captured the moment.

Orphans

Every place we visit is unique.  Today we visited a large orphanage located in Goreloe where many special needs children live.  Anya fortunately/unfortunately prior to leaving shared too much information with this "bug phobe"--Kathy Tarbet are you reading this???  She talked about lice and scabies and the need to change her clothing after spending time there, told us to bring hand sanitizer--she uses it on her hands and her face when she leaves.  Don't get me wrong---she loves these kids.  She serves them faithfully.  It freaked me out--I don't "do" bugs.  Aye, Yie, Yie! 

I had an incredibly hard time "letting my hair down" and there isn't much of it!  But, God is so good He sent Megan and Anya - our resident "mothers" to go and hug and love on these children.  Megan got a 10 minute hug (this little fella wasn't about to let go) from at 14 year old boy named Sasha--I'll let her tell the story. God bless the workers in this orphanage. It is a job that few could do, and they need our prayers. Pray for the church members who go to serve at the orphanage. What an opportunity, yet it would be easy to get discouraged as this is such a dismal place.

It's my turn to have "the cold" and I am losing my voice--it is getting harder and harder to sing.  It is amazing to me to see God use all of us so differently--to watch another star shine--Megan, who thinks she doesn't have a nice voice, sang like and angel in church--I lost the words listening to her--AWESOME.  The entire group sang well--Jim included, Marsha--you would have been so proud of him.  Our Russian brothers and sisters seem to be encouraged by our ability to sing a song in their language.  Music--what a bridge.

Megan and Rader will be leaving soon and I will be sad to see them go.  I am looking forward to Jim's teaching and some concentrated time in God's word.  I haven't been spending much time in my Bible since we arrived-- life moves so fast here right now--our entire day is ordered until evening and by then....

I haven't been running the last couple mornings--mom pray for me--I am tired.

Please pray for us.....
  1.  Stamina/endurance for Jim, Larry and Jen in our final week in Russia
  2.  Preparation of the hearts who will receive God's word and truth
  3.  Safe travels for Megan and Rader on their return and strength to return to daily life upon landing
  4.  Sweet dreams
  5.  Health

--Jen

Pray for me!

This sweet little girl received a star from Danielle Canington. She lives at the orphanage outside of Michurinsk. Please pray for her salvation!

Worth the wait

20 months ago I sat across the table from Gypsy Pastor Nikolai Boloshov and heard him say that for $5000 he could have a surgery that might allow him to walk after being crippled by polio for several years. It took me a few seconds to compose myself after I blurted out that I would not rest until the money was raised. I sent out an email that night from Russia.

Within two weeks the money was raised from the HBC family and few others, plus a little extra for incidentals of travel for the surgery and someone to go with him. We began praying, and then came the obstacles.

The story from the doctors kept changing. At last they determined he didn't qualify for the spinal surgery they originally described to him, and it would be something different. Then the price tag shot over $10,000 for having the surgery in Moscow. It took months to find a qualified doctor in a more suitable location. A little more money was needed and God provided it within days. The surgery took place in summer 2010.

After a lot of pain and ongoing therapy, Nikolai can walk now with just a little help. He says he has no pain!

I've looked forward to today for a long time. I got to hug brother Nikolai and STAND WITH HIM for a picture. In a couple of days I would have seen him in the Doctrine of Salvation class, but this was even better because my reunion with Nikolai was in the midst of a time of fellowship with the Gypsy church. To my knowledge only three Americans had been there just once before--Dick Shaw (Pastor of First Baptist Church in Caldwell), Jenni Myers (SEND missionary who lives in Russia) and me. Today our whole team got to experience the uniqueness of this group.

For Gypsies and ethnic Russians to be together isn't much different than 1st Century Jews and Samaritans or Jews and Gentiles having fellowship. Only God can do it by His grace. When we had Pastor Raphael tell us the story of how this group of Christian Gypsies got started and began attending the church in Michurinsk, he admitted that at first some of the church members checked for their wallets when the Gypsies began to attend--because of the well-deserved reputation of their culture.

But God transforms people through Christ, and we could say of these dear Gypsy brothers and sisters, "such WERE some of you" in the context of thieves and idolators and fortune tellers. Their worship is full of joy and their reputations echo through the Gypsy groups in this region as shining examples of God's transforming grace. They sang many songs for us in Russian and Gypsy, and we sang "Silent Night" in Russian for them

Truly, a day worth waiting for. Wish you could have been here with us!

May you have a blessed Lord's Day with His people. We'll be at church here at Truth Church in Tambov, then we go to the big orphanage near town for Immanuel's Child. Lord willing we'll make our video appearance at the end of the service in Boise.

- Jim

He is a Father to the fatherless

God gave us the strength to be at the orphanage today.  We all wanted to take a child home with us.  Anya says that many of these kids are "social orphans," meaning that they may have a mother or father who is alive but is an alcoholic or drug addict.  The divorce rate is over 70% in Russia, so many kids in the orphanage are a product of the brokenness in families.  There was even one girl at the orphanage today who had been sent there by her family for a month for skipping school.  Other children were at home with family for the holidays and will be returned to the orphanage next week. It was neat to see familiar names on many of the stars. We saw ones from the Martin family, the Canington family, and this is a picture of the little boy who received a star from Rader and me. Words cannot describe the emotion of seeing this gift received in person. I am humbled. I am thankful for the love of Christ being shown... I am broken-hearted for these little children...pray for the ongoing ministry at this orphanage. The believers here are faithful to visit regularly, but the outcome is usually not good for these kids. May the grace of God prevail...

Priceless

Hats!
I can't imagine the hours that were invested in knitting the 320 hats that came with us to Russia. They are beautiful! A rainbow of colors and textures...each one unique and awesome! Thank you ladies of University Bible Church! So, the hats were delivered to us in Boise before our trip, and we were wowed by the sheer volume! We came up with the "brilliant" idea of vacuum packing all of the hats in a giant green duffel bag. And it still weighed less than the allotted fifty pounds. This way, we reasoned, we can just collapse the duffel bag inside another suitcase when we come home and not have to pay for it's return flight.  Alas, when we checked in at the airport on our departure day, our duffel was labeled "oversized" and it cost TWO HUNDRED dollars to send! With no time to repack, we paid the ridiculous charge. After all, we reasoned that was less tha $1 per hat. (In everything give thanks!)  So, after having lugged the giant green beast of a duffel bag through two airports, onto two trains, and up seven flights of stairs, we have a deeply invested interest in these hats! So...

The yarn and time to knit 320 hats...lots of dollars!
Cost of airfare to Russia...$250 ($50 for an extra bag, $200 because it's oversized.)
The joy of sharing the hats with Russian orphans...PRICELESS!

Threads

Jen and I were talking about how a friend is someone who helps you to see how the threads of your life weave together to make something beautiful.  We love how God wove together the threads of our first visit to the orphanage. So, in that sense, the threads are the members of the body of Christ, each a different color, but weaving together to make a beautiful product.

The ladies in Pocatello knitted over 300 hats, and today we got to give the first batch of hats away at the orphanage.  We needed an impromptu game, and God gave us the idea of stringing the hats on a piece of thread to make a "net."  We remembered a game that Kerry plays at Vacation Bible School where each team tries to throw their balloons over to the other side of the net, trying to have the least amount of balloons on their own side. We had a great stash of balloons that Sandy had purchased for our games.  Ladies who knitted all the hats, Kerry, Sandy, those who prayed for us today...thank you for being our beautiful threads! Thank you, Lord, for knitting us together in a beautiful way! 

P.S. I'm getting in trouble for not signing my blogs.  This is Megan, the "Blog Hog"--if it's not signed, assume it's mine.

The Story

We finally got the real story on how Raphael lost his finger. 

He said that it was shot off in a gun fight when he was a young man. He was living a criminal life, but God used that stay in the hospital to get his attention.  He talked about how he can look back now and see God's protection even when he was heading in the wrong direction. He is thankful that it is just a finger that he lost. The young men he was with are now dead or in prison. He had a grandmother who continually prayed for him, and God finally opened his heart to believe. It was so touching to hear him talk about how God continued to pursue him. How God used the circumstances of his life for His glory! (Jen notes: Cue the water works!) Now, Raphael is the pastor of the church in Michurinsk, a town about 1 hour from Tambov. This is the church that has had the neat impact on the Gypsies. The ladies at his church made us an amazing lunch today.  Raphael has been driving one hour from Michurinsk each day to pick us up.  So, today, he drove that stretch of road four times just to be our escort. What a servant!

Oh what fun it is!

A caroling we go! On our hour-long ride back to Tambov tonight we had a memorable sing-a-long. We had quite the range of artists from the Beatles (Hey, Jude!) to the Righteous Brothers (You've Lost that Loving Feeling!)  Finally, we landed on singing some hymns together...those were neat because the Russians have some of the same hymns in their language.  Raphael was probably glad to get these crazy Americans out of his van, but he claimed to have enjoyed the songs.  Photo and blog by Megan

Squatty Potty

Okay, Jim warned us about "squatty potties," but I've yet to see one on our trip. So, we all limited our fluid intake because today was the one trip where that type of toilet was the only option.  The whole team managed to make it until we got back to the church in Tambov...all except for ME!  The best part was that the door didn't work, so it was an open-air experience...the nice gal who showed me the restroom removed the chair while I used the restroom, so that little square in the floor is what you stand over.  And may I just say, that I chose a very tasteful angle for this photo.  Wish you were here! Love, Megan

Live action!

Reporting to you live from Tambov! As I type this, Anya is teaching the team how to play Dutch Blitz (It's after 8:00 PM here). Megan defected because she is losing, and she HATES losing! Anya is equally competitive, but Larry and Jim are breathing down her neck on the scoreboard.  She told Larry, "You don't look like you'd be very fast, but you're pretty good!" Anya is crazy fast, and Jim told us that we can't call this an official Russia trip until we've played this game with Anya and have seen her in high gear. So, everyone at home, go down to the store and get your own deck, we're looking for some competition when we get home.  (It's an American game...so, look for it with the card games.)

It Is Well

My mind races constantly here.  There is so much going on all the time that finding moments to be silent are in high demand.  Poor Megan had to have an allergic reaction in order to find rest.  She is doing much better today.  I finally slept last night.  God is so good.  I can't even begin to tell you how amazing He is.  I should be dead on my feet after three days of very little rest--He has supplied the energy to get out of bed and keep moving.  This morning it was time for a break.  I didn't run - I slept and it was glorious. 

I want you all to know that Russia is an experience.  Not at all what I expected.  I thought cold would be harder "to do"--thankyou perimenopause.  Don't go getting any wrong ideas--I am not planning on moving here - sunshine is one of my happy pills, my medication, my mood stabilizer.  Return maybe--hopefully in the summer months (we'll see what the Lord wants).  I have met so many amazing people and my eyes and heart have been opened to needs here. 

Let me tell you a secret though.  I have wanted to defect so many times on this journey.  I totally get you John Mark!!!!!  I have a new understanding/respect and I will defend you!!  I have had to talk myself back from the ledge of leaving so many times--you actually had the guts to say bag it--impressive.  My chant:  Don't be a John Mark, Don't be a John Mark, Do not be a John Mark!  I say this to myself when things get tough, when emotions run too deep, when words are spoken and can't be snatched back.  But.............oh, there is beauty in the staying.  There are moments where God smiles though the eyes of children, through the hugs of friends, through coming to understandings, to forgiving what you don't understand, to seeing the beauty in what you missed the first time around when you're looking at it again.

It is well, it is well with my soul!

Jen

Intangible but real

It's hard to quantify the value of a trip like this, but it's significant. It's hard to tell if it's more of an encouragement to the Russians that we invest in their ministry and come alongside to help, or if it's more significant for the Americans. More life changing for the Americans, for sure.

This is my tenth visit to Russia and sixth to Tambov, so I'm loving "seeing" it through the fresh eyes of Rader, Megan, Jen and Larry. Like the others who have traveled here with me, the impressions are vivid. This was the first time Americans have participated in Winter Camp, and the Immanuel's Child days are a whirlwind. I'll be back in my element when class begins next week. In the meantime it's usually one or two extemporaneous sermons a day (Megan's right, the most notice I've had was when I was asked to preach Sunday morning--at 11 PM Saturday night). In the last three days I've sung in public at least four times, which brings my total to five in the last 40 years.

A highlight of today was when we were the designated gift-distributors here at Truth Church. When we opened the packet of stars to give away, there were two piles. In the first I spotted several names I know: Mike Powell and Mike and (forgot your wife's name) Cummins and a few others from University Bible Church in Pocatello, the Sweet family from Twin Falls and several from Crossroads Bible Church in Burley. Then I looked at the second pile and found a batch from Heritage: Anita Downing, Marvin and Laray Hetrick, Sam and Michelle Day, and the most unlikely of all--we found more from our group . . . Larry and Sandy Howell and Marsha and me. I put a severe kink in the line of kids getting their gifts when I stopped the girl who got the first star with my name on it until we got a picture together. Then I was blessed to see all the stars that just say "Heritage Bible Church" because of all the money given through auctions and special projects. You have no idea how wonderful is your reputation over here!

The afternoon session was at Anatoly's church. They meet in the building of TELA (Tree of Eternal Life Association), the organization run by SEND missionaries which God used as the catalysts of the youth ministry in the region. Virtually all the kids of their church were present, plus a greater number from the neighborhood and from people they reach out to with their version of a food pantry. It was so crowded with kids and parents that all of Anatoly's family, Anya and I and few others left our seats and stood outside for the program. This is the church which need to get their own building built. The property is bought, the permits are secured, the foundation is finished, and now they need roughly $35,000. One of the highest priorities of the Russians in the region is to finish this building.

Lord willing, the people of our coalition can be used to raise the bulk of the funds and we hope to send a construction team this summer. It will be exciting to see God to exceeding abundantly beyond what we ask or think.

Saturday is our biggest day yet. We go to Michurinsk where we'll take the Immanuel's Child program to an orphanage of 50+ kids. After lunch there we'll visit the Gypsy fellowship. Watch for the report.

Today on the way back from his church Anatoly told us about the IC events that took place before we arrived, reaching several hundred kids in several cities. As busy as we are, we're actually getting to see less than half of the events. That shows you how sold-out to the cause of Christ these believers are.

By the way, the un-signed blogs are from Megan and Jen. I don't want anyone to think I'm that good at communicating.

As exciting as all this is and as much as I'm enjoying super-concentrated time with four members of the HBC family, I truly miss you all and look forward to being back home with you. Lord willing our team will make a life remote appearance in church Sunday at the end of the service. Amazing . . .

Numbers 6:24-26,
Jim

Burger Klub

Well it ain't no Smashburger, but I was hungry. We just got back from dinner at the local burger joint called "Burger Klub". Very similar to an american establishment, complete with sleezy music videos playing all the time on several televisions. It was a 15 minute walk from the church in subzero temps. I believe that today is the coldest it has been yet, barely above zero during the day time.

Megan had an allergic reaction overnight which caused her right eye to swell shut (this happens frequently at home as well). She has sat out most of the activities today trying to get it to go away. We brought her back some sort of sandwich wrap and chocolate ice cream. That should go a long way to making her feel better.

Yesterday we were told that we were going to be on our own today due to the Christmas holiday. However, like much of our trip, things change rapidly and we have had an unexpectedly busy day. We visited Anatoly's church today. We have seen and participated in the kids Christmas program about 10 times now. I am now able to play at least 3 parts in russian, the donkey, the sheep, and baby Jesus. Larry and I are struggling to get the melody of several of the songs out of our heads. Though they are truly beautiful worship songs the human mind can only tolerate the same song for so long. Now I know what it means to suffer for Christ.

We also had movie night at Anya's apartment last night, which the others may have already commented on. We watched "Catch Me If You Can". Unfortunately, those of us who had seen the movie already had forgotten that there was some foul language, etc...When the movie was over Misha commented that the movie was very "Educative". I have to agree. Misha is a wonderful translator but has a pretty stoic exterior that seems difficult to penetrate. After several days we finally gotten him to loosen up and laugh, but I can see that it may actually be struggle for him to relate to us at times. Yesterday we visited the construction site for Anatoly's new chruch. While they were trying to unfreeze the lock on the gate with a hammer he started singing..."It's Hammer-time" followed by "Don't touch this!" We immediately started laughing and let him know that we preferred this lyric versus the real one of "You can't touch this!" We have now said it many times and Misha has laughed along with us....he has little choice.

Today I mastered Merry Christmas in russian as we passed out the Immanuel's Child gifts at both Vadim's church and Anatoly's church. It is quite difficult to pronounce but I think I've got it. The phonetic spelling would be something like srazshdestvom christovim.

I have slept soundly now for two days in a row and I'm just now starting to feel like normal. Not looking forward to dealing with the jetlag on the return trip.

Not sure how much of this is already down in the blog. Between Jen and Megan there is likely no stone left unturned.

-Rader