Thursday, May 31, 2007
3 More Days
We only have 3 days left before we head to America for our stateside assignment. On May 17 we wrote asking that you pray for us as we finish out this term. The Lord has blessed in incredible ways and we just wanted to share a few.
Last Sunday we worshipped for the last time with the Timi Church. A lady named Olga repented and gave her life to Christ. What a blessing! Also, our team member, Karen Fletcher gave her testimony in Russian and did a great job. She and her husband Doyle finished full-time language study this week. We're so proud of them! Sasha reflected on his relationship with Brad and how the Lord led them to work together many years ago. It really is amazing how God has built the Timi Church and we know that He will continue to grow it, even after we leave. Sasha gave us a special magnet to go on our refrigerator. He said that people always go to get physical food from their fridge and every time we do, he wants us to remember that there are people in Moscow who need spiritual food. What a great reminder!
We worshipped with the Gulovinski Church for the last time two weeks ago. It was also a special service. The lady who sits with our elderly neighbor went with us. She seemed to really enjoy the worship and fellowship. Some of the members very openly shared the Gospel with her. She was not ready to accept it, but she was very open. We showed her how she could go back later without us by public transportation, but really didn't think she would because it takes about 1 hour 15 min. by public. We saw her this week though and she told us that she went back to church last Sunday by herself and really enjoyed it. Bless the Lord! Please pray for salvation for Christina. It was hard to say good-bye to Genady, Vica, and the rest of the church. They really have become our family here in Moscow.
This week has been spent helping the boys finish up school and say good-bye to their friends. We've had lots of sleepovers, even on school nights! The boys kept thinking of one more friend that they needed to spend some more time with. And they're actually all spending the night with friends tonight. Today is the day that they'll really have to say good-bye though. It's the last day of school. Please pray for them! Ben had kindergarten graduation on Wednesday. It was such a special service with the theme "Walk Like Jesus". Brad and I both cried because we are just so thankful that we've been able to send the boys to an international Christian school here. What an incredible blessing that is made possible by your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering and the Cooperative Program. Thank you! Awards chapel was Thursday morning. Both Drew and Mark received several different awards for academics as well as for character. Mark was especially proud to receive the "First Recorder" award for being the best recorder player in his music class. He was very surprised to get this, but he has worked very hard and deserved it. Drew had 5th grade promotion yesterday afternoon to celebrate finishing elementary school. It was also a very meaningful celebration. His teacher had prepared a slide show and he called each child up one at a time to honor them. He shared special memories, gave awards, and gave them a challenge to live for Christ.
So now we'll spend the next 3 days just packing and cleaning. We still have a lot to do. Pray for energy and strength to get it all done. It has been sooooooooooooo hot here for the past week and the heat just really drains us. Yesterday evening at 10:00 it was 85*F outside and 89.5*F inside our apartment. We have two little fans and Brad and I each keep one blowing right on us. We have to move them from room to room as we work. We're looking forward to a little air-conditioning. We probably freeze everywhere we go in America!
We probably won't update for a while. We may not have e-mail access until we get to Shelby on June 10. We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for wonderful reunions with all of our family members, friends and churches in America. Please also continue to pray for our team members who will press on with the work to reach the Northern Administrative District of Moscow (NADM) for Christ. And continue to pray for the list of unbelievers from previous posts.
Thanks so much and hope to see many of you soon!
Last Sunday we worshipped for the last time with the Timi Church. A lady named Olga repented and gave her life to Christ. What a blessing! Also, our team member, Karen Fletcher gave her testimony in Russian and did a great job. She and her husband Doyle finished full-time language study this week. We're so proud of them! Sasha reflected on his relationship with Brad and how the Lord led them to work together many years ago. It really is amazing how God has built the Timi Church and we know that He will continue to grow it, even after we leave. Sasha gave us a special magnet to go on our refrigerator. He said that people always go to get physical food from their fridge and every time we do, he wants us to remember that there are people in Moscow who need spiritual food. What a great reminder!
We worshipped with the Gulovinski Church for the last time two weeks ago. It was also a special service. The lady who sits with our elderly neighbor went with us. She seemed to really enjoy the worship and fellowship. Some of the members very openly shared the Gospel with her. She was not ready to accept it, but she was very open. We showed her how she could go back later without us by public transportation, but really didn't think she would because it takes about 1 hour 15 min. by public. We saw her this week though and she told us that she went back to church last Sunday by herself and really enjoyed it. Bless the Lord! Please pray for salvation for Christina. It was hard to say good-bye to Genady, Vica, and the rest of the church. They really have become our family here in Moscow.
This week has been spent helping the boys finish up school and say good-bye to their friends. We've had lots of sleepovers, even on school nights! The boys kept thinking of one more friend that they needed to spend some more time with. And they're actually all spending the night with friends tonight. Today is the day that they'll really have to say good-bye though. It's the last day of school. Please pray for them! Ben had kindergarten graduation on Wednesday. It was such a special service with the theme "Walk Like Jesus". Brad and I both cried because we are just so thankful that we've been able to send the boys to an international Christian school here. What an incredible blessing that is made possible by your gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering and the Cooperative Program. Thank you! Awards chapel was Thursday morning. Both Drew and Mark received several different awards for academics as well as for character. Mark was especially proud to receive the "First Recorder" award for being the best recorder player in his music class. He was very surprised to get this, but he has worked very hard and deserved it. Drew had 5th grade promotion yesterday afternoon to celebrate finishing elementary school. It was also a very meaningful celebration. His teacher had prepared a slide show and he called each child up one at a time to honor them. He shared special memories, gave awards, and gave them a challenge to live for Christ.
So now we'll spend the next 3 days just packing and cleaning. We still have a lot to do. Pray for energy and strength to get it all done. It has been sooooooooooooo hot here for the past week and the heat just really drains us. Yesterday evening at 10:00 it was 85*F outside and 89.5*F inside our apartment. We have two little fans and Brad and I each keep one blowing right on us. We have to move them from room to room as we work. We're looking forward to a little air-conditioning. We probably freeze everywhere we go in America!
We probably won't update for a while. We may not have e-mail access until we get to Shelby on June 10. We would appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for wonderful reunions with all of our family members, friends and churches in America. Please also continue to pray for our team members who will press on with the work to reach the Northern Administrative District of Moscow (NADM) for Christ. And continue to pray for the list of unbelievers from previous posts.
Thanks so much and hope to see many of you soon!
# posted by Lori Stamey @ 9:35 PM 
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I hope you get the pics to work! It was good to chat with you this AM and we look forward to seeing you back in Russia!
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