Partnering Together

When we got to our apartment on Tuesday, we found that the remodeling was not complete and the apartment was not livable.  Thankfully, the IMB owns another apartment in the same building and the family that will live in that apartment is still in the States on furlough until Sept. 1.  So we've been living in two bedrooms of their apartment.  Their den is full of all their personal things that they packed up before furlough. Their other bedroom is full of the personal things that belong to the family who lived here before and are still on furlough. So we're all sleeping in one bedroom and have made the other room a place where whoever can't sleep because of jet lag can go in the middle of the night.  We are working every day to try to get our apartment in good enough shape for us to live in it starting Aug.31 since our friends will be returning to this apartment on the 1st.  Please pray with us that this can be accomplished.

The boys are doing great. I know that many of you have been praying for them and God is answering.  They went to school the day after we arrived. It was fun to watch them reconnect with old friends and teachers.  We are so thankful for their school, Hinkson Christian Academy.  They all seem to be very happy with their teachers and classes. They've had a good bit of homework, but haven't seemed to mind too much.  Please do keep praying for them, especially as they adjust to being away from extended family.  It's hard.

Please also pray for Brad's knee. He hurt it playing basketball several months ago. We thought he was well enough to come back, but somehow he has injured it again and it is really hurting a lot.  Pray for wisdom to know how to handle this.  Pray for healing.  

It has been great reconnecting with some of our Russian friends.  Tomorrow evening, we will have dinner with Genady and Vica.  Genday is the pastor of the Gulovinsky Church that was started during our last term (the guy on last year's IMB Lottie Moon video).   Then on Saturday we will go to a baptism service that the Gulovinsky Church is having.  4 new Christians will be baptized that day.  We can't wait!

There have been many hard days and difficult problems to solve during this first week back, but the Lord has given us strength and helped us. There have also been times of joy.  We praise God for his faithfulness and know that He will see us through this time of transition.  He is good!