Photo of the Week

Today, November 29th, we celebrated Mother's Day in Russia. It is odd for us as Americans to celebrate Mother's Day on the last Sunday in November. 

We bought the kids in Sunday school each a pair of pretty wool socks to make into the shape of cupcakes to present to their Moms. They also made these "cupcake" cards. It was a fun day!  The kids were thrilled to make a craft for their Moms. We pray that through our Sunday School ministry we can reach the parents and other siblings for Christ.

Photo of the Week - 11/15/15

This week's photo is a recent photo I took one afternoon as our days have become shorter here in Siberia. Snowy skies are upon us and, unusually for this time of the year, the cold temperatures are also upon us. -30 Celsius is in the forecast this week. Today, Sunday, we had -20 C. The weather man had said that we could expect-30 by the first of November so, we are thankful that he was wrong and that we were able to enjoy a few more weeks of "warmer" temps. 

As you can imagine, these temperatures make life and ministry more challenging. We covet your prayers as winter time is a perfect opportunity for the devil to fight God's work here even more. Please pray for our safety and for God's people to be faithful during these cold months ahead.

Photo of the Week - 11/8/2015

I really love this photo. It was taken several years ago when myself and another missionary who so kindly offered to help me plan a Ladies' Tea for the 8th of March, Woman's Day, here in Russia. The goal was to invite mothers of our Sunday school children, as well as, ladies in our village in order to introduce myself to them and help them feel more comfortable with what we are trying to do here in the ministry. 

I won't go into the details of the party but, I share this photo to ask for your prayers for us as we head into the holiday season. Christmas is such a wonderful opportunity to invite our neighbors into our home and get to know them better. Building relationships is very important here. We must gain their trust before ever being able to share Christ with them. 

Now that our house is a little more done, we are looking forward to opening our home in the coming weeks to precious friends and families. Join us in praying that we may reach them for Christ.

Sixteen years...

...years ago today, November 2, 1999, we stepped off the plane in Siberia with our almost two year old daughter and less suitcases than I wanted to bring to start our lives as missionaries. Russia has changed so much in the time we have been here that we can hardly believe we are serving in the same country after all these years. 

We thank the Lord for showing Himself faithful to our family time after time. 

We thank Him for safety and protection through the years. 

We thank Him for the many souls saved and lives changed.

We thank Him that He is not finished with us. 

It is our prayer that we would continue to see much fruit here in the field where He has us. 

Please pray with us, in this coming year of our ministry,  that the Lord would provide a piece of land or building to be used as a meeting place for our church.

To our supporting friends and churches, thank YOU for your faithful prayers and support of our ministry. 

We count it a privilege to represent you in Siberia, Russia.