The holidays are finally over. The whole country officially celebrates the holidays by taking the first 10 days of the January off. Almost everything is closed during that time. We celebrated Christmas (Dec. 25), New Year’s (Jan. 1), Orthodox Christmas (Jan. 7), and Old Russian New Year’s (Jan.14). Although we were exhausted after all the celebrations, we were able to take the opportunity during this time to visit with people who normally would be too busy or not interested in getting together. Pray that we would be able to build on these relationships made during the holidays.
Our holidays
We had the special treat of having Benjamin here for part of the holidays. Having three big boys in a small two bedroom apartment helped to make for lots of laughter and fun. We played games, ate, watched videos, ate, slept unto noon (at least the boys did), ate, and were even able to go sledding one day (after which we ---you guessed it---ate some more). We didn’t realize how much food three growing boys can eat. Thank you for praying for our time together as a family.
**Benjamin is back at SPU with the start of the winter quarter. He likes his classes and has a part time job on campus. He has done well with Mom and Dad moving back to Russia.
**Michael just returned to BFA (Black Forest Academy) in Germany to begin the new semester. During the break we were able to get his knee examined by a French orthopedic surgeon here in Moscow. Michael has grown so quickly (he is now 6’4”) that his knee often pops out. We were thankful to find a good knee brace for him to wear.
**Timothy started back at school here in Moscow (Hinkson Christian Academy) by joining the middle school basketball team. The team has a hard time finding other schools to play but Timothy is having fun. Their first game was against the Anglo-American school in Moscow. This school is operated by the U.S. State Department for embassy personnel. Although Timothy’s team lost, they had fun playing against other Americans for a change.
Tyumen
**Praise the Lord for a good turnout for the Christmas service. Over 50 people came (including the director of the business that rents the meeting hall to the church). This was the first public service in a public facility for this young church. Pray for follow up contact with those who came.
**The church is looking for a gym to hold weekly sports activities as a way to reach new people. Pray for an afford gym to be found. Continue to pray for the good relationship pastor Sasha has built with the director of the business where the church is now meeting. They are looking at signing a one year rental agreement if the director will give his approval.
**This past Sunday a young man, Anton, accepted the Lord after church. Pastor Sasha has been meeting with him for several months. Pray for Anton has he begins his walk with Christ.
**The church has several contacts with an organization that helps invalids. Pastor Sasha has offered to conduct programs to minister to this group. The director of the organization is thinking about it. Pray that the director would be open to this opportunity to share the good news and minister to the needs of this group.
**The Church is in the process of getting their legal registration. In Russia this is a very complicated process. Pray for pastor Sasha has he handles all the needed paperwork and that the church would receive the registration. Without a registration the church has no legal standing. Last year pastor Sasha was called in to the local FSB office (former KGB) for questioning about the group meeting in his apartment because they did not have a registration.
Moscow
**The Glad news church had three special evangelistic outreaches during the holidays (Western Christmas, New Year’s, and Orthodox Christmas). Each event was well attended with many non-churched people attending for the first time. Pray that the church would be able to build on the relationships made at these events. People in Moscow are known to be extremely busy (i.e. working 60 hours/week, traveling by public transportation to get around the city, etc.). Pray for the Lord to provide opportunities to connect with people.
