Today is (Old) New Year’s Day here in Russia. Even though we have lived here for over 15 years we still have not adjusted to celebrating two Christmases (Dec. 25 & Jan 7) and two New Years (Jan 1 & Jan 14). The second dates follow the old Russian calendar that was observed until the early 1990s. Added to these holidays, the whole country takes Jan 1-10 as official government holidays.

We have had a special month of holidays together as a family. Benjamin was able to come home for the holidays arriving Dec. 11. He brought his college roommate, Taylor, along with him. Taylor was able to spend the week with us, taking in the sights around Moscow and hearing stories about life in Russia. Just as Taylor left to return home, Michael and Timothy arrived for their Christmas break from Black Forest Academy. Even though we had the five of us in our small two bedroom apartment, it was great to be together. We played games, watched movies, played in the snow, and spent many hours just sharing our lives with each other. As parents, Lisa and I were so encouraged to see the young men our boys are becoming. Not to mention that they are now all taller than Lisa! As the boys get older we realize these times when all of us can be together will be harder to plan.

Highlights of 2009

**We were able to be involved in the planting of two new churches in Moscow. Glad News Church, the “mother” church, was started just four years ago but is already multiplying churches in this city of 14 million people (the largest city in Europe).

**The Tobolsk Church held their first ever winter children’s camp during this past Christmas holiday. With temperatures hovering at -20 F outside, the church put up tents in rooms and created a “camp” inside the church building. 90 children attended the camp, many from unchurched families.

**In September Benjamin was rushed to the hospital with a ruptured appendix. He ended up staying in the hospital for five days. We are so thankful for our church family who took care of him and helped him through this experience.

**A short term missions team from Woodinville Alliance was able to come and hang drywall in the rehab center. To the amazement of everyone (including themselves) they were able to put up over 300 sheets of drywall. With that work finished, they were able to mud the entire inside of the center.

**We transitioned our ministry in Moscow to begin working more closely with one of the new church plants. Located in the Butovo area, the region is home to over 600,000 people with no evangelical church present. The church planter family, Genya and Delara Birykov along with their two daughters, moved here in August to begin the work. We are excited to work alongside this special family.

**Maxim, the director of the Tobolsk Rehab Center, was married on Dec. 12. He and his new wife, Larissa, will live in a house adjacent to the center as they work together in this ministry to people facing addictions.

**In October Michael was seen by five different doctors trying to determine the source of pain he was experiencing. He missed weeks of school as no one could figure out the problem. Lisa traveled to Germany and was able to find a doctor who was able to correctly diagnose Michael’s situation. They were even able to squeegee him in for surgery while Lisa was there so she could take care of him.

**Pastor Sasha in Tyumen was ordained as a minister. The small church plant moved from meeting in his living room to renting a small hall on Sunday for services. The church has grown to over 30 people.

**The Tobolsk church was able to conduct a summer children’s camp. With support from a Christian school in Seattle, over 100 children were able to attend the camp. Most of these kids are orphans with no one to take them in and nowhere to go for the summer.

**Lisa was able to begin a women’s craft night outreach working with Delara. It is a great opportunity to invite unbelievers to develop friendships. Already over 10 different women have attended these events.

**A short term missions team from Smokey Point Community Church was able to conduct Celebrate Recovery seminars for those in the Tobolsk church. Along with the seminars, the women on the team were able to have nightly evangelistic outreaches to women. Over 100 women attended these meetings with a theme on make-up and beauty.

**Over 40 people were baptized in the Tobolsk church this past year. Even though many people are leaving the area due to lack of work, God continues to use the church to bring people into relationship with Himself.

**The Tobolsk Rehab Center was dedicated in December. Over 60 people were present as we committed the center to the Lord. Maxim and Vadim moved to Tobolsk to head up this ministry--another miracle of God providing the right people at the right time.

Prayer Requests

**Our church planter in Tyumen, Pastor Sasha, and his wife, Nadia, request prayer. Nadia will need a cornea transplant. She has almost no sight in one eye now. We have been able to help her with connecting with an eye clinic in Moscow. Only four clinics in the country are allowed to perform this operation. Nadia is on a waiting list and is being told it should happen in June. Pray for nothing to happen to this eye until the operation is able to take place.

**The end of February we will be traveling out of country to obtain a new visa. The laws continue to change as we seek to find a way to live here long term. Pray for the invitation letter and application to be processed without delay or problems. We will be applying for the new visas at the Russian embassy on Feb. 24.

**Pastor Genya, the church planter in Butovo, is involved in a small local theater. Over the holidays he invited all the cast to their apartment. 18 people showed up. As they were leaving several of them commented, “We had so much fun being here. We didn’t think it would be fun to come here without any alcohol.” Two women stayed behind after the others left and begin asking Genya about spiritual issues. Pray for these women and the continuing friendships being build through this theater.

**Pray for these people who have recently attended one of our outreaches in Butovo:

Alexander & Olga—he serves in the military and recently moved to Moscow from Siberia.

Sergei—is a lawyer who is seeking. He attended the Orthodox church for several years but felt empty.

German & Olga—calls Pastor Genya several times a week. He is open to talking about faith. His parents are strong Orthodox followers who opposed evangelical faith.

**On Jan. 21 we will be hosting a one day seminar for all the churches in our region on why churches plateau and steps to take to promote health and growth in the church. Pray that this material will be practical and applicable in helping our churches grow and multiply.

**Delara Birykov has been unable to find work. Many companies in Russia do not hire people towards the end of the year. As this new year begins pray that Delara would be able to find work that will fit her needs and schedule. Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world and this family needs for Delara to work at least part time to help make ends meet.

**All three boys are back at their schools. Benjamin is at SPU and Michael and Timothy are at Black Forest Academy. Each of them had a tough Fall semester with their health. Pray for a good semester and for their strength and health for the second half of the school year.

We want to thank each of you and your churches for your prayers and support. We have received several requests on how someone could support our work. Without your support we would not be able to be a part of what God is doing here in Russia.

Gifts to the Great Commission Fund of the C&MA provide our support. Beyond this, gifts marked for “Tobolsk Rehab Center” and “Merrill Work Special” help us accomplish more ministry than our basic budget will allow. Gifts to either of these funds are greatly appreciated, and may be given in your local C&MA church offering plates, on line at www.cmalliance.org, or sent to: The C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500.