SERGEI IN POCHINOK

I WANTED TO SEND YOU A PHOTO OF SERGEI AND HIS FAMILY. HE IS PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OUT IN POCHINOK. ALSO SENDING ALONG A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF THE CHURCH.

I LOOK FORWARD TO PRESENTING THIS GOOD FAMILY WITH A THANKSGIVING BLESSING WHEN I GET THERE.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PHILLIPIANS

OUR GOAL IN THESE WEEKS IS TO IMMERSE OURSELVES IN PHILLIPIANS.

JOY. REJOICING.

I HOPE YOU ARE TRYING TO COMMIT SOME TO MEMORY.

1:3

1:6

AND MAYBE BEFORE WEDNESDAY NIGHT YOU CAN READ IN PHILLIPIANS. CHAPTER 1:1-21

WHAT A GREAT BOOK. I AM ENJOYING IT VERY MUCH AGAIN.

JOY IS A CHOICE BASED ON OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD.

REMEMBER HUDSON TAYLOR'S WORDS:

"...it doesn't matter, really, how great the pressure is; it only matters WHERE the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord- then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast."

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

PHILLIPIANS

WHAT DID WE SAY TODAY?

JOY IS A CHOICE.....BASED ON OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD. (MAKE IT PART OF YOUR MANTRA)

PAUL.....

1. KEPT GOOD MEMORIES. REMEMBERED GOOD STUFF.

2. WAS CONFIDENT IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

3. HAD A DEEP AFFECTION FOR OTHERS

ALL A PART OF HIS JOYFUL TESTIMONY!

PLANT THESE VERSES IN YOUR MIND AND HEART...LET THEM GROW.

JOHN 15:11 (I ADDED THIS ONE TONIGHT)

PHIL. 1:3

PHIL. 1:6

LET'S IMMERSE OURSELVES IN PHILLIPIANS FOR A WHILE.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TONIGHT

JUST A REMINDER...TONIGHT WE'RE BUILDING A HOUSE FOR HAITI AGAIN. EVERYTHING LIKE LAST WEEK. COME WITH YOU WORK CLOTHES ON. SEE YOU THERE.

LOVE YA'LL.

THURSDAY

HEY! GREAT NIGHT LAST NIGHT GROUP. OUR GOALS AS BELIEVERS ARE SIMPLE. LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE. WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO EXPRESS LOVE IN TANGIBLE WAYS....IT HELPS TO CULTIVATE LOVE. IN A SMALL WAY, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN OUR WORK LAST NIGHT.

WE WILL FINISH THAT WORK NEXT WEDNESDAY.

KEEP PRAYING.

LET'S READ ACTS 1-4 AGAIN BEFORE SUNDAY MORNING. COME READY TO ADD TO THE COMMENTARY.

LOVE YA'LL.

FOR TOMORROW

HEY GROUP, LET'S TRY TO READ ACTS 1-2 BEFORE TOMORROW. I WANT TO CONTINUE IN THE FIRST PART OF TIME TOGETHER TO PUT OUR GWOF COMMENTARY TOGETHER ON ACTS 1-4. COME READY TO WORSHIP TOGETHER AND ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO THESE VERSES. WHEN HE USES ALL OF US TOGETHER, WE HAVE A BETTER VIEW OF WHAT HE WANT US TO DO.

SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

LOVE YA'LL.

WORSHIP IS AN ALL THE TIME THING

I JUST CAME ACROSS A BOOK ENTITLED "10,000 THINGS TO PRAISE GOD FOR". REALLY NEAT. THERE IS NO END TO THE THINGS WE CAN PRAISE HIM FOR.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL SUNDAY. BRING YOUR WORSHIP WITH YOU AND WE'LL DO SOME TOGETHER.

I'M ALSO GOING BACK AND TRYING TO GO THROUGH PIPER'S BOOK "DESIRING GOD" AND TRYING TO GET MY ARMS AROUND IT. I REALLY WANT TO KEEP MAKING STRIDES IN MY WORSHIP.

EVERYTHING STEMS FROM THAT.

EVERYTHING. HERE'S A THOUGHT. WE ALL PRAISE WHAT WE ENJOY. OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO THE POINT IN LIFE WHERE WE ENJOY GOD SUPREMELY. THEN PRAISE AND WORSHIP FLOWS.

REMEMBER TO PRAY TODAY. "GOD SHOW US WHAT TO DO".

LOVE YA'LL

WHAT WE SAID LAST NIGHT

ACTS 1 (GWOF COMMENTARY)

-JESUS HAS DIED. BEEN BURIED. ROSE AGAIN.

-FOR 40 DAYS, HE MAKES HIMSELF OBVIOUS.

-MEETS WITH DISCIPLES AT MT. OF OLIVES.

- HE GIVES A COMMAND - "GO BACK TO JERUSALEM AND WAIT FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT".

-JESUS GOES TO BE WITH THE FATHER.

-THE DISCIPLES GO BACK TO JERUSALEM AS COMMANDED.

-THEY ARE CONFUSED. UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR.

-FOR 10 DAYS THEY WAIT........AND PRAY.

-PETER LEADS THEM TO CHOOSE A NEW DISCIPLE TO REPLACE JUDAS.

- NOT KNOWING WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE.....THEY PRAY.

THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON AT THIS POINT IN CHURCH HISTORY(IN ACTS 1). EXCITING. CONFUSING. FRIGHTENING. BUT SOMEHOW, THROUGH THEIR YEARS WITH JESUS, IF NOTHING ELSE SUNK IN, THEY HAD LEARNED TO PRAY.

GWOF, IF WE LEARN NOTHING ELSE OVER THESE DAYS TOGETHER, LET'S LEARN TO PRAY AGAIN.

HERE'S WHAT I THINK PRAYER WILL DO FOR US:

1. STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

2. KEEP OUR FOCUS ON HIS GLORY AND WISDOM.

3. MAKE US BE THINKING ON THE SAME THINGS.

4. GIVE US A COMMON THEME. A COMMON TASK.

5. GIVE GOD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT A COMMON THEME.

6. KEEP US ON THE SAME PAGE.

7. GIVE GOD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIRECT US.

I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT PRAYER. I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT PRAYING WITH YOU. I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT GOD CAN DO AS A RESULT OF PRAYER.

OUR PRAYER: "GOD SHOW US WHAT TO DO. REVIVE OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE CAN BE CONSTANTLY IN TUNE WITH YOU. SO THAT WE CAN LOVE YOU AND LOVE OTHERS. SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO."

SUNDAY WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR ACT 1-4 GWOF COMMENTARY. WE'LL DO THAT IN THE FIRST PART OF OUR TIME TOGETHER AND THEN ASK GOD TO SPEAK TO US TOGETHER AS I PREACH WHAT HE GIVES TO ME. SO WE'LL WORSHIP. WE'LL BE LEARNING TOGETHER. WE'LL BE LISTENING FOR HIM TO SPEAK TO US THROUGH HIS WORD. THAT'LL BE GOOD.

ALERT. ALERT. ALERT.

OVER HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE.

IN PURPLE.

HEY, LET'S ALL READ ACTS 1-4 TOGETHER EVERYDAY(OR AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN).

SO, MAYBE MAKE YOUR DEVOTIONS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS FROM THERE.

OR AT LEAST READ THROUGH THERE SOME. THAT WAY WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, YOU'LL HAVE SOME THOUGHTS TO ADD TO OUR COMMENTARY ALREADY READY.

(WHO ARE THESE WOMEN? PERSPECTIVE BUYERS?)

NEXT WEDNESDAY WE'LL BE BUILDING 2 HOMES FOR HAITI. I LIKE IT. I LIKE THE IDEA OF DOING THINGS FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO REPAY OR EVEN THANK US FOR IT. JUST DOING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT JESUS LOVES BECAUSE WE CAN. DOING IT FOR HIM. DOING IT BECAUSE WE LOVE THE THINGS, THE PEOPLE HE LOVES. I LIKE IT.

LOVE YA'LL.

TONIGHT

DON'T FORGET THAT TONIGHT WE WILL MEET FOR SUPPER TOGETHER AT 6:30.

ALSO, JUST A PROMPT TO REMEMBER OUR COMMITMENT TO PRAY EVERY DAY.

SEE YOU TONIGHT.

TUESDAY

WHEN THE CHURCH WAS BEING BIRTHED IN ACTS DECISIONS HAD TO MADE BY THE PEOPLE WHO JESUS LEFT BEHIND. THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A CHURCH BEFORE. THEY HAD NEVER BEEN WITHOUT JESUS TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO SINCE THEY HAD BECOME HIS FOLLOWERS. SO WHAT DID THEY DO?

...they joined together constantly in prayer....Acts 1:14

WE COMMITTED TOGETHER SUNDAY TO DO THAT ALSO. HERE'S HOW THEY PRAYED...."Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us what to do....." LET'S PRAY THAT WAY AS WELL. LORD SHOW US WHAT TO DO. GIVE US WISDOM. GIVE US DIRECTION. SEARCH MY HEART. LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING.

LET'S BE BONDED TOGETHER IN THAT PRAYER THEME. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN YOU PRAY OR FOR HOW LONG. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE BOND TOGETHER IN THE PRACTICE.

LOVE YA'LL.

COMING HOME

GOTTA FINISH UP THE CAR THING TODAY AND THEN I'M OUTTA' HERE. FLY TO PARIS TOMORROW, THEN HOPEFULLY GET A SEAT TO ATLANTA.

THERE'S SOMETHING I REALIZED THIS SUMMER, I GET CAR SICK IF I'M NOT DRIVING. DIDN'T USED TO, BUT NOW I DO. IS IT AN AGE THING OR WHAT? THAT JUST POPPED INTO MY HEAD AND I THOUGHT I'D SHARE IT.

SEE YA'LL SOON.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

LEAVING RUSSIAN SOIL TODAY

I TOOK YURA TO THE AIRPORT LAST NIGHT AND STAYED IN A CHURCH APARTMENT THAT DEMA'S GROUP HAS HERE IN MOSCOW. WOKE UP TO HOT AGAIN. IT IS AS HOT AS I EVER REMEMBER IT HERE IN RUSSIA. I WILL MEET WITH THE LANDLORD OF OUR SMOLENSK APARTMENT (WHICH WE JUST MOVED OUT OF) THIS MORNING (BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN MOSCOW)AND THEN I AM HEADED FOR ESTONIA. I JUST GOT A NOTE FROM ANATOLY IN ESTONIA TELLING ME THAT I GOT A NOTICE THAT I HAVE TO UNREGISTER MY OLD CHRYSLER THERE BEFORE I LEAVE. IT SEEMS THAT WHEN A VEHICLE IS GOING TO NO LONGER BE IN EXISTENCE AS THAT ONE WILL NOT BE SOON(THINK BACK TO EARLY PICTURES OF TRESS AND STRATUSES)(IS THAT HOW SPELL THAT?AND CAN I USE DOUBLE PARAGRAPHS?)(SPELLING/GRAMMAR POLICE HERE)...IT HAS TO BE UNREGISTERED. KINDA' LIKE A DEATH CERTIFICATE HAS TO BE FILED. PROBLEM IS, NOTHING IS OPENED TOMORROW

OR SUNDAY, SO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MONDAY TO DO IT. IT MEANS I AM PLANNING TO FLY OUT ON TUESDAY MORNING FROM PARIS. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF SEATS, SO IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, I'LL BE IN GAINESVILLE TUESDAY EVENING. I AM WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY READY TO BE HOME.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACHOTHER.

HEADED OUT

I AM LEAVING HERE THIS MORNING. GOING THROUGH MOSCOW TO TAKE YURA TO THE AIRPORT AND TO MEET OUR LANDLORD FROM SMOLENSK. I WILL THEN HEAD TO ESTONIA TO LEAVE THE CAR AND THEN TO HOME!!!! LOOKING FOR SEATS. COPENHAGEN IS FULL. LOOKING AT PARIS. I THINK TJ WAS IN PARIS ONCE.

FEELING BETTER TODAY. FINALLY. THE FLU LEFT MY HEAD AND TRAVELED TO MY CHEST. IT IS WAY HOT HERE AGAIN TODAY. WISH IT WAS COOL HERE LIKE IT IS THERE.

CAN I GET EXCITED ABOUT THE BRAVES YET? SOMEONE LET ME KNOW.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

NO NEW NEWS

I HAD ENVISIONED WRITING TO YOU TODAY AND TELLING YOU THAT I WAS FEELING BETTER AND I AM ON MY WAY. BUT, MY VISION HAS BEEN DESTROYED. I AM WORSER THIS MORNING. I HAD THEM BUY ME 2 FANS YESTERDAY, IT IS SO HOT. THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET IT DONE. BUT I PERSERVERED IN MY DRUG INDUCED HAZE. TODAY MY VISION IS RENEWED. I WILL BEAT THIS FLU. I WILL BE BETTER TODAY. I WILL LEAVE TOMORROW(SICK OR NOT). I AM A ZOMBIE RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M WRITING, BUT I THINK THAT IT IS OK. I WILL PROBABLY GET SPEELLING/GRAMMEER POLICE COMMENTS AFTER THIS BLOG. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPED ME THROUGH THE NIGHT WAS TJ'S COMMENT FROM YESTERDAY. WHATTA GUY. (IF YA'LL AREN'T READING HIS BLOG, YOU NEED TO BEGIN. IT IS REALLY GOOD.) THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS. I'M TRYING TO GET HOME.

LOVE YALL.' YALL LOVE EACH OTHER.'

ON THE WAY BACK HOME

MY GOAL WAS TO LEAVE OUT OF HERE TODAY AND BEGIN MAKING MY TRECK BACK HOME...BUT I FEEL YUCK TODAY. I'VE PICKED UP SOME KIND OF FLU. SORE THROAT, BODY ACHE, I THINK I'VE GOT A FEVER. YUCK. HAVE I BRIGHTENED YOUR DAY? ANYWAY, I DON'T EVEN FEEL LIKE MOVING. I FEEL LIKE LAYING IN BED AND READING UNTIL I FEEL BETTER. THAT WOULD BE FINE IF IT WASN'T SO HOT...AND THERE IS NO AIR HERE. ARE YOU FEELING BETTER YET.? I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT ALL SUMMER WITHOUT GETTING SICK. WRONG. I'M REALLY SORRY. JUST NEEDED TO LET SOMEBODY KNOW WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH. SEND ME SOME COMFORT. I'LL TRY TO DO BETTER TOMORROW.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

NEWS TODAY

GOT JUST AMINUTE THIS MORNING. HEADED BACK TO IVANOVA TODAY. WILL BE THERE FOR CHURCH SUNDAY THEN HEAD BACK FOR MOSCOW, THEN ESTONIA, THEN HOME.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

NORTH RUSSIA

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ABOUT THE NORTH...EVERYWHERE. I AM IN THE NORTH PART OF RUSSIA THIS MORNING AND IT'S OVERCAST AND UGLY. I FEEL BAD TODAY. I COULD BLAME IT ON THE WEATHER OR AGE(JUST TURNED 51), BUT I THINK IT JUST HAPPENS WHEN I TRAVEL NORTH IN ANY COUNTRY OR REALM.

I AM TRAVELING UP NEAR THE MURMANSK AREA WITH A COUPLE OF GUYS(MISSIONARIES) FROM THE CHURCH AT IVANOVA. THEY WANT TO START A NEW WORK UP HERE AND I WANT TO SEE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTNERING WITH THEM AS WELL. I HAD NOT PLANNED THIS TRIP, RATHER I HAD PLANNED TO TRAVEL SOUTH TO VISIT WITH LEONID FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. HOWEVER, COLYA WILL BE TRAVELING THERE IN A FEW WEEKS, SO I DECIDED TO COME HERE. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

TODAY IS OUR 33RD WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! WOW. THAT IS A LONG TIME TO BE MARRIED TO ME. SUSAN DESERVES MULTIPLE CROWNS JUST FOR THAT. SHE'S INCREDIBLE! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. I LOVE YOU.

DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON THE COMPUTER THIS MORNING. GOTTA RUN. THESE RUSSIAN LOVE TO HAVE MEETINGS.

LOV'E YALL. YALL LOV'E EACH OTHER.

BIRTHDAY BREAK

JUST CHATTED WITH TJ AND JEB A LITTLE AT YAHOO. HELPED THE HEART. MISSING EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.

LEAVING TO GO UP NORTH A LITTLE WAYS TOWARD MURMANSK.

TAKING A LITTLE BLOG BREAK TODAY! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!! I CAN DO THAT!

LOVE YA'''''LL. YA'''''LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SIBEREAN EXPEDITION 3

WHILE JEFF AND COLYA WERE IN SIBEREA THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE PEOPLE THERE ARE GOING TO BE BEGINNING AN OUTREACH NEXT YEAR THAT WILL TAKE THE ENTIRE YEAR. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEY ARE ASKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE AN ENTIRE YEAR OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO SPEND ON EVANGELISM IN THE OBLAST THEIR AROUND EKATERINBURG/ASBEST. I LIKE IT! AND I THINK THAT WE MAY HAVE ARRIVED AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME TO BE OF HELP IN THE EFFORT. WHILE, I DON'T FEEL PROMPTED TO DO THE WHOLE YEAR THING....IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD HONE IN ON ONE PERSON IN ONE AREA THAT THESE GUYS FIND AND COME ALONG SIDE OF HIM TO HELP HIM REACH A PEOPLE GROUP THERE. IT IS A WORTHY PRAYER REQUEST, THAT GOD WOULD LEAD TO A LEONID TYPE PARTNER IN THAT AREA NOW. AS THESE GOOD PEOPLE BEGIN TO OPEN UP THIS AREA...WE ASK GOD TO LEAD US TO THAT MAN WHO NEEDS THE HELP THE MOST AND FIND WAYS TO PARTNER WITH HIM TO HELP REACH UNREACHED PEOPLE THERE. IT'S EXCITING TO ME THAT WE JUST HAPPENED TO ARRIVE AT THE SAME TIME THESE THINGS ARE TAKING PLACE THERE. IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE WHAT GOD WILL DO NOW. LET'S BE PRAYING.

I WAS REALLY OVERCOME WITH SOME MOMENTS OF LONLINESS LAST NIGHT AS I TRIED TO SLEEP. EVER GET THOSE? IT WAS HARD TO GO TO SLEEP. FEELINING A LITTLE TIRES THIS MORNING. GOD IS GOOD AND I FOUND THESE ENCOURAGING VERSES TODAY.

Romans 8:38-39

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IT IS GOOD THAT EVEN WHEN WE ARE FAR AWAY FROM THE ONES WE LOVE THE MOST, HE IS ALWAYS NEAR, ALWAYS WITH US, ALWAYS LIKING US, ALWAYS FOR US, ALWAYS ROOTING FOR US. IT'S GOOD TO BE HIS.

LOVE YAL'L. 'YALL LOVE EACH OTHER.(WHO KNEW AN APOSTROPHE WOULD BECOME AN ITEM?)

IVANOVA

I AM IN IVANOVA TODAY AND WILL BE FOR THE REST OF THIS WEEK. THERE WILL BE RUSSIAN MISSIONARIES HERE THAT I WILL WANT TO MEET WITH AND DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITES OF PARTNERING WITH THEM TO GO TO UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS. WE ARE PLANNING TO TAKE A TRIP TO THE NORTH, MAYBE TO THE MURMANSK AREA FOR A DAY OR TWO ON A SURVEY TRIP LIKE JEFF AND COLYA WENT ON TO SIBEREA. (I WILL FINISH THAT EXPEDITION STORY THIS WEEK).

WHAT I AM FINDING IS THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SAME THINGS WE ARE, i.e. unreached people groups, AND THEY TOO ARE IN THE RESEARCH STAGE. IT IS INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO RUSSIANS TALK ABOUT REACHING THEIR OWN PEOPLE AS WELL.

MY GOAL IS TO FINISH UP HERE AS SOON AS I CAN AND TRY TO BE HOME BY AUGUST 1ST. COLYA MAY VISIT LEONID FOR US IN THE FALL. IF HE CAN, I CAN GET HOME SOONER. I STILL MUST GO BACK THROUGH ESTONIA AND LEAVE THE CAR.

HOW IS EVERYONE THERE? YA'LL PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER? LOVING EACH OTHER? ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER? NOTHING MORE NEEDED THAN THESE THINGS. I'M MISSING YA'LL.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE SPELLING/GRAMMAR POLICE BACK.

LOVE YA'LL. YALL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SIBEREAN EXPEDITION INTERLUDE

WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS CLEARING OUT THE APARTMENT THAT WE HAVE LIVED IN FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS. WE JUST ABOUT HAVE THAT COMPLETE AND TODAY I WILL CLOSE THE DOOR ON THAT APARTMENT AND LEAVE. KINDA NOSTALGIC ABOUT IT.

I WILL BE LEAVING THIS AFTERNOON TO GO TO MOSCOW TO MEET WITH DEMA (WE MET LEONID THROUGH HIM). MY GOAL WILL BE TO DISCUSS WITH HIM OUR PLANS IN FINDING OTHER UNREACHED PEOPLE GORUPS AND POSSIBLY GOING WITH HIM OR SOMEONE ELSE TO ONE OF THOSE AREAS. I WILL GO WITH HIM TO IVANOVA TONIGHT AND THEN SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.

I WILL CONTINUE THE SIBEREAN STORY TOMORROW.

HOW ARE YA'LL?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACHOTHER.

SIBEREAN EXPEDITION 2

WE HAD MADE CONTACT EARLIER WITH SOME GUYS THROUGH COLYA. THEY AGREED TO MEET JEFF AND COLYA AND SHOW THEM AROUND THE AREA. THEY DID NOT STAY IN EKATERINBURG CITY, BUT RATHER TRAVELLED OUTSIDE THE CITY TO A PLACE CALLED ASBEST.(AS IN ASBESTOS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE 3RD LARGEST MINE IN THE WORLD THERE)(AND HENCE, JEFF COULD NOT GET THE SCOOP ON THE ROMANOVS, STACY).

OUR GOAL WAS TO MAKE CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE WHO WE CAN PARTNER WITH AND WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME HEART AS WE DO FOR THE UNREACHED. THERE SEEMS TO BE A WELL ESTABLISHED CHURCH WORK IN THE EKATERINBURG/ASBEST AREA AND IN DOES SEEM THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A HEART FOR THE FURTHER REACHES AS WELL.

JEFF AND COLYA WERE ABLE TO SEE THEIR WORK AND TALK WITH THEM IN LENGTH ABOUT OUR GOALS.
IT MAY BE THAT WE CAN FIND A PARTNERSHIP THERE. I WILL TELL YOU SOME ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.

PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT! IT'S AN ALLTIME JOB. HOW YOU DOING WITH THAT? READ THIS TODAY AGAIN, HOPE IT WILL LIFT YOU SOME:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3,7

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THE SIBEREA EXPEDITION 1

THERE ARE 162 TOTAL PEOPLE GROUPS IN RUSSIA. OF THOSE 162, SEVENTY SIX OF THEM ARE LABELED AS UNREACHED. UNREACHED MEANS THAT THERE 2% OR LESS Evangelical Christian and less than 5% Christian Adherents. IN RUSSIA MOST OF THOSE PEOPLES ARE IN SIBEREA, EAST OF THE URALS. ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO LOCATE AND SEARCH FOR WAYS TO WORK TO EVANGELIZE THOSE GROUPS.

FOR THAT REASON, WE SENT JEFF AND COLYA ON THE SIBEREA EXPEDITION. OUR FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT TO YAKUTIA IN THE MIDDLE OF SIBEREA. HOWEVER, AS WE THOUGHT AND MEDITATED ON IT, THE THOUGHT BEGAN TO DEVELOP THAT MAYBE THAT WAS A GIANT LEAP WHERE A TINY STEP WAS NEEDED. IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO GO IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR THAN TO BEGIN KITCHEN.

EKATERINBURG IS ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES YOU GO COME TO AS YOU ENTER SIBEREA.....THUS, THE FRONT DOOR. MUCH LIKE SMOLENSK, IT IS THE GATEWAY TO SIBEREA. IF WE WANT TO FIND UNREACHED GROUPS IN THE EAST, EKATERINBURG SEEMS TO BE A GOOD PLACE TO START.

JEFF AND COLYA LEFT LAST WEEK TO SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS THERE. OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE WANT TO SHARE WHAT THEY LEARNED AND WHAT WE SENSE IS OUR DIRECTION RIGHT NOW FOR THERE.

THE PHOTOS YOU WILL SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW BLOGS WILL BE FROM THAT TRIP.

YESTERDAY HERE IN SMOLENSK, JEB AND SERGEI AND I SPENT THE DAY GATHERING FURNITURE FOR THE CENTER AT KASPLI. (YESTERDAY, I SPELLED IT KAPLI AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING. EITHER YOU DIDN'T READ IT OR YOU DEPEND ON JEFF TO BE OUR SPELLING/GRAMMAR POLICEMAN). WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT ALL DONE BY ABOUT 6 AND THEN WE HEADED BACK TO SMOLENSK. JEB AND I TOOK TIA (COLYA'S DAUGHTER) TO THE PARK AND SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS WITH HER. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS I HAD BEEN COLLECTING ALL MY RUSSIAN CHANGE(COINS). WHEN I COME HOME AT NIGHT, I JUST THROW THEM IN A BASKET. OVER TIME I HAD COLLECTED 15 KILOGRAMS OF COINS. LAST NIGHT I GAVE IT ALL TO TIA. SHE IS 5 YEARS OLD AND THE COINS WEIGHED MORE THAN HER! IT WAS NEAT TO WATCH HER TRY TO PICK IT UP! IT WAS FUN.

T'S IN TAIWAN!! NEAT BLOG. IT WILL BE FUN TO FOLLOW HIM OVER THE NEXT MONTHS OF ADVENTURE. http://thetpot.blogspot.com/

PRAYERS FOR ALL OF YOU!! HOW YOU DOING??

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

Kapli Today

HEADED TO KASPLI TODAY. GOTTA GET SOME FURNITURE FOR THE CENTER THERE. JEB AND SERGEI AND I WILL SPEND THE DAY GATHERING THAT STUFF AND THEN HEAD OUT THERE TO DELIVER IT.

YESTERDAY I WAS OUT IN SHYUMACHI AGAIN TO CHECK ON A BATHROOM PROJECT THAT YURA IS FINISHING OUT THERE FOR US. ALL IS GOING WELL.

YA'LL SHOULD HAVE EVERYBODY ON YA'LLS SIDE EXCEPT ME AND JEB AND LUDA. YES, WE HAVE A SMALLER TEAM, BUT WE ARE STRONG.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MOM(JEFF AND I SANG TO HER SUNDAY) AND MARK!!!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

RED ROVER AGAIN

YOU JUST RECIEVED SUSAN AND THE LITTLE GUYS, NOW WE ARE SENDING JEFF AND COURTNEY BACK OVER. THOSE TWO LEFT HERE LAST NIGHT ON THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN. NOW THE SIDES ARE GETTING UNEVEN AGAIN. PLUS NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER FOREIGN COUNTRY ENTERING INTO THE GAME. WHO INVITED TAIWAN IN ANYWAY?

I WANT TO POST SOME ON JEFF'S TRIP TO SIBEREA THIS WEEK, BUT TODAY I WANT TO SAY GOODBYE TO TJ. IT WAS GOOD FOR T TO BE WITH US FOR A WHILE. IF HE WASN'T MY SON, I WOULD STILL LOVE TO BE AROUND HIM. GOD HAS GIFTED HIM AND HIS GIFT HAS BLESSED US. I'M GRATEFUL. THANKS T. HE'S HEADED FOR A TAIWAN ADVENTURE. PRAYER FOR HIM AND THESE NEXT MONTHS AND YEARS THERE ARE IN ORDER FOR US. LOVE YOU, T. PROUD OF YOU. GODSPEED, MY SON.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

MOM AND LITTLE GUYS COMING HOME

I AM AT THE AIRPORT IN MOSCOW. JUST PUT MOM AND THE LITTLE GUYS ON THE PLANE. RED ROVER, SENDING THEM OVER. YOU'RE GETTING A GOOD GROUP.

THEY'VE REALLY FIXED UP THIS AIRPORT. ALMOST NICE. BUT I ONLY GET 15 MINUTES ON THIS COMPUTER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THE SIBEREA EXPEDITION

TODAY BEGINS THE "2010 SIBEREA SURVEY EXPEDITION". JEFF AND COLYA TOOK OFF THIS MORNING, HEADED TO MOSCOW DOMODEDEVO AIRPORT. THEY WILL FLY TO THE CITY OF EKATERINBURG. EKATERINBURG IS FAMOUS AS THE CITY WHERE THE ROMANOVS (THE LAST CSAR) WERE MASSACRED AND AS THE HOME OF BORIS YELTSIN. OTHER THAN THAT, WHY EKATERINBURG?

IT SEEMS THAT EKATERINBURG IS THE GATEWAY CITY TO SIBEREA. OUR GOAL WILL BE TO FIND UNREACHED/LEAST REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS IN EASTERN RUSSIA AND IT MAKES SENSE TO START BY GOING THROUGHT THE FRONT DOOR. THEY WILL BE MEETING WITH SOME CONTACTS THAT WE HAVE MADE THERE AND THEY WILL BASICALLY BE DOING FACT FINDING (i.e. THE ABRAHAM JOURNEY OF 2008.) THINGS WE WANT TO KNOW:

-WHERE UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS ARE IN SIBEREA

-ARE THERE PARTNERS THERE THAT WE CAN WORK WITH

-IS ANYONE ELSE REACHING OUTSIDE THE CITY TO THESE GROUPS

-ARE THERE OTHER FOREIGNERS WORKING THERE

-WHAT PRACTICAL THINGS CAN WE DO THERE TO OPEN DOORS

THESE AND WHTEVER ELSE THEY CAN FIND OUT WILL BE IMPORTANT.

THIS WILL BE A REALLY IMPORTANT TRIP. PLEASE BE PRAYING THAT GOD WILL GIVE THE SAFETY, WISDOM, ALERTNESS, DISCERNMENT, AND SUCCESS ON THEIR JOURNEY.

I WILL BE TAKING MOM AND THE LITTLE GUYS TO MOSCOW ON THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN TONIGHT. THEY WILL BE FLYING BACK TO YOU TOMORROW!!! THEY SHOULD BE BACK WITH YA'LL FOR THIS SUNDAY. YA'LL BE GOOD TO 'EM.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TUESDAY

THOMAS SENT ME PICS OF YA'LL 4TH. LOOKS LIKE YA'LL HAD A GOOD DAY. YOU LOOK LAZY.

TODAY I HEAD BACK OUT TO SHUMYACHI TO CHECK ON A BATHROOM PROJECT THERE.

TOMORROW, JEFF AND COLYA ARE HEADING TO EKATERINBURG ON THE "2010 SIBEREA SURVEY EXPEDITION". I'LL BE WRITING MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THEY LEAVE TOMORROW AND RETURN FRIDAY.

IN THE "RED ROVER" GAME (AS AYM PUTS IT), WE WILL BEGIN SENDING PEOPLE BACK OVER THIS WEEK. SUSAN AND THE LITTLE GUYS LEAVE THURSDAY AND GET IN TO ATLANTA AT ABOUT 4:35 IN THE AFTERNOON. THEN JEFF AND COURTNEY LEAVE ON NEXT MONDAY. MY RETURN WILL BE IN THE TWO WEEKS AFTER, ACCORDING TO HOW THE SIBEREA TRIP GOES.

YA'LL'S LAST WEEK WITH TJ. BE GOOD TO HIM. HE'S GREAT.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

4TH OF JULY SCENES FROM SMOLENSK

AND THEN WE WATCHED "THE PATRIOT". IT'S A TRADITION. IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

WHAT'D YA'LL DO.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOE EACH OTHER.

FRIDAY

SPENT MOST OF THE DAY YESTERDAY AT CUSTOMS. FINALLY GOT HOME ABOUT 8:30. HAD TO REGISTER A THE CAR. WON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN.

TODAY, I THINK WE WILL FINALLY GET TO THE GARAGE. GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO GO THROUGH AND NEED TO TRY TO SELL SOME FURNITURE.

JEB HAS GONE TO MOSCOW TO PICK UP LUDA. HE TRAVELED WITH HER MOTHER AND SISTER. THEY WILL SPEND THE NIGHT AND HER GRANDMOTHERS NEAR MOSCOW. I THINK THEY PLAN TO ARRIVE HERE ON SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY.

WHAT ARE YA'LL DOING ON THE 4TH? WE ARE PLAYING ULTIMATE, WATCHING "THE PATRIOT", AND I WILL TRY TO FIND A WATERMELON.

ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TODAY!!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACHOTHER.

KASPLI FIRE

I SPENT A GOOD PART OF THE DAY YESTERDAY OUT AT KASPLI (NEVER GOT TO THE GARAGE). SEVERAL WEEKS AGO SOMEONE BROKE INTO THE CENTER AND STOLE SEVERAL THINGS, AND THEN SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING. MOST ALL OF THE INSIDE WAS BURNED AND IT IS A WONDER THAT ALL OF IT DIDN'T BURN DOWN. A LOT OF REPAIR HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, BUT THERE IS MORE TO DO. NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE SPENDING A GOOD BIT OF TIME WORKING THERE.

I CONTINUE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR VLADIMER, WHO WE PARTNER WITH THERE. HE HAS BEEN AND REMAINS FAITHFUL IN A VERY DIFFICULT AREA OF WORK. HE IS A REMINDER TO ME THAT THIS IS WHAT GOD REQUIRES. FAITHFULNESS. NOT GLITZ OR GLAMOUR. JUST FAITHFULNESS. THAT'S WHAT I WANT US TO BE AT GWOF. JUST FAITHFUL TO WORSHIP AND SERVE HIM AND OTHERS UNTIL HE CALLS US ON.

GOOD TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JOHN. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YA'LL AND ALL OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILIES.

TODAY I HAVE TO GO TO CUSTOMS. I HATE CUSTOMS. AND IT'S OK TO HATE CUSTOMS. I DIDN'T SAY I HATED THE PEOPLE THERE. I JUST HATE THE PROCESS. I DISLIKE GREATLY THE PEOPLE THERE. HOWEVER........GOTTA DO IT...SO WHY COMPLAIN. SOMEBODY ENCOURAGE ME TODAY.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

WHAT?

YESTERDAY WAS A SLOW, LAZY DAY. NOT MUCH TO BLOG.

TODAY, GARAGE AND KASPLI.

RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO PLAN SIBEREA TRIP.

WILL SOMEBODY HELP ME WITH YESTERDAY'S COMMENTS? I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

FATHERS DAY

WE DIDN'T GET TO CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY ON FATHER'S DAY BECAUSE THE GROUP WAS HERE. SO, WE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL THEY LEFT TO OBSERVE THE DAY. WE OBSERVED IT DURING THE DAY BY BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF CLEANING OUT OUR STORAGE UNIT AND GETTING READY FOR INVENTORY. THEN IN THE EVENING, SUSAN PREPARED A FATHERS DAY MEAL....PORK CHOPS, MASHED POTATOES, GREEN BEANS, DEVELED EGGS AND BISCUITS!!! NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN AS MUCH TO YOU THERE AS IT DOES HERE...BUT, BELIEVE ME, IT WAS GREAT. THEN WE WENT BOWLING. WE PLAYED 2 GAMES. JEFF WON THE FIRST GAME...I WON THE SECOND. OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE FIRST GAME IS ALWAYS WARM UP. IT WAS A GOOD DAY.

I"M GLAD TO HEAR THAT JOHN IS DOING WELL. ANYTIME YOU CAN EAT A WHOPPER, IT'S GOOD. WE'VE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM.

TODAY IS SORT OF A CATCH UP DAY FOR ME. A LOT OF CORRESPONDENCE TO DO. TOMORROW. I WILL PROBABLY GO OUT TO KASPLI AND SEE HOW THE WORK IS GOING ON THERE. MORE INVENTORY TO DO...

WHAT ARE YA'LL DOING TODAY?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

MONDAY MORNING

WE ENDED THE WEEK SATURDAY NIGHT WITH OUR TRADITIONAL LAST SUPPER. THEN WE LOADED UP THE GROUP YESTERDAY AT ABOUT 9:00 A.M. AND JEB AND COLYA TOOK THEM BACK TO MOSCOW. THEIR FLIGHT OUT WAS AT 5:30. JEB AND COLYA GOT BACK IN LAST NIGHT ABOUT 9:30.

THE WEEK WAS A GREAT ONE. EVERYTHING WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH AND I BELIEVE THE PROJECT IS ONE OF THE BEST WE'VE EVER DONE.

MAXIM WILL CONTINUE ON WITH MINISTRY IN SHYMACHI. ONE OF OUR GOALS, ALSO IS TO START A NEW CHURCH WORK IN THE VILLAGE THERE AS WELL.

I AM POSTING PHOTOS OF THE WHOLE WEEK FOR YOU. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS FOR US.

THIS WEEK WILL BE CATCH UP WEEK AND WE WILL BEGIN INVENTORY ON ALL OUR EQUIPMENT AGAIN, AS WELL AS CLEAN UP OF THE STORAGE UNIT. WE ALSO WILL BE DOING FINAL PLANNING FOR JEFF AND COLYA'S SIBEREA TRIP.

I WANT TO SAY AGAIN TO YOU WHAT A BLESSING AND ENCOURAGEMENT YOUR GIFT TO US WAS LAST WEEK. IN CASE YOU MISSED SATURDAY'S BLOG I HOPE YOU'LL GO BACK AND READ IT. BUT I WANTED TO ADD THAT THE GIFT WAS NOT ONLY THE MEETING OF A HUGE FINANCIAL NEED, BUT IT WAS SUCH A MORAL BOOSTER AND A RECHARGER. IT LET ME KNOW YOU ARE THERE AND THINKING ABOUT AND CARING FOR US. ENCOURAGEMENT. IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.