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.

WOW! THANKYOU!

I HAVE A LOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE PROJECT AND THE END OF THE WEEK, BUT I AM GOING TO SAVE IT FOR MONDAY. I WANT TO TAKE THE BLOG TODAY AND JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS ACCIDENT TO THE CAR OCCURS, I NEVER PANIC, BUT I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT AND HOW WE WILL MAKE IT AND HOW GOD WILL PROVIDE. IT IS AMAZING HOW HE HAS PROVIDED THIS TIME. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO YOU. YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. I KNOW WE ARE NEW AND SMALL AND THEREFORE THE GIFT MEANS EVEN MORE. PLEASE RECEIVE MY GRATITUDE WITH THE SAME HEART IN WHICH I SEND IT. I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR GOODNESS.

WEDNESDAY IN SHYMACHI

I'M BACK IN SMOLENSK TONIGHT AND WILL RETURN TO SHUMYACHI IN THE MORNING. I'LL BE PICKING UP ABOUT 10 KILOGRAMS OF PORK AT THE MARKET AS I GO IN TOMORROW SO THAT COLYA CAN DO SHASHLIK FOR US TOMORROW NIGHT.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY HAVE GONE VERY WELL. SO WELL, IN FACT, THAT WE WILL FINISH TOMORROW. ONE DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. THEN WE WILL VISIT DESNAGORSK AND POCHINOK ON FRIDAY. THAT WILL GIVE THE GROUP ALL OF SATURDAY TO REST AND WE WILL HAVE A SUPPER TOGETHER ON SATURDAY NIGHT, THEN THEY LEAVE ON SUNDAY.

I AM REALLY PROUD OF MY GUYS. JEB AND JEFF ALL WAYS WORK WELL. BUT I HAVE BEEN SUPER PROUD OF THE WAY THAT GORDON AND PATRICK HAVE WORKED THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE.

LAST NIGHT AFTER WORK WE WENT DOWN TO THE RIVER TO SWIM. IT WAS COLD. BUT THEN, SO IS THE SHOWER AT THE ORPHANAGE. WE ALL STINK.

SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO TJ THAT MOSQUITOES AND THESE BITING CRAZED FLIES ARE EVIL. THEY ARE A RESULT OF SIN. THE FALL. THEY BECAME A NUISANCE AND A MEGA BOTHER AFTER MAN FELL. THERE IS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THEM. AMEN.

I HAVE FOUND THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ENCOURAGES ME MOST IS WHEN THOSE WHO I LOVE...ARE ENCOURAGED. I LOVE IT WHEN SOMEONE DEAR TO ME IS HELPED, ENCOURAGED, MOTIVATED, EMPOWERED. IT GIVES ME SO MUCH JOY. DOES THAT HAPPEN WITH YOU? FOR INSTANCE, I AM SO MOTIVATED THAT YOU WERE ENCOURAGED BY PEOPLE COMING TO CHRIST IN ADYGEA. YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT, ENCOURAGES ME. I'M GLAD WE PARTNER THERE WITH LEONID. I'M GLAD GOD LED US THERE. I'M GLAD I SHARED IT WITH YOU. IT'S GOOD. SO HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING. IF WE WORK ON OUR GIFTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.....DOING OUR BEST TO LIFT THOSE AROUND US.....WE ARE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING OURSELVES! WHAT A GREAT THOUGHT. SO I SAY..BE SELFISH...HELP YOURSELF...ENCOURAGE SOMEONE ELSE!!! WE CAN NEVER SAY THAT WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AS LONG AS THERE IS PRAYER AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO DO.

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

TUESDAY CATCH UP

I HAVE NO INTERNET ACCESS IN SHYUMACHI SO I CAN'T BLOG EVERYDAY. I AM IN TOWN FOR A FEW A LITTLE BUT SO I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP. I WILL TRY TO DO THIS EVERY OTHER DAY.

THE GROUP GOT IN ON SATURDAY. WE PICKED THEM UP AND TOURED RED SQUARE FOR A LITTLE BIT AND HEADED HOME.

WE HAD SERVICE AT THE HOTEL ON SUNDAY AND HEADED FOR SHYUMACHI IN THE AFTERNOON. GO ALL SETTLED IN AND BEGAN WORK ON YESTERDAY. THE FIRST DAY WENT REALLY WELL EXCEPT FOR THESE HUGE, MEGA HORSE FLYS ON DRUGS. THEY ARE WILD, THEY ARD EVIL, THEY BITE, I HATE THEM.

BESIDES THAT ALL IS GOOD. WE WILL BE IN SHYUMACHI UNTIL SATURDAY.

I HOPE YA'LL HAD A GOOD FATHERS DAY TOGETHER. I TALKED ABOUT MY FATHER SUNDAY. THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I MISS HIM. HE WAS A GREAT MAN. NOT GLAMOROUS, BUT FAITHFUL TO WHAT HE DID. DEPENDABLE. I APPRECIATE HIM AND REALIZE HOW BLESSED I AM TO HAVE HAD A GOOD, GOOD MAN FOR A FATHER.

BE ENCOURAGED TODAY. I GOT A NOTE FROM LEONID LAST NIGHT. HE TELLS ME THAT COSTYA OUT IN THE VILLAGE HAS HAD A FAMILY OF 3 COME TO CHRIST THIS LAST WEEK. YOU REMEMBER COSTYA. HIS FAMILY HAS MET IN THERE HOME FOR MANY MONTHS NOW...WITH NO ONE ELSE COMING EXCEPT AN OCCASIONAL STRAY VISITOR AND SOME KIDS FROM TIME TO TIME. YET HE HAS REMAINED FAITHFUL, AND NOW HAS FRUIT FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS. THAT IS GREATNESS. THAT IMPRESSES GOD. BE ENCOURAGED. BE ENCOURAGING. STAY FAITHFUL.

LOVE YALL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

JEFF AND COURTNEY

JEFF AND COURTNEY GOT HERE LAST NIGHT ABOUT 8:00. THEY RODE THE TRAIN FROM MOSCOW AND SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TRIP. THEY EVEN LOOKED FAIRLY NORMAL. JEFF HAS HAIR. TODAY THEY WILL KINDA GET THEIR FEET UNDER THEM AND GET REGISTERED. I THINK JEFF WILL GIVE COURTNEY A TOUR OF THE CITY.

JEB AND COLYA AND GORDON, PATRICK AND I, WILL LEAVE THIS EVENING ABOUT 6 TO PICK UP THE GROUP FROM PENN. IN MOSCOW. WE WILL ARRIVE IN MOSCOW AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT, I THINK, AND JUST SLEEP IN OUR CARS UNTIL 5 A.M. WHEN THE GROUP ARRIVES. WE WILL TAKE THEM FOR A QUICK TRIP TO RED SQUARE AND BREAKFAST AND THEN HEAD BACK TO SMOLENSK. PRAY FOR US.

WORSHIP TODAY. I AM FINDING THAT EVERYTHING THAT I WANT TO DO, IF I WANT TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY, STEMS FROM MY WORSHIP OF THE FATHER. THAT INCLUDES THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT. REMEMBER, WHEN WE WORSHIP, WE TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF OURSELVES. AS LONG AS WE FOCUS ON OURSELVES, WE WILL NEVER BE ENCOURAGERS. WE'LL NEVER LOVE ANYONE LIKE WE SHOULD. EXCEPT OURSELVES. WORSHIP TODAY. IT WILL ENHANCE YOUR MINISTRY. EVERTHING WE WANT TO DO AT GWOF, BEGINS WITH WORSHIP.

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

THURSDAY 6/17

YESTERDAY WE TOOK MOST ALL OF THE TOOLS AND SOME FOOD STUFFS OUT TO SHYUMACHI. COLYA WAS SICK SO IT WAS JEB AND I AND THE LITTLE GUYS. (NOT THAT LITTLE ANYMORE). RAINED PRETTY GOOD IN THE EVENING WHEN WE GOT BACK AND THE LITTLE GUYS AND I GOT CAUGHT IN IT WHILE WORKING OUT AT THE STADIUM.

TODAY I HEAD OUT TO DESNAGORSK FOR A VISIT TO THE REHAB CENTER THERE. JEB WILL BE IN TOWN GETTING SOME OF THE FINAL THINGS NEEDED FOR THE GROUP. TODAY WILL BE LONG.

THE WEATHER IS REALLY COOL. WAY COOL. JACKET COOL. IT'S JUNE 17TH.

JEFF AND COURTNEY SHOULD ARRIVE THIS EVENING AS WELL. I THINK THEY GOT ON. I THINK. I HOPE. HAVEN'T HEARD, SO THEY MUST HAVE. RIGHT?

HOW'D YOU USE YOUR GIFTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT YESTERDAY? IF YOU READ THE WORD, YOU'LL FIND THAT GOD IS THE BEST ENCOURAGER. OF COURSE. HE OFTEN TELLS US OF HIS LOVE FOR US. HE OFTEN TELLS US HOW SPECIAL WE ARE TO HIM. HE LETS US KNOW HOW WONDERFUL AND SPECIAL WE ARE TO HIM. IF WE ARE TO BE LIKE HIM AND HIS SON, WE ARE TO IMCORPORATE HIS CHARACTER IN OUR LIVES AS WELL. THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT JOB FOR US AT GWOF? HOW YOU DOING WITH THAT?

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

HEADED TO SHYUMACHI

I'M SITTING INSIDE DOLCE VITA THIS MORNING, NOT OUT IN THE PARKING LOT. TODAY, JEB AND GORDON AND PATRICK AND I WILL GO OUT TO SHYUMACHI AND TAKE OUT TOOLS AND FOOD AND WATER, ETC. TO BE USED NEXT WEEK. IT IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND FORTY FIVE MINUTE DRIVE. COLYA WAS SUPPOSED TO GO WITH US, BUT HE JUST CALLED TO TELL ME THAT HE IS SICK.

I HAVE BEEN TAKING GORDON AND PATRICK DOWN TO THE STADIUM AND WORKING THEM OUT ON THE STEPS AND DOING SOME DRILLS. THEY ARE TROOPERS. DOING WELL.

MOM MADE US FRIED CHICKEN AND MASHED POTATOES AND PEACH COBBLER LAST NIGHT. BEST MEAL I'VE HAD IN A MONTH. I RAN ABOUT 4 MILES AND THEN CAME HOME AND WE WATCHED "BRIANS SONG". I CRIED AGAIN.

JEFF FLYS OUT OF THERE TODAY!!! LOOKING FORWARD TO HE AND COURTNEY BEING HERE.

THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET BUSY. THE GROUP GETS HERE SATURDAY.

I'M THINKING ABOUT AND PRAYING FOR YA'LL OFTEN. I WANT TO REAFFIRM TO YOU AGAIN TODAY HOW IMPORTANT ENCOURAGEMENT IS IN THE COMMUNITY OF GOD. WE GET BEAT UP CONTIUOUSLY IN THIS WORLD. OF COURSE, THIS WORLD IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE EVIL ONE, AND DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF HIS GREATEST TOOLS. FOR THAT REASON, GOD ESTABLISHED A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME TOGETHER AND GET SOME RELIEF FROM THAT ONSLAUGHT. THE CHURCH. I'M CONVINCED THAT IF WE DID NOTHING BUT USE THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT TOGETHER, COMMUNITY WOULD BE WELL WORTH IT! HOW ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT? THERE IS ENOUGH NEGATIVISM, SYNOSISM,AND DISCOURAGEMENT OUTSIDE OF COMMUNITY. LET'S WORK ON INCREDIBLE ENCOURAGEMENT WITHIN. IT SHOULD NEVER BE SAID THAT WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO SO AS LONG AS THERE ARE PRAYER NEEDS AND PEOPLE WHO NEED ENCOURAGING.

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

RAINY DAY

SHORT POST TODAY. I'M SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT DOLCE VITA, USING THERE WIFI, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ONE AT HOME RIGHT NOW. IT IS POURING RAIN AND WE HAVE TO BE GETTING STUFF FOR THE GROUP TODAY. GOTTA GO.

ARE YA'LL THERE?

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

RAINY DAY

SHORT POST TODAY. I'M SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT AT DOLCE VITA, USING THERE WIFI, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ONE AT HOME RIGHT NOW. IT IS POURING RAIN AND WE HAVE TO BE GETTING STUFF FOR THE GROUP TODAY. GOTTA GO.

ARE YA'LL THERE?

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

BACK IN SMOLENSK

GOT BACK IN TO SMOLENSK LAST NIGHT ABOUT 10 P.M. I MET EVERYONE AT A LITTLE LOCAL SPA AND WE ALL SAT IN THE STEAM ROOM FOR A WHILE AND KINDA REUNITED. THAT'S KIND OF A SCENE...ME AND SUSAN AND JEB AND GORDON AND PATRICK ALL SITTING AROUND IN THE STEAM ROOM CHATTING. SO, THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE.....ARE HERE. TODAY IS A HOLIDAY IN RUSSIA. IT'S RUSSIA DAY. WE'VE BEEN HERE 13 YEARS AND I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE HOLIDAYS. BUT THIS IS ONE.

RIGHT NOW, THE LITTLE GUYS ARE STILL SLEEPING AND JEB IS AT HIS APARTMENT, PROBABLY STILL SLEEPING. HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SAVING A KINGDOM LAST NIGHT. SUSAN AND I ARE PUTTERING AROUND HERE. DRINKING COFFEE AND STUFF. I'M LISTENING TO SOME CHRIS TOMLIN WHILE I'M WRITING THIS.

FOUND A 2002 LEXUS RX300 WITH 158,000 KM. ON IT. IT SEEMS TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE AND WAS THE BEST I COULD DO IN THE BUDGET I HAD. ENDED UP BEING MORE THAN I WANTED TO SPEND, SO I'M HOPING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THE DEFICIT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE PRICES FOR CARS THERE WERE INCREDIBLE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO HERE. EVEN SO, THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED EXPENCE. ANOTHER PRAYER POINT, IF YOU WILL.

TAKE A MINUTE AND READ THESE VERSES AND CONSIDER HOW IMPORTANT THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

(1 Thessalonians 3:2 NIV) We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

(1 Thessalonians 4:18 NIV) Therefore encourage each other with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

(Philemon 1:7 NIV) Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

(Hebrews 3:13 NIV) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

(Hebrews 10:25 NIV) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

(Matthew 11:28-30 NIV) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

(Galatians 6:2 NIV) Carry each other's burd`ens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

WOW! JESUS MUST THINK THAT ENCOURAGMENT IS IMPORTANT. GROUP, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IN MINISTRY. THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS ONE THING...ENCOURAGEMENT. NOTHING IS MORE NEEDED. ADD TO PRAYER....ENCOURAGEMENT.

THE GROUP GETS HERE THIS SATURDAY. LOTS TO DO THIS WEEK. THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.......AND ENCOURAGEMENT.

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

TODAY

TODAY IS A DAY TO GATHER AROUND THE THRONE TOGETHER AND PRAY. THOUGH WE ARE SEPARATED, OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND OUR CONFIDENCE IN HIS OMNIPOTENCE AND HIS PROVIDENCE, DRAWS US HERE. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE NIGHT I WAS AWAKENED AND MY THOUGHTS WERE FOR THOMAS AND KATIE. MY PRAYERS ARE MORE GROANS THAN PRAYERS. AND THAT IS OK. MY COMFORT, OUR COMFORT, IS TAKEN FROM ROM. 8:28:

..In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans...

WORDLESS GROANS, HEARD BY THE FATHER AND TURNED TO POWER AND COMFORT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY....GOD UNDERSTANDS.

LOVE TODAY. ENCOURAGE TODAY. BE TODAY. TRUST TODAY.

THOMAS AND KATIE, AND FAMILY, RECEIVE THAT LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP AND KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE. WE SO CARE FOR YOU.

THURSDAY IN ESTONIA

I SPENT ALL DAY YESTERDAY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DRIVE AND TRYING TO SELL WHAT IS LEFT OF THE STRATUS. THOMAS IS RIGHT, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MARK HERE TO SELL IT. IN FACT, MARK, GIVE ME THE HIGH POINTS TO THAT WILL SELL THIS:

I DID FIND SEVERAL VEHICLES, BUT WILL LOOK AGAIN TODAY. THE PRICES HERE ARE INCREDIBLE, BUT MY GOAL IS NOT TO GO OVER $4000. THAT IS MY BUDGET MAXIMUM RIGHT NOW. THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS. I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THAT. WE ARE PRACTICING PRAYER. AREN'T WE. WE MUST.

I JUST TALKED TO SUSAN AND THE GUYS ON THE PHONE AND THEY ARE IN MOSCOW HEADED TO SMOLENSK. SUSAN SAID THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO SLEEP ON THE PLANE AND FEELS PRETTY GOOD. THE GUYS DIDN'T SLEEP AT ALL AND HOPEFULLY WILL SLEEP ON THE WAY TO SMOLENSK. THAT IS THE BEST VARIANT. I HATE THAT ROAD FROM MOSCOW TO SMOLENSK. COLYA IS DRIVING THEM. ANOTHER PRAYER POINT.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAD SOME FOOD POISONING SCARE DOWN IN SOUTH GEORGIA. ANY UPDATE ON THAT? ANOTHER PRAYER POINT.

I'M PROBABLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT PRAYER UNTIL I GET IT OUT OF MY SYSTEM. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I HAVE FOUND IT USEFUL TO USE THINGS THAT PROMPT ME TO PRAY. FOR INSTANCE, YESTERDAY, I POSTED A PICTURE HERE OF A GROUCHY LOOKING BABY. I JUST HAPPENED TO SEE THAT PHOTO AS I WAS THUMBING THROUGH MY BLOG LISTS. IT IMMEDIATELY REMINDED ME OF KATIE AND AMY AND I THOUGHT ABOUT AND PRAYED FOR THEM. ALL DAY LONG THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT WILL REMIND US OF EACH OTHER. AS IT HAPPENS, THINK AND PRAY FOR EACH OTHER. AS LONG AS WE HAVE PRAYER, WE STAY BUSY IN GOD'S WORK.

I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS TODAY. I LOVE THIS CLIP. IT IS INCREDIBLE THE THINGS WE CAN DO IF WE TRY.







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

IN ESTONIA

I GOT HERE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. NO PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD OTHER THAN A LOT OF STARES. I LEAVE IN A FEW MINUTES TO START LOOKING FOR A VEHICLE. PRICES FOR VEHICLES ARE MORE THAN HALF WHAT THEY ARE IN RUSSIA, BUT I'M STILL IN A NARROW PRICE FIELD. I'M APPRECIATING YOUR PRAYERS.

I LOVED THE COMMENTS THOMAS LEFT YESTERDAY. PRAYER WITHIN COMMUNITY DOES SO MANY THINGS. GOD DIDN'T JUST TELL US TO PRAY IN ORDER TO GIVE US SOMETHING TO DO. HE KNEW ALL THE HIDDEN BENEFITS. WE SHOULD NEVER NEED TO SIT AROUND AND WHINE ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T HAVE AND WHO WE ARE NOT AND ALL THE IF'S AND BUT'S AND WHEN'S OF WHAT CAN I DO....WHEN WE HAVE PRAYER TO DO. ONE OF THE BIG WORD'S FOR US THIS SUMMER SHOULD BE "FAITHFULNESS". LET'S BE FAITHFUL TO PRAY.

I LEAVE YOU WITH A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS:

Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

AND:

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

IT COULD BE A CONVERTABLE

I AM WRITING THIS MONDAY NIGHT BECAUSE I WILL LEAVE IN THE MORNING FOR ESTONIA TO TRY TO FIND A NEW FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO REPLACE THE BOMBARDED STRATUS. THIS IS HOW I WILL TRAVEL:

I HOPE TO BE BACK QUICKLY BECAUSE SUSAN AND THE GUYS SHOULD ARRIVE THURSDAY AND THE PENN. GROUP ARRIVES NEXT WEEK AND THERES LOTS TO DO BEFORE THEY GET HERE. I TALKED TO YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT PRAYER. PRAY FOR ME AS I GO.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE FURTHER ABOUT PRAYER. FOR ME, TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS PRAYER DOES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GETTING IT ANSWERED. FIRST, AS I SAID YESTERDAY, WHEN I PRAY FOR YOU, I GROW IN MY LOVE FOR YOU. I SEE YOU WHEN I PRAY. I EVEN FEEL FOR YOU WHEN I PRAY. I TRY TO SENSE WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH, AND IT HELPS ME GROW IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. WE WANT THAT AT GWOF. I KNOW WE WANT TO LOVE EACH OTHER WITH AS PURE A LOVE AS WE CAN. PRAYER WILL HELP. SECOND, IT HELPS ME IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IF HE NEVER ANSWERED PRAYERS, WE WOULD NEED TO PRAY, JUST SO WE COULD HAVE RELATIONSHIP. WITHOUT COMMUNICATION, THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP. PRAYER MAKES US HAVE TIME WITH GOD. WE MUST HAVE THAT. WE MUST WANT THAT. IN A MINISTRY LIKE OURS....WE WON'T SURVIVE WITHOUT PRAYER. PRAY.

IT'S GOOD HAVING JEB HERE. HE'S GREAT. DON'T YOU JUST LOVE HIM. HIM WITH COLYA EQUALS FUNNY.

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

STUFF REALLY DOES HAPPEN....

I HAD DRIVEN OVER TO MY LANDLORDS APARTMENT AND WAS INSIDE FOR MAYBE A HALF AN HOUR WHEN THIS GUYS COMES POUNDING ON THE DOOR. WE THOUGHT HE WAS POUNDING ON THE NEIGHBORS DOOR AND PAID NO ATTENTION. THEN HE COMES BANGING ON THE WINDOW SCREAMING, "COME AND LOOK AT YOUR CAR!!!" I CASUALLY GET UP THINKING MAYBE I HAVE A FLAT TIRE OR SOMEONE HAS NICKED IT OR, YOUKNOW, SOMETHING MINOR. I FOLLOW HIM OUTSIDE AND THIS IS WHAT I SAW....

THE PREVIOUS 2 DAYS THERE HAD BEEN STORMS THAT PROBABLY WEAKENED THE TREE AND THEN A LITTLE MORE WIND JUST PUSHED IT OVER. THERE WAS THAT MOMENT OF SHOCK AND THEN THE PROCESS OF, 1. HOW DO I GET MY CAR OUT FROM UNDER THERE. AND 2. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT TRANSPORTATION NOW. THERE WAS ONE OTHER CAR UNDER THERE AND I WAS GLAD FOR THAT. IF NOT FOR THAT I WOULD FEEL LIKE I WAS BEING SINGLED OUT AND ALL OF THOSE WITH "JOB'S FRIENDS" TENDENCY'S WOULD HAVE TO LOOK FOR NOT ONLY MY SINS BUT THE SINS OF THE OTHER GUY AS WELL. TRUTH IS, STUFF HAPPENS. MY VERY BEST RELIEF IS TO REMEMBER THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD. HE KNOWS ABOUT AND CAUSES OR ALLOWS ALL THINGS. HE IS NEVER SURPRISED OR DISTURBED. JUST GOTTA TRUST HIM AND GO ON.

WHAT NOW? I HAVE TO HURRY TO ESTONIA AND TAKE THE STRATUS BACK. BECAUSE IT IS REGISTERED IN ESTONIA, I CAN'T SELL IT HERE. THEN, I WILL TRY TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DRIVE. VEHICLES ARE HALF THE PRICE THERE. I HAVE TO TAKE THE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT WITH ME, SO THAT IS WHAT I AM WAITING FOR NOW. I HOPE TO GET IT TODAY OR TOMORROW AND TAKE OFF, FIND SOMETHING AND COME BACK QUICKLY. I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING....HOW IS HE GOING TO DRIVE THAT TO ESTONIA? I'LL TRY TO SHOW YOU THAT PICTURE TOMORROW.

SO, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BEGIN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MINISTER TOGETHER IN A SITUATION LIKE WE ARE IN AT GWOF. MY FIRST THOUGHT IS, WE LEARN TO PRAY FOR EACH OTHER. NOTHING WILL DRAW US CLOSER TO EACH OTHER THAN PRAYER. AS I PRAY FOR YOU, I ENTER INTO YOUR LIFE AND GROW IN MY CONCERN AND LOVE FOR YOU. WE HAVE A SUPER, GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AT GWOF. THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY OF US. WE KNOW OF NEEDS THAT EACH OF US HAVE. WE CAN BE LEARNING THAT RATHER THAN TO JUDGE, RATHER THAN CRITISISE, RATHER THAN WHINE......WE CAN PRAY!!!!! PRAY FOR ME RIGHT NOW...STUFF HAS HAPPENED! IT'S ALL GOOD, I'M FINE, BUT I SURE NEED YOU TO PRAY. FINANCIALLY, THIS DIDN'T COME AT A GOOD TIME, BUT GOD KNOWS THAT. HE CAN PROVIDE, IF WE'LL PRAY. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PRAYING FOR KATIE AND AMY...SERIOUS PRAYERS, IMPORTANT PRAYERS...WHAT A WONDERFUL THING FOR US TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW AT GWOF!!!! THERE ARE DOZENS OF OTHER NEEDS AMONG OUR PEOPLE AT THIS VERY MOMENT. PRAY FOR EACH OTHER. IT IS AN OFTEN REPEATED SUBJECT IN SCRIPTURE. WE SHOULD NEVER BE COMPLAINING ABOUT A LACK OF SOMETHING TO DO...AS LONG AS WE HAVE EACH OTHER TO PRAY FOR.

I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF YA'LL ARE OUT OF TOWN. ENJOY. BEHAVE.

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

THE BLOG IS UPON US

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL SMOLENSK SUMMER 2010 GWOFLINE BLOG!!! JUST WANTED TO GET IT STARTED TODAY AND SAY: WOW!!!

I'M GONE FOR A WEEK AND WE ARE HAVING BABIES EVERYWHERE!!

I AM SMILING REAL BIG RIGHT NOW. IT'S EXCITING FOR ALL OF US!!! (PLEASE REMEMBER THE THROWING UP PART OF THIS PROCEDURE. AMY BROWN DID NOT COOPERATE IN THIS AREA.)WOW IS THE WORD THAT COMES TO MIND FIRST...JUST WOW! I'M GLAD!!

ONE OF MY OWN BABIES ARRIVED YESTERDAY. JUST AS CUTE AND CUDDLY AS HE CAN BE. HE GOT IN ABOUT 9:30 LAST NIGHT AFTER A SWEET RIDE ON THE MOSCOW/BREST TRAIN. TODAY HE IS RUNNING AROUND GETTING AND DOING STUFF. STUFF IS A USEFUL WORD. WE HAD LUNCH TODAY AT DOLCE VITA. THIS IS GORDON'S FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT IN SMOLENSK. HERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS. THEY HAVE PEPSI LIGHT AND ICE THERE NOW. PLUS WIFI. CAN LIFE GET ANY BETTER?

I UNDERSTAND THAT YA'LL ARE OFFICIALLY MOVED TO THE EAST CAMPUS. GOOD JOB. YA'LL DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN TOGETHER AND ENJOY EACH OTHER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. IT'S IMPORTANT. FELLOWSHIP IS IMPORTANT AND LOVING EACH OTHER IS MOST IMPORTANT IF WE ARE TO DISPLAY GOD'S MARK ON OUR LIVES.

MONDAY, I WANT TO BEGIN A BLOG SERIES WITH SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW TO MINISTER IN OUR SITUATION. IT IS ENCOURAGING TO ME AS I THINK ABOUT IT.

BY THE WAY, IS IT OK TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE BRAVES YET?

WOW!! JUST WOW!!

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