“ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed: perplexed, but not in despire; persecuted, but not abandoned: struck down, but destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” – 2 Cor. 4: 8-10
I hope that this e-mail finds you all doing well and enjoying some summer funJ The weather here in St. Petersburg has been more on the spring or fall side, rather than summer weather. It has been cold and rainy the whole month of June. We are hoping for some sunshine and warmer weather for July! So far this week the forecast is all rain and cold…. Oh well, at least it’s not snowing
Things for the most part are going well here.. In my last e-mail I had mentioned I would be attending a 10 day summer camp with my little man Sasha. However, two days before I was suppose to leave him I was told by one of the doctors at the orphanage I could not attend. I was given many different reasons-none of them making much sense…I was very disappointed with this as well as with some other things that were said ( which I can’t share via-e-mail), but God is good and part of his plan I guess was for me to stay here in Petersburg. Sasha was still able to attend camp which is great, however, he was sent with a woman from the orphanage who does not know him. She didn’t even know that he could walk! Why they sent her instead of me or Lena is beyond me. We would be working with him and the goals we have set with him as far as getting him to walk on his own; such as not hitting everything in sight, eating by himself without throwing the bowel, spoon, or cup. This lady will not work on any of these things with him over the next 21 days.. Once Sasha returns from camp on July 11th he will then be moved to another room they are starting for more active boys. Two of my other boys, Vanya and Oleg will also be moved into this room sometime in July…It is good for them, but also makes me nervous because of the people who work in that room.. With Sasha gone and Anya ( who was sent to the hospital a week an half ago due to a flu and she kept having seizure), it allowed more time for the other kids. It is really crazy you take 2 kids away how much more time there is with the other 9..
Last week Karen and her team of 7 American college students went to the hospital to get chest X-ray’s done so they could come to the orphanage for a day. They came, the director was very open to them, they had a really great time taking some of the kids outside for a walk. They enjoyed it so much they even came back Sunday afternoon after church to take some other children outside. I was able to visit the team at their hostel and get to know some of the team members. A very great team, some young people who have real servant hearts! Those young adults were very willing and open to serve the Lord!
With some things that have been going on in the orphanage in regards to camp, American’s , and some others things last week was a rough week for me. I will have to share more in person once I return to the states. It was a week where I felt physically, mentally, and spiritually drained. I felt like I could not go into the orphanage one more day with being positive and having a good attitude. I couldn’t look and speak to one of the doctors who has not been all that pleasant to me due to one fact…I am an American.. There are times when we serve the Lord where I think he test us with our joy and attitude in times where we ( I ) only want to be cold and quiet. Praise lord he never gives up on changing and molding us! Thankful my bad attitude only lasted a day because I am so nicely reminded of our Fathers, great love and forgiveness!
These past 3 days I have been sick. First with a 24 flu type bug and now I am pretty sure I have strep throat. I have started taking some medication and should back into tip top shape in the next 24 hours ( I hope))
Last weekend I met with a pastor in Lomonosov. Which is a town outside of St. Petersburg. My dad, brothers, and I have worked with this pastor many times through a ministry called Servant Heart Ministries. I meet with Pastor Andrei and a director of a local hospital there in Lomonosov. In this hospital Servant Heart remolded several of the rooms working along with pastor Andrei. Working alongside of Pastor Andrei always allowed him to return to minister and opened many doors for him in his community with serving. Pastor Andrei has one of the biggest servant heart’s I’ve ever seen. He was a simple carpenter here in Russia- one day he stepped up to pastor their church once their pastor had stepped down-now he is still preaching and serving the community selfishly. The director is very eager to have another project done in the hospital by Servant Heart Ministries. They are always asking Pastor Andrei when they are returning. So needless to say the meeting went very well. There is a room that is 15M that is the staff break room that is need of remodeling. There may be a possibility of a trip to Lomonosov, Russia this coming November to work with pastor Andrei at this hospital. There are also opportunities to play with the children that are in the hospital during the project. This project is in the planning stage and not a 100% for sure, but if anyone is interested and would like more information please send me an e-mail and I will send you more information!
This week: I am meeting with some friends about their Envision plans here in the city! Also meeting the Hecock’s who started Global Grounds café. They are returning to St. Petersburg tomorrow so we are having a C&MA welcome back party.. I also have some meetings regarding some of kids at the orphanage. Those are the main things this week outside of the normal going to the orphanage, and having home group , ect.
Prayer request!
- I make a quick healthy recovery
- My French friend who was here and is now back in France. Pray she can get connected with a Christian. She has been e-mailing and I feel that the enemy is trying to pull up the seeds that were planted here in Russia. She is very lonely and does not have anyone to talk to.. When you think of her, please say a prayer for her.
- My attitude towards some of the doctors and staff at the orphanage! That my I will not allow my sinful nature to settle in, but rather let the Lord’s light shine through me..
- Pray for me as I head into my last month here. The transition from Russia back to the States.
- I am ready to come home—but not ready to leave me kids here..Pray the Lord will fill me with His peace, these are His children, and HE WILL care for them!
I am so thankful for all the prayers! The love you have all shown me month after month since I’ve been here in Russia. It is really unbelievable how quickly the time has gone.
I pray that you each know and feel the fullness of Jesus Christ in your lives!
I love you all dearly! Thank you! God Bless!
PICS: Tanya enjoying a stroll in the stroller, Polina making such great process in eating. If you remember she is blind and has been fed through via NG tube her whole life. 3 months ago lena and I started feeding her. It usually ends with us having more food on us then her in your stomach, but as you can see in the picture she is now even holding the spoon! we are very thrilled about this! the next two pictures are from last weekend at a celebration here in the city. Translation is scarlet sails. this beautiful boat comes up the river along with 28 minutes of fire works. its a celebration for those in the university who have graduated.. It is quick the ordeal here in the city. Everything on Nevskiy ( the main street) is closed for the night and the metro is open all night.. And of course the last picture is sweet Vladik enjoy the smell nature!
