It seems hard to believe that it’s Thursday already. I’ll try to catch you up on what we’ve been up to.
We’re finally learning our way around here. Julie and I are staying with the Watson’s and the men are staying in a guest house here at BLTC. We meet here every morning for breakfast and a time for prayer and devotions. Julie and I are only about a mile away. We can take the tram almost to the door of the BLTC. The other morning Julie and I thought we’d walk. It’s a fairly simple route, should be no problem. We got to the right street and knew that we just needed to watch the building numbers and we’d be there in no time. We were talking and enjoying the sites; interesting architecture, morning market, people on their way to work. Out of the corner of my eye, I was watching for the house number - 34…87…134… I’m looking for #167. Before we know it, we’re at 170 and no sign of the BLTC. We look across the street, nope, just #203. Great! Now what. We walk a bit further, ask a few people and are assured we are in the right place. We finally come to the end of the road and a tram station. Julie asks a man boarding the tram if he knows where to find #167. He tells us to get on the tram with him. We do, retracing our steps. We had been on the opposite side of the street from the BLTC and had walk much further than we needed. Seems that across the street from #167 is #35. Oh well, it was a beautiful day for an adventure. We took a lot of grief for it. I guess we reinforced the idea that when women get chatting, we are oblivious to everything.
We’ve had many people here at BLTC translate for us. Many of the staff speak fluent English and there are a few translators on staffas well. Not to mention that our own team member, Julie Cox, speaks Russian. It may be rusty to start with but she has had many opportunities to sharpen her skill. We’ve all learned a few words, and I’d give Kurt the most credit for trying the hardest to communicate. Kurt has his Russian phrase book handy all the time. When speaking to any Russian, he’ll pull it out to find a word or two to share.
After a bit of a delay, we have began our construction project on Wednesday. We knew that we may be working on ceilings or floors, but in the way of all good short term teams, we have been flexible. Turns out that we’ll be working on walls for a while. Not a problem, we can do that. We have all pitched in with the plastering,, with Mark coordinating the efforts with a translator and our Russian building project coordinator, Sasha.
Sasha is on the left, then Julie acting as translator, Mark and John. We’ve all been able to get our hands dirty as well. Below, Julie and I (Elizabeth) are “washing walls” with a bonding agent.
Julie, John and Kurt, preparing plaster. Mark is working behind them.
Everything takes a little money. Randy, our banker, handles that for us. We have been so fortunate to have so many supporters who have enabled us to purchase all the supplies we need for this project. Randy is counting out rubles so Mark can purchase the supplies we need.
We’ve had guests meet with us for lunch each day; people who have been involved with church planting here in Krasnodar. They have shared their story with us, and their vision and hope for the future. So many have experienced challenges; from health problems, to being ostrisized from their family for their faith. And yet, each one cares so much for their fellow Russians that all they want to do is share the Lord with them so that they too may have eternal life with Jesus.
Stas, and his wife (not the women in the photo) work in the Caucasus region of Russia. He told us about the expansion of Islam in the region. Last night, Julie and I were invited to a women’s Bible study at the home of Kristina, and America missionary who is now married to a Russian. Several of the Russian women who attend that study know English so that made it a bit easier for us. After studying, we spent time in prayer, and then I showed the women a scrapbooking craft that they could do; just a small folding card they could put pictures in. Before we started I shared with them a verse that explains why scrapbooking, saving photos and memories is Biblically correct. Dueteronomy 4:9. Look it up and see what I mean.They all loved Working on the craft. Some had brought pictures to share which gave us a chance to talk about their families and their lives. In the photo below, I’m showing Oxsana how to fold the photo card. She was so quick to show the other with it that I called her my “Vana White”. It was a lot of fun.
You may remember an answered prayer I mentioned in a previous post. Vlad, a wonderful pastor here at one of the church plants, needed a kidney transplant and a huge sum of money was donated. Praise God. Kristina’s husband, Marat, is also a pastor at Vlad’s church. Kristina gave us an update on Vlad’s status. Unforturnately, Vlad has an ulcer now which prevents him from having the surgery. And on top of that, the renowned surgeon that Vlad had paid, has been drinking heavily, and several of his more recent patients have died or are doing poorly. Vlad is still a young man, only 28 years old, but after seeing another doctor, has decided to do nothing for now, and try to get dialysis. When his friends express their dissapointment for him and how so much money has been wasted, he replies, “what price can you put on a man’s soul?” Vlad is going back to see that original surgoen and tell him about Jesus. What an amazing man. We are all praying for him. I guess I’ve gone on long enough. It’s time to join the team who have already begun pastering the walls again. Thank you again for sharing in this wonderful experience to see how God is working among the nations.More later,Elizabeth
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July 6th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Thanks for the updates, Elizabeth. Wow, what an opportunity you are having to minister to the needs of others and serve our great God! You will continue to be in our prayers that the Lord would open doors for outreach and that His Word would be proclaimed. Blessings to your entire team!
July 7th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Hi Elizabeth, Julie and team,
Thanks for the great report on your trip so far. Sounds like God is truly blessing each of you and those you are ministering with and to.
I have been praying for you and will continue to do so. Look forward to hearing all about your trip when you get home. It’s great seeing all the photos.
We had wonderful services in our new sanctuary last Sunday and we feel so blessed at what God is is doing at 1st Baptist. You’ll be amazed at all of it when you come home.
God’s blessings to each of you as you serve Him together.
For His Glory,
donna
Eph. 3:20