Thank you for praying for us over these last few days.  On Sunday evening we returned from the 4 day retreat refreshed and ready for action.  One of the visiting team members, Dr. Mark Wheeter, a professor from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, led daily sessions on spiritual formations / spiritual disciplines.  And although he covered an entire semesters' worth of material, it was very interesting and beneficial.  And thanks to your prayers, Gelya was able to understand most of what was shared.  Afterwards she told me that she really enjoyed Mark's teaching and felt very comfortable with the whole team.  And despite her earlier misgivings, she said it was a true retreat.

 

Please continue to pray for this team as they are in the air flying back to America as I type.

 

On Friday, a small team from Houghton College, led by missionary Brian Sheets, will arrive for a week of ministries and will conclude with a 3-day Young Adult Retreat.  Gelya and I are in charge of team care for this group and in addition we are working closely with Andrei and Lena Davidianov, who are directing the Young Adult Retreat.  I will share more details of their ministries and the retreat next week.  For now please pray for this team (Brian, Stefan, Michelle and Judith) as they finish their pre-trip preparations and cross the Atlantic and for our Russia-side team as we complete the preparations for their arrival and ministries.

 

Please continue to pray for the youth Chimes Choir as we only have two final rehearsals before Easter.  Gelya and I have been working with 5 of the youth for a couple months now and we are just about ready.  On Easter Sunday we will perform "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" during the morning worship service.