Thank you for your prayers for Gelya and I and our ministries in Russia.  We know that a major reason for our successes and for our ability to handle the difficulties is that we have a wonderful team of people and churches praying for us on a regular basis.

 

Over the last month we have had two visiting team on the field, the Houghton Team which came to work with the church Young Adults and help conduct a 3 day YA Retreat, and a Work Team from Heritage Wesleyan which among other things did a complete make-over of the church sanctuary and foyer, including installing a drop ceiling and repainting the entire area.  We praise God for both of these teams and for their contributions to God's work in Russia.

 

As we turn toward the summer, we are looking forward to three additional teams coming to sponsor and take part in Summer Camps.  In mid July, a team from Central Wesleyan in Holland, MI, will come for a Church Camp in Vladimir.  In the past all of our camps in the Vladimir area have been for children, youth or young adults.  This camp will be open to all ages.  Former GoNet missionaries to Russia, Larry & Bette Johnson, will lead the American Team.  Gelya and I have been asked to head up things from this end and we are working closely with Pastor Anton and another Church Board member, Zoya Tchachuk, in planning the camp.

 

At the end of July and heading into August, we will have our annual Youth Bible Festival, representing the 15th summer that the Wesleyan Church has sponsored youth camps in Russia.  A team from Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, also in Michigan, is sending a team for this camp. Although Gelya and I will not be involved in the leadership of this camp, we still plan to participate and help out where needed.

 

And then right on the heels of that camp will be a FCC (Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders) sponsored Cheer Camp.  A group of cheerleaders and coaches, mostly from California, will come to take part in the 5th Cheer Camp to take place in Vladimir.

 

More immediate on our calendar is a trip to Baku, Azerbaijan.  On Saturday, Gelya and I will fly to Baku to take part in the area conference for our teams working with the Turkic and Arabic people groups.  Although they are not part of the European area, I have been asked to help some of the new field set up their accounting and financial reporting systems.  We ask for your prayers for safety as we travel and wisdom and help as I meet with the various teams.

 

Thank you again for your faithful prayers, and may God bless you as you continue to serve Him.