Graduation Season

Dear Friends,

we've been playing "Real Life" with the kids at the orphanage. It is a board game where you have to make friends, get education and do positive things to win. It's a lot of fun too, and the kids love it. We were surprised how hard it was for them to make decisions about where to go and what to do while playing. We've been using this game as a ministry tool.

Five students from this orphanage are graduating. We had a graduation party for them at a nearby church. Please pray that we will be able to stay in contact with them as move out of the orphanage.

Last weekend we went to the town of Novi Orgal. You can't get there by car, except when the river is frozen so you can drive on it. So we took the train. A year ago a church in the States sent an offering to the church in Novi Orgal to help with construction. We wrote about it on our web log http://eshelman.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html (if you want to check out what we wrote about our first trip there). Anyway, we went to check on the progress. The building certainly does look better now, but they've some more work to do.

One year ago:

One week ago:

It was a windy day but beautiful day. Construction guys might notice the foundation looks unusual. That is because Novi Orgal sits atop permafrost.

We had a wonderful time of fellowship with the pastor and his family and some church members. They took us out to a retreat center on Saturday night. It so happens that Saturday was graduation day from the local school and the graduating class went to have a party there. When one of the graduates discovered Cecil was an American he invited us to join the party. The pastor kept an eye on our sleeping kids while we went and talked with the youth. We soon had a crowd around us with lots of lively questions about America. This went on for quiet a while and then during a lull in the conversation Cecil ask what the kids believe about God. They answered that he is big, powerful, and loves everyone. So he asked why there is suffering if God loves everyone. They answered that is because God us punishing us for our sins. So he asked if everyone sins. They said yes. So he asked them what can we do about this problem. That was a question they didn't have an answer to, so we explained how Jesus forgives sins if we ask him to. Around midnight two of them said they wanted to pray with us for salvation, so we prayed. Many others asked us for our phone number since they will be going to universities in Khabarovsk in September, and they would like to talk some more then. Please pray that what has begun will continue to grow, and that they actually call us this fall.

A quick praise report is that Tonya passed the road test for her driver's license. Now all she needs to do is submit her documents to the road police (this takes several hours of standing in line) and she will be the proud holder of a new Russian driver's license.

We want to introduce a new member of our team. This month we hired Olga as an assistant. She is an able translator and all-round wonderful helper.

Talking about adding to our team, we want to mention Aaron and Beth Barnes. Lord willing, they will come to Khabarovsk this summer and stay for a year or more. Aaron is the outdoors type, he loves musical instruments and small crafts (think pinewood derby). Beth is into reading, swimming, traveling and the challenges of teaching middle school and learning languages. Just to let you know, the first time they dated Beth broke up with Aaron since he wanted to become a worship leader in the States and she felt called to missions. While Beth was spending a semester abroad in China and had no contact with Aaron, God called Aaron to missions during an all night prayer meeting (through Jeremiah 1:4-10). He changed his major from Music Education to Church Ministries: Ministry Arts. Several months later God brought Aaron and Beth back together.

They both have a passion for youth. Aaron had a burden for Russia, even before God defined his all to missions, while Beth's burden for the Chinese as intensified during her semester in China. So now they find themselves on their way to Khabarovsk, Russia...

The ministry opportunity they most look forward to in Khabarovsk is Royal Rangers, a program for both boys and girls. They will make Royal Ranger literature available, train Royal Ranger leaders, and help establish Royal Ranger outposts among churches and orphanages.

This Sunday we will be meeting with someone who might rent a fully furnished apartment to the Barnes. Please pray for us to have wisdom and guidance as we prepare things for the arrival of Aaron and Beth, and please pray for them as they raise the finances to come.

Peace to You,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy & Vera

Victory to you Day

Dear Friends,

Today is Victory Day in Russia, one of it's highest holidays. In the United States V-E Day is a minor holiday, but here the victory over the Nazi war machine is remembered with great celebration. We celebrated by watching the parade and then having the international students from Cecil's old Russian Language class over for the afternoon. We had a great time playing a game called "Real Life."

Several weeks ago the homeless shelter began to generate some considerable attention with the local government. They had never dealt with a place like it before. There was a confused response from the government, with some braches being helpful and others issuing them fines. The sanitation department wanted to shut them down, but couldn't find legal grounds to do it. The local police liked the fact that they kept problem people off the street. After receiving several fines for minor zoning and registration issues, Sergei, who is in charge, wrote a letter to the governor's office asking for legal assistance. Last week a motorcade with four limousines and a significant police escort arrived at the homeless shelter. With it were numerous officials including the top minister in the Ministry of Religious Affairs for Khabarovsk Krai (a Krai is like a State), the 2nd highest minister with the Ministry of Social Justice, and a director of a government operated homeless shelter. After a tour of the shelter and significant discussion they decided they would help settle the issues and even assist the center, but Sergei needed to register as an organization. He has already filed the necessary papers. The highlight of the inspection for Sergei was when one of the top officials turned to the director of the government-run homeless shelter, pointed at Sergei and said,"you need to learn from this man," and insinuated that the government centers have lots of funding and little success, whereas the church center has lots of success and little funding. After the tour the Ministry of Social Justice provided all the shelter residents with rain gear. We thank you for your prayers, God has answered them in an obvious way. But please pray that the registration would be completed without any hassles, and that the officials would follow through with their promises.

A over the last month we have taken a puppet theater group from a local church into a number of orphanages. They preformed an Easter based presentation. Here is a photo of them setting up the stage.

And here they are after a performance playing with the kids.

At the orphanage were we regularly go they invited the kids to the church and played games and had a meal with them as well as doing the theater. That's the stage in the upper left and Tonya's back in the lower left and Cecil has no idea what it is they were playing.

A week and a half ago we attended a conference in Vladivostok while the kids stayed with friends. The conference was with an association of churches that specializes in ministry to drug addicts. Over half of their members are ex-addicts. We have become good friends with Zhenya, a pastor with their association who serves here in Khabarovsk. One of the events at the conference was a baptism service. Here is a photo of Zhenya about to baptize one of the people in the Sea of Japan.

After the Baptism we were able to take a stroll on the beach.

Cecil is in the process of putting together an article about the center for addicts that they operate in Khabarovsk. Please pray for inspiration in his writing.

The snows have finally melted off. On Friday we went for a pic-nic. Tim and Vera love pic-nics.

Oh, and we must introduce Pasha. Pasha belongs to a missionary family from Japan. They have returned to Japan for a one year furlough. So for one year we get a dog. Tim and Vera are very happy about it. And Tonya is pretty relaxed about it.

Tonya's passed her written driving test. It was a real Victory Day for her. And an answer to pray too. Now all she needs to pass is the driving part of the driving test. So Friday morning (which is Thursday evening in the States) she'll be putting her driving skills to the test.

Please pray that the Lord would continue to open to us how we are to reach out and minister here in the Russian Far East.

Victory to You,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy and Vera

Spring Newsletter

Dear Friends,

The snows of winter are about 99% melted off here, with only little mounds where the biggest piles of snow were. The days have certainly grown longer. We've even had a few nights without frost. It is nice to be able to take a walk with only a light jacket.

We have recently mailed out our latest newsletter. A copy of our latest newsletter can be found at http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/New%20Folder/NL2007april.pdf

Please pray for the homeless shelter here. They have been having some problems with the local government over permits and zoning restrictions. Please pray that they would receive favor with officials and that they would be issued all the documents and permits that they need to be able to continue their ministry.

We'll try to get out another update with photos of our latest activities soon.

Peace to You,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy & Vera