Coming, Going and Staying

Dear Friends,

You can see our latest snail mail newsletter in pdf format at http://101649.agwebservices2.org/siteFiles/101649/Content/Newsletter/NL2007summer.pdf

We had a wonderful time with Cecil's folks, Martha and Ivan. We showed them the town, some of our ministry, and our favorite stores. Mostly they seemed to enjoy time with the grand-kids. They are still in jet-lag from the return to the States (flying across the Pacific is quite a trip). We wonder what stories they will tell their friends now that they are back home safe and sound.

The process of adoption has had some unexpected turns. We met with a lady who works for an agency that was just licensed to do international adoptions in Khabarovsk. She opened a law book that clearly stated we should be able to adopt by Russian law since we live in Russia and one of us is a Russian. So she said we don't need to do an international adoption. So we are going to press the government office here in charge of adoptions for a document to that effect. We'll pray and see what happens.

A really good surprise was when the director of Deanna's orphanage told us we could take Deanna home for a month. So we did. We are now living as a family of five. The kids are already acting like brother and sisters. The girls would stay up all night if we let them. And even Tim is enjoying another sister.

Praise the Lord for Deanna getting to live with us. Please pray for the documents to make that permanent.

Another praise report is that Aaron and Beth Barnes will be joining us on September 5th. They will be staying with us for a year (and maybe more). Please pray as they take care of all those last-minute details and packing.

Please pray for the construction team coming from Texas. They will be working on the Homeless Shelter and possibly some other projects. They leave Houston in a few hours and will arrive here on Wednesday. Please pray for their travel, their safety and their work.

Jason will be helping some with the construction team, but he flies back to the States on August 29th. He plans to return to Russia early next year. He has applied for a job as an English Language Teacher at the University, and hopes to use it as a platform for campus ministry.

God bless each of you.

In His Name,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

A Few Prayer Requests

Dear Friends,

We're staying home for a while, but things don't seem to have slowed down much. Cecil is working on a newsletter. Hopefully we'll send you a copy of it soon.

You may remember early this year we took an young unmarried orphan to the hospital to have a baby. Her name is Oksana. She and her baby stayed with us for a while in July. Vera got to hold the baby.

Oksana was taking exams to enter a three year nursing program. We just heard that she passed the exams and has been accepted. She is asking for prayer for a friend named Alisa. Alisa has also graduated from an orphanage, but has gotten involved with a criminal organization. After searching for some time to tell Alisa about a government program where she can get a job, Oksana found her. Two men immediately came out and monitored the conversation. Alisa simply said, "I can't come." We are trying to figure out how to get the police involved. Please pray for Alisa's safety and that she will be able to escape her situation.

We heard that an international adoption agency in Khabarovsk was just licensed last week. We are going to try find them and see if they can help us with the adoption of Deanna. Also, the Ministry of Education (which is in charge of adoptions) will reserve Deanna so that noone else adopts her before us. So things look good. But since we really haven't even started processing international documents, the road before us is rather long (they say 6 to 12 months). Please keep praying.

Cecil's folks are arriving today for their first trip to Russia. In a couple hours we will go get them at the airport. So Deanna will get to see her future Grandma and Grandpa. We plan to take some vacation time. Not to go anywhere, but just to have family time.

One last prayer request. There is a construction team from Texas coming at the end of the month. Please pray for their preparation, finances and travel.

Blessings,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy & Vera