we have just received notice that the necessary pledges have been received for us to return to Russia. Praise the Lord. Now that we have final approval from headquarters we have jumped the main hurdle. We still need to buy tickets, pack suitcases, pack the home into storage, say good-byes to lots of folks, and we'll speak in a few more churches that or on our schedule. So we'll end things here and begin things again over there.
Cecil needs to receive a visa from the Russian government. We have started the visa process. Please pray that he would receive what we've asked for, which is a one-year religious worker visa. The government office that issues the letters for that kind of visa often does not give you what you request, and has caused us problems before, so this is a real prayer request. They have already delayed our application this time by asking for a document that they've never required before.
But we're excited as we get ready to start a four year assignment in Khabarovsk. Our target date is the very end of August (but early September would still be O.K.).
We've been in the States for about a year now, speaking in churches and raising our support. For the last six months we've averaged speaking in ten churches a month and been doing a lot of travelling with that. While we've been successful, it has left us all - especially Cecil - a bit disoriented. He feels like he's packing for his next trip before he's even opened up his suitcase from the last one. Please pray that we can become reoriented and get everything done that we need to accomplish before we leave.
Here's a photo of Cecil speaking at a church in Alabama.
While passing through Georgia, we had a 4th of July picnic with some friends who are missionaries to Mongolia.
We did a little camping in the mountains of North Carolina, near where we're living.
We spent some time saying good-bye to some cousins, while passing through Pennsylvania, by going to Hershey Park. 
We saw some cousins on the other side of the family by going to a baseball game together in Virginia.
The girls got their baseball signed by Uncle Slam.
We've built a lot of good memories to take with us back to Russia. Our children are truly a product of two cultures. All American and all Russian. I have learned that God is a God for all the peoples.
Grace and Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ to you,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna
