I've gone far too long without sending an update, and God has opened many doors for us. Actually, it's been a bit too busy, and we're hoping things slow down a bit.
The biggest project on our plate is the Far East Ministry Center. Renovations have begun, and due to the new and rather stringent fire codes we need to strip all the old paneling and coverings and wooden framing out. So we're underway with that, and the old materials will be used in other buildings belonging to other ministries where it is still O.K.
I just couldn't stand by and watch other people use their tools without taking mine out. Here I am removing one of the doors. We will be able to re-use the doors once we put in new walls.
Something completely new has developed, and that is possibilities for cross boarder ministry with AGWM workers in China. We hosted a couple of our folks from China and visited Blogaveshensk, a city on the Russian side of the Amur river that is a overnight train ride from Khabarovsk. I won't post any photos of our team from China, but here from Blogaveshensk you can see China just on the other side. Some ideas for cooperation are under development.
We also went to a Nanian village, and visited with the only known Nanian church in the world. The Nanian are a small people group that is mostly unreached with the Gospel. There are about 120 believers in Russia and 30 in China, most of whom attend a Russian language church or have no church to attend. Despite this one church only having a couple dozen members, they already have plans to reach out on both sides of the border. We hope to come alongside them and help them out. It was neat getting to listen to them sing a worship song in the Nanian language.
The Lord has opened doors for us to reach out at a local orphanage. We invited a local Christian music group to perform and share with the kids. They did a great job.
We have plans to go back tomorrow and put on a party for the kids. God has given us great favor with the leadership here. Please pray that this door would remain open and that the Holy Spirit would guide us in how to minister to the kids and staff. Here's a photo of Tonya mixing with the kids after the concert.
Jason has been with us for a total of three and a half years in Khabarovsk. It's been a blessing having him around, but he feels lead to return to the States and advance his ministry by study in a Seminary. He left in early May, and here's a photo of our kids and Jason playing around on a local monument just before he left.
We continue to pray that the Lord of the Harvest send workers into the harvest field. God is faithful and is sending. The Hinson family plan to come to Khabarovsk in late August or early September. They plan to stay long term and will start with language study. They have three children, but we'll introduce them another time.
After Easter, Deanna asked her first grade teacher if she could give an Easter presentation. Her teacher agreed, and so Tonya and Vera went to the class to help Deanna explain what Easter is. They used a dozen plastic eggs (colored eggs for Easter is a Russian tradition) with different items that symbolize things about the passion and burial of Christ, with the last egg being empty as a symbol of the empty tomb. While Tonya was speaking about it, she glanced at the teacher and saw the teacher was crying. Afterward, the teacher invited Tonya and girls to come back, which they did several times.
Tim's birthday was on May 3rd. A great time was had by all. He is now 12 years old and taller than the average adult.
Adoptions from Russia by Americans was in the news when an American lady who had adopted a Russian boy returned her son to Russia. That, of course, was not the right thing to do. I worked for over three years with the Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina (an excellent organization) before I became a missionary, and I know that there is help available for those kinds of situations. One of the results of this situation is that Russia has temporarily suspended adoptions by Americans. There are more than 740,000 children without parental custody in Russia, according to UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. And placing children inside Russia remains difficult. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8684093.stm
Human trafficking within and from Russia continues to be a problem. If this is of interest to you, we were shown some information about this at the following web site: http://www.demokratizatsiya.org/issues/winter%202010/mccarthy.html
Also, it is fascinating what is hidden in the historical archives of Russia. We have personal friends here who have found some amazing things. Even Mikhail Gorbachev may have some interesting things there. Check out http://www.city-journal.org/2010/20_2_soviet-archives.html
Every once in a while we get to see some very interesting translations into English of various things. This web site has become one of our favorites with some very interesting international funny signs. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/11/travel/funny-signs.html
I'm not only behind on my email updates, I'm behind on my newsletters as well. Please pray that I can get a newsletter written and mailed in the near future.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Sincerely,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna
