Friday, July 29, 2011

Baptism, Islands and News

Dear Friends,

finished our latest News Letter. I'm printing them and getting hard copies in snail mail, but you can have an electronic version now. Check it out on our web site at http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/Newsletter/NL%202011%20July.pdf

We just got back from AGWM's Eurasia retreat. It is once every three years. Workers from all over the Eurasia area attended. The teaching was very applicable, the worship wonderful, and the fellowship very refreshing.

At the retreat our older daughter, Vera, received baptism in water. She was baptized by Omar Beiler, our Regional Director, who has been like a pastor to our family for a long time.
While the conference was for professional training, we added a couple days onto the trip for family. Here we are standing in the middle of the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.
Without even trying, we've managed to move closer to the Chinese border. Actually, the border moved closer to us. China and Russia (and the USSR before that) have had a long-standing border dispute over the islands in the Amur River. Russia has given some portions of the islands to China. Our home was only 21 miles from China before, now I'm not sure exactly how close we are.

Talking about Islands in the Amur River, the rest of the family are at a church camp this week. Tonya is serving as a cook while Tim, Vera and Deanna are participating in the kids program. I'm staying home to work on some needed projects.

Leah has returned to the States. We're very pleased and proud of the work she did here in Khabarovsk. We hope she comes back some time, but are praying the Lord's will for her future, wherever He may lead.

If you're not already planning to come to Russia, but feel a desire to serve the Lord here, just let us know! The opportunities are endless and the needs are great.

The Lord be with you,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera, and Deanna