Tripped Out

Dear friends,

it's been a while since we updated you all last. We've been on trips.

Our first trip was a safari in Turkey.

Well.... not exactly. We went to Turkey to join a conference and training for AGWM workers who live in the former Soviet Union. It was indeed excellent training. We also got to see friends and to establish connections for future ministry. And the kids had a great time too.

Two days after returning to Russia from Turkey, we were on our way to Sakhalin Island. To the Southern end, not far from Japan (although we never got to see Japan).

We decided to drive and take the ferry since we had a load of Bibles we wanted to deliver. We had been warned that it was about a 12 hour drive to the ferry, but the road was rougher than we expected, considering it is marked on the map as a highway. The van that Speed the Light bought for us two years ago is still in good shape, and we only had one flat tire along the way. What a road.

It was indeed a 12 hour drive. So we stopped several times to stretch our legs and take a break. Beautiful.

After the drive, the 18 hour ferry ride was very relaxing and we arrived in good spirits. Other than delivering Bibles, Cecil spent a week with Royal Ranger training. Royal Rangers is like a Christian Boy Scouts. We hope to find a way to use it with our orphan ministry. Cecil loves that outdoor stuff.

While on the Island we got to try some of their local delicacies: sea snails. Taste kinda like crab, only much chewier. Olga, our assistant (on the right), even worked up the courage to eat one raw. Yum, yum. Very salty, she said. Tonya waited for them to boil before trying hers.

We returned to Khabarovsk in time for Tonya to bake a birthday cake for the USA. Sorry, no fireworks here to celebrate the 4th of July.

However, Leslie and Barbara Cartwright arrived on the 4th to do some short-term ministry. Cecil took them to Komsomolsk, a town straight north of us. You can get there from here by train, boat (on the Amur river) or car. Cecil drove. Its only a six hour ride, and road is paved. They ministered in several churches there along with a rehab center. A pastor drove us out to a village church. Leslie and Barbara thought it was the end of the earth, and that was only a two hour drive on gravel. We stopped for a break along the way. That's Leslie and Barbara on the right next to Olga. The guy with sunglasses is the pastor, and other two are his helpers.

Leslie and Barbara left on Wednesday, and Cecil has decided he isn't going on another trip anytime soon. Actually, he has a little time to himself right now, since Tonya and the kids went to church camp on Monday and will be there for a week. Time for him to catch up on paperwork, even though he wishes he was camping.

Vera and Timothy have a special announcement they want to make. We are in the process of getting them a sister. Her name is Deanna, and she is six years old (13 months younger than Vera). She lives in an orphanage a couple miles from our house. We get to take her out during the afternoons sometimes. She has already started calling us Mama and Papa.

What do you think? Do they look like sisters?

Actually this is a major prayer request. We were told that we would be able to adopt Deanna through the Russian adoption system because Tonya is a Russian citizen. After completing all the forms and providing all the required documents we had a home inspection. After passing that we expected her to be placed in our home. Instead we were informed that we could only adopt her through a licensed international adoption agency. Due to some political maneuvering there are presently no licensed international adoption agencies in Russia. Therefore we must wait and pray.

Please pray that:

1. An international adoption agency in Khabarovsk to receive licensing.

2. For no one else to adopt Deanna (presently we have no legal right to her).

3. For the fees to be affordable to us.

4. For us to be able to complete the adoption before we return to the States for furlough next spring.

Also, please pray that Aaron and Beth Barnes can finalize things and join our team here in Khabarovsk. We have already made arrangements for an apartment for them. Specifically, pray for their finances, their visas and their tickets.

From our hearts,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy & Vera (and Deanna)

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

Homeless Shelter Article

Dear Friends,

Last year Cecil submitted an article about the homeless shelter to a journal called Russian Evangelism. In March it was published, and a few days ago they sent us a copy of it in PDF. You can view it at http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/RussianEvangelismMay07.pdf for your enjoyment. The photos were taken just before the snows were covering the ground, but now the snows are over half-way melted. So the photos are now a bit out-of-date, but the information is good.

Cecil went to the homeless shelter two days ago (Wednesday) and spoke about the Easter season and death and resurrection of Jesus. It was well received. They have a service every evening at the center, and on occasion we are able to go. He also spoke at an orphanage and was amazed that the children had no idea what Passover or Easter was. He tried to help fill them in on the basics.

Tonya tried to pass the written part of the driving test today. This is her second attempt. The test has twenty questions and you are only allowed two mistakes. Both times she has made three mistakes. She is pretty frustrated about it. But Cecil says she is still a good cook.

Next week we will be taking a puppet theater presentation to four orphanages and a kindergarten. It is an Easter presentation. Please pray that it be well received and be a blessing to everyone who watches it.

Your Friends,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy & Vera

Mongolian Adventure

Dear Friends,

Cecil had a great adventure in Mongolia. The trip was a success! First of all, he received a one-year, multi-entry visa. This is the best possible. Secondly he got to see a bunch of his former students from the year he taught at the Bible School in Ulaan Bataar. Third, he got to spend time with an old friend of his who now lives in Mongolia.

Chris and Cecil met at Camron Boys' Camp in North Carolina back in 1990. They worked there for three years (even slept in the same tent for six months). Then Chris felt called to Mongolia and later Cecil to Russia. But the Lord saw fit to have Cecil spend a school year teaching in Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia during '95-'96. Cecil has long desired to visit Mongolia once again. He needed to leave Russia this spring to get a new visa and Chris invited him to Mongolia. The cost was as good as anywhere else and now Americans don't even need visas to Mongolia, so Cecil's dream came true.

Chris and his family live in a village about a 16 hour ride from Ulan Bataar. About an hour's worth is paved. The mode of transportation is to put 15 people and their luggage in an old Russian van. Somehow we survived the ride. Chris's heart is to share the love of Christ with the herdsmen (a large portion of Mongolia's population is nomadic). Batsahin is a Mongolian who came to know the Lord a few years ago. After God healed his wife so that she can have children again he felt called to minister among the herdsmen.

Here are some kids Cecil managed to make friends with.

Batsahin, Chris and Cecil went out and stayed in a ger (round white tent) and visited with some of the nomadic folk. Mongols have many traditions, so after all the rituals involved with visiting a family (where they got to drink lots of salt tea and eat from the flock) Batsahin would share about what God has done for him and Chris would share about the God (most Mongols are idol worshippers) and Cecil would sit quietly and pray. It was a great time.

Here is Cecil and Batsahin by the ger where they slept.

The Bible compares the Kingdom of God to seed that has been sown, and though the farmer doesn't know how it sprouts and grows it becomes ripe. Cecil felt this way as he visited with some of his former students. The Bible School in Ulaan Bataar was started in 1994, so Cecil taught during the second year of it's existence. Of the students he saw this trip one has become a pastor, three work on the faculty of the school, one works with the Bible Translation Society, one coordinates the correspondence courses and one is preparing to live in North Korea and start a "center" there (Mongolians are welcome to North Korea). Cecil was so encouraged to see how his students have continued on in the Lord.

Batsahin's wife decided to make Vera a del (the traditional Mongolian outfit) when she saw her photo. Cecil was very humbled when this lady gave gifts to take to his children.

There is mostly good news about Cecil's driver's license. He completed the classroom time and driving practice with an instructor. Some of the driving theory in Russia is different than in the States, so it was helpful (although mostly it helped him learn new Russian words). The hardest part of driving practice was changing gears with the left hand using standard transmission, and not using the windshield wipers when he wanted to use the turn signal (Russians drive on the same side of the road as Americans, but the driving school uses Japanese cars).

On Thursday just before he went to Mongolia he went to take the driving test. After standing in line almost an hour, he got to take the written test. The written driving test has some interesting questions. For example: For what length of time should a tourniquet be applied? A. one-half hour. B. one hour in summer and one-half hour in winter. C. one hour D. one and a half hours. The correct answer is B. And another: What is the minimum tread depth for a tire on a city bus? A. 0.8 cm B. 1.6 cm C. 1.0 cm D. 2.0 cm The correct answer is C. There are twenty questions, if you miss more than two you fail the test. If you fail the test you go back to school for another week. Tonya translated. Cecil missed one question.

So the next day he went to take the driving test. No need to bring your own car, you will use the school's Japanese cars with the steering wheel on the wrong side. There are two parts to the driving test. The first part is to navigate an arrangement of cones set up to simulate backing into a garage and parallel parking. If you touch a cone your test is over. Also you must start a manual transmission car going up a hill (in this case on a snowy day, and controlling the parking brake with the left hand). If you stall the car or roll backward your test is over. After waiting in line for a couple hours (there is only one examiner) Cecil passed this part of the test. The second part of the driving test is the road test. All the school cars get lined up and the first person being tested starts driving on a route through the city with an instructor and the examiner. The school instructors drive the school cars behind them, loaded with people who will take the test. If the person driving makes a mistake the test is over, and another person starts driving. If the person does well the examiner has the driver pull over and another driver gets tested. Cecil noticed that the examiner had a habit of telling the driver to pull over where it is illegal to stop, and a fair percentage were failing the test because of it. When it was Cecil's turn he drove for a minute and the examiner said, "O.K., go ahead and pull over." Tonya translated. Cecil drove on to a spot where it was legal to stop and pulled over. The examiner signed the documents so that Cecil could receive his license.

So after Cecil returned from Mongolia we both went to the police office, stood in line for over an hour, and had the documents approved. Then we stood in line for another hour and had the documents received and Cecil got photographed. "Come back at six o'clock and your license will be ready." That's when we discovered that a Russian driver's license, which is normally good for ten years, is only given for one year to foreigners.

Tonya has continued with the lessons at the orphanage. The kids there have become quite familiar with us and the meetings are becoming less and less formal. The kids are beginning to share more with us and don't put up as much of a front for us. Please pray that we will be able to share with them about the most important issues of life and that their hearts will be open.

Some of you may remember Zenia, a young lady we wrote about in our fall newsletter. She had entered a Christian rehab center. We want to thank you for your prayers for her, as they have brought about good fruit in her life. She has completed the program and is now working in ministry there. She is now engaged to marry a young man she met there. They are making plans to spend their lives in ministry.

In our last email update we asked for prayer for a young mother whose child was sick. The child is doing better, but they continue to have some difficulties since they have no permanent place to live.

Also, there is a young American lady by the name of Elf Potter who is planning to come at the beginning of September to minister among the students. It looks like our team will be growing. Please pray for Elf and the others that financial support will be forthcoming and that all obstacles will be moved out of their way. The fields here are white unto harvest.

In Him,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy and Vera