Winter Wonderland

Dear Friends,

Both our Christmases were white. Russia celebrates Christmas on January 7th, and we had our family Christmas on December 25th. So we get two Christmases every winter (don't you wish you could have Christmas twice a year?).

The ice sculptures in the parks are beautiful. http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/12/31/38439959.html

http://feic.ru/feiceng/index.html

Cold, but beautiful. Actually, the camera can hardly capture the real beauty. We tried to decorate this ice wall with some Eshelmans.

The Hinson family had a late Christmas present. Michael Lee Hinson was born January 10, 9:10 pm Khabarovsk Russia time. He was 8 lbs. 14 oz. Mom and baby are doing awesome, and the delivery went absolutely perfectly. Tonya had the privilege of translating for Amanda and Steve during the delivery.

David is a children's pastor who came from Australia to teach a session on counseling and children's ministry. What a change from the Australian summer to Russian winter! The seminar was great. Five days of some of the best teaching on the subject that we've ever heard.

Hope Center is being used quite a bit for various things. One of the things we are personally doing is starting an outreach to young people in the evenings. Every Tuesday is game night and every Thursday is movie night. Please pray that more and more people would attend, enjoy and become involved with these actives. Pray that through the fellowship and fun that we have these young folks would discover a true walk with Jesus.

We've been showing movies for a while, but our first game night was last week. So far so good.

The Russian church has begun an outreach program to bring a Gospel witness to every town, village and Hamlet of Russia. This is a huge undertaking. They call it the Hosanna plan. One of our personal friends here in Khabarovsk has decided to commit one year of her life to serving the Lord with this project. So she has left her job as a surgeon, sold her car, and joined the team in Volgograd. Wow. I'll tell you more about the Hosanna plan in the future, so that you'll know how to pray for it.

We love our kitchen, but it looks like it will need a total remake. Recently the kitchen drain become clogged to the point where we must now do dishes in the bathroom. Since the original pipes are encased in poured concrete, the job is quite complicated. Chemicals and other equipment have been ineffective (anybody have some extra dynamite?). And in a completely unrelated failure, the electrical outlet for our refrigerator has gone out (yes, the wires are buried in poured concrete too). So it seems the time has come for a major operation in the kitchen. This, of course, is not the fun side of missions.

The Amur river is a mighty river, but here in Russia the winter is even stronger. So we went for a walk on the river last week.

That's down town Khabarovsk in the background.

We have young folks in the States interested in coming to join in the Lord's work here in Khabarovsk. Please pray the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into the harvest field of Russia, that they would be equiped, and powerfully used of the Lord.

This video from Ellerslie Mission Society offers a fresh new perspective into God's heart for the orphan, and His call on believers to care for the orphan:

http://www.comission.org/resources/?id=1722

Because of Him,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

Birthdays and Thanksgiving

Dear Friends,

The high today was about zero F.

We've been doing birthday parties once a month at a nearby orphanage. In November we only had three kids with their birthday that month. So we took them, a staff member, and some of our helpers to Hope Center for the party. This orphanage has some older kids who were under the tutelage of an Orthodox Priest who trained them to hate Protestants. So the kids coming to the birthday party had a secret concern that they would be persecuted by others for going to a Protestant Church. When we walked into Hope Center for the party, the girl said, "Praise God it's not a church." We continue to laugh about that comment here at home.

Anyhow, it was a great time and we now plan to do our future birthday parties at Hope Center as well.

We had a Thanksgiving Day feast for the our family and a few other Americans who we know here in Khabarovsk. We also put on a Thanksgiving celebration at Open Heart Homeless Shelter. Before serving the meal I gave a short history of Thanksgiving since most of them have heard of it but don't know about it. I love to give a thanksgiving message, because if you are thankful for something you are thankful too someone, so it is only fitting to be thankful to God, who is that source of all our blessings. And they were indeed thankful for a hearty meal. Their gratitude made it worth every potato peeled, egg boiled, beef stewed, baked pie, etc. Cooking for 85 is a challenge for my kitchen, but the most worthwhile meal ever cooked there.

Ready to Preach (above) Ready to eat (below)

We're so glad the Hinson Family is here in Khabarovsk. They are a real answer to prayer. Here's a photo of my kids teaching their kids some bad manners.

We've just finished printing our latest newsletter and will be mailing them out shortly. You can get a sneak preview at

http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/Newsletter/Newsletter%202010%20December.pdf

A few other things in the News:

The Siberian Tiger has some issues.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/11/24/tiger.summit.goals/

The border island between Russia and China here at Khabarovsk has been making some changes.

http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2010/11/26/heixiazi-island-to-become-major-joint-china-russian-tourist-resort.html

The Peace of the Lord be with you,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

Active Lifestyle

Dear Friends,

First, the big news: our guinea pigs have had babies. All four are in good health and will be sold to the pet store for others to enjoy as soon as they are old enough.

We are also in good health, although a bit tired from all the action that that has been going in.

Usually we have a couple of foreign guests every four months or so. In the five weeks we've hosted eight foreigners. They've all come from a restricted access country to help us out here in Russia, so I can't include any of their photos. The first group was a family team who spent a week in a Nanian village north of us. The Nanian are a mostly unreached people group that live in the Russian Far East and in North-Eastern China along the rivers.

The other guests are teaching at the Theological Institutes in Komsomolsk-on-Amur (about six hours north of us) and in Khabarovsk. These extension centers are one of our best tools for training pastors and other ministers here. It is difficult to get good teachers to come this way, so we are very glad to have these visiting professors.

One week ago we had an adventure. I was to meet arriving professors at 5:30 am, however, the flight was late. We had already purchased bus tickets for them to go to Komsomolsk, leaving at 9:20 am. At 9:05 I called their translator - who was at the bus station - and told her to return the tickets since it takes 15 minutes for me to drive to the bus station. At 9:10 our guests came out of customs. Shortly after that the translator called me back with some news: the bus goes from the station to the airport before leaving town, so I told her to get on the bus. I quickly helped our guests to use an ATM, buy some bottled water, and carry their luggage to the bus stop. We were just walking up to the bus stop as the bus pulled up. I introduced them to the translator and sent them all on their way. Whewh.

We had received a box of Chinese language Fire Bibles, and there is a Chinese language church in Khabarovsk (Fire Bibles are Bibles with commentary, know as "Life in the Spirit Study Bibles" in English). The church in China is growing rapidly, and there are few materials to explain doctrinal issues in China. So I asked a Chinese speaking guest to help me deliver the Bibles. We didn't know if they would know what a study Bible is, and if they would accept them, so we went in with only two Bibles. After greeting their leader, my translator held out a Fire Bible. When the leader saw the Fire Bible she got big eyes, held it to her forehead, made a half bow, and talked in Chinese. I had no idea what was going on. My translator explained that she had said, "I've seen this Bible before and some of my friends have them. Will you please give it go me as a gift?" What fun it was to bring in a box with twelve of them. When we told her this was for the church here, she said, "Oh no, not just for us, there are seventy churches just across the border in China, they need them too."

Please pray for us to get more Fire Bibles to the places they are needed.

Three weeks ago we had the dedication and grand opening for the Far East Ministry Center. Locally it has come to be called Hope Center. So that's what I'll be calling it myself. The dedication went well: we worshipped, we heard sermons, we listened to testimonies, we prayed, and we had dinner. We even had a TV reporter come and interview the Bishop.

The center is now busy petty constantly. Here's some photos of a Bible School that is meeting there.

In parts of Russia the rate of HIV infection has risen by 700 percent since 2006. There is a general lack of good information about AIDS here, and so we hosted an AIDS conference at Hope Center in October. Local rehab centers, the homeless shelter and some churches sent representatives. One of the many things I learned was that HIV, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis often run together. On Monday after the conference was over we took our keynote speaker to Open Heart Homeless Shelter to speak. Afterwards one of the new men there asked to talk with me, he admitted that he had HIV, Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis. Please pray that the church here become prepared to minister out of God's compassion to those who are suffering during this rising epidemic.

As renovations at Hope Center are winding down, time has come to use it for ministry. I've started showing Christ-centered movies for young people every Thursday evening. We're targeting older orphans who have graduated from the Russian orphanage system. We have some workers already helping us, but please pray for more good helpers to join the team. Also, pray that we can get our own projector system and movie screen.

About twenty years ago I read the book "Celebration of Discipline" which profoundly impacted me. I still clearly remember a quote from the book, "Busyness is not of the Devil, it is the Devil." While that may not be a theological truth, it certainly is a lifestyle truth. Personally, we have found ourselves doing more running around and doing busyness than is healthy. Just like Jesus told Martha, "thou are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful..." We have decided to try to do more by doing less. Please pray for us as we strive to increase our prayer time and keep our personal lives more in order.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We couldn't do much here if it wasn't for those back home who are sending us. God bless you.

Because of Him,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

Ministry Begins at Hope Center

Dear Friends,

things have become so busy that I'm thinking about hiring a ghost writer to make my emails and newsletters. We're doing well (except that Tonya has a cold). One big happening for us is that most of the renovations of Hope Center have been completed. Ministry there has already begun. Prayer meetings start the morning five days a week at 6:00 AM. I've been asked to bring a short devotional each morning this coming week (please pray that I'm awake and able to speak Russian clearly).

Here are two pastors and a child looking over the newly finished classroom.

Three churches that do not have their own buildings are using space for their offices. This not only covers the cost of utilities, but has brought three pastors into one place and I hear they have great fellowship together. The classroom is already rather scheduled, with one church meeting there on Sundays, various meetings in the evenings, seminars and other sessions scheduled for the next several months, and two Bible School sessions scheduled as well.

We are delighted that the Hinson Family has joined us. Steve and Amanda have begun study of the Russian language. We introduced them to a park by the Amur River shortly after they arrived. Our kids are getting along great! Those are their oldest two with our youngest two.

This is our oldest with their youngest.

Please pray for the Hinson family as they make adjustments to life in Russia. Pray for language study, cultural adjustment, and health for Amanda who is pregnant with their fourth child.

While the construction at Hope Center was winding down, the paperwork wasn't. Since the work isn't over until the paperwork is done, a young lady named Amy came for two weeks to help make sure the accounting was straight. She was a great blessing, and our kids loved having her around. We're praying she comes back for a longer stay. Maybe God will give her a sign. No, not the one in the picture, she found that one herself. But a sign that will send her back our way.

In the midst of all this, we were able to take a bit of vacation and visit Tonya's folks in Siberia. We enjoyed spending time at their dacha, and had a meal outside when her brother fixed us a special Russian form of Sish-Ka-Bob called Sashleik. A great time was had by all.

Since renovation of Hope Center is ending, the real work is beginning, the work of ministry. Please pray that the Lord will give us the right team and the right anointing to launch the work among the graduating orphans that we have been hoping for.

On the first of October we have a family who coming to stay for a week in a Nanian village several hours north of here. The Nanian are a minority group that are mostly unreached with the Gospel. This family hopes to help and encourage the believers that we know of. I would join them but I've been asked to attend a special conference in Turkey at that time. Please pray for this outreach among the Nanian people to be effective in building the Kingdom of God.

There is a most amazing presentation of color photos of Russia and Georgia from 100 years ago. Absolutely stunning.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/08/russia_in_color_a_century_ago.html

On a more bizarre note, Russian cafeterias are no longer permitted to serve cockroaches with lunches.

http://mn.ru/russia/20100826/188005785.html

In His Service,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

Newsletter and More

Dear Friends,

work continues on renovating the ministry center. The windows and walls are in, next will be the ceiling. Later the floor, the doors and such. The workmen tell me they'll be done by the end of August. We're really looking forward to being able to use this facility for ministry.

One of the ongoing prayers that we have is for the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers into the harvest field of Eastern Russia. Whether the Lord raises them up in Russia or sends them from other lands, our greatest need is for those who will come and spend time among the people here. So we are delighted that another family will joining us in Khabarovsk. This is the Hinson family.

I've asked them to introduce themselves to you, and here is what they wrote:

Priviet from Minnesota! We are Steve and Amanda Hinson, soon to be joining the Eshelman family in Khabarovsk. We have three kids: Aurora (7), Riles (5), and Iva (1). All of us have been looking forward to this adventure for more than two years. Our call to Russia goes back to 1991, when we were only kids. Through the years, God has given us many confirmations and equipped us along the way as we found ourselves working among Russian immigrants in MN. Since marrying in 2001, we have been serving together in youth and music ministries and more recently children's ministry. Our family took a faith journey in 2006 to Moscow and St. Petersburg, where God sealed the call on all of our hearts, including our children's. We hope to bring our experience and skills as youth and children's pastors alongside our gifts in music and drama to reach Khabarovsk with Christ's love! We cannot wait to see what He has in store for all of us there!

We're looking forward to seeing them soon, as they already have tickets to arrive on August 22nd. Please pray that they experience no problems, and that God enables them to wrap up all the many details that need to be taken care of before their departure.

We mailed out our latest newsletter. http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/Newsletter/Newsletter%202010%20July.pdf

In early July our kids went on a service trip with a church youth group. They traveled by train to another city and worked with the elderly for ten days. Tim was assigned to a man who had memory problems, and repeatedly asked, "did you know that I worked in a mine for 15 years?" and would launch into a story about the mines. However, Tim did find some of the stories he told about blowing things up with dynamite rather entertaining. Vera had the experience of explaining the way of salvation in Jesus to an elderly person who decided not to pray. Vera was upset about it and said, "She was old and about to die, and still she didn't want to follow God." All three of our kids want to go again next year.

Here we are in front of the railway station getting ready for the kids to head off on the service trip.

On a very different note, two weeks ago the Bishop of the Pentecostal Union in Dagestan was assassinated two weeks ago. Dagestan is in Russia next to Chechnya, on the opposite side of Russia from us. It is very politically unstable. Please pray for the peace of Dagestan and for that family of the murdered Bishop.

If you'd like to write to us, our mailing address is:

Central Post Office

Box 2/36

Khabarovsk, 680000

Russia

Or just send us an email.

We've started a family vacation, and will be hiding out in a village in Siberia near where Tonya was born. No better way to get away from it all. But we'll check our email occasionally, and we'll be back in Khabarovsk in mid August.

Staying in Touch,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna Eshelman

Steps of Progress

Dear Friends,

the progress of the ministry center continues to take much of our time and energy. So many materials, so many interested people, so much accounting and red tape! Much of the work has been waiting until new windows could be installed. This week they are going in.

Walls have been started. We pray that there won't be any high winds and rain at the same time before the windows are finished.

Once the center is ready, several churches and ministries will be using the facilities. We personally have plans for some outreach projects here. One of them involves day activities for young people graduating from the orphanage system. Please pray for God to build up a team to minister to orphans and young people once the Ministry Center is opened.

We've been going to a nearby orphanage to do a birthday party once a month. Please pray that everything will go smoothly and it will have a lasting impact. The kids enjoyed looking over our Speed-The-Light van and getting their photos taken.

Here's one of our helpers (on the right) with a girl from the orphanage.

"Take my photo too."

We've also been showing Christian movies in our home every Saturday night for youth groups at attend. It's been a barrel of laughs as well as stimulating some meaningful thought. Last week we watched The Hiding Place about Corrie Ten Boom who lived through a concentration camp during WW II for hiding Jews in her home. Not sure what we'll watch tomorrow.

Tonya wants to mention that her Mother's Group is has grown, both in numbers and in depth of meaning. Now four mothers and eleven children are showing up for the meetings once a week. They've started calling each other for prayer and such. Please pray that these good things will continue.

"Following the controversy over the American woman who sent her adopted son back to Russia, the Washington Post ran a compelling op-ed on the plight of orphans in Russia. The author, chief of pediatric cardiology at the University of Massachusetts, Darshak Sanghavi, does an excellent job explaining why debates that focus narrowly on potential problems with international adoption miss an issue of far greater importance to most Russian orphans: the reality faced by children in Russian orphanages every day." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042302223.html

Very insightful article about the Russian economy can be found at:

http://www.nytimes.com/external/venturebeat/2010/06/06/06venturebeat-investing-in-russia-better-hire-body-guards-41250.html?pagewanted=1&dbk

I've been trying to put together a newsletter to mail out for several weeks now. So many distractions, interruptions, and other things to do. Please pray that I can get it put together, printed and mailed in short order.

God bless you.

Your Missionaries to Russia,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna

So little time, so much to do.

Dear Friends,

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

One Big Praise Report

Dear Friends,

the documents for the Ministry Center have been finalized and we took possession of the property this week. This is very exciting for us. It is a great answer to prayer. It also means that it is time for the real work to begin. The purpose of the center is to reach the people of Russia with the love of God. The building won't do that by itself, it is merely a tool. Soon we will start the remodeling and then begin doing ministry.

Here is the first gathering we had, the day we got the keys. We started out with a prayer meeting.

Unfortunately all the beautiful plastic paneling no longer meets fire codes, so we'll need to strip it all out. We'll also need to move some walls to create a classroom for the Bible Institute. The windows are old but mostly in usable condition. It's not a bad view from the sixth floor.

Thank you so much for your prayers for the purchase of this property. It is centrally located and will be greatly used by the local churches.

The month of March has been a good month: we attended an excellent training retreat in Egypt, we got back home and into routine, I received my resident permit for Russia, the kids basketball teams are doing well, Tonya has been able to start some outreach in a nearby orphanage, I had my birthday, and we received possession of the property for the ministry center. So all of March has been one praise report after another.

Tomorrow, Timothy and I will be participating in an evangelistic outreach with our church. It is tied with the Easter theme (this year Easter is the same day in both Russia and the States). Please pray that many are drawn to the love of Christ.

Amazed by His goodness,

Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Deanna