Dear Friends,
our adjustment back to Russia has gone well. The most wonderful
discovery for us is that the ministry team here doubled the Life Skills
lessons to two classes a week (younger and older) while we were gone, so
we now have more orphanage students then ever before. Once again God is
in charge, and we're just trying to keep up.
Ministry at Hope Center continued without us as well; which involved
multiple churches and other ministries. The Fall session of the Bible
School took place in October! The walls even got painted while we were
gone, and it wasn't even our idea. This is a very nice change from when
everyone was looking to us to make the decisions and get things done.
We've got snow on the ground, too. Definitely going to be a white
Thanksgiving this year.
Please pray, we're planning on hosting a Thanksgiving feast at the
homeless shelter. There are presently 130 people living there. This is
another ministry that just keeps growing. I preached there Wednesday
evening, and we had a great time together. I was encouraged to see the
work they are doing. Anyway, we'll need more help than ever before to
prepare the meal.
And, talking about the Lord of the Harvest sending workers into the
harvest field, we have a group of students from Southeastern University
making plans to come to Khabarovsk this summer. We're very excited
about this, since not many people come all the way from the States to
minister here. Please pray as we make plans and they start raising
funds and getting passports.
Winter has come to Khabarovsk. Russians are some of the most
experienced winter drivers in the world, but here is a video from our
city that might make you wonder.
http://globalnews.ca/news/961394/video-icy-roads-in-russia-cause-cars-to-slide-out-of-control/
Blessings From Russia,
Cecil, (Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana, too)
Friday, November 22, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Arrived
Dear Friends,
on we have arrived back in Khabarovsk, Russia. All went well on the flights, all our luggage arrived with us, and we feel pretty well (except for the jet-lag). Thank you all for the prayer support.
During the landing the flight attendant made an announcement in Russian, saying, "Welcome to Khabarovsk, the weather is pleasant today with a temperature of minus 14 degrees Celsius. We hope you have had a nice flight."
Welcome Home! A bit of a weather change from the Carolinas.
We'll try to catch up on sleep, organize ourselves, and jump back into ministry here. We arrived on Tuesday, and yesterday (Thursday) we attended a Life Skills lesson our ministry team was leading. They did a great job, it was so good to see how the ministry has continued without us.
Russians are some of the most experienced winter drivers in the world, but here is a video from our city. http://globalnews.ca/news/961394/video-icy-roads-in-russia-cause-cars-to-slide-out-of-control/
Blessings From Russia,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
on we have arrived back in Khabarovsk, Russia. All went well on the flights, all our luggage arrived with us, and we feel pretty well (except for the jet-lag). Thank you all for the prayer support.
During the landing the flight attendant made an announcement in Russian, saying, "Welcome to Khabarovsk, the weather is pleasant today with a temperature of minus 14 degrees Celsius. We hope you have had a nice flight."
Welcome Home! A bit of a weather change from the Carolinas.
We'll try to catch up on sleep, organize ourselves, and jump back into ministry here. We arrived on Tuesday, and yesterday (Thursday) we attended a Life Skills lesson our ministry team was leading. They did a great job, it was so good to see how the ministry has continued without us.
Russians are some of the most experienced winter drivers in the world, but here is a video from our city. http://globalnews.ca/news/961394/video-icy-roads-in-russia-cause-cars-to-slide-out-of-control/
Blessings From Russia,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
Friday, November 01, 2013
Countdown to departure.
Dear Friends,
once again we are counting down to a departure to the Far Side of the Planet. Good thing it's not for the far side of the moon. We have tickets to fly to the Russian Far East on the 10th of November. So right now we're packing and putting things away. What doesn't go into our suitcases or our 5 by 10 foot storage unit will have to go to the thrift store.
Please pray for us to have peace as we try to finish off the check list of things to do. And for us to not forget anything too important (let's see, where is my passport... ).
We are looking forward to jumping back into ministry and seeing friends.
Our latest newsletter. It was written by the kids. They got put in the mail today. I mean, the newsletters were mailed today. I'll post it on our web site soon!
We will write again from the other side!
Blessings,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
once again we are counting down to a departure to the Far Side of the Planet. Good thing it's not for the far side of the moon. We have tickets to fly to the Russian Far East on the 10th of November. So right now we're packing and putting things away. What doesn't go into our suitcases or our 5 by 10 foot storage unit will have to go to the thrift store.
Please pray for us to have peace as we try to finish off the check list of things to do. And for us to not forget anything too important (let's see, where is my passport... ).
We are looking forward to jumping back into ministry and seeing friends.
Our latest newsletter. It was written by the kids. They got put in the mail today. I mean, the newsletters were mailed today. I'll post it on our web site soon!
We will write again from the other side!
Blessings,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Ahhh, America the land of travel and adventure
Dear Friends,
ahhh, America. The land of travel and adventure.
In July we spoke in 11 different churches. So many friends in so many places! We're half way though August now, and only spoken in two churches so far this month, but we also helped out with General Council in Florida. We spent most of Council in the Eurasia booth, speaking with many interested folks; some of those folks are interested in coming to help us in the Russian Far East. Please pray for us that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers into the harvest field.
Do you know anyone who is called to this part of the world? If so, let us know!
While driving up from General Council, we were able to hit the beach in South Carolina for about an hour.
We've been blessed to see the Atlantic Ocean more than once this itineration. In July we spoke at a church on Ocracoke Island, and were able to stay an extra day. Our kids got to make new friends and had a great time.
Here's some of those friends on Ocracoke Island. Can you tell which ones are Eshelmans?
Most of our time in the States has been spent traveling, speaking, contacting pastors and filling out reports. If you'd like us to come to your church and speak, just contact us. Don't worry about the traveling and filling out reports part, we'll do that ourselves.
Oh, did Diana turn into the Cat in the Hat?
Please continue to pray for the ministry in Russia. The Lord has given us a wonderful team of volunteers who continue the work while we are Stateside. After all, this is the Lord's work and doesn't belong to any single person.
Blessings,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
ahhh, America. The land of travel and adventure.
In July we spoke in 11 different churches. So many friends in so many places! We're half way though August now, and only spoken in two churches so far this month, but we also helped out with General Council in Florida. We spent most of Council in the Eurasia booth, speaking with many interested folks; some of those folks are interested in coming to help us in the Russian Far East. Please pray for us that the Lord of the Harvest will send laborers into the harvest field.
Do you know anyone who is called to this part of the world? If so, let us know!
While driving up from General Council, we were able to hit the beach in South Carolina for about an hour.
We've been blessed to see the Atlantic Ocean more than once this itineration. In July we spoke at a church on Ocracoke Island, and were able to stay an extra day. Our kids got to make new friends and had a great time.
Here's some of those friends on Ocracoke Island. Can you tell which ones are Eshelmans?
Most of our time in the States has been spent traveling, speaking, contacting pastors and filling out reports. If you'd like us to come to your church and speak, just contact us. Don't worry about the traveling and filling out reports part, we'll do that ourselves.
Oh, did Diana turn into the Cat in the Hat?
Please continue to pray for the ministry in Russia. The Lord has given us a wonderful team of volunteers who continue the work while we are Stateside. After all, this is the Lord's work and doesn't belong to any single person.
Blessings,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
Thursday, July 25, 2013
On The Move
Dear Friends,
we're on the move again, speaking in churches (and wherever folks invite us). From the islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the Smoky Mountains and back, we've been traveling. While we were going through Missouri on our way to Missionary Renewal, we even got some of our faces in a local newspaper, standing next to a statue of a dog named Old Drum. We'll try to scan it sometime and share that story with you.
During Missionary Renewal, the kids got to make new friends and meet old ones among the other Missionary Kids. The MK program run by the Assemblies of God World Missions is a really good one (the summer program is called ISMK - International School of Missionary Kids). So they had a great time.
Diana got to sit over the dunk tank during a party.
This year our kids got to enjoy Independence Day in the States. We
made a cake and went to a party.
This is the second of our three mini-itinerations. Cecil can't be outside of Russia for more then six months, or he will lose his resident permit, so we've plans to go back to Russia in November. Until then, we will visit as many churches as possible. If you'd like us to come to your church or home group, just let us know.
Please pray for the volunteer team back in Khabarovsk, as they continue to minister without us. And please pray for us as we travel and raise funds to live in Russia.
Blessings!
The Eshelman Family - Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera & Diana
we're on the move again, speaking in churches (and wherever folks invite us). From the islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the Smoky Mountains and back, we've been traveling. While we were going through Missouri on our way to Missionary Renewal, we even got some of our faces in a local newspaper, standing next to a statue of a dog named Old Drum. We'll try to scan it sometime and share that story with you.
During Missionary Renewal, the kids got to make new friends and meet old ones among the other Missionary Kids. The MK program run by the Assemblies of God World Missions is a really good one (the summer program is called ISMK - International School of Missionary Kids). So they had a great time.
Diana got to sit over the dunk tank during a party.
This is the second of our three mini-itinerations. Cecil can't be outside of Russia for more then six months, or he will lose his resident permit, so we've plans to go back to Russia in November. Until then, we will visit as many churches as possible. If you'd like us to come to your church or home group, just let us know.
Please pray for the volunteer team back in Khabarovsk, as they continue to minister without us. And please pray for us as we travel and raise funds to live in Russia.
Blessings!
The Eshelman Family - Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera & Diana
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Stateside
Well, we arrived back in North Carolina all safe and sound.
Long flight. Changed 15 time zones. Jet lag.
Off to Missionary Renew (School of Missions) in Missouri.
Love,
The Eshelman Family
Long flight. Changed 15 time zones. Jet lag.
Off to Missionary Renew (School of Missions) in Missouri.
Love,
The Eshelman Family
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Russia - we'll see you again this Fall.
Dear Friends,
we're working to head back to the States. We've tickets to fly out at 8:45 am on the 16th of June, spend 28 hours in transit, and arrive in North Carolina at 9:44 pm the same day. Ahh, the wonders of time travel, or, err, traveling across time zones.
We're trying to get everything ready for departure. Packing up bags, turning over the ministry to our Russian co-workers, staying in touch with churches where we will be speaking, arranging for someone to live in-and take care of-our apartment here. So many details. Please keep us in prayer.
One of our praise reports is for Diana's visa. Since her adoption, we still haven't been able to get her U.S. citizenship (the application is still processing). So we applied for her to get a six-month visa for this trip to the States. The U.S. consulate issued her a three-year visa for no extra cost! We had to go to the consulate in Vladivostok for the interview. So we spent two nights on the train, and most of one day sight-seeing.
We thank the Lord for putting together a good ministry team to work with. Life Skills classes will continue (after a summer break). They really are a blast.
Never used an electric mixer? Hey, it's easy.
But spreading the batter might get a little bit messy, especially if your cooking teacher is a little bit silly.
What is this? Eating lessons? A lesson in manners? Maybe an illustrated sermon?
And this one? Well, you'll just have to guess.
But, occasionally, when we have a guest speaker, a little seriousness breaks out.
Please pray for the ministry team, especially while we are away.
Tim was there too, running around with his own banner.
Diana graduated from the 4th grade this week.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. God bless you!
Your missionaries to Russia,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
we're working to head back to the States. We've tickets to fly out at 8:45 am on the 16th of June, spend 28 hours in transit, and arrive in North Carolina at 9:44 pm the same day. Ahh, the wonders of time travel, or, err, traveling across time zones.
We're trying to get everything ready for departure. Packing up bags, turning over the ministry to our Russian co-workers, staying in touch with churches where we will be speaking, arranging for someone to live in-and take care of-our apartment here. So many details. Please keep us in prayer.
One of our praise reports is for Diana's visa. Since her adoption, we still haven't been able to get her U.S. citizenship (the application is still processing). So we applied for her to get a six-month visa for this trip to the States. The U.S. consulate issued her a three-year visa for no extra cost! We had to go to the consulate in Vladivostok for the interview. So we spent two nights on the train, and most of one day sight-seeing.
We thank the Lord for putting together a good ministry team to work with. Life Skills classes will continue (after a summer break). They really are a blast.
Never used an electric mixer? Hey, it's easy.
But spreading the batter might get a little bit messy, especially if your cooking teacher is a little bit silly.
What is this? Eating lessons? A lesson in manners? Maybe an illustrated sermon?
And this one? Well, you'll just have to guess.
But, occasionally, when we have a guest speaker, a little seriousness breaks out.
Please pray for the ministry team, especially while we are away.
We also participated in the annual "March for the Family" event that
churches here put on. It went well. Tonya and I are holding a
banner that says, "preserve the family, preserve Russia."
Diana graduated from the 4th grade this week.
Can't forget, Tim had a birthday. He's 15 now, the big boy.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support. God bless you!
Your missionaries to Russia,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
To Moscow and Back
Dear Friends,
we had a great trip to Moscow where we worked with the "Russia Without Orphans" conference. We met a lot of people who truly have a heart for helping orphans. Much of the conference was dedicated to learning how to work alongside the Russian government. Five ladies from Khabarovsk went with us, giving good representation to the Russian Far East. We were delighted to see a pastor from a city north of Khabarovsk also attending.
Here is one of our team members involved in a presentation.
While this conference won't immediately effect the work we are doing, we learned a number of things, made good contacts with others, and hopefully will leave a good influence with future government relations. Since all the orphanages in Russia are government run, this is very important. It was also a good time of relation-building for our ministry team.
As we mentioned in our last update, here are some photos of the lady and baby who stayed with us.
Timothy also got a chance to help.
The ladies have returned to their apartment now that some of the big brothers in the church "talked with" the people they were afraid of. Things seem fine right now.
Anya (an orphan graduate who we also mentioned in our last email update) has been released from jail. She has been staying with the Hinson family (the other A/G mission family in Khabarovsk) and will soon move into a Christian rehab center in the city. It's been good to see a team working together to help someone in need. Please pray for Anya that she could find a job (to pay off her restitution costs), and especially for her walk with the Lord. She's just now getting a start in life.
Life Skills continues. We have another orphanage interested in sending children. Please pray that we can form a good relationship with them, and that the Lord would use this program to touch the children's lives. We also pray for the food before we eat it, and, so far, so good!
One of the big needs in our neck of the woods (meaning the Russian Far East) is for more training of pastors. Next week the first seminary level classes for protestants will begin. This will be under the direction of Kiev Theological Seminary. Two professors with be staying at our place next week, and will be teaching the first group, which is mostly pastors. Tonya will assist some with translation. There are sure to be some unexpected difficulties, so please pray for the teachers, the students, and the translators.
Cecil has been working on our latest newsletter. Take a sneak preview at http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/Newsletter/Newsletter%202013%20April.pdf
We are making plans to come to the States this Summer/Fall for another mini-itineration. We're in the process of trying to get Diana a visa to the States. We still wait for her to get an immigrant visa to become a U.S. citizen. It's sure to happen, but the immigration services have a big load. Please pray for our documents to all be in place at the right time.
Web sites to check out:
Information about Khabarovsk Krai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthJpz8Eutg&feature=endscreen
A more on-the-ground, but, ahh, somewhat less professional video of Khabarovsk City:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqotquyUDtc
10 wonders of the USSR:
http://englishrussia.com/2011/05/25/7-abandoned-wonders-of-the-ussr/
Some information about the orphan situation in Russia:
http://www.bigfamilyministry.org/russian_orphan_information.html
How much do you know about Russia? A quiz:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0202/Do-you-know-anything-about-Russia-A-quiz/City-I?nav=650541-csm_article-bottomRelated
AGWM has created a web site where donations can be made to our ministry. If you feel lead, you can check out this web site as well:
on-line giving:
Say, we're always looking for folks who want to join the team. If you know anyone who would like to come to Khabarovsk and minister, just let us know. Maybe it will be you!
From Russia with Love,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
we had a great trip to Moscow where we worked with the "Russia Without Orphans" conference. We met a lot of people who truly have a heart for helping orphans. Much of the conference was dedicated to learning how to work alongside the Russian government. Five ladies from Khabarovsk went with us, giving good representation to the Russian Far East. We were delighted to see a pastor from a city north of Khabarovsk also attending.
Here is one of our team members involved in a presentation.
While this conference won't immediately effect the work we are doing, we learned a number of things, made good contacts with others, and hopefully will leave a good influence with future government relations. Since all the orphanages in Russia are government run, this is very important. It was also a good time of relation-building for our ministry team.
As we mentioned in our last update, here are some photos of the lady and baby who stayed with us.
Timothy also got a chance to help.
The ladies have returned to their apartment now that some of the big brothers in the church "talked with" the people they were afraid of. Things seem fine right now.
Anya (an orphan graduate who we also mentioned in our last email update) has been released from jail. She has been staying with the Hinson family (the other A/G mission family in Khabarovsk) and will soon move into a Christian rehab center in the city. It's been good to see a team working together to help someone in need. Please pray for Anya that she could find a job (to pay off her restitution costs), and especially for her walk with the Lord. She's just now getting a start in life.
Life Skills continues. We have another orphanage interested in sending children. Please pray that we can form a good relationship with them, and that the Lord would use this program to touch the children's lives. We also pray for the food before we eat it, and, so far, so good!
One of the big needs in our neck of the woods (meaning the Russian Far East) is for more training of pastors. Next week the first seminary level classes for protestants will begin. This will be under the direction of Kiev Theological Seminary. Two professors with be staying at our place next week, and will be teaching the first group, which is mostly pastors. Tonya will assist some with translation. There are sure to be some unexpected difficulties, so please pray for the teachers, the students, and the translators.
Cecil has been working on our latest newsletter. Take a sneak preview at http://101649.agwebservices2.org/SiteFiles/101649/Content/Newsletter/Newsletter%202013%20April.pdf
We are making plans to come to the States this Summer/Fall for another mini-itineration. We're in the process of trying to get Diana a visa to the States. We still wait for her to get an immigrant visa to become a U.S. citizen. It's sure to happen, but the immigration services have a big load. Please pray for our documents to all be in place at the right time.
Web sites to check out:
Information about Khabarovsk Krai:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthJpz8Eutg&feature=endscreen
A more on-the-ground, but, ahh, somewhat less professional video of Khabarovsk City:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqotquyUDtc
10 wonders of the USSR:
http://englishrussia.com/2011/05/25/7-abandoned-wonders-of-the-ussr/
Some information about the orphan situation in Russia:
http://www.bigfamilyministry.org/russian_orphan_information.html
How much do you know about Russia? A quiz:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0202/Do-you-know-anything-about-Russia-A-quiz/City-I?nav=650541-csm_article-bottomRelated
AGWM has created a web site where donations can be made to our ministry. If you feel lead, you can check out this web site as well:
on-line giving:
http://s1.ag.org/eshelman
Say, we're always looking for folks who want to join the team. If you know anyone who would like to come to Khabarovsk and minister, just let us know. Maybe it will be you!
From Russia with Love,
Cecil, Tonya, Timothy, Vera and Diana
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