Praying for Belgorad, Praising God for His Grace!

Before the photo update, I would like to bring another important prayer request to all who are reading this. About a week ago I met with Peter, a Russian man who moved from Moscow to Belgorad (a city of about 500,000) with his wife Sveta about a year and a half ago. He and his wife had finished seminary in Moscow before leaving, and their main goal in Belgorad has been to plant a church. It's certainly not been easy.

Belgorad is one of the toughest cities in Russia in which to start a church. In fact, Peter told me that there are only about six Protestant churches in the whole city! He's talked with numerous missionaries who have come to Belgorad to plant churches and have come away very frustrated. There they see a stark contrast from other cities, where the average time needed to establish a church takes around two months, before they move onto a new city in a continuous cycle. It's different in Belgorad, a large university town, filled with many young people. While Peter and Sveta and another couple are co-pastoring the Church of the Nazarene and are meeting in their apartment, they currently have two regular attendees. They are very excited this and the future!

They believe that a key to starting their church will come through offering regular, quality English lessons. They are currently in the process of advertising this in flyers throughout the city. English, being the international language, is a very magnetic draw for many Russians, especially university students. As of now, the plan is to start the English lessons with the help of an American who will be joining them for a few weeks in March. Peter has a computer program that will allow students to simultaneously view sections of a Russian and English Bible. His plan is to teach his students English by using the Bible and pray that this encounter with the truth will lead them closer to accepting Christ! Please be in prayer for Peter, Sveta, and their baby daughter as they minister in a tough place.

This particular student, though in her first year in an English school, is progressing well and is very creative, artistic, and generous. She has brought a lunch packed specifically for me every day of this school year - and I've never once asked for it!

"Egypt construction" presentations on Friday, January 23. This boy mummified a Barbie doll and designed his own golden coffin.

The inseparable three pose with their version of King Tut, complete with a coffee cup goatee, a pumpkin head, and the body of a stuffed dog!

The Lego version of the Sphinx

My new Hungarian student, posing with her clay creations of pyramids and the Sphinx.

Explaining the inner workings of a pyramid - fascinating!

A mummy and his egg-carton sarcophagus

It's tradition in Mr. Hays' class to eat lunch in the classroom on Fridays. With about five minutes to go before recess, the "Devotional Guide" (one of 17 rotating class jobs, or as I call them, "Super Servants") shares with the class something that he or she has been learning in their walk with God.

Yesterday afternoon I took my middle school Caring Community Group (comprised of sixth graders) to visit the orphans that I've been visiting since December 2007. We had a wonderful afternoon of playing soccer and basketball, talking, playing Uno, eating tangerines, drinking chai (tea), and talking. We plan to make this a monthly event. Pictured above is Vova and a very bushy-faced Luke (some have already been asking, "So when are you gonna shave it?" The answer is early March, after the play is over!)

Last night's English Cafe went really well - what an answer to prayer! We had about 50 Russians come, and after an evening of chai, snacks, and some meaningful activities and conversation, many of our Russian friends left encouraged and thankful for the evening. We're already anticipating Open Mic Night in two weeks!

Phil is engrossed in conversation with newcomer to the Cafe.

The symbolic climax of our "New and Fresh" Cafe was when, halfway through (and after talking about old things, both good and bad), we went out to the blacktop behind the school to burn up our regrets, failures, fears, and burdens from 2008. We then reentered the school, headed up the stairs, and entered the cafeteria through the "In with the New" door. Everyone then sat with a new group and native English speaker. At the end of the night, we gave everyone a Tic-Tac or two to send everyone off with fresh breath!

Since Wednesday I've been staying in the apartment of the family who lost their aunt/sister earlier this week. My route to school has therefore been altered, and I get to ride the tramvae to school. I like riding this oldest of the transportation modes in Moscow!

The primary reason I'm staying here is to take care of the family cat, Boots. He's just an adorable little guy and is appropriately named (notice the white "boots" on his back legs?) God continues to bring opportunities for the animal lover in me to be expressed!