Time Flies!

Here are some pictures of our first pretty snow of the season. It only lasted for a day or so, but it was absolutely beautiful on the trees! We are continuing to do well. I just wanted to update you on the things we have been involved in recently. 2 Sunday's ago we visited a church here in Moscow for the first time. It was a GREAT and different experience here in Moscow. For those of you who have had Lena as an interpreter, it was her church. They had a Contemporary Christian Rock Band playing when we arrived. This is not usual. They were guests for the day and were looking for opinions and feedback on how to reach young people here in Russia. They did an awesome job and the congregation did a good job of encouraging them on to minister in that way. We also heard an Orthodox pastor speak. It was very encouraging to know that the pastor had a good relationship with the Baptist church because that is definitely not always the case here. Yura and Lena then took us to Moo Moo's for lunch. (A Russian cafeteria type restaurant) I attended a meeting that evening about an English camp that the church we attend puts on every summer. Last year over 200 people were a part of the camp and all of their lessons are about a particular book in the Bible.

We continue with our language lessons. Some days we think we are making progress and others we are really depressed that we can't understand and say more at this time. Please keep praying for our language lessons.

We were able to go to our neighbor's to celebrate Karina's 9th birthday. We had a good evening together with them. I have been back to the renok to visit with Greesha and Sabrina. They are very down right now because their business at the renok has been very slow recently. Please continue to pray for these people as we develop closer relationships with them.

Last Sunday we were able to escape for an hour and a half. We went to the movies to see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" in English. We took Karina, our neighbor with us. We even got to eat popcorn!! It was a great afternoon.

I have been participating in the worship team practices at our church. We meet in the pastor's apartment every Friday night. At first, I went just to listen so I could learn the songs and be able to sing them on Sunday. I miss singing horribly. However, once they found out I could play, they put me to work! I helped by playing a synthesizer on 2 songs today and look forward to participating some in the future. Both songs were from America. One was "The Power of Your Love" and the other was "You Are Worthy" by Hillsong.

The pastor and his wife sent me a recording of "You are Worthy" so I could practice some at home. I took the opportunity to send it to Slava, my neighbor on email. He told me tonight that he listened to it and then played it for his family. They all told me that the really enjoyed the song. Pray that God will speak through the song as they listen.

The English service that I wrote about in the last post has been postponed indefinitely. I'm not sure if this will be started or not.

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving with all of our colleagues here in Moscow on Thursday. We wish all of you and very Happy Thansgiving! We all have so much to be thankful for! Praise Him!

Prayer requests for now:

1) Language Lessons!

2) Kellan and Ella to learn more Russian and to do well in their studies. (Ella is not in school yet, but I leave her lessons to do with Olga every day.)

3) Slava, Lena, Karina, Gleb, and Varia

4) Greesha and Sabrina

NOVEMBER NEWS

I can't believe that it is arleady November. Things have gotten busy for us. We had our first dusting of snow that you see in the pictures on October 31st! Ofcourse, being from North Carolina, our kids flipped! They love it. Last night we had LOTS of snow. It covered the ground well and the roads and the sidewalks, but after about 4 or 5 hours the temperature got above freezing and it all turned to NASTY brown mush!

On October 31st, Kellan's school had a little fall festival and a yard sale that benefits the senior class. We went so the kids could play some games there. They both had good time. You can see pictures above of Ella getting her nails painted. She wanted each one a different color. On Friday, the 30th, Deana was able to attend a ladies night out for missionary ladies here in Moscow. She had an excellent time and the biggest accomplishment of the night was that she maneuvered the metro and the streets of Moscow to get there by herself! For the record, she is also turning into Betty Crocker seeing that we eat supper here every night and in America we ate at a restaurant every night of our life!

I have been working with Good News Baptist Church to help them start up an English Worship service. They want to do this 1 time a month. I have just been helping them out with the music. I will not be involved in it long term, but wanted to help them start it up and it also allows me to be involoved with music, which I miss incredibly! (This is Misha Chekalin's church, and Olga's, for those of you who know them.)

Last night I went to a worship team practice for the church that we have been attending! It was GREAT for me to experience, but whoa my brain was on overload. 6 Russians talking very quickly with each other, singing, and then them wanting me to play chords! (I can't play chords) All of this for 4 hours! I was mentally out when I got home!

We continue to spend LOTS of time with our neighbors from the 1st floor. Slava and I went out to celebrate the birth of his new daughter. It was quite an experience. We actually went to a very nice steakhouse. We communicated in Russian as best I could for several hours. He kept toasting his new daughter, our friendship, and our future. I was able to have a small spiritual conversation with him. I found out that he was Hindu until 1 year ago. He decided he needed a break from religion. He told me that he wants to hear from me, but I can't say very much about religion in Russian yet. I only told him that I needed Jesus every day and that Jesus helped me every day with everything I did. In due time, I think he will listen attentively. Continue to pray for his whole family - Slava, Lena, Karina, Gleb, and Varia.

I am also continuing to visit the renok once or twice a week to continue the relationship with Greesha and Sabrina. Continue praying for them as well.

We will be attending church tomorrow with a former interpreter of mine, Lena, and her husband. I have never been to this church before. We are looking forward to seeing them.

THANKS THANKS THANKS for all of your prayers, love, support, and encouragement! It means ALOT! I want to encourage you to please consider making shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. I know that these boxes are due soon. This has always been a project I promoted heavily at Crestview! Please make AT LEAST one box for every person in your family! You really could do more if you wanted :) All of my Crestview peeps need to come through with the boxes! ALSO PLEASE BEGIN PRAYING ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN GIVE TO LOTTIE MOON. MAYBE YOU NEED TO START PUTTING SOME MONEY ASIDE EACH WEEK OR SACRIFICING SOMETHING THAT YOU REGULARLY BUY AND ADD THAT MONEY TO WHAT THE LORD LEADS YOU TO GIVE!