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!