Deana is recovering from her surgery!

Deana is recovering from her surgery at the European Medical Center. Her surgery was this morning. Everything went as planned and she has been doing very well. We had a very LONG check-in process yesterday because the doctor was in surgery when we arrived about 11:45. Deana finally got into a room a little after 4:00. She was a bit worried because the nurses did not speak English, but she has handled that well! Most of the doctors speak English and they have an interpreter when necessary. She is not in a private room . She shares a room with a young Russian girl who had knee surgery. Lori and my mom spent most of the day with her. I went up after my language class and a Russian couple from the church we attend went by to see her today. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! She should be in the hosptial until Sunday. I'm sure she could use some emails from home if you are willing!

At the beginning of December a couple of Kellan's Sunday School Teachers came up to me and told me that they needed him to be a wise man in the Christmas play but that he would not agree to do it. They asked me to talk to him about it. After I thought about it, I decided I wasn't going to make him. He has been pretty brave just going to the Sunday School where there is no English spoken and I was fine with him not doing it, but I did want him to think about it. So, I told him that the teachers talked with me and that I thought he should pray about whether God wanted him to do it or not. After about 5 or 6 days he came back to me and said that God told him he should do it!

He was not very happy about the costume, but orange is his favorite color! He was really nervous, but he did a GREAT job. When I took him to the room where his teachers were, I asked him if he needed me to stay and translate anything, but he didn't. He said he thouht he understood. When it was over, I told him he did a great job and that his bow was PERFECT. He laughed and said, "I had no idea what to do! I just followed the one in front of me!"

I was a very proud daddy! He did a GREAT job!

PLEASE PRAY!

I'm sure most of you who read this knows that Deana broke her leg on January 4th after her language lesson. She was coming down a set of stairs outside and fell. Thankfully, I had just gotten to my sister's apartment which is only about a 6-8 minute walk from where she fell. We ran over and another friend (thanks Kris) drove around to where she was and drove us all to the European Medical Clinic.
The first doctor ordered x-rays and a CT scan and discovered 2 breaks. He told us that he thought it would need surgery but that the main doctor would need to examine her the next day (thanks Lori). The "main" doctor found a 3rd break and did advise surgery. We went back today at 11:00 (thanks Rhenn) and were hoping that Deana would be admitted today for surgery in the morning, but the swelling had not gone down enough. We will go back on Wednesday and try again. If the swelling is down enough then, the surgery will be Thursday morning.
Other prayer requests:
1) Kellan started back to school today.
2) Olga returns tomorrow to begin keeping Ella again.
3) I return to language lessons tomorrow.
4) Pray for Kellan and Ella this Sunday when they say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa for a while. (Ella is now ready to go to the beach with them! She has told us all what she will do when she gets there.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We hade a great time with some friends who are living in Ufa, Russia over New Year's weekend. They were here and stayed with us for 3 nights. On New Year's night, we walked around red square for a couple of hours. I stole these pictures from them. They take much better pictures than me! We enjoyed eating out with them and taking them to IKEA here in Moscow. We showed them a very quick tour of part of this great city!

GRANDPARENTS ARE HERE!

We have had a good time visiting with my mom and dad since December 26th. The kids have really enjoyed seeing them here. They are headed to my sisters today to spend the rest of the time, but we will be seeing them a few more times while they are there. They head back to North Carolina next Monday, the 18th.

DECEMBER PICTURES

Just a few pictures from Christmas time!

1) Kellan will kill me for this one, but Santa made it to Moscow with a snowskate!

2) Ella got a doll that she can practice her beauty school skills on!

3) Kellan and Ella have LOTS of fun together. (usually) Especially when he agrees to do what she wants!

4) Ella posing in front of our Christmas tree!

5) Kellan and his good friend James! They were both wise men in the play that their Russian class did at school. Good job boys!

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL OF THE EMAILS, CARDS, SKYPE CALLS, AND FACEBOOK MESSAGES THAT HELPED MAKE OUR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.

We celebrated Christmas Eve with some of our colleagues here in Moscow. We took the kids out sledding for a couple of hours before enjoying lunch together. We then had a candlelight Christmas story! It was great being with our family, friends, and co-workers that God has given us here.

On Christmas morning, we woke up late and found what Santa had left each of us. I must have bveen a bad boy because my stocking had 2 items in it. 1 pack of gum and 1 pen. I guess Santa didn't shop to well himself! We then went to my sister's apartment and had a late lunch there with her family and 2 other journey guys here.

On Christmas night I went to Good News Baptist Church for their Christmas service. I was really tired and didn't want to go, but it was INCREDIBLE! God really blessed my Christmas by being there. They had lots of music and drama and lighting. I was very impressed by all of the hard work that they all put into making it such a special service. (For those of you who have been to Moscow or who know the Chekalin Family, this is the church where he is the pastor.)

Sorry It's Been So Long!

We are sorry that it has been so long since we have updated the blog. We hope that everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving! Here is a list of the pictures above:

1. Our Russian friends Yura and Lena playing Wii bowling with the kids. It was there first time! Kellan won!

2. We received a box of goodies form Deana's Sunday School Class at Crestview! Thanks to all of you for the treats!

3. Bother and Sister - Growing up FAST!

4. Kellan, Yura, Lena, and Ella - Lena has been an interpreter for my volunteer groups 2 times before. We have enjoyed getting to know them better.

5. The outfit Ella chose to wear to decorate the Christmas tree.

6. We had to make a paper chain to help Ella understand when Grandma and Grandpa were coming. She thought that since we put our tree up they should be here for Christmas.

Personal Updates:

Jeremy - I am about to finish up my first full semester of language. Today I had an unofficial exam in my group on grammar and listening. Thankfully, I did very well on both of them. The hard parts, which are conversation and writing, I have not completed yet. On Wednesday nights I have started helping with an English Club that our church has started. The first week we had around 30 people and this Wednesday we had around 25. There are about 10 non-believers registered. On Friday's I go to worship team practice for the church. I enjoy the time there, but it is very difficult for me because I have to listen to 6 Russians talk to each other and they want me to play chords, which I am not used to doing.

Deana - has finished her first Russian textbook and will be taking her first exam sometime soon after Christmas. She is getting more comfortable going to the store and doing things on her own. She is still learning to cook LOTS of different kinds of food and doing a good job.

Kellan - Kellan continues to enjoy his school. He does not like his homework! He does very well in his Russian class. He began piano lessons on Wednesday with a very young Russian named Max. He is enjoying his first week of practice. I hope that continues!

Ella - is a hoot! She is always keeping us laughing and on the go. She is so energetic. She loves Olga and looks forward to her coming every day. She has learned to recognize all of the English alphabet A-X and is working on Y right now. She is beginning to learn to write and is working on sequencing events.

We are experiencing Russian winter now. The snow is beautiful and it is getting cold. The forecast for Tuesday calls for a high of 2 degrees! Help us, Lord!

Please continue praying for:

1) Slava, Lena, Karina, Gleb, and Varia - our neighbors

2) Greesha - HE HAS ASKED ME TO PRAY FOR HIM EVERY TIME I SEE HIM. I PROMISED HIM THAT I HAD FRIENDS ALL AROUND THE WORLD THAT WOULD JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR HIM.

3) Language lessons and acquisition.

4) Wednesday night English Club

5) Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER WHAT YOU CAN GIVE TO THIS YEAR'S LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING. APPOINTMENTS TO THE FIELD, BENEFITS, COST OF LIVING, AND OTHER THINGS ARE HAVING TO BE CUT BY THE IMB DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING! PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING AND GIVING AND GIVING TO LOTTIE MOON! THERE ARE PEOPLE READY TO GO AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS, BUT THERE IS NO MONEY TO SEND THEM!