A Sincere Thank You!
During these days of economic
turmoil around the globe, our family would like to thank each of you who have
sacrificially given financially to our church planting ministry in 2011. Your additional giving for special ministry
projects and for Christmas was an added show of your kindness and tender care
for this missionary family. Equally as
important are the prayers that you have made on our behalf asking for the Holy
Spirit’s power on, and protection for, our family as we serve here in Siberia,
Russia. Many things have happened that
could have turned out much worse had there been no intercessory prayer on our
behalf.
Village Church Building Project
I know that it must appear to you
that this project has dragged on. Well,
it has—but not for the lack of desire and willingness to see it finished, but
for financial constraints. However, this
past fall we were able to find areas in which we could economize and were able
to buy some much needed building supplies.
We still have much to do; but we are closer to the end than before.
My two daughters, Elizabeth 8 and
Abigail 6, are quite the craftsmen and have been a great help to me. Even at times, Bonnie has lent a helping hand
taking time away from the babies. The
first floor room (260 sq/ft) is just about ready. We still need to trim out the window, door
and wall corners and seams. Before we
can began using this room I MUST lay
linoleum on the floor and in the corridor.
Linoleum will cost about $600.00.
If you could help with this expense I would be grateful and your gift
could be mailed to our Mission Board (see address below).
Update On Our Krasnoyarsk Church
This last quarter our church saw
several in the flock yield their lives to carnal living. As a result our attendance has been reduced
to just a few attending services. I am
sad to report that the couple who would drive with us from the village to
church are no longer doing so. Andrei
never made a decision to repent and trust Christ and is trying to fill the
emptiness in his life with the worldly vices.
These two are unwilling to take the biblical steps necessary to correct
what is wrong. Pray we may still have an
influence for good with them.
I guess the most tragic loss for our church
and personally for Bonnie and me is the news concerning one of our young
ladies. Bonnie and I led her to Christ
many years ago and she had been faithful to church ever since. However, by accident I learned of her leading
a double life since last spring. Bonnie
and I confronted her about her sin and she explained how she realizes her
choices made were not consistent with a proper Biblical testimony. However, she was unrepentant which led to her
being disciplined out of the church.
I am so grateful for Brother
Kosty who works as a representative for a Swiss pharmaceutical company. Unfortunately, he misses half of the services
because of out of town business trips.
However, when he is in town he is always faithful to church and many
times is able to convince his unsaved son, Igor (left), to come with him. I would like to ask that you pray especially
hard for Igor to be saved along with his mother. I know Brother Kosty would be grateful.
Bonnie’s Corner
Although I love living in our
Russian village, at times I do feel isolated and long for fellowship in the
English language. My husband is
wonderful, but there are those time that I need to just get away and have some
fellowship with other Christian ladies.
We are privileged to have in Krasnoyarsk several good missionary
families with ministries either in the city or in a village not far away.
This past Thanksgiving and then
again just before Christmas all of these families were able to get together for
some long overdue fellowship. It was
sure nice to hide away with the other ladies and just chat.
Kid’s Corner
How are you? My name is
Elizabeth. I am 8 years old. In July I will be 9 years old. We have three dogs. The first is Max, the second is Storm, and
the third is Jake. I am going to the
village school. I am in the second
grade. My teacher’s name is Nadezda
Alexandrovna. I have three friends. They are Yana , Lena, and Ksusha.
I like playing out in the snow
and sledding. My sisters and I try to
make little snowmen. I love getting letters
from people in America. When Dad is in
town he goes to the post office and checks for boxes or letters. When he comes home I always ask him if there
is a letter for me. I love to help Mom
in the house: clean, dust, and wash floors.
