We're Here

I never thought the day would get here and now we've been here for almost 2 months. We have internet now so we can post updates. I've never been a regular poster in my blogs but I will try to keep this updated with pics and thoughts on a regular basis. I told everyone that we would put in the original post about our visa situation on here so I will do that. I'll also put in the post we used in case you don't get our newsletters. Please sign up to be on our mailing list if you haven't already.

Original Post:
Our Registration got mixed up. We were told to register somewhere we shouldn’t have. Now we’re registered as tourists and not students. Yep, you read right…and we’re coming to find out that it’s more than just going to the Ovir (special division of Russian authorities) and asking, “Can you fix this?” We’ve been told (by Russians) that the Ovir is not human, they are machines. They have no emotions, no compassion, that they don’t care about our predicament. I do believe that our God is bigger than the Ovir though. Amen?! So what they are saying is that we have to start the whole visa process over again. In Russia that is very expensive. Then we have to leave the country to get our visas. We’ve been told we have to go back to America…or Finland…or Latvia…or Estonia. Pray that we get a solid affordable solution to this.

New Post:
When I first wrote this article we had an urgent prayer need. Our registration got mixed up and we were forced with the fact that we were going to have to leave the country and possibly come back to America to renew our visas. Jennifer urged me to meet with the Ovir to explain our situation. Long story short: Natalia, the director of the school went with me and we plead our case to the Ovir. Surprising our director the woman took the paperwork and said she would look into it. Natalia still told me not to be optimistic. Two days later we are in our language class when the director stuck here head in the door and said, “Congratulations, you’ll get your one year visas.” Can you say “We serve a God that does the impossible?” You can read the original article on our website under updates.

So this is a huge praise report. Please keep praying as the situation is still in the Ovir's hands. We had to get some testing done for the renewal and it was supposed to be in this afternoon. The results won't be back until tomorrow and we haven't heard anything today from the school. Pray that the Ovir will let this just pass through when we get ther results from the tests.

Some updates

Well...what has happened since our last update. We went to Massachusetts to speak at a slavic church. It was all Russian and we needed a translator to speak there. It was pretty cool. We went over to someone's house that evening and had tea. Now if you've ever been to Russia you would know that tea can mean a 7 course meal. That's what we got and it was deloicious! The Russian people are so hospitable. I love them. We met some really cool people and were able to make some contacts to help us when we get over there. On the way back to Ohio we stopped off at Niagra Falls. It was quite a nice pit stop.

We bought our plane tickets yesterday. Our apartment is lined up...and the visas are in process. Man this is really getting close. July 22nd is our launch date. Keep us in your prayers. we're nervous but know this is what God wants us to do.

Off to St. Pete

Today we're off to Russia for a preliminary trip to meet some of the folks we'll be working with over there. Jennifer's not going so I'm a bit bummed about that but Pastor Jim is going with me. It seems to be a pretty packed schedule. Sosnovy Bor, Kommunar, Luga, Ukki, St. Peterburg...all in 8 days. I am really looking forward to this trip. It will get my feet wet a bit because I will be on my own in St. Petersburg on Friday. I'm meeting with a man I met there who is a missionary with his family. He's given me some good advice and I'm looking forward to spending some time with him again. I'll try to post hwile I'm there if I get a chance.

Seperation Anxiety

Well...our sale is over. We decided not to have another one in 2 weeks. I'm not very fond of having sales. We actually didn't do too bad considering the blizzard and all. We sold most of it at rediculously low prices...but we got rid of alot of it. You never realize how much stuff you have until you decide to get rid of it all.

Why do we get so attatched to "things"? I found myself not wanting to let go of some things that I've grown to like alot. I mean we kept some of our most prized possessions, but most of what we've collected over the last 15 years had to go. I think it comes down to the fact that one man's trash is another man's treasure...or vise versa in this case. Everyone wants the deal of the century. We ended up giving alot of things away. That was a little hard. I felt like I was having seperation anxiety for my "stuff". It was wierd. The fact that we sold our bedroom suit for food stamps is a bit amuzing but it spends like cash in my house. What can ya do. On buyer backed out of buying it and the other wanted it but didn't have enough cash...so we sold it to them. we gotta eat too right!? I sold our computer as well so I need to get a laptop now. we didn't have any room in our new place to keep a desktop pc. That will have to happen soon because I'm now computerless. I feel lost without one.

I got some good news about the visa situation. It looks like we might be able to get a charitable work visa. The new law doesn't seem to be affecting those types of visas. That's great news! Pray that doesn't change over the next 4 months.

A Blizzard

We are trying to have a sale and liquidate all of our belongings and Ohio decides to go and have a blizzard. Thursday it was nice out and now it's snowing. That's Ohio weather for ya. We're probably going to try to have another sale in 2 weeks. That will be Easter weekend but I think we'll have it on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We're moving in with Jennifer's Dad and will be there until we move in July. Pray that we can liquidate as much stuff as we can. That will make it easier on us.

This realization struck me the other day. we're trying to sell things pretty cheap to get rid of it...so we're basically selling our life here in this house for a laptop and a camcorder. Kind of puts it in perspective when I think about it like that. I need a nice laptop though so if anyone knows of any good deals on a laptop let me know. That's about it for now.

Dr. Jesse duplantis came to Springfield Monday night. He is one of my favorite preachers. We were able to set up a booth at the event. Thanks Pastor Kevin!! We had a few people sign up for our newsletter. I was a little discouraged though at the amount of interest. We were packing up to leave after the event was over when my pastor came up to me and says, "someone wants to meet you." No it wasn't Jesse Duplantis. He had to leave because they were trying to beat the snow storm that was about to hit. It was however one of his staff. She prayed for Jennifer and I and spoke some words from the Lord over us. It was much needed encouragement. She gave us her card and wanted us to keep in touch with her. come to find out, she has had a heart for Russia for aawhile now. I feel like if that was the only person God wanted us to meet up with there...then I'm cool with that.

Why do I find it hard to trust God at times. I feel like I always need a reminder from him that everything is going to be alright. He has told us time and time again that He has everything under control but I let myself be talked into believing that things are just going to fall apart or something. I wish I wasn't so thick headed about this. He has never let me down in the past so why would He start now.

Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Another Church Partner

We were able to speak at a local church this last weekend and it went great. We had a businessman donate the printing and mailing of all of our newsletters when we leave. That's awesome because I was just thinking about that the other day and wondering how we were going to be able to handle that. God is awesome. He's putting it all together for us. Just keep the visa process lifted up in your prayers.