Merry Christmas

Hi everyone, a lot has happened in the past few days. We had a final hurrah, at the Shulgin's house, Masha's brother's family, to celebrate our time in Saint Petersburg. We all enjoyed our pizza and sugar cookies, and relished all of the memories that we had made in our time there.
The next day, we travelled on a train for four hours to Novgorod. The first day there after getting situated, and a tour of the original city, we went to the TB hospital and put on a program for the children. We sang some songs and played some games... It was SUCH A BLAST!! Then, yesterday, (Christmas Eve), we went for a prayer walk and then Masha and I went to the store to get stuff for today. The worst part about this was that I had accidentally left Masha's cell phone in the taxi. Later that night, after the Christmas program, we called the phone and luckily the taxi driver had found it. He was willing to give it back for a small fee, which I gladly paid out of my own pocket. About $10. Then, Masha and I finished packing all of the stockings for today.
Christmas day!!!!! Merry Christmas to you all!!!!! To start, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast, one Tim would be proud of! Eggs, cinnamon toast, bacon and mexican hot chocolate! It was SO delicious! Then, I read from Luke 2. We then opened our stockings after saying something we were each thankful for. Immediately after, we exchanged our White Elephant gifts and when everyone least expected it... I pulled out the suprise gifts the parents sent for them! It shocked them all so much! You guys really hit the nail on the head! This afternoon Masha and I treated the team to ice skating followed by a large dinner prepared soley by Tiffany.
This holiday season has been full of traditions from each of the students lives including Nacho Chips on Christmas Eve and giving thanks before opening stockings. Anyways, I just wanted to thank you all for your prayers and the support that you have given us. We could not have done this without you.

Sincerely,
Kyle

PS Here is one interesting fact about this city that I will leave you with: This city is the oldest in all of present day Russia. 1,150 years old!

Week 2

This past week, just flew by. Of course I miss a lot of you guys, and the team especially is missing Tim at the moment. I feel that we all miss his sarcasm stories of ministry past. Thank you again Tim for all of your help!

Ministry wise this week, the team and I did some more english classes at Masha's school, which usually consisted of us answering questions about America, and playing a game that makes them use their English vocabulary. Then we spent a couple days in the village where the YWAM base is located. We got to do the kids club twice while we were there, and each time, we would start by introducing ourselves and playing some games, they really liked wink of death. Then we would go into our lesson plan. First we would tell a story like the lost sheep, the way that One Story taught us, and then we would use the craft to highlight key characters or ideas in the story. For instance, for our first story, the lost sheep, we had one of the students make a shepherd, and the rest of the students then would make the sheep. We joined in to of course. Then we had one of the students retell the story with the help of the other children as well, and they did great. After our story and craft time, like nearly anything else that you do in Russia, we took a break to sit down around a table together, fellowship, and drink some nice, hot tea. We also had an excellent time with the elderly ministry there. Ethan, one of my students, was able to really touch the heart of one of the babuchka's with his guitar playing. She was weeping when she told him that it was her husband's favorite instrament, and it had been nearly an entire year before she last heard it. (She never said what happened to him that he stopped.) You could tell that God was really working and moving in our time at the village. It turned out to be the highlight of nearly every everyone's week. The students have also had the unique experience of seeing what the missionary life is like here in St. Petersburg, whether it is through living with the missionaries, or visiting their home ministries, it has been an experience to remember. We have really partnered up with an english club that meets once a week or so, interceding, or just talking with one another and play games.

Please pray for wisdom for us as leaders, and that we would just be able to share the heart of God with everyone we come in contact with. One praise report that we do have is that Masha was just given an extension on here final paper, which is a huge burden lifted off her back. Now she will be able to finish her college.

Thank you all for your prayers.

-Kyle

End Week One

Well, it has been one week now, and I have been told that no American team has ever embraced the Russian culture as well as ours. I am so proud of our team. They are trying to speak Russian, trying Russian food....without complaining, and embracing the cultural things that just do not make sense to us Americans.

So, after a few of our ministries were cancelled and we frantically raced around to find replacements, we decided that the best way to fill this time would be to spend it soaking in the Russian culture. So this week alone we had orientation with our Russian hosts, walked the streets of the city, and listened to the little ol' babushka survivors from the World War Two siege of Lenningrad (St. Petersburg) sing to us stories of their life, and just give us nuggets from their life experience. We also visited the Hermitage, and ate a Russian meal, at the dacha (summer vacation house) and even got to experience the banya. Which basically is a hot steam room, sepperate from the house where you sit (usually naked), get hit by small birch branches, and drink cold kvas (basically non-alcoholic beer). It was amazing! This is a huge privilege in to experience a real authentic Russian banya, a family banya, because it would be similar to inviting strangers to your Thanksgiving meal, with your family. It just does not normally happen, and they were so blessed by the way our team showed their appreciation. There was a chance for things to turn sour though, like when we were being served piping, hot tea, fresh from the stove-top, and it got spilled all over Cara's hand and lap. Not to mention, her attitude was great, and not only that, but she came back to the table, asked for tea!, and then enjoyed the banya with the other girls on the team! Before the end of the night, here legs were no longer red, and by the next morning her hand was nearly all healed, and there was no sign of even a blister! Praise God.

Anyways, so much for a quick update. I just wanted to thank you so much for all of your prayers, and just ask that you would keep us there. Thank you, they really do more than you could even imagine.

-Love, Kyle and the Team.

Welcome to Russia

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that our trip to Russia went unordinarily smooth. All of our flights went according to plans, no hiccups, no delays, nothing. I have never had such a great time traveling internationally. The only mistakes made were mental ones, as one of our students incidentally left their i-pod on the airplane.

Our first day here was one of just getting to know our hosts, our new homes for the next three weeks, and St. Petersburg itself. I am so excited. Please remember us in your prayers, as we open ourselves to be the hands and feet of God.

-Kyle