Hey everyone, sorry that I have not been able to update you all for a while. Anyways, as I am sure you all know, we are to be back in at the base in about six days. We can hardly wait.
Anyways, for the past three weeks or so, we have been ministering in villages, to the unreached of Russia. It has been the privilege of a lifetime!
Incase you might have been wondering, this is what the typical village day was like.
Wake Up at 9. Breakfast from like 9:30 to about 10. Then we would do work duties until about 11. Some point between then and two we would eat lunch, and then entertain whoever dropped in. Often times we did scheduled ministry (movie/ teaching, or coffee club), and then we would work on entertaining our guests (who never seemed to leave, mostly children). We usually got to bed around 11:30 or 12.
As far as living goes, you had to wear a coat sometimes, depending on how long you were in the half of the house that was not heated. Which was usually anytime that you had to go to the bathroom, or prepare a meal. As far as the cold goes, it was not too bad. Only -17 C to about -33 C (1 F - 27 F). Hahaha....but seriously, it was not bad. You got used to it pretty quick, or you got cabin fever. Just ask the team....hahaha.
Yeah....back to the village life. We had no showers, so we Banya-ed as often as possible, and then finished off with bucket showers. It was fantastic. Oh, and sometimes the water would quit on us. Haha, that was fun too!
Anyways, I cannot wait to see everyone again. Thank you for all of your prayers and support, this would not be possible without you.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Novgorod:
Sorry guys, it has been a while since I have been able to update you about the team here in Russia. Our last three weeks in Novgorod was really highlighted by those we met there. Our contacts there, Marina and Svyeta, who also make up all of YWAM Novgorod, were fantastic. At first, they had us housed in two apartments, and then after we got evicted (for housing too many people), we moved into Marina’s church, the “Word of Life” Church. Thankfully they were able to house us there for all the time that we had left in Novgorod. This actually helped us out a lot. Especially financially as a team, we were able to save quite a bit of money, and process longer as a team. The only downfall I noticed, was that we no longer could shower or wash our clothes....and then God stepped in. Go God!
The first night there at the church, Sunday night, we had three people ask us if we had a place to shower, and proceeded to offer us their work place (a hotel) and apartments. They were such blessings.
Our ministry there was very diverse. We worked with many churches, and Salvation Army. We also worked in nursing homes, a TB hospital, ran a coffee club, a missions discussion group, and put on our fair share of Christmas programs. The best part of our ministry there was that despite how diverse it was, the team really grasped hold of the opportunities to build lasting relationships with the local youth there. Two girls from a local youth group, who also had an interest in missions, followed us around to nearly all of our ministry times the final week or two, and we were really able to impact them deeply. We were also able to influence and encourage countless others too. These two though, and one guy, Daniel from the youth group of the church where we were staying were impacted so deeply that they want to do a DTS of their own!
The most exciting thing about our ministry in Novgorod was that the team really jelled together, and our contacts even said that our love for one another was our greatest testimony! Praise God! I think that our team unity or at least ministry levels really improved after a church service at a Korean house church, where everyone flowed out of their giftings, and continued there after. One of the coolest things about this service was that there were two Chinese girls there, non-believers, who never have been to a Christian gathering before! And man could they sing and play the piano, like angels!
Thank you all so much for your prayers, and continue to remember us in your prayers. This Monday, we will be traveling to a village north of Perm, where we will be working at reaching the unreached of Russia. Pray for us, that we would receive God’s heart and will for this portion of outreach.
-Kyle
The first night there at the church, Sunday night, we had three people ask us if we had a place to shower, and proceeded to offer us their work place (a hotel) and apartments. They were such blessings.
Our ministry there was very diverse. We worked with many churches, and Salvation Army. We also worked in nursing homes, a TB hospital, ran a coffee club, a missions discussion group, and put on our fair share of Christmas programs. The best part of our ministry there was that despite how diverse it was, the team really grasped hold of the opportunities to build lasting relationships with the local youth there. Two girls from a local youth group, who also had an interest in missions, followed us around to nearly all of our ministry times the final week or two, and we were really able to impact them deeply. We were also able to influence and encourage countless others too. These two though, and one guy, Daniel from the youth group of the church where we were staying were impacted so deeply that they want to do a DTS of their own!
The most exciting thing about our ministry in Novgorod was that the team really jelled together, and our contacts even said that our love for one another was our greatest testimony! Praise God! I think that our team unity or at least ministry levels really improved after a church service at a Korean house church, where everyone flowed out of their giftings, and continued there after. One of the coolest things about this service was that there were two Chinese girls there, non-believers, who never have been to a Christian gathering before! And man could they sing and play the piano, like angels!
Thank you all so much for your prayers, and continue to remember us in your prayers. This Monday, we will be traveling to a village north of Perm, where we will be working at reaching the unreached of Russia. Pray for us, that we would receive God’s heart and will for this portion of outreach.
-Kyle
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