A Day of Thanksgiving...

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The weather has been gorgeous, the trees are glowing and I am full of thanks! Today, we celebrated "Harvest Day" with our Church. We had a great time of fellowship and lots and lots of food!!! We are so thankful to be able to worship the Lord with such a wonderful Church family.

WOP-Day 7

Today is the final day of the Week of Pray for the Golden Ring. Thank you for joining us in this journey to pray for the people that live in the great city Yaroslavl and throughout the Golden Ring. Let's conclude this great week by praying for all the missionaries who serve in the Golden Ring. It is a privilege to serve with the many missionary families and church leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and America. Please pray that these many servants would have endurance to run the race that is before them, with faithfulness and courage.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

A Trip to Kostroma

A few of the ladies from our Church spent the day in Kostroma at a totally fun Women's Conference. We were all encouraged to preserver and rejoice in times of trails. We had a wonderful time of fellowship, eating (My goal for the day was to try every type of chocolate that was offered and I can happily report that I am now 20 pounds heavier, but goal accomplished!), and laughing! I am so thankful for such sweet ladies to share the day with!

WOP-Day 6

The Russian Orthodox Church is very influential in Yaroslavl and throughout Russia. Pray for reformation within the Orthodox Church. Pray that the Orthodox believers would personally begin to read the Bible and would discover their need for a personal savior. Pray that the Orthodox Churches would worship in spirit and in truth.

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. John 4:23

Praying With Our Neighbors

8 of our Church friends who live in our neighborhood joined us tonight to pray for our family, friends and neighborhood. We are so thankful for great friends and a wonderful time of fellowship!

WOP-Day 5

Pray that the evangelical churches in Yaroslavl would experience a revival. Pray for the leadership of the Good News Baptist Church and that many more labors would join the Church in reaching Yaroslavl for Christ.

. . .asking God to fill you with the knowledge of is will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding . . .Col 1:9-10

The 2nd Day of Homeschooling...

We are officially in the third week of homeschooling and Gideon and I have spent 2 afternoons "doing school"! We got off to a slow start and then have had Internet difficulties, after our first afternoon. I am glad that our goal is only to "supplement"---whatever that means, the Russian activities he is doing in the morning at preschool.

Gideon did so much better today and actually asked me if we could do school! I so badly wanted to say, "after my nap" or "maybe tomorrow", but I grabbed a cup of coffee and said, "SURE!"

I have been made more aware of my many weakness during this new adventure in our lives, but God is good and basically all of the work has been done for me with the online curriculum. We are currently working on English, Math and Social Studies and will do the Bible assignments at night as a family. We are "opting out" of science and art...ok, honestly it is too much stuff to gather and do after all of the other assignments and we don't get started until after 2pm, when I really want to be napping and I am soo not artistic or scientific!!!

I have really enjoyed the Social Studies assignments...and had actually planned on skipping it as well. Right now the assignments are "All About ME!" Today, I interviewed Gideon. This is how it went...at least the funny parts...
Me: What is your favorite food?
G: Hot dogs...this was the only question that didn't take great amounts of time contemplating.

Me: Where do you live?
G: Here...very bright boy!

Me: What is you favorite sport?
G: I am not allowed to run. (I have no idea why he thinks this!)

Me: If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
G: Would you go with me?
Me: Yes, I would go and so would daddy and ME.
G: I would like to go to the Blue Mall. (The Mall down the street with video games and a big play place.)

Picture of Gideon in need of a haircut!

WOP-Day 4

Pray the Government officials would become people of integrity and have wisdom in leading Yaroslavl. Pray that people of peace would rise up within the government and that they would not place restriction on the Evangelical Churches, but that they would work together.
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Prov. 19:12

Fun Time With the Darville Gang

Sarah and her parents, Dub and Gayla Darville, came with Katya (far left) and Alys (far right)to join us today for a tour of all of the beautiful historical sights in Yaroslavl. It was so fun and interesting to be lead through the streets by a real Yaroslavl historian. Thanks Darville gang for a fun day and thanks Gayla for all of the great wisdom!!!

WOP-Day 3

Children are cherished and valued in Yaroslavl, but many suffer from the effects of the poor economy, poverty and abuse. Pray that the younger generation would find Christian role models and find hope, love, peace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Pray that the believers would be firm and strong in their faith in school and with their friends and family.

Please pray especially for our children, Gideon and Mary Elizabeth. Even though they have spent the majority of their lives here in Russia, they face many struggles with language and cultural differences. Please pray that they would be strong physically, emotionally and spiritually to overcome the obstacles that "Third Culture" missionary kids face. Pray that Gideon would love school, be a good example for ME and others and not be afraid but be filled with peace and joy. Pray ME would have a kind and generous heart and realize that everything is NOT hers! :-)

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Tim 4:12

2 Packages!!!

Granny sent a package with lots of goodies for everyone. The kids were jumping for joy (and so was mommy when she saw the chocolate covered mint oreos!!!) at all of the fun treats. Gideon loved his new coat the most, while ME favorite was all of the sugary treats!!!

Box #2 was from Aunt Kelli, Uncle Alan and Kyle and included this totally fun Batman costume and a My Little Pony for ME!!!


Thank you Granny and Aunt Kelli for all of the fun treats!!! We love and miss you!!!

Keith is 35!!!

Keith with his not so pretty (or tasty) German Chocolate Cake. I tried to make the icing from scratch with fresh coconut...I am so not Betty Crocker!!!

Happy Birthday, Keith!!! We love you!!!

WOP-Day 2

Far less than 1% of Yaroslavl is involved in a Bible based church or group. Pray that many people in Yaroslavl, and especially in the Neftistroy Region, would open their homes for Bible study and worship.

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:42

Prayerwalking with First Baptist Helen

A great, fun team joined us today from First Baptist Church Helen, Georgia. They are the first Prayerwalking Team to join us during our Week of Prayer for the Golden Ring and it was an honor to have them praying with us for the people of Yaroslavl. The highlight of my time with them was having them in our home and the fabulous time of fellowship we had! Thank you First Baptist Helen! We love and appreciate you all!!!

Victor and Keith sharing with a man they met while prayerwalking.

WOP-Day 1

Alcoholism, drugs, poverty, corruption and abuse are major problem in Yaroslavl. Pray the people of Yaroslavl will recognize that God has shown Himself through Jesus' life. Pray that the people of Yaroslavl would open their hearts to Christ and the Christian witness. Pray they will repent, place their faith in Jesus Christ, and that their Christian faith would become living and active.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-John 1:12

The Dolphin Show

Today, we went to see a Dolphin Show with friends from Gideon's class.

This in Nina and her parents Nataliya and Claus. They are Danish, German and Russian who moved here from France! We are so excited to have such a fun family to spend the day with!

Keith, ME and Gideon

Week of Prayer for Yaroslavl, Russia

Tomorrow, Team Golden Ring will kick-off the 4th Annual Week of Prayer for the Golden Ring and this year Yaroslavl is the focus!!! Please join us this week as we pray for our great city!!!

Yaroslavl is one of the main cities of Russia’s Golden Ring, a ring of the most historic cities of the nation. The population is currently over 650,000 people and is located at the intersection of the Volga and Kotrosol rivers about 160 miles north of Moscow. It has become a modern city with a growing economy. New businesses and shopping malls can be seen all over the city. Historically, Yaroslavl has the honor of being the first Christian city founded along the Volga River when Yaroslavl the Wise first arrived to find a pagan people worshipping a bear. Yaroslavl the Wise is said to have fought and killed the bear, won the allegiance of the people and converted them to Christianity. Unfortunately, the city has done little to live up to this reputation. The people here are being destroyed spiritually and physically by alcoholism, abortion, suicide and materialism.

This photo is of a statue of Yaroslavl the Wise in the center of Yaroslavl.

Weekend Project

Gideon the Handy Man!

The Final Project...with daddy's help!

Way To Go Locomotives!!!

Aren't the trees gorgeous!

The Locomotives, our professional Ice Hockey Team, beat the first place team 7-1!!! It was a great game! Way to go Locomotives!!!

Home School Has Begun!

Today was our first day of home schooling! It has been a slow and unprepared kick-off, but hopefully we will quickly get the hang of it! We have chosen to supplement half a day Russian preschool/kindergarten with an online home schooling curriculum with the Jubilee Academy. Our prayer is that Gideon would get a good grasp of the basics and have fun learning! Today, I learned a lot about Gideon in a short amount of time! Please pray that this would be a fun time that we both look forward to each day (or as often as possible!) and that he would understand all that he needs to know. I am so not a gifted teacher, so please pray that I would have wisdom, patience and that Gideon would be a good learner!

Going to Play...

Finally, the rain has temporarily stopped and the kids are going outside to play with daddy!

Making Cookies With Mommy!

The Pioneer Woman posted a totally delicious oatmeal cookie recipe we tried out tonight! Thanks Pioneer Woman for all the great recipes and yes, my kids usually do run around the house in their undies!!!

Meet Era...

Era is one of ME's teachers. She is so sweet and great with all of the kids! We are so thankful for such a great teacher! Please pray that ME continues to adjust well in preschool, makes good friends and learns how to be a good friend!

Why?!?

Why is now ME's favorite word and response to almost everything! Why...I wish I knew why!

Our Last Watermelon

Yum, Yum, Yum!!!

Our New House!

Gideon and ME have built another new home! They are so creative and have great imaginations. Life is never boring around here!!!

Kristie's IQ

First Day of Sunday School

ME's Class---Teachers: Lena, Olga, Tonya and Nastiya
(Notice ME's tights and tennis shoes!!!)

Gideon's Class---Teacher, Alya
(Notice the little girl to the side of Alya with the huge white hair bow!!!)