We are planning a return trip for the summer of 08. We will once again go and work in Siberia for 3 months. There is much to pray about, much need for the Lord’s provision and guidance. We will continue to go through SEND International . We will once again work alongside the SEND missionaries who are currently there and we hope to see the completion of the church in August 08.
What is left to do? From framing and sheetrock, to electrical and plumbing, forming up and pouring several stairways, and completion of the steeple, there is plenty to do. In addition, the church was required by local officials to provide a playground area on the church property, so that will be a project at some point as well. We are hoping to find teams of people who are willing to give a week or two of their summer to bless and be blessed by their brothers and sisters in Christ in the heart of Russia. If you or your church is interested to participate in any way, we would be glad to assist you making contact with the SEND International (there is a link to SEND on the right) to get you on your way. Between now and our next trip, we hope to share in many more churches, help to organize some work teams, learn more of the Russian language, and continue to follow whatever the Lord shows us to do.
We value and appreciate the prayerful support of all who have been praying for us. Thank you. While we were in Russia we were acutely aware of the prayers in our behalf. We ask once again that you will pray for God’s direction and our obedience to His voice. As we know more of what’s next, we will write again.
-- Bob & Robin Ivins
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Prepared for Winter
The Lesosibirsk Church building is now close to being ready to endure the coming winter. Within a month's time the temperatures will drop below freezing.
SEND Short Term Missionary, Bob Ivins, has spent the last few weeks helping the Russian brothers to finish up roofing and wood siding. All doors and window openings have been closed up and strappings and supports are in place on the inside of the building. Bob also spent time teaching the Russian brothers what else can be done before next summer to prepare for more teams to come to finish the work.
Bob and SEND missionary, James Leschied, have worked together to compile a list of team projects for next spring/summer. They have a list of at least 6 different phases of work that need to be completed. There will be concrete work: steps going to all 5 doors of the church as well as the inside stairway, and two concrete floors (upstairs and down) which will have heating in the floor. There will be framing, insulation and sheetrock work. The steeple will need to be completed. Windows and doors will need to be installed. The entire outside of the building will be brickwork. The parking lot and playground will also be needed. As you can imagine, there is still much need both for laborers and money, so please pray and consider if the Lord is leading you to help complete this church project in Lesosibirsk, Siberia.
A few weeks ago the local news channel came to the worksite to do a story on the Lesosibirsk Church (called Reconciliation Church). It was shown on local television and the work of Pastor Roma and his church was told in a very positive manner. Many people in the area are beginning to realize that something special is happening there and they are curious. The news reporter ended her story by saying,
"Next year worship services will begin in this house of prayer and people in search of hope will begin to stream here."
The people of the church are very grateful to all who have helped. May God bless all who have prayed and given of their time and resources to this work. It is a worthy one and it is already making the name of Christ known in this place.
"O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together." Psalm 34:3
SEND Short Term Missionary, Bob Ivins, has spent the last few weeks helping the Russian brothers to finish up roofing and wood siding. All doors and window openings have been closed up and strappings and supports are in place on the inside of the building. Bob also spent time teaching the Russian brothers what else can be done before next summer to prepare for more teams to come to finish the work.
Bob and SEND missionary, James Leschied, have worked together to compile a list of team projects for next spring/summer. They have a list of at least 6 different phases of work that need to be completed. There will be concrete work: steps going to all 5 doors of the church as well as the inside stairway, and two concrete floors (upstairs and down) which will have heating in the floor. There will be framing, insulation and sheetrock work. The steeple will need to be completed. Windows and doors will need to be installed. The entire outside of the building will be brickwork. The parking lot and playground will also be needed. As you can imagine, there is still much need both for laborers and money, so please pray and consider if the Lord is leading you to help complete this church project in Lesosibirsk, Siberia.
A few weeks ago the local news channel came to the worksite to do a story on the Lesosibirsk Church (called Reconciliation Church). It was shown on local television and the work of Pastor Roma and his church was told in a very positive manner. Many people in the area are beginning to realize that something special is happening there and they are curious. The news reporter ended her story by saying,
"Next year worship services will begin in this house of prayer and people in search of hope will begin to stream here."
The people of the church are very grateful to all who have helped. May God bless all who have prayed and given of their time and resources to this work. It is a worthy one and it is already making the name of Christ known in this place.
"O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together." Psalm 34:3
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Roof, Rain and Relationships
The past week has been riddled with rain. For some portion of everyday we have had to stop work because of the rain, yet the work continues.
With the help of Lena (our translator) and four of the Russian brothers, the main roof is complete and the platform for the steeple is finished. Some of the window openings have been boarded up for winter and more wood siding has been put on.
Since rain has slowed down the progress, we have taken advantage of the time to have some Bible training. Bob has been teaching from the Word of God daily. There have been some good questions and great discussions.
Lena has fairly good mastery of the English language and has been much help. We are enjoying prayer time and fellowship with those who work along side of us in this work.
News:
Pasha (Paul, the youth pastor) was recently given a scholarship to attend a year long Bible college in another city. We are rejoicing with him at this opportunity. We know that this will give him the skills he needs to serve God's people more effectively.
Ira continues to visit with us. She is an 18 year old young woman who lives in Lesosibirsk, but got connected with the church through a youth festival in Krasnoyarsk. Ira tells us that although she has not repented, she is thinking about it. We are thrilled that she frequently comes and spends time with us. She came to our apartment (the Ivins') recently and spent a few hours with us. She speaks a little English and is very curious about us, but we sense that it is the Holy Spirit of God that is drawing her. Pray for Ira's soul. It may be difficult for her at home if she chooses God, but we pray that she will.
Volva -many who have been here this summer will remember Volva (Volodia). He is a hard working willing servant. Recently Volva has diasappeared. We fear he has returned to drinking. Please pray that he will think clearly enough to once again reach out for help and find his way back to the rehabilitaion center.
We have learned today that a women's Bible training will be getting a "kick-off" this Saturday. This is a very wonderfully exciting work since there are no such things for women here. It is a 6 year commitment. They will start with the fundamentals of the faith and move on to cover such things as older women training the younger, marriage, and children. This training began in Russia in 1999 and has spread all over Russia, but it is new in Lesosibirsk. They will meet once a month in smaller groups then twice a year for the entire region. It is exciting to consider what this will mean to the Christian women in the area.
Please keep praying for the work here both physical and spiritual. We will try to update at least one more time this month.
With the help of Lena (our translator) and four of the Russian brothers, the main roof is complete and the platform for the steeple is finished. Some of the window openings have been boarded up for winter and more wood siding has been put on.
Since rain has slowed down the progress, we have taken advantage of the time to have some Bible training. Bob has been teaching from the Word of God daily. There have been some good questions and great discussions.
Lena has fairly good mastery of the English language and has been much help. We are enjoying prayer time and fellowship with those who work along side of us in this work.
News:
Pasha (Paul, the youth pastor) was recently given a scholarship to attend a year long Bible college in another city. We are rejoicing with him at this opportunity. We know that this will give him the skills he needs to serve God's people more effectively.
Ira continues to visit with us. She is an 18 year old young woman who lives in Lesosibirsk, but got connected with the church through a youth festival in Krasnoyarsk. Ira tells us that although she has not repented, she is thinking about it. We are thrilled that she frequently comes and spends time with us. She came to our apartment (the Ivins') recently and spent a few hours with us. She speaks a little English and is very curious about us, but we sense that it is the Holy Spirit of God that is drawing her. Pray for Ira's soul. It may be difficult for her at home if she chooses God, but we pray that she will.
Volva -many who have been here this summer will remember Volva (Volodia). He is a hard working willing servant. Recently Volva has diasappeared. We fear he has returned to drinking. Please pray that he will think clearly enough to once again reach out for help and find his way back to the rehabilitaion center.
We have learned today that a women's Bible training will be getting a "kick-off" this Saturday. This is a very wonderfully exciting work since there are no such things for women here. It is a 6 year commitment. They will start with the fundamentals of the faith and move on to cover such things as older women training the younger, marriage, and children. This training began in Russia in 1999 and has spread all over Russia, but it is new in Lesosibirsk. They will meet once a month in smaller groups then twice a year for the entire region. It is exciting to consider what this will mean to the Christian women in the area.
Please keep praying for the work here both physical and spiritual. We will try to update at least one more time this month.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Team 3 Update
Today, Tuesday, we continue to praise God for the good weather to work. The work was steady putting up the metal roof. Panels were completed on the east side. One quarter of the west side was completed by evening.
We also have been training the Russian brothers to continue the work with Bob Ivans after we leave tomorrow.
Dave says, "Hi", to Janice. He sends his love. The team is looking forward to seeing all our family members. We have been greatly blessed to have had this experience with fellow believers in a distant land.
We also have been training the Russian brothers to continue the work with Bob Ivans after we leave tomorrow.
Dave says, "Hi", to Janice. He sends his love. The team is looking forward to seeing all our family members. We have been greatly blessed to have had this experience with fellow believers in a distant land.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Team 3 Starts week 2
On Saturday, we worked on the roof again. It was exciting to see the first sheets of metal roofing going up.
Then on Sunday, we had a wonderful day to go to Pastor Roma's church and share in song and testimony what the Lord has done for us. Gary and Linda sang the duet, "We Press On". Dan and Marianne shared testimonials and Linda finished with another song.
The sermon was about forgiving offenses.
After church, we visited their rehab center for alcoholics, drug addicts, and the homeless outside the city. We saw many familiar faces that work with us on the project and enjoyed hearing their stories.
We learned two of our workers were graduating to move into a more independent lifestyle. The church furnishes housing for the most successful clients at
$25. a month, if they will work.
Monday we continued work on the roof. By lunch, 80% of the roofing on one side, had been completed. The Russian crew helped with the roof and filling cracks along the foundation. We had a very productive day with only minor cuts.
Then on Sunday, we had a wonderful day to go to Pastor Roma's church and share in song and testimony what the Lord has done for us. Gary and Linda sang the duet, "We Press On". Dan and Marianne shared testimonials and Linda finished with another song.
The sermon was about forgiving offenses.
After church, we visited their rehab center for alcoholics, drug addicts, and the homeless outside the city. We saw many familiar faces that work with us on the project and enjoyed hearing their stories.
We learned two of our workers were graduating to move into a more independent lifestyle. The church furnishes housing for the most successful clients at
$25. a month, if they will work.
Monday we continued work on the roof. By lunch, 80% of the roofing on one side, had been completed. The Russian crew helped with the roof and filling cracks along the foundation. We had a very productive day with only minor cuts.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Progress
Thursday, August 2, 2007
May Jesus Christ Be Praised
We had real progress with sunny skies. The team worked on putting on the vapor barrier. We reached the peak, putting in the purlins as we climbed.
The front pulpit area was clad in siding boards, thanks in part to this church's youth pastor, Paul. Paul also has talents in building steeples. He did the gold overlay on the Russian Orthodox Church in Lesosibirsk. He drew out his vision of our steeple as green with a gold cross. This would match the new tin roof, which will be similar to green Mexican tile.
The excavator arrived and is digging around the foundation. This will reveal any cracks left by the contractor which need to be filled with mortar. It will take several days to finish.
Our health is all good. Thanks to you for your continued prayer support.
May Jesus Christ Be Praised
We had real progress with sunny skies. The team worked on putting on the vapor barrier. We reached the peak, putting in the purlins as we climbed.
The front pulpit area was clad in siding boards, thanks in part to this church's youth pastor, Paul. Paul also has talents in building steeples. He did the gold overlay on the Russian Orthodox Church in Lesosibirsk. He drew out his vision of our steeple as green with a gold cross. This would match the new tin roof, which will be similar to green Mexican tile.
The excavator arrived and is digging around the foundation. This will reveal any cracks left by the contractor which need to be filled with mortar. It will take several days to finish.
Our health is all good. Thanks to you for your continued prayer support.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Team 3 Updates from Site
TEAM 3 ARRIVES AT THE SITE
We arrived in Lesoibirsk with only a few setbacks. The two boxes of nails brought were not the correct type. A suitcase was lost flying into JFK and one of the USA workers didn't feel well for several days.
The nails were reconfigured to be used to nail by hand and the workers are now all feeling much better. We are still awaiting word on the luggage.
Monday morning, team 3 arrived at the church after enjoying Moscow and Krasnoyarsk. We have been working in the rain, which has been coming and going, along with the Russian inspector..
The men have been working on scaffolding and stairs to make an easier way into the church than up the ladders. The women have been stacking 1x4's and plywood to dry, and any other tasks needed.
We really would appreciate prayer and consideration for extra money to further the multiple needs of construction. Safety and better weather to work are continued requests.
WORK CONTINUES
Today, under mixed skies, the work progessed steadily. The women finished preparing the purlins by spraying them withfire retardant and the men worked to finish the scaffolding.
Our goal tomarrow will be to get the vapor barrier up along with the purlins in order to put on the tin roof.
We continue to look to the Lord for widom and provision. We are daily grateful for the support of people here and at home.
WOBBLY START
This morning, Wednesday, it continued to rain. But after morning prayer, devotions, and worship songs the skies cleared. Praise God!
We looked forward to starting the roof and putting on the facia. Then Bob discoved that the Russian team had prematurely removed supports when filling cracks with cement. The building was shaky and we were releaved there had been no strong night wind the night before. Soon we had supports up and were back on track.
We arrived in Lesoibirsk with only a few setbacks. The two boxes of nails brought were not the correct type. A suitcase was lost flying into JFK and one of the USA workers didn't feel well for several days.
The nails were reconfigured to be used to nail by hand and the workers are now all feeling much better. We are still awaiting word on the luggage.
Monday morning, team 3 arrived at the church after enjoying Moscow and Krasnoyarsk. We have been working in the rain, which has been coming and going, along with the Russian inspector..
The men have been working on scaffolding and stairs to make an easier way into the church than up the ladders. The women have been stacking 1x4's and plywood to dry, and any other tasks needed.
We really would appreciate prayer and consideration for extra money to further the multiple needs of construction. Safety and better weather to work are continued requests.
WORK CONTINUES
Today, under mixed skies, the work progessed steadily. The women finished preparing the purlins by spraying them withfire retardant and the men worked to finish the scaffolding.
Our goal tomarrow will be to get the vapor barrier up along with the purlins in order to put on the tin roof.
We continue to look to the Lord for widom and provision. We are daily grateful for the support of people here and at home.
WOBBLY START
This morning, Wednesday, it continued to rain. But after morning prayer, devotions, and worship songs the skies cleared. Praise God!
We looked forward to starting the roof and putting on the facia. Then Bob discoved that the Russian team had prematurely removed supports when filling cracks with cement. The building was shaky and we were releaved there had been no strong night wind the night before. Soon we had supports up and were back on track.
Team 2 Arrives Safely Home
Team 2 arrived safely home in Maple Rapids around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning after landing in Chicago about 11 p.m. Michigan time. Connections were tight in New York after the Aeroflot flight from Moscow touched down at JFK late. It is a praise that our flight to Chicago was delayed almost two hours which allowed us enough time to claim our baggage, go through customs and check-in for our connecting flight. We even had enough time to grab something to eat before we boarded.
We stayed in Krasnyarsk on Saturday night and caught our flight to Moscow at 7 a.m. Sunday morning. We were met in Moscow by Pavel and a bus that took all 17 of us around the city for a quick site-seeing tour. It was an amazing thing to stand in the middle of the historic Red Square and remember the Cold War years. Many of the older members of our team remarked, "who would've ever dreamed we would be standing in Red Square after helping to build a church in Russia!" God is amazing. It is also strange to see so much capitalism surrounding Red Square. There is even a multi-level, underground mall just outside the Square that would rival many malls in America.
We pray for Team 3 as they continue the work on the church, hopefully getting it enclosed while they are there. We hope to be able to update you on their progress if communication continues with them. Thanks for all your prayers and support during our time in Lesosibirsk, Siberia. You played a key role in helping us accomplish great things.
We stayed in Krasnyarsk on Saturday night and caught our flight to Moscow at 7 a.m. Sunday morning. We were met in Moscow by Pavel and a bus that took all 17 of us around the city for a quick site-seeing tour. It was an amazing thing to stand in the middle of the historic Red Square and remember the Cold War years. Many of the older members of our team remarked, "who would've ever dreamed we would be standing in Red Square after helping to build a church in Russia!" God is amazing. It is also strange to see so much capitalism surrounding Red Square. There is even a multi-level, underground mall just outside the Square that would rival many malls in America.
We pray for Team 3 as they continue the work on the church, hopefully getting it enclosed while they are there. We hope to be able to update you on their progress if communication continues with them. Thanks for all your prayers and support during our time in Lesosibirsk, Siberia. You played a key role in helping us accomplish great things.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Praise God! All Walls and Trusses are Up!
"...the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results."
-- James 5:16
While you slept last night in Michigan, we had the joyous experience of seeing the last roof truss put in place! Praise God! Thank you for your prayers.
Prayer. It is what has made so much possible here in Siberia in just two weeks. God has been very gracious in helping us to get this far in such little time. In 1 Chronicles 17, King David desired to build a house for God, but God denied him that and left the task to his descendent Solomon. It was also our desire to build God a house here in Lesosibirsk. There were times when we thought God would have someone else build the church. Yet God saw fit to give us the honor of roughing in the exterior of the church. You too have played a role in this even though you are thousands of miles away. Your prayers, scripture and comments posted on the blog provided encouragement and reassurance to us that God is sovereign.
As mentioned in the previous posting, officials from the visa office visited the site to investigate the situation. We were told later that the official had a totally different attitude than the previous day. One of our translators also told us that they were surprised that Team 2 was using their vacation time to work on the church. They were also told that the Russian Embassey told us which type of visa we needed. That's when they decided to go back and do some more research. We have not seen them since. Continue to pray that they will keep researching during Team 3's visit.
On Saturday morning we will leave Lesosibirsk by vans to return to Krasnyarsk. We will spend the night there and catch an early Sunday morning flight to Moscow. The team will spend Sunday in Moscow, then catch a flight back to New York on Monday. We are scheduled to return to Chicago very late Monday night.
It's hard to remember we arrived here two weeks ago to a work site with only a foundation that was one-third complete. It was hard to imagine then that we would finish today with the walls and roof trusses all up. What an honor it has been to be used by God for such a noble purpose.
All the members of Team 2 have shared the common experience of building this church, yet all of us have had unique experiences of our own. On Thursday the women of the church met with the women of Team 2 to discuss marriage and how to be a Godly woman. Several of us went to a small town 45 minutes north of Lesosibirsk to a tent revival. And others were able to experience some of the culture of Lesosibirsk. We look forward to sharing more of these moments with our church, family and friends when we return home. It will be difficult to leave many of the friends we have made here in our short stay. Tonight (Friday) the church is having a gathering at the work site with our team.
Ephesians 6:18 says, "Pray at all times and on every occasion..." Please keep us in your prayers as we travel home, but also pray for Team 3 as they begin their work on the church. Most importantly, pray at all times for theu church here in Lesosibirsk and the many souls that need the hope that can only be found in Christ.
-- James 5:16
While you slept last night in Michigan, we had the joyous experience of seeing the last roof truss put in place! Praise God! Thank you for your prayers.
Prayer. It is what has made so much possible here in Siberia in just two weeks. God has been very gracious in helping us to get this far in such little time. In 1 Chronicles 17, King David desired to build a house for God, but God denied him that and left the task to his descendent Solomon. It was also our desire to build God a house here in Lesosibirsk. There were times when we thought God would have someone else build the church. Yet God saw fit to give us the honor of roughing in the exterior of the church. You too have played a role in this even though you are thousands of miles away. Your prayers, scripture and comments posted on the blog provided encouragement and reassurance to us that God is sovereign.
As mentioned in the previous posting, officials from the visa office visited the site to investigate the situation. We were told later that the official had a totally different attitude than the previous day. One of our translators also told us that they were surprised that Team 2 was using their vacation time to work on the church. They were also told that the Russian Embassey told us which type of visa we needed. That's when they decided to go back and do some more research. We have not seen them since. Continue to pray that they will keep researching during Team 3's visit.
On Saturday morning we will leave Lesosibirsk by vans to return to Krasnyarsk. We will spend the night there and catch an early Sunday morning flight to Moscow. The team will spend Sunday in Moscow, then catch a flight back to New York on Monday. We are scheduled to return to Chicago very late Monday night.
It's hard to remember we arrived here two weeks ago to a work site with only a foundation that was one-third complete. It was hard to imagine then that we would finish today with the walls and roof trusses all up. What an honor it has been to be used by God for such a noble purpose.
All the members of Team 2 have shared the common experience of building this church, yet all of us have had unique experiences of our own. On Thursday the women of the church met with the women of Team 2 to discuss marriage and how to be a Godly woman. Several of us went to a small town 45 minutes north of Lesosibirsk to a tent revival. And others were able to experience some of the culture of Lesosibirsk. We look forward to sharing more of these moments with our church, family and friends when we return home. It will be difficult to leave many of the friends we have made here in our short stay. Tonight (Friday) the church is having a gathering at the work site with our team.
Ephesians 6:18 says, "Pray at all times and on every occasion..." Please keep us in your prayers as we travel home, but also pray for Team 3 as they begin their work on the church. Most importantly, pray at all times for theu church here in Lesosibirsk and the many souls that need the hope that can only be found in Christ.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Your Prayers are Making a Difference
Today officials came to the work site and talked to Pastor Roma. They asked lots of questions. Our team leader informed them that the Russian Embassy told us what type of visa to obtain. They left saying they would do some more research.
In the meantime, God has been good. We have continued to work on the site and we made incredible progress today. More than half the trusses are now up and we expect to have 90 percent of the walls up. We hope to post pictures to the photo site tomorrow. It looks very impressive.
Please keep us and this project in prayer. We read the blog comments this morning. It was good to know this morning that you had a prayer meeting at the church only a couple hours before we were on the work site.
With one day to go, we expect we will be able to have all the roof trusses up and the walls roughed in.
In the meantime, God has been good. We have continued to work on the site and we made incredible progress today. More than half the trusses are now up and we expect to have 90 percent of the walls up. We hope to post pictures to the photo site tomorrow. It looks very impressive.
Please keep us and this project in prayer. We read the blog comments this morning. It was good to know this morning that you had a prayer meeting at the church only a couple hours before we were on the work site.
With one day to go, we expect we will be able to have all the roof trusses up and the walls roughed in.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Urgent Prayers are Needed by All -- Work May be Stopped by the City Government
We returned to the work site moments after making the last post to learn that the Lesosibirsk Administration is cracking down on Team 2 for being here without a work visa. They are using a seldom used law that says we must have work visas to be here. It is a national law that the adminstration here is chosing to apply to us. This could mean fines and what else we have yet to learn. Pastor Roma did say to us "at least they can't send you to Siberia since you are already here!"
We do not know yet what this means to our work here or for the implications to Team 3. We will try to keep you updated. Please get the word out so all can pray for this situation. With the church walls rising high, we are definitely attracting attention. But we know God is sovereign and this situation is in His hands.
We do not know yet what this means to our work here or for the implications to Team 3. We will try to keep you updated. Please get the word out so all can pray for this situation. With the church walls rising high, we are definitely attracting attention. But we know God is sovereign and this situation is in His hands.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Foundation is Complete and Trusses Begin to Rise
As for God, his way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.
-- 2 Samuel 22:31
(Please note the posting from Team 3 below this one.)
This verse says a lot about what happened Tuesday at the work site. It was a long day, but we made tremendous progress on the main entrance to the church. Walls went up including two 20-foot wall sections that form part of the main entryway. One interpreter helping with the construction looked at the walls rising with amazement. He said, "I remember standing here three years ago on this empty field and Pastor Roma telling me this would be a great spot for a church. And now here it is taking shape." God's promise is being fulfilled to the believers in Lesosibirsk through our hands and your prayers.
The other part of this verse speaks of protection. After seven days on the work site, we have only experienced cuts, bruises and sore muscles. Tuesday we experienced God's protection when we struggled to raise the second 20-foot wall section. Praise God that it did not fall and we were able to place it and nail it down. Today (Wednesday) we were able to have the crane hoist the third 20-foot wall section into place. We might also be able to begin installing trusses.
The wood we are using here has been interesting. We were able to buy 20-foot lengths that are a full 2-inches deep. Quality control, however, is sometimes lacking. Some boards we have received have varied in width by more than an inch from end to end. Others literally have waves in them. But we have learned to be flexible and to understand things operate differently here than at home.
With the foundation now complete there is a good chance the floor will be finished by Friday. God has blessed us with good weather, despite the heat last week. It has enabled us to accomplish a lot. This week it is cooler with temperatures in the upper 70s to 80. We had another thunderstorm Monday night, but it cleared up by morning. There was lots of mud at the work site on Tuesday morning, but not enough to delay the crane from setting up. Prayers are being answered.
The team is learning a lot from this trip about God's timing and rejoicing in all circumstances. While the weather is cooler and were getting more used to the different food, culture and time zone, it is still physically demanding as we press on with work. But there is joy in our hearts as we laugh and joke with one another. After more than a week of working together, even our translators and fellow Russian workers on site have joined in the kidding and fun. They have become friends and have asked many questions about you and our church. Imagine people here in Lesosibirsk, Siberia knowing about Maple Rapids and our small church that is laboring to build them a church.
We continue to hear the stories from church members of lives changed by Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that the church is much more than a building. The body of believers here are rebuilding lives on a foundation of faith in Christ and giving hope to many who were in hopeless situations. It is truly humbling to stand between the new walls in the entryway of the church and to think about what great things God will accomplish here over the years to come. Continue to pray for the church body here.
But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.
-- Jude 1:20
-- 2 Samuel 22:31
(Please note the posting from Team 3 below this one.)
This verse says a lot about what happened Tuesday at the work site. It was a long day, but we made tremendous progress on the main entrance to the church. Walls went up including two 20-foot wall sections that form part of the main entryway. One interpreter helping with the construction looked at the walls rising with amazement. He said, "I remember standing here three years ago on this empty field and Pastor Roma telling me this would be a great spot for a church. And now here it is taking shape." God's promise is being fulfilled to the believers in Lesosibirsk through our hands and your prayers.
The other part of this verse speaks of protection. After seven days on the work site, we have only experienced cuts, bruises and sore muscles. Tuesday we experienced God's protection when we struggled to raise the second 20-foot wall section. Praise God that it did not fall and we were able to place it and nail it down. Today (Wednesday) we were able to have the crane hoist the third 20-foot wall section into place. We might also be able to begin installing trusses.
The wood we are using here has been interesting. We were able to buy 20-foot lengths that are a full 2-inches deep. Quality control, however, is sometimes lacking. Some boards we have received have varied in width by more than an inch from end to end. Others literally have waves in them. But we have learned to be flexible and to understand things operate differently here than at home.
With the foundation now complete there is a good chance the floor will be finished by Friday. God has blessed us with good weather, despite the heat last week. It has enabled us to accomplish a lot. This week it is cooler with temperatures in the upper 70s to 80. We had another thunderstorm Monday night, but it cleared up by morning. There was lots of mud at the work site on Tuesday morning, but not enough to delay the crane from setting up. Prayers are being answered.
The team is learning a lot from this trip about God's timing and rejoicing in all circumstances. While the weather is cooler and were getting more used to the different food, culture and time zone, it is still physically demanding as we press on with work. But there is joy in our hearts as we laugh and joke with one another. After more than a week of working together, even our translators and fellow Russian workers on site have joined in the kidding and fun. They have become friends and have asked many questions about you and our church. Imagine people here in Lesosibirsk, Siberia knowing about Maple Rapids and our small church that is laboring to build them a church.
We continue to hear the stories from church members of lives changed by Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that the church is much more than a building. The body of believers here are rebuilding lives on a foundation of faith in Christ and giving hope to many who were in hopeless situations. It is truly humbling to stand between the new walls in the entryway of the church and to think about what great things God will accomplish here over the years to come. Continue to pray for the church body here.
But you, dear friends, must continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit.
-- Jude 1:20
Commissioning Service for Team #3
On Sunday, July 15th, Team 3 had a commissioning service at Forest Lake Baptist Church. Dick Camp, area SEND representative, showed slides of the work site and talked of the importance of this project. Gary and Linda sang a song about using Christ’s strength to press on even when we are tired and discouraged.
This was followed by the introduction of the team and the team members each giving a little information about themselves. After that, Chris Williams, interim pastor at Forest Lake, challenged the congregation to take responsibility for the team by praying for them at a time when they would normally do something else, such as watching TV or reading.
It was a great evening ending with Pastor Chris having the congregation make a circle around the team while he and Dick Camp prayed for the trip to be God honoring and profitable.
This was followed by the introduction of the team and the team members each giving a little information about themselves. After that, Chris Williams, interim pastor at Forest Lake, challenged the congregation to take responsibility for the team by praying for them at a time when they would normally do something else, such as watching TV or reading.
It was a great evening ending with Pastor Chris having the congregation make a circle around the team while he and Dick Camp prayed for the trip to be God honoring and profitable.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Two Floor Panels Placed Today, Preparations Begin for First Walls
Thanks so much for all of your comments on this site. We read all the new ones this morning during our devotion time. It's great to get news and words of encouragement from everyone back home. God has blessed us here with good weather and fellowship.
After our first week of work, what a joy it was this morning to see the crane place two floor panels on the foundation this morning. By noon several of us were on the floor getting ready to put up the first walls. We had another rain storm yesterday (Sunday) so the sight was muddy today, but not enough to hinder the work. The sun is out again this morning and it is heating up. It seems a bit cooler or we're just getting used to it.
On Saturday we had a welcomed day off from the work. It was a much needed day of rest as many of us were very tired from the week of heat and work. We went to a man-made lake and were able to cool down with a swim. The beach was simply clay with some small rocks along the shore line -- not the sandy beach we're used to in Michigan. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and time together. After leaving the lake, we went into town and toured some of the shops. One is named "Texas" -- a large grocery store.
On Sunday morning we had the honor of being able to witness baptisms at the Yenesey River. One member of the host family for Roy, Chris and Jerry decided to be baptised. It was quite an experience to see commitments to Christ made on the shores of this mighty river which runs from Mongolia to the Artic Sea. We have heard so many stories of the power of Christ to transform people from lives of addiction and depression to lives of service and joy in Christ. The church here in Lesosibirsk is truly providing hope to many who have lost hope.
After the baptisms, we worshiped with church members at the community center (the power was out so we were in the dark except for sunlight coming through the doors). Pastor Jerry gave the message with his translator which went well. (Jerry can now say he preached in Siberia.) We also heard a message from another pastor who is holding a tent revival in a small town about 45 minutes north of here (the Lesosibirsk officials would not give them a permit to hold the event so they went to the next town). Our team also sang three songs for the congregation: "Amazing Grace", "Power in the Blood" and "In Christ Alone". What an amazing experience to hear some sing along with us in Russian.
We had to leave the community center promptly after the service so the Jahovah Witnesses (JWs as they call them here) could use the facility. This is another reason this church building is important -- to give the Lesosibirsk church its own identity. Some see us, as we leave the building with the JWs going in, and think we are part of the JWs.
Sunday afternoon was more time relaxing with our host families. Some were able to tour the Orthodox Church -- a massive brick building on the river.
Stomach ailments continue with some team members. Dale was running a fever on Saturday and stayed at his host family home to rest. Kristen is at her host home today (Monday) feeling sick and tired. We think it is a combination of all the change we experienced in time zone, food, heat and even culture. Continue to pray for our health and that we get the rest we need to finish the week strong. Your prayers are very evident and greatly appreciate.
I apologize for not having photos to update the site. I forgot the camera. We have to travel from the work site to Pastor Roma's home to get Internet access -- one of the few places that have it. We hope to update everything on Wednesday.
After our first week of work, what a joy it was this morning to see the crane place two floor panels on the foundation this morning. By noon several of us were on the floor getting ready to put up the first walls. We had another rain storm yesterday (Sunday) so the sight was muddy today, but not enough to hinder the work. The sun is out again this morning and it is heating up. It seems a bit cooler or we're just getting used to it.
On Saturday we had a welcomed day off from the work. It was a much needed day of rest as many of us were very tired from the week of heat and work. We went to a man-made lake and were able to cool down with a swim. The beach was simply clay with some small rocks along the shore line -- not the sandy beach we're used to in Michigan. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and time together. After leaving the lake, we went into town and toured some of the shops. One is named "Texas" -- a large grocery store.
On Sunday morning we had the honor of being able to witness baptisms at the Yenesey River. One member of the host family for Roy, Chris and Jerry decided to be baptised. It was quite an experience to see commitments to Christ made on the shores of this mighty river which runs from Mongolia to the Artic Sea. We have heard so many stories of the power of Christ to transform people from lives of addiction and depression to lives of service and joy in Christ. The church here in Lesosibirsk is truly providing hope to many who have lost hope.
After the baptisms, we worshiped with church members at the community center (the power was out so we were in the dark except for sunlight coming through the doors). Pastor Jerry gave the message with his translator which went well. (Jerry can now say he preached in Siberia.) We also heard a message from another pastor who is holding a tent revival in a small town about 45 minutes north of here (the Lesosibirsk officials would not give them a permit to hold the event so they went to the next town). Our team also sang three songs for the congregation: "Amazing Grace", "Power in the Blood" and "In Christ Alone". What an amazing experience to hear some sing along with us in Russian.
We had to leave the community center promptly after the service so the Jahovah Witnesses (JWs as they call them here) could use the facility. This is another reason this church building is important -- to give the Lesosibirsk church its own identity. Some see us, as we leave the building with the JWs going in, and think we are part of the JWs.
Sunday afternoon was more time relaxing with our host families. Some were able to tour the Orthodox Church -- a massive brick building on the river.
Stomach ailments continue with some team members. Dale was running a fever on Saturday and stayed at his host family home to rest. Kristen is at her host home today (Monday) feeling sick and tired. We think it is a combination of all the change we experienced in time zone, food, heat and even culture. Continue to pray for our health and that we get the rest we need to finish the week strong. Your prayers are very evident and greatly appreciate.
I apologize for not having photos to update the site. I forgot the camera. We have to travel from the work site to Pastor Roma's home to get Internet access -- one of the few places that have it. We hope to update everything on Wednesday.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Walls and Trusses May Rise Next Week
"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. -- 2 Corinthians 5:18
(This verse is written on the top of the picnic shelter we built yesterday for breaks from the sun. It is in English on the left side and Russian on the right side. I'll post a picture of our translator writing it in Russion this afternoon.)
Thanks so much for all of your comments to this blog. They have been read each morning during our devotion time and are a great encouragement to us.
Your continual prayers are making a difference. Over the last week the church has really begun to take shape thanks to clear skies during the day. (I will post a picture to the photo site I just took during lunch today.) Today they are pouring a concrete cap on the top of about half the foundation so it can cure over the weekend. Lord willing, the floor will be laid over that portion on Monday morning which means construction of the walls could begin as soon as Monday afternoon. All the roof trusses are now complete and wood has been cut for the wall sections.
It has been incredibly hot here. Temperatures have hovered around 90 for the last two days with clear skies. (Not quite what us Americans might expect in Siberia.) There has been a nice breeze blowing for the last two days and that has helped curb the fatigue. We are all tired from a combination of heat and irregular sleep. Some of us still have stomach ailments, but we are all still in good spirits. God continues to care for us in so many ways. On Wednesday night a severe storm blew in just as we were packing up the work site. The group that rides the bus was able to board their bus literally seconds before a terrible downpour hit with lighting and high winds. By the time we reached our bus stop, the rain had stopped and the storm had passed.
Because most of us are riding the bus to and from the work site each day, we have become a topic of conversation among the locals. Americans are not a common site here in Lesosibirsk and it is all over town that we are here and helping to build a church. Our translator rode the bus alone last night without us and said that people on the bus were talking about us. This is already creating interest in the church and in salvation through Jesus Christ.
The editor of the local paper stopped by the work site yesterday and was impressed with all the activity. He knows Pastor Roma quite well and often prints the pastor's sermons as well as testimonials from people in the Lesosibirsk Church. Through a translator, the editor remarked, "Your saws and hammers are changing centuries of history here in Russia." The message for us and all of you back home is that your step of faith can impact the world for Christ.
As we wrap up our first week here it has been amazing to hear the testimonies of church members and how Christ has transformed their lives from darkness to light. The church here has a tremendous outreach to alcoholics and drug addicts in their rehabilitation centers. We have seen with our own eyes how Christ has transformed their lives and given them hope again.
We think often about all of you back home and will be praying for you as we worship this Sunday at 10 a.m. (10 p.m. Saturday your time). We will sing "There's Power in the Blood" this Sunday. You can also pray for several people being baptised this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. in the Yenisey River which borders Lesosibirsk. We will pray for you and think about you at church on Sunday as we go to bed here.
We may not be able to post until Monday after lunch (our time). Keep your comments coming.
(This verse is written on the top of the picnic shelter we built yesterday for breaks from the sun. It is in English on the left side and Russian on the right side. I'll post a picture of our translator writing it in Russion this afternoon.)
Thanks so much for all of your comments to this blog. They have been read each morning during our devotion time and are a great encouragement to us.
Your continual prayers are making a difference. Over the last week the church has really begun to take shape thanks to clear skies during the day. (I will post a picture to the photo site I just took during lunch today.) Today they are pouring a concrete cap on the top of about half the foundation so it can cure over the weekend. Lord willing, the floor will be laid over that portion on Monday morning which means construction of the walls could begin as soon as Monday afternoon. All the roof trusses are now complete and wood has been cut for the wall sections.
It has been incredibly hot here. Temperatures have hovered around 90 for the last two days with clear skies. (Not quite what us Americans might expect in Siberia.) There has been a nice breeze blowing for the last two days and that has helped curb the fatigue. We are all tired from a combination of heat and irregular sleep. Some of us still have stomach ailments, but we are all still in good spirits. God continues to care for us in so many ways. On Wednesday night a severe storm blew in just as we were packing up the work site. The group that rides the bus was able to board their bus literally seconds before a terrible downpour hit with lighting and high winds. By the time we reached our bus stop, the rain had stopped and the storm had passed.
Because most of us are riding the bus to and from the work site each day, we have become a topic of conversation among the locals. Americans are not a common site here in Lesosibirsk and it is all over town that we are here and helping to build a church. Our translator rode the bus alone last night without us and said that people on the bus were talking about us. This is already creating interest in the church and in salvation through Jesus Christ.
The editor of the local paper stopped by the work site yesterday and was impressed with all the activity. He knows Pastor Roma quite well and often prints the pastor's sermons as well as testimonials from people in the Lesosibirsk Church. Through a translator, the editor remarked, "Your saws and hammers are changing centuries of history here in Russia." The message for us and all of you back home is that your step of faith can impact the world for Christ.
As we wrap up our first week here it has been amazing to hear the testimonies of church members and how Christ has transformed their lives from darkness to light. The church here has a tremendous outreach to alcoholics and drug addicts in their rehabilitation centers. We have seen with our own eyes how Christ has transformed their lives and given them hope again.
We think often about all of you back home and will be praying for you as we worship this Sunday at 10 a.m. (10 p.m. Saturday your time). We will sing "There's Power in the Blood" this Sunday. You can also pray for several people being baptised this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. in the Yenisey River which borders Lesosibirsk. We will pray for you and think about you at church on Sunday as we go to bed here.
We may not be able to post until Monday after lunch (our time). Keep your comments coming.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Church Foundation is Taking Shape
3 John 1:5-6a "Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethern and especially when they are strangers and they will have testified to your love before the church..."
Your prayers are making a difference -- keep them coming. We learned Monday that the contractor left the site and stopped work on the foundation because "there were too many Americans on the site." Phone calls were made and equipment showed up promptly at 8 a.m. Tuesday. It was a sweet sound to have our morning devotion interupted by the sound of the excavator's diesel engine. As of 2 p.m. today the block for the foundation is about three-fourths the way complete. It is the team's desire to have the roof trusses in place before we leave for home. It is still a possibility if the foundation work continues as it has. Pray that this desire might be fulfilled.
Team members have been hard at work on preparing the foundation for final grade and constructing roof trussess. Joe, Roy, Kristen, Ed, Jerry and Tom have been putting mortar in the cracks in the foundation. Bigger holes have been filled with bricks. Most of the rest of us have been building the trusses under Jerrod's direction. We expect to have 30 of the 40 trusses completed by the end of today (Wednesday).
We have provided much enterainment for the locals who walk past the site. The church is located near a busy road and a large apartment complex. It is also directly behind city hall. Apparently nail guns are not common in Russia as many of the contractors working on the site have stopped to look at them in use. Bob Ivans has demonstrated the nail gun to several who have come over for a closer look.
It is quite a scene in the morning as 11 of us along with an interpretor/guide board the bus each morning for a 5-6 mile bus ride to the work site. (We are staying with several different host families from the church.) The bus ride costs 8 rubels or about 30 cents in U.S. dollars. The rest of our team is within walking distance of the work site. Each night we return to our host homes via the same bus. The bus is often packed with commuters and as you can imagine we receive many stares from other riders.
We appreciate the love and care we have received from our host families who treat us like family. None of us will go hungry with the amount of food they serve us. We often get soups along with potatoes and noodles. Our interpreters have been great in helping to keep the team hyrdrated and supplied with snacks and equipment. On Tuesday and today they arranged for us to have lunch at a banquet hall and provided us with a nice meal along with Sprite and Coke. (We've discovered that bottled water also comes in fizzy.) Even the locals boil the water here before they drink it. Bottled water is our drink of choice. "Chi" as they call it or tea is also common with meals.
Things in the city are quite different than what we are used to in the States. It's not uncommon to see cows in the streets grazing along the streets or in front of the apartment buildings. There are also massive 12-inch pipes running along the sidewalks and arching over walkways and roads. These are hot water pipes for homes and businesses for heat as well as home use. Landscaping is also non-existent. There are no manicured lawns, just lots of weeds and scraggly brush.
There have been a few bumps, cuts and bruises, but praise God no serious injuries. Some of us are experiencing some stomach upset with a slight fever so you can pray for that. It has also been very hot. Today the temperature is about 80 and clear. While we're thankful for good weather, the heat and sun are wearing us down a bit.
We thank everyone for their prayers and appreciate the comments we have received back from this blog site. I can't guarantee we'll have pictures uploaded this time, but we are trying. We're hoping for another update on Friday. (I'm getting used to the computer with Russian text.)
Your prayers are making a difference -- keep them coming. We learned Monday that the contractor left the site and stopped work on the foundation because "there were too many Americans on the site." Phone calls were made and equipment showed up promptly at 8 a.m. Tuesday. It was a sweet sound to have our morning devotion interupted by the sound of the excavator's diesel engine. As of 2 p.m. today the block for the foundation is about three-fourths the way complete. It is the team's desire to have the roof trusses in place before we leave for home. It is still a possibility if the foundation work continues as it has. Pray that this desire might be fulfilled.
Team members have been hard at work on preparing the foundation for final grade and constructing roof trussess. Joe, Roy, Kristen, Ed, Jerry and Tom have been putting mortar in the cracks in the foundation. Bigger holes have been filled with bricks. Most of the rest of us have been building the trusses under Jerrod's direction. We expect to have 30 of the 40 trusses completed by the end of today (Wednesday).
We have provided much enterainment for the locals who walk past the site. The church is located near a busy road and a large apartment complex. It is also directly behind city hall. Apparently nail guns are not common in Russia as many of the contractors working on the site have stopped to look at them in use. Bob Ivans has demonstrated the nail gun to several who have come over for a closer look.
It is quite a scene in the morning as 11 of us along with an interpretor/guide board the bus each morning for a 5-6 mile bus ride to the work site. (We are staying with several different host families from the church.) The bus ride costs 8 rubels or about 30 cents in U.S. dollars. The rest of our team is within walking distance of the work site. Each night we return to our host homes via the same bus. The bus is often packed with commuters and as you can imagine we receive many stares from other riders.
We appreciate the love and care we have received from our host families who treat us like family. None of us will go hungry with the amount of food they serve us. We often get soups along with potatoes and noodles. Our interpreters have been great in helping to keep the team hyrdrated and supplied with snacks and equipment. On Tuesday and today they arranged for us to have lunch at a banquet hall and provided us with a nice meal along with Sprite and Coke. (We've discovered that bottled water also comes in fizzy.) Even the locals boil the water here before they drink it. Bottled water is our drink of choice. "Chi" as they call it or tea is also common with meals.
Things in the city are quite different than what we are used to in the States. It's not uncommon to see cows in the streets grazing along the streets or in front of the apartment buildings. There are also massive 12-inch pipes running along the sidewalks and arching over walkways and roads. These are hot water pipes for homes and businesses for heat as well as home use. Landscaping is also non-existent. There are no manicured lawns, just lots of weeds and scraggly brush.
There have been a few bumps, cuts and bruises, but praise God no serious injuries. Some of us are experiencing some stomach upset with a slight fever so you can pray for that. It has also been very hot. Today the temperature is about 80 and clear. While we're thankful for good weather, the heat and sun are wearing us down a bit.
We thank everyone for their prayers and appreciate the comments we have received back from this blog site. I can't guarantee we'll have pictures uploaded this time, but we are trying. We're hoping for another update on Friday. (I'm getting used to the computer with Russian text.)
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Team 2 Arrives in Lesosibirsk -- Construction Continues
"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary."-- Isaiah 40:31
Team 2 arrived in Lesosibirsk late Saturday afternoon (local time), exhausted from almost two days of travel and too many time zones to count, but with new strength from the Lord. God's work here in Russia is supported by many of Christ's faithful and their spirit if very uplifting.
After leaving the hotel in Chicago around 10 a.m. Thursday, Team 2 arrived in Krosnoyarsk around 8 a.m. Saturday (local time). There we were welcomed by several from the Russian Baptist Union for whom we are helping to build the church in Lesosibirsk.
The trip to Krosnoyarsk was not without incident. Jerod lost his airline tickets in Moscow and we purchased new ones to get him to Krosnoyarsk (Aeroflot did not replace his tickets -- yet). A bin with a nail gun and some other tools did not make it to Moscow. Chris also took ill before leaving New York, but was able to sleep it off before arrving in Moscow. Then before leaving Moscow, we had to sit in a hot plane on the tarmac for two hours before we took off.
The prayers of many are very evident. A pastor enroute from Bulgaria to Krasnoyarsk talked to Ed next to a bus at Moscow airport. As it turned out, Pastor Ivan told us he was "prompted by the spirit to talk to Ed." This was a true blessing as Pastor Evan helped our team and all our supplies from the International to the Domestic Terminal and safely on our plane to Krosnoyarsk. He was an angel sent by God.
In Krosnoyarsk we were loaded into vans for the trip to Lesosibirsk -- a carvan of four vehicles. Halfway there, Pastor Roma suprised us all by pulling into a small village. There we were greeted by five women at a home church. Pastor Jerry shared a few words (through an interpretor) in a small room in the house with benches for worship services. Then these women blessed our large group of more than 25, including translators and drivers, with a lunch of homemade breads, garden vegetables, soup and deserts. It was an awesome display of generosity. We have learned to say thank you in Russian -- spah-see-bah -- after being blessed by the care of so many.
We pressed on to Lesosibirsk, passing large fields of wheat by former collective farms and forests. We arrived mid-afternoon Saturday and went immediately to the church site. Praise God for there was much activity on the site. The giant foundation blocks are being laid and they are about halfway to completion. There is hope that they may complete it by the end of the week.
After visting the church site, team members were divided up among host families. We have experienced God's love and graciousness through these families who are housing us during our stay. As believers in Christ, we were welcomed here as family. We were reminded of Eph. 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household.
Sunday morning our team joined Pastor Roma and his congregation for a church service at the community center. There were about 100 attending. It was wonderous to hear the hymns we sing in Maple Rapids, sung in Russian. We joined in singing the english words. At the service, Pastor Ivan, who we met at the Moscow airport, was the guest preacher. He preached on Romans 15:1 "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves." It was a new experience to hear a sermon in Russian in one ear and to hear it in english through a translator through the other ear. " We are strong when we are in Christ," Pastor Ivan said. " We must use the strength of our call to help the weak." He preached how Paul once used his strength to cause problems for Christians. "Paul became weak to be strong in Christ," he pointed out. "If we think the rich and powerful are our friends, maybe we need to change our friends. A friend is someone we give help to until the very end. We lead them to Christ, not to other gods.
After church, team members went back to their host homes to relax and try to recover from the jet lag. At 11:30 p.m. there is still some light in the sky and people are out until dark. The weather here has been warm -- almost hot. Lots of sun which has helped construction.
Today, Monday, Team 2 has been onsite working for the first time. Some are laying brick to patch holes in the foundation. Others are constructing trusses for the roof. (We have almost two built and 38 to go.) After a great lunch at a local cafe we are about to return to the work site.
I hope this post is readable as I have had to work with a computer with Russian words. It has been a challenge getting to a computer with the Internet, but we are now here. Thanks for all your prayers. They are very evident. Sorry that there are no new pictures yet to post to the photo site. We hope to get some there soon.
Team 2 arrived in Lesosibirsk late Saturday afternoon (local time), exhausted from almost two days of travel and too many time zones to count, but with new strength from the Lord. God's work here in Russia is supported by many of Christ's faithful and their spirit if very uplifting.
After leaving the hotel in Chicago around 10 a.m. Thursday, Team 2 arrived in Krosnoyarsk around 8 a.m. Saturday (local time). There we were welcomed by several from the Russian Baptist Union for whom we are helping to build the church in Lesosibirsk.
The trip to Krosnoyarsk was not without incident. Jerod lost his airline tickets in Moscow and we purchased new ones to get him to Krosnoyarsk (Aeroflot did not replace his tickets -- yet). A bin with a nail gun and some other tools did not make it to Moscow. Chris also took ill before leaving New York, but was able to sleep it off before arrving in Moscow. Then before leaving Moscow, we had to sit in a hot plane on the tarmac for two hours before we took off.
The prayers of many are very evident. A pastor enroute from Bulgaria to Krasnoyarsk talked to Ed next to a bus at Moscow airport. As it turned out, Pastor Ivan told us he was "prompted by the spirit to talk to Ed." This was a true blessing as Pastor Evan helped our team and all our supplies from the International to the Domestic Terminal and safely on our plane to Krosnoyarsk. He was an angel sent by God.
In Krosnoyarsk we were loaded into vans for the trip to Lesosibirsk -- a carvan of four vehicles. Halfway there, Pastor Roma suprised us all by pulling into a small village. There we were greeted by five women at a home church. Pastor Jerry shared a few words (through an interpretor) in a small room in the house with benches for worship services. Then these women blessed our large group of more than 25, including translators and drivers, with a lunch of homemade breads, garden vegetables, soup and deserts. It was an awesome display of generosity. We have learned to say thank you in Russian -- spah-see-bah -- after being blessed by the care of so many.
We pressed on to Lesosibirsk, passing large fields of wheat by former collective farms and forests. We arrived mid-afternoon Saturday and went immediately to the church site. Praise God for there was much activity on the site. The giant foundation blocks are being laid and they are about halfway to completion. There is hope that they may complete it by the end of the week.
After visting the church site, team members were divided up among host families. We have experienced God's love and graciousness through these families who are housing us during our stay. As believers in Christ, we were welcomed here as family. We were reminded of Eph. 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household.
Sunday morning our team joined Pastor Roma and his congregation for a church service at the community center. There were about 100 attending. It was wonderous to hear the hymns we sing in Maple Rapids, sung in Russian. We joined in singing the english words. At the service, Pastor Ivan, who we met at the Moscow airport, was the guest preacher. He preached on Romans 15:1 "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves." It was a new experience to hear a sermon in Russian in one ear and to hear it in english through a translator through the other ear. " We are strong when we are in Christ," Pastor Ivan said. " We must use the strength of our call to help the weak." He preached how Paul once used his strength to cause problems for Christians. "Paul became weak to be strong in Christ," he pointed out. "If we think the rich and powerful are our friends, maybe we need to change our friends. A friend is someone we give help to until the very end. We lead them to Christ, not to other gods.
After church, team members went back to their host homes to relax and try to recover from the jet lag. At 11:30 p.m. there is still some light in the sky and people are out until dark. The weather here has been warm -- almost hot. Lots of sun which has helped construction.
Today, Monday, Team 2 has been onsite working for the first time. Some are laying brick to patch holes in the foundation. Others are constructing trusses for the roof. (We have almost two built and 38 to go.) After a great lunch at a local cafe we are about to return to the work site.
I hope this post is readable as I have had to work with a computer with Russian words. It has been a challenge getting to a computer with the Internet, but we are now here. Thanks for all your prayers. They are very evident. Sorry that there are no new pictures yet to post to the photo site. We hope to get some there soon.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Team 2 Arrives in Chicago
Thanks to the fine driving skills of Roy, Team 2 arrived in Chicago around 10:30 p.m. Michigan time. We're grateful for the dozens who showed up for a prayerful send off earlier this evening from Maple Rapids Congregational Church. All papers are in order including our Russian Visas. We will be off to O'Hare airport 9:30 a.m. tomorrow and on our way to Russia. Pray for safe travels and for the work that continues on the church foundation in Lesosibirsk.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Work Resumes Onsite While Team 2 Prepares to Leave
Praise the Lord! Bob Ivins reports from Lesosibirsk that work has resumed on the foundation and they are laying block again at the site.
Team 2 completed packing over the weekend of supplies that will accompany them to Lesosibirsk. Team Leader Richard Goshert also reports that he has received passports and Visas -- only days before departure.
Continue your prayers for the ongoing constructin and Team 2 as they prepare to travel to Lesosibirsk this week.
Team 2 completed packing over the weekend of supplies that will accompany them to Lesosibirsk. Team Leader Richard Goshert also reports that he has received passports and Visas -- only days before departure.
Continue your prayers for the ongoing constructin and Team 2 as they prepare to travel to Lesosibirsk this week.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
July 4, 2007 -- Prayer is in Order as Challenges Abound
"Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." -- Hebrews 10:36
Bob Ivins reports from the Lesosibisk church site that the construction company supervisor, and the engineer came on site. They looked at the hole, said it’s too wet and will be back on Monday. That gives them 7 days to finish the foundation before Team Two arrives. It’s still possible for it to happen. (Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/siberiamissiontrip for a current view of the construction site.)
“All teams must remain flexible, and serve where the Lord wants us to serve,” Said Richard Goshert, Send International. “There is more to do on other construction projects than we can accomplish.”
“We will be flexible,” Bob said. “Presently our team is large enough; we can have a framing crew building trusses, and a crew setting block if it comes to that.”
Richards says that the plan now is for Team Two to pick up the Lesosibrisk project at whatever point it is and continue to finish as much as possible. He said they may have two or three crews divided to work on the foundation, truss building, and possibly side wall construction. "In the off chance that they run out of work, there is a children’s camp with a large need for teams to work."
Update From Team Three
Gary Griffis reports that Team Three is now only six people, four men and two women. Gary Jordan, the construction teacher at the local community college, fell from a 20 ft. ladder last week and broke his pelvis in 5 places. Because of this, both he and his wife will not be going.
Bob Ivins reports from the Lesosibisk church site that the construction company supervisor, and the engineer came on site. They looked at the hole, said it’s too wet and will be back on Monday. That gives them 7 days to finish the foundation before Team Two arrives. It’s still possible for it to happen. (Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/siberiamissiontrip for a current view of the construction site.)
“All teams must remain flexible, and serve where the Lord wants us to serve,” Said Richard Goshert, Send International. “There is more to do on other construction projects than we can accomplish.”
“We will be flexible,” Bob said. “Presently our team is large enough; we can have a framing crew building trusses, and a crew setting block if it comes to that.”
Richards says that the plan now is for Team Two to pick up the Lesosibrisk project at whatever point it is and continue to finish as much as possible. He said they may have two or three crews divided to work on the foundation, truss building, and possibly side wall construction. "In the off chance that they run out of work, there is a children’s camp with a large need for teams to work."
Update From Team Three
Gary Griffis reports that Team Three is now only six people, four men and two women. Gary Jordan, the construction teacher at the local community college, fell from a 20 ft. ladder last week and broke his pelvis in 5 places. Because of this, both he and his wife will not be going.
Monday, July 2, 2007
June 29, 2007 -- Digging Stalled But Materials Arrive
Half of the city is without hot water and the construction company that is doing our work was called by the city administration to repair it. We have now gone four days without seeing any more progress on the hole.
As of noon Friday,approximately 150 blocks have been thoroughly cleaned (they are used block -- old soviet military base blocks), thanks to the team from California. The Russian men have had to expand the fence almost twice the size to accommodate all of the block. About 90 percent of the blocks have been delivered, all of the pillow blocks have been delivered, and I believe all of the floor panels have been delivered.
In additon we have had three truckloads of sand and 20 bags of portland cement delivered. We still have not been told by the engineer what mixture he wants the mortar and we still lack a mixer, but we have a promise of one next week. Fighting the rain with prayer. Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.
Glad to be here. Bob & Robin
As of noon Friday,approximately 150 blocks have been thoroughly cleaned (they are used block -- old soviet military base blocks), thanks to the team from California. The Russian men have had to expand the fence almost twice the size to accommodate all of the block. About 90 percent of the blocks have been delivered, all of the pillow blocks have been delivered, and I believe all of the floor panels have been delivered.
In additon we have had three truckloads of sand and 20 bags of portland cement delivered. We still have not been told by the engineer what mixture he wants the mortar and we still lack a mixer, but we have a promise of one next week. Fighting the rain with prayer. Thanks for your encouragement and prayers.
Glad to be here. Bob & Robin
June 26, 2007 -- Digging Work Begins at Lesosibirsk Church Site
It is Tuesday night, June 26. Friday night the inspector said the hole must be deeper around the perimeter, 1.5 meters. We dug and hit the water table, so we settled at aproximately 1.2 meters. Then rain, then no power, etc.
While picking up pillow blocks, the truck with Pastor Roma collided wih a car. The men were drunk. All are okay, but the hurt man (then sober) prayed with Pastor Roma to receive Christ. The man's car is totalled. The truck has been repaired enough to complete the delivery.
In Christ, Bob & Robin
While picking up pillow blocks, the truck with Pastor Roma collided wih a car. The men were drunk. All are okay, but the hurt man (then sober) prayed with Pastor Roma to receive Christ. The man's car is totalled. The truck has been repaired enough to complete the delivery.
In Christ, Bob & Robin
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