Patience and Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance. "

Friday morning started with devotions by Yvette about patience. Patience is something we all as a team need. Prayer is always needed, too.

On Friday the scaffolding was moved from the altar end of the church to the opposite end. More ceiling dry wall work was accomplished. The ladies went on a shopping trip for souvenirs in the morning. Lesosibirsk is not a tourist area so we found other items including fairy tale books that are just like our fairy tales, dolls and stuffed animals that say things in Russian, and Russian chocolate. We also found rabbit fur coats on sale for 8000 rubles, about $400. The shopping trip required a bus ride for 10 rubles per person each way. We met Oleg, a man from the church, on the return ride. Ira, a young woman who Bob and Robin befriended last year here in Lesosibirsk was working in one store and recognized Marianne, from last year's New York team. It was a joyful reunion for the 3 ladies. We returned to the job site in time for another delicious lunch. Later the salty snacks we had were also appreciated by all. We now know that the Pringles that are 99 cents in the U.S. are $4.00 a can here. Maybe that is why they tasted so good.

Friday devotions by Lynn focused on prayer. Prayer for the team's safety and progress, prayer for the Reconciliation Church project, prayer for the people of the church, prayer for Pastor Roma and his family. Also prayer is needed for the missionary familes serving in Russia who face many issues each day that we are unaware of.

Today's goal was to finish enough to be able to have church services in the building on Sunday and we accomplished it! We cannot give enough thanks and praise to God who has been our guide and protector and to all who have prayed for the team and project. The Russian brothers came to put the benches back into place when we left for the day.

On Friday evening we were invited to the men's rehab center sponsored by the church. Two young women served us tea and prayer was said for their upcoming trip to start a new women's rehab center in another city. We all had a chance to check out the banya, what we would call a sauna. There were 3 rooms that got progressively hotter. They also use hats to keep from making their head too hot! The evening was completed with a dinner at a local cafe for the team and translators. Pastor Roma and a few Russian brothers joined us for some fellowship.

Please keep Pastor Roma and his family in prayer as they are now on the way to Moscow for a seminar that he will attend. The trip will take about 3 days. We hope to meet them in Moscow next Saturday when we are on our return flight.