August 29, 2008

Dear Friends and Family!

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

I arrived in the United States last Sunday, having run through my 90 days in Russia. At the moment, I am in Wisconsin visiting our daughter, Allison. Next week, I will start a cross-country itineration trip that includes stops in Oregon, California, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida. I will finish my visit with the Russian Network Meeting, which will be in Columbus, Georgia, this year. Mikhail Chekalin, pastor of a Moscow church, will be joining me for the meeting. If there are any churches in the Columbus area that would like us to visit, we have a few days that are not committed between September 29 and October 2. I’m sure we could manage to reach anywhere within a five-hour radius of Columbus.

Many of you have expressed your deep concerns about the conflict between Georgia and Russia. To begin with, let me assure you that we have not felt any of the tensions in Moscow. Life there goes on as normal. We are, though, deeply concerned about the peoples affected by the violence. There has been great destruction in South Ossetia, and thousands of refugees have fled, many into Russia. I met with Margarita Nelyubova (director of the Russian Round Table) before I left, and she was busy organizing relief efforts. It was her hope that they would be able to assist the Georgian Orthodox Church in their efforts as well, as they have always been partners. People are suffering and the church seeks to respond to the need, wherever it is, regardless of borders and nationality. A very powerful statement was issued this past week by the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists. It poignantly expresses what many of us have struggled with over the past weeks in the face of media coverage and challenges us as the Body of Christ. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has also set up a fund for relief in the Caucuses.

Our summer has drawn to a close. When I last wrote, I was in Germany, saving days on my visa. From Germany, I traveled to Hungary, where I had the chance to visit with colleagues—Kathy Angi, a PC(USA) missionary involved in refugee ministry, Dick and Carolyn Otterness, RCA missionaries involved in Roma ministry, and a young couple from a ministry called 2=1 (a marriage and family ministry that I heard about while in England). I am very thankful for my time in Budapest. One outcome is that Dick and Carolyn and a pastor they work with will be joining us for the annual Russian Roma Network meeting in November. We are very excited about the potential for sharing around the table. Roma ministry is tough and often lonely. Few take any interest. The opportunity to broaden the group around the table is tremendous.

Our last group of summer came from First Presbyterian Church in Temple, Texas. This was an exploratory trip for them. Whatever they decide, it was a remarkable journey. There trip began with time in Moscow and St. Petersburg. I was glad I could share this time with them. We returned from St. Petersburg (second class carriage) on Saturday morning. After a couple of hours to reorganize, we headed out again, this time with Al, and caught a train to Vyazma, a small city three hours from Moscow in the Smolensk region. If one only spends time in Moscow and St. Petersburg, one never experiences the real Russia. The group from Temple, Texas, got the full experience as we traveled the distance in an unairconditioned, third-class carriage. In Vyazma, we were met by the young pastor of the church and were loaded (very tightly) in his ancient and crumbling van for a drive to the church. Pavel had to finish work for the day (he is a tent maker), so we waited at the church and rested. It was a long wait, but when we heard about the demands of his week, we understood. After a late lunch, we went for a walking tour of the city. Vyazma has not enjoyed much of the renovation that other cities in Russia have begun to see. It is not unlike the Russia I saw on my first visit in 1999.

We enjoyed worship with the church on Sunday. The team from Temple put on a skit based on the story of the three trees. It was a new experience for the Russians, but one that they appreciated. On Monday, we were able to visit two orphanages that this small church has been working with. I was delighted to see the relationship that Pavel and his team have with the directors and know that the Lord brought us to Vyazma for a reason. Al and I will find ways to stand with this church as they seek to deepen their ministry.

The group chose to stay with families rather than in hotels, and what a good choice that was. Divided up between families, they experienced the warmth of Russian hospitality and got a glimpse of the challenges young families in Russia face. I think it left a deep impression.

We returned to Moscow in time for Al to begin teacher workdays and soon thereafter the girls began school. Meg is a senior this year and already very busy. There are college applications, of course, but she is also busy getting the yearbook organized (she’s editor), getting ready for the school play (“Much Ado about Nothing,” so they have to start early), and planning for another trip to Uganda. I think she’s doing too much, but she doesn’t want to hear that. Emma is in the sixth grade this year and is very excited about middle school. She loves her teacher and has thrown herself into schoolwork with enthusiasm. The school is short staffed this fall, so Al is teaching five classes, including both physics and AP calculus. He has his hands full.

Some of you received a prayer alert from us this week, as the school came before the Education Committee for a new license. It is our great joy to share that they were successful. This was a very important hurdle.

We ask for your prayers in two areas. First and foremost, we ask for your prayers for all those caught in the conflict between Georgia and Russia. There are thousands of refugees, and winter is coming. Our second request is more personal. We have moved a step closer in resolving my visa challenges, but we are short on time. Please pray that we can accomplish what we need to do during my six weeks in the States.

Love and blessings,

Ellen and Al

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158