We’re in Finland for a few days staying at the little cabin, named Koppero, that we’ve mentioned before. 

Because of visa restrictions I must be out of Russia fairly often; it’s just a 5 hour drive here so it’s easy to come over and spend a few days. And it’s nice to have an internet connection so we can continue to work.

Koppero is located on a beautiful lake that often has very dramatic sunsets. We love the place and have been helping fix it up over the years. On this trip we’re cleaning, mowing grass, building bookshelves, and relaxing in the hammock.

We return to Russia on Tuesday, and life gets busy in July:

— Olga helps two teams from Texas as they minister in youth camps
— We host a children’s camp at Elama, the Christian camp in Russia
— I go to Montenegro with a team from Athens, Georgia to run a camp in the mountains

There’s also good news from Stoneworks. We’re adding long-term missionaries to our ‘family’; I’ll report more on that later. The work in Belarus continues to grow, even in difficult circumstances.

We are currently building support for a Family Home we’ll open in Minsk this fall (if all goes as hoped). This will be a residential program helping graduate orphans grow as Christians and learn life skills. Please contact me if you’re interested in knowing more about that project.

This scripture is meaningful to us this morning, Psalm 139:1-5 — O lord you have searched me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I arise. You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in, behind and before. You have laid your hand upon me.