The training wheels have come off.
We’ve been at dacha for the past few days, and Valerie asked if we would take the training wheels off her bike. After a day of mama keeping her steady, she finally got the knack of it:
Happy Birthday to Valerie
Valerie had her 5th birthday a few weeks ago, and I’m just now getting around to posting this video. One gift was a singing card from Grandmother Nancy in the States:
We’ve also started a tradition. Each year we take a picture of Valerie in the same dress, one of Olga’s. It will be fun to watch Valerie grow into it as the years pass.
Here are the first two photos in the series:
4th Birthday 5th Birthday
Well, that was really something!
I’ve just arrived in Russia after a whirl-wind trip. I left St. Petersburg, Russia on July 12 with Caroline Bennighof, a Stoneworks intern, in Estonia we picked up Kristjan Pold and Krystal Smith (another Stoneworks intern) and drove to Montenegro. We helped run a youth camp there for a few weeks and then drove all the way to Finland.From there, I drove to Russia to complete the circuit. All together, we traveled 7932 km (4928 miles) in a van. On the way we visited Budapest, Vienna, Auschwitz/Birkenau, Tallinn and many other places, while traveling in 14 countries, from the Baltics to the Balkans.
This was a very fulfilling trip. On the drives to and from Montenegro, we had great times of conversation and fellowship. We listed to, and discussed, several recordings by Elisabeth Elliot. While in Montenegro, we worked very well together as we served at the camp, where we worked with a team from the US ministry Students With A Testimony (SWAT).
I am very thankful for the time. God blessed us all in many ways. Here are few pictures from the trip, in no particular order.
The Long Drive to Montenegro
I (Mike) arrived in Montenegro a couple of days ago. I drove here with two Stoneworks interns, Caroline Bennighof and Krystal Smith, and a young man from Estonia, Kristjan Pold.
We’re here to work with a team from the US who will run a youth camp next week. The team arrives tomorrow, and for the next few days we’ll build relationships with the youth and minister at the Brethren Assembly here in Podgorica.
Here are the numbers —
- 2966km (1843 miles): from our front door in St. Petersburg, Russia to the front door of our friends in Podgorica, Montenegro
- 2732km (1698 miles): from the Tallinn airport to Podgorica, Montenegro
- 35hours and 51 minutes: total time driving, with the car in motion.
- Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro
Video of Camp Elama
Last week we were at Camp Elama (in Russia), and this week we’ve been at Camp Gideon (in Estonia). Yan and Nadya Boldyrev made a video slideshow of our camp in Russia. We had a GREAT time there with Russian campers and an American team from Teen Mania. Jon & Denise Riley and their children also joined us.
Tomorrow Olga and Valerie will return to Russia, and I’ll go with the American team to Tallinn for a sightseeing day before heading to Finland for their departure home. Then I’ll head back to Russia, too.
Here’s the video —
A Postcard from Russia
Actually the picture above was taken in Estonia last week, but I’m now in Russia. It is a field of rapeseed (canola) located very close to the Gulf of Finland.
While in Estonia, I attended the Open House for Sunbeam, the center for children with disabilities we are opening in Jõhvi. Click here for pictures of the Open House. Just before that, I returned from a great trip to Montenegro where I met a team from Athens, GA. Next week a team from the States comes to run a camp at our Russian camp Elama, then we take them to Estonia to do ministry there. Then I go to Finland to pick up one of our two interns who will help us in Russia and later in Montenegro. It’s a full summer.
Olga has some news about her grandfather, Orest:
My grandfather is 93 years old and served in WWII. He has a long history of being a part of the communist party and being an atheist. We’ve been praying for my grandpa practically since we’ve been believers. Recently my grandfather’s health has been declining. We’re all wondering how much longer he’s going to be with us. Last Sunday my mom once again approached him about the message of God’s love, and he agreed to pray a prayer of salvation with her. The fact that he said to God ‘please forgive me’ is a real miracle, because I don’t remember him saying anything like this to anyone ever. We are very thankful for God’s mercy and His love for my grandfather, and we pray that God will fill him with a knowledge of His peace and His presence.
Sunbeam Open House
I was in Estonia last week for the Open House at Sunbeam. The mayor of Jõhvi, city administrators and townfolk came to learn more about the center and see our progress. Mary Walsh and Janice Himmelsbach, supporters from the US, were also there. They are in town advising the staff about the program.
Things are coming along pretty well. We already have three children signed up, so it’s nice to know that we can hit the ground running when the building is ready. We’ll need more money to finish out the building, though. All in all, it’s great to see what’s been accomplished since February 1.
In addition to the center for children with disabilities, we’ve also rented a portion of the building to the Salvation Army, a kindergarten and a youth center. A Christian dance company is also talking with us about renting the hall. So, Sunbeam has become a ministry center, more than our original vision for only a day center for children.
Such is the Spirit
I’ve just returned from time with a mission team in Montenegro and I’d like to share one example of how the team served and how God spoke.
We ran a youth camp for a few days earlier this week. As a part of the camp, in one session the team had a time during which each camper was prayed for and team members would share impressions that they sensed as they prayed; the purpose is to share scriptures and words of encouragement and comfort.
One of the young lady campers heard about this ahead of time, and that day, as she was reading the Bible story of a woman anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume and wiping them with her hair (Luke 7) the camper said to God something like — ‘if this team is really hearing from you and if you really speak to people, then have one of the team members mention the story of this woman to me today’.
We all, Americans and campers, sat in a circle as the team shared their words of encouragement. Each team member prayed, asking God to give good words to share with each camper. Many good, encouraging words and scriptures were shared with all the campers. When the time came to share with this young lady, though people said many things to her, no one mentioned the story.
After we’d spoken to each camper, there was a time for team members to say anything they may not have had time to share before. Again, no one mentioned the story to the young lady. She was dispirited and sort of ‘gave up’ on the whole thing.
After we dismissed that meeting, one of the team members went to the young lady and said that the Lord had put something on her heart for the camper. It was Luke 7, the story of the woman washing Jesus’ feet!
The camper was in awe that the Lord would hear her prayer and love her so much as to answer it so specifically. Her heart was deeply touched and she was very encouraged. Only God could make that specific connection for that young woman. Her faith was increased and she felt the touch of the Lord.
God is love. He will be found by those who seek Him.
A Snapshot from Montenegro
Here’s the view from our kitchen in Podgorica, Montenegro:
A mission team from Athens, GA arrives today. Tomorrow and Friday we’ll meet with university students and early next week we’ll run a youth camp.
We had a work day at Elama on Saturday. It was cool and rainy, so we didn’t get as much work done as we’d hoped, but we had a great time of fellowship together. Elama will host quite a few people this summer.
I’m now in Montenegro, awaiting the arrival of a mission team. The busy part of the summer will quick be upon us.
Here are a few pictures of the day:
Masha, Katya, Yan, Olga, Sergei (Kristina was with the kids, I took the picture)
Ksusha (one of Sergei and Kristina’s daughters) by the summer kitchen
Sergei and Kristina
of course, we cooked shashleek
and you gotta have kvas!
Masha Oshkina
two years ago a mission team cut down a BIG tree; we finally got it cut up and moved; now we need to split it for firewood
Mike and Olga Cantrell 