SEEKING THE LOST, FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CHANGING THE NEXT GENERATION IN RUSSIA |
| Kilometers, Pot holes and Corrupt Traffic Police for 40 Hours One Way:: |
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Dear Friends and Family,
We have been back home here in Russia for just a few weeks, after driving over 40 hours one way to renew our visas. If you don’t live here, it can be hard to understand, I’ll explain a little.
New Laws, Old Mindsets
Last October, the Duma (Russian Parliament) passed a new law for all foreigners. In the past we could stay for a year at a time, the new law only allows for 3 consecutive months here and then you must leave for 3 months. Imagine if you had to relocate to Canada or Mexico every 3 months, for 3 months? Not very cost effective and pretty hard on family life. You are also required to return to your country of citizenship to apply for your visa. Several of our friends, including A/G workers have had to move to other fields or return to the US. At least 1/3 of all the workers here have had to leave and the number is growing as their current visas expire. |
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| Revolution Youth web site:: |
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Revolution Youth web
please visit us at www.revolutionyouth.info
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| Good News for Us, Bad News for Circus Goers:: |
 While many are being forced out, we were offered a way to stay for at least 2 consecutive 2 years. It’s called a “work permit” and involves Mark wearing a tutu and dancing with a bear at a local circus. In all seriousness, we did legally obtain this work permit. There is no circus, but Mark did have to jump through a number of hoops, multiple medical tests from a chest x-ray to check for TB to blood and drug tests. We now know that he has the TB free lungs of Placido Domingo and a Lance Armstrong-like ability to pass a drug test. With Letters of Invitation in hand we drove to Europe, where we could travel and stay safely without passports, for you see, our passports were traveling back to America to get our new visas glued into them at a Russian Consulate. For those keeping score at home, it is less expensive to overnight passports back to America than 6 Broberg. We had no problems at the various borders and God even opened doors for us to build up a prayer support team in Austria! We met many believers that were interested and sensitive to our ministry. |
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| Feeling Fortunate and Living Like It. We feel fortunate to be able to stay. More than that, we have a new responsibility to and awareness of the Lord’s providence. There is a new level and fresh desire in our team to finish things that we have started, and plant new works that will grow even after that inevitable day that we must leave, whether tomorrow or 20 years from tomorrow. Today we’ll be spending our time translating needed materials, training national leaders and demonstrating Christ’s love to the orphanages, prisons, schools and universities of Southern Russia. As the days slip into history the hours ahead of us become even more important. |
| B.Y.O.B. (bring your own Bible… you knew I was going to say Bible)
Now that we are here and sticking around we would like to extend an invitation to you! Bring your teams, short-term and long-term, to help us fill in the gaps. There are many needs right now. Here are just a few of the areas we are working in that you can add to and learn from: Loving Kids: Orphans, Homeless, Juvenile Prison, Royal Rangers, Camps for children from war-torn Muslim areas. Rehab Centers: Teen Challenge, the “Fish Farm” in the Caucuses, Street Evangelism. Church Planting: Construction on 2 Buildings, Outreach, English Clubs, English Camps. College Students: Least Reached People groups who have never heard the gospel, Outreaches from English Clubs to Mountain Bike Trips. Your average Russian is still friendly and open to cross-cultural friendships. There are many opportunities, keeping in mind that Christ’s return is imminent. |
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You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving”.–Amy Carmichael
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 Think about what could be accomplished with your help. Whether by fervent, faithful, knees on the floor, gut-wrenching God centered times of prayer or by creative and thrifty financial sacrifices. Giving to, or praying for real and felt needs of people you might not meet this side of Eternity. No, really, take a few seconds to think about it. No pressure, we don’t feel pressured to live here, you shouldn’t feel pressured to help us live here. You don’t owe us anything. But if this is worth our lives, it may be worth your time and creativity. Why do I keep using the word creativity for money? Because we read the news, we know that high gas and food prices are hitting you, that foreclosures are affecting good people. We understand that it will take creativity on your part to continue to finance the sharing of Christ love around the world. We also know that Ecclesiastes 11:4 is true, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap”. We won’t let the winds of the Russian political landscape keep us from working in the field, if you won’t let the foreboding clouds of American economics stop you from investing in the safest market known, treasures in Heaven. Come on, that was good!!! Ha. You know us, we’re not manipulators, but we are motivators. Thanks so much for all that you already do!!! We know God will fill the hole that has been left from so many workers leaving. You can help. Please consider your role in this, seemingly, last effort to reach Russia with Jesus.
Your faithful friends,
The |
