Hey Everyone

I apologize for taking so long to send the next update. Most of the nights this week, I have been getting home around 11PM, eating a snack, drinking some tea and going to bed. The American team left yesterday and Daniel and I are left to continue the work. Daniel was part of the American team this summer and last summer. He is a Russian American from the L.A. area and we worked well together last summer as we made friends with the “Drunk Group.” 

This week, much was done in the courtyard; we: built benches, sandboxes and painted those along with the Amphitheatre. For a couple days we had people from several different areas of Russia and America (and even a musical group from Latvia). Sidenote: The father of the Latvian family told me he had been to the Fresno area in the Sequoia National Forest. I was pretty shocked and we instantly became even better friends.

At night time, the Latvian family in addition to the local church put on a concert/church service for the people in the vicinity of the courtyard. Many people heard the Great News of the Gospel through song, through sermons and through our actions. After the concert, we would set up the volleyball net and play a few games against each other and against the local youth. During the last concert, the courtyard director (named Yuri) came and awarded a framed certificate of thanks for the 13 or so churches represented. A few days prior, there was a meeting of all the courtyard directors in Pskov with the mayor. Yuri stood up and said something along the lines of “I have 40 or so Evangelical Baptists from all over the world working for me this week. They do amazing work!” In response, one of the other courtyard directors wanted to have us beautify his courtyards, but Yuri said “You need to see their work, but I want them for myself, you can’t have them!”

There are many things I can mention about this week and how God is working, but one of the highlights was the “Tea Party.” Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to meet up with friends from the “Drunk Group” (Pavel, Victor, Sergei). Our friendship had not changed this whole year. It was as if I was in Pskov this whole time. Daniel and I have been hanging out with them most of the nights this week at the concert. Before the American team left, we hosted a “Tea Party” which was pretty much a Christian youth service with food and drinks. The Drunk Group and us walked over to the venue and talked outside. They didn’t want to go inside, but it started raining…so we found cover under a doorway. The rain would stop for a bit and then start up again. This time, it was really pouring down so we decided on going inside to the Tea Party to keep dry. It was a packed house, so when we came in, we sat up front on the stage with the speaker. I think we all felt that all eyes were on us (especially since my friends are at this Christian youth event). Our other non-Christian friends (who we met this week and who are a lot younger) were there and they even told me earlier that I shouldn’t be hanging out with the “Drunk Group.” I am sure that even the younger guys were in shock that they were there.

During one of the talks, Victor (from the Drunk Group) blurted out a question: “How do you know that God exists?” The Latvian father said “It’s like the wind, you can’t see the wind, but you can feel its presence.” Victor replies “Who hear has felt God’s presence?” [Almost all hands in the room went up]. Victor goes “Well, sometimes I don’t believe in God and sometimes I do.” [The crowd cheers.] It was a pretty intense but funny moment. During the course of the night, I had to stand up for my friends because I felt like they were being blasted by one of the guys who wanted to say something (by pointing and staring at my friends). 

I honestly care for my friends and they care about Daniel and I also. On several occasions, they have said that we honestly understand and relate to them and accept them. Not only do they feel somewhat judged by the Christian community, but from the Pskov community as a whole. They trust and feel safe with us and God has given us great favor with them. Several of the church members and people working with us here have talked to them at the Tea Party and at the concert and have sometimes turned them somewhat off to the Gospel (because they focus on their sins and not on Jesus). At the same time, I know that God is working in their lives. They are definitely more serious about spiritual things than last year. One of our main jobs is to help the local church have favor with my friends and I think that is happening slowly. 

Daniel and I have made many new friends through Pavel and other people, so our next 3 weeks should be busy spending time with all of them. We plan on providing an English class on Tuesday and Thursday nights. On Friday nights, Alexander (the church planter) has a film night in the same facility (and of course on Sunday nights for the service). This week, I will be visiting several villages and even staying the night at one of them. 

Thank you for your prayers. God has definitely answered them. For example, Daniel and I were somewhat lost and couldn’t find the facility (the Tea Party room) for the Sunday service last night, but we randomly saw one of the younger guys walking by himself. He pointed us in the right direction and were able to find the place.

Titus 3:3-7

Den