Russia by Natasha, Dasah, and Alex Read more about Russia here REPORT FROM RUSSIA April-May, 2006 Dear brethren, I am writing this letter on the behalf of the church in Moscow. This report covers my activity during the period from April to May. WORK These two months were very busy for me. On the one hand I was busy with the church: except Sundays I meet people on other days. I think that the closest friendship within the church is very important. We often go for a walk around Moscow, go sightseeing etc, etc. And on the other hand I was busy with the preparation to repair my new three room flat. I meet different companies etc, etc. to hire different people for repairing the flat. The future flat is without any conveniences and I need to find specialists for each work, among them electricity, bathroom fitments and different other works. I want to be sure that everything will be ...[more] AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2006 REPORT October 2006 Dear brethren, Here is my report, which covers August and September. WORK AND PEOPLE August and part of September was the period of vacations and most of the people preferred to leave the city to some other places (summer cottages, other countries etc etc). That is why the attendance was small. At last Michael (the security) returned from his vacation and started to visit the church again but he visits the church not regularly because he sometimes works on Sundays. Inna became a granny, her daughter moved to her flat with a baby and now it is difficult for her to visit the church regularly because she helps her daughter (it takes her about 1 hour and a half to get the church). We have new comers: Leva and Olga. They repair my flat and when I invite them to visit the church they ...[more] ALEX FROM MOSCOW December 16, 2006 Greetings to all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here is my report, which covers October and November. MY FAMILY I am happy to tell you that everything is O.K. with my family. My daughter Dasha resumes going to school. Now she is in the 3rd grade. She wants to play the piano and we plan to hire a musical teacher for her. Natasha is O.K. too. She started teaching English to children privately at home. I continue reading and translating the children Bible with my daughter. During my Bible lessons on Saturdays and my preaching on Sundays Dasha sometimes doesn't understand the idea and I usually prepare special lessons for her (it's children's level). I plan Natasha will use my lessons for children in the church in the nearest future. And one more thing Mac and Shannon...[more] MOSCOW REPORT FOR JANUARY 2007 February 12, 2007 New Year greetings to you with prayers for growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Here is my report, which covers December and January. WEATHER The weather is changeable in Moscow. We saw the New Year in when it was warm (above zero) and children couldn?t skate and ski. It was unusual for Russia to see the New Year in without snow. MY FAMILY We are doing fine. My daughter Dasha started to play the piano. We hired a musical teacher for her and now the teacher teaches her how to play and how to sing. The musical teacher says that Dasha is talented for music. Now Dasha sings spiritual sons in the church better because she knows how to do it according to the notes. My wife Natasha tries to play the piano too but she is not talented as Dasha an...[more] MOSCOW REPORT FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH 2007 April 23, 2007 Greetings friends and brethren! I praise the Lord for His many works in life, and I thank Him for many blessings we enjoy. I am glad to report you that everything goes well here in Moscow. The church in Moscow continues to worship and conduct Bible classes. MY FAMILY Spring time affects my daughter Dasha very much. This is the season when any person I think is weak and lack of vitamins. Dasha has been sick for most of February and March with the flue or allergy (the symptoms are the following: coughing, sneezing, sore throat etc.). To know it exactly it is necessary to go through special tests but it costs a lot. Usually in summer time she stops being ill at all. The doctors say about another possible reason of her illness. She grows very quickly physically (the doctors call it ...[more] ALEX FROM MOSCOW April, May, June 2007 The Lord has blessed us with other months of good health and has allowed us to work among people in Moscow. We are thankful to all who have been praying for us here in Moscow. MY FAMILY All Russian pupils have summer vocation at last. Dasha has finished the school year very well. She makes a success in playing the piano, she participates in concerts. Natasha and I continue studying the Bible (the Bible for children) with Dasha. We use not only the book but also CD games, which brethren Shannon and Mac brought from the USA. School year is over, teachers (as you know my wife and I are teachers by profession) also have vocation. It means that we have no this income item for the summer time. WEATHER The weather in May was very hot and broke all the records. But in June the...[more] ALEX FROM MOSCOW July, August 2007 Dear Brethren and Sisters in Christ, Here is my report which covers my activity during the period from July to August. MY FAMILY Dasha had vacation and she did nothing except playing games but … Once she played with her friend Masha and Masha pushed her. Dasha fell on the ground and broke her arm. It wasn’t a strong push but as I had written you in my previous reports Dasha grows very quickly physically and her body can’t have time to adopt it and that is why her bones are weak. The doctor put the arm in plaster and she couldn’t swim for a month. It was a real tragedy for her! Natasha helps me not only in the church but also when I meet different people. To my mind it is very good when husband and wife meet somebody together. It works positively for people. WEATHER The w...[more] RUSSIAN REPORT March 2008 Dear brethren and sisters in Christ, I am happy to write you this letter. MY FAMILY: My family is OK. Dasha had spring vacation for 7 days. As most of the children she was very happy to have a rest from school. Dasha is shortsighted but she is shy to wear her glasses and we decided to buy her contact lenses. She began to see the new world without any tension and any shyness. But every time when she puts them on she spends about 30 minutes because it is not an easy job for her. Dasha celebrated her 11th birthday. To tell the truth she doesn't want to be an adult but at the same time she is as tall as her mother already. WEATHER: In March Russian people celebrate Women's Day on the 8th of March. We as a rule congratulate our women on this holiday and give them flowers and prese...[more] FROM MOSCOW - NOV/DEC 2009 January 18, 2010 Dear brethren and sisters in Christ! New Year greetings to you with prayers for growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The weather was typical for these two months in Moscow. Sometimes it snowed and the snow covered the ground but often it changed to rain and washed away by itself in a few hours and then the streets were covered with mud and slush - not a very pretty sight. In Russia we have dirty roads all the time everywhere because the roads are not protected from the ground which is on the lawns. In November Dasha had her autumn vacation which lasted only one week and to my mind she couldn't have enough time for rest. In the year 2010 we'll have to short her musical hours (at her musical school) because it's difficult for her to study well ...[more] RUSSIAN REPORT February 2008 Greetings to all Christians in America in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. MY FAMILY. My family is OK. Dasha continues studying the music. She decided to become a singer (earlier she wanted to become a doctor) and she entered the musical school. We encourage her new fascination. In February I am 46. My wife said that I became one year older but I think I became one year wiser!? WEATHER. This winter was extremely warm. The temperature was unusually high. There was no snow in the streets. THE CHURCH IN MOSCOW. We have new people in the church. Anton is one of them. He is a student. He already visited several churches. He understands things not so quickly as I would like him to. I realize that he needs more time to come to a sound knowledge to be a New Testament Chr...[more] SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2009 REPORT November 9, 2009 On the first of September Dasha went to school as all Russian pupils did. Dasha went into the sixth grade (now she moved to the secondary school building). She feels at ease there because she is tall and everybody there are tall, unlike in primary school where she was tall among short pupils. This year she started visiting school 6 days instead of 5 last year. That is why she has only one day off and she is very tired because she has to go to her musical school (4 days a week) after the secondary school. In September all of us caught cold in turns first Natasha, then Dasha, and at last me. We were ill about a week. It was an ordinary virus (flu) but mass media reported about so to say pig flu which would be more serious than the ordinary flu and pandemic came in October. Many Moscow ...[more] REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 November 15, 2007 I hope and fervently pray that this report finds you and your family doing well in your labors on behalf of our Lord’s Kingdom. Family. Some words about my family. Natasha is fine but Dasha is constantly ill. Since we moved to our new flat which is not repaired yet (no ceiling, no wallpaper, no floor – everything is in concrete and that is why there is a lot of dust in the flat) Dasha began suffering from her asthma badly. You know I wrote it in my previous letters that several years ago we lived in the east of Moscow, our flat was on the first floor, there was very cold there that is why Dasha got asthma. The doctor gave us many different recommendations, and one of them was to change the district and the first floor (because of moisture and cold in winter time). Now we changed the ...[more] JANUARY 2008 REPORT February 2008 Greetings from Russia, Moscow. We greet you all and want to wish each one a happy and prosperous year. MY FAMILY. My family is OK. Dasha feels better and now she has no choking fit as it happened earlier in the middle of the night. Thanks to dancing her back became more straight because her back muscles grew stronger. WEATHER. The weather changes very often this winter. The roads are very wet and muddy. Our roads are not protected from earth as it is done in America and during the winter time or when it rains we have muddy roads and our cars are very dirty. THE CHURCH. The church in Moscow continues working. Leva (from Armenia). Leva continues attending the church almost regularly. He is a good Christian. He reads the Bible constantly and he understands many thing...[more] MOSCOW REPORT 1/19/2008 Dear brethren and sisters in Christ! I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you and keep you in this new year. Without your prayers I wouldn't even have a chance! Our God in heaven is a truly great God! WEATHER. Usually we have a lot of snow in the streets. But this year there is almost no snow. The weather is changeable in Moscow. Sometimes it gets warm and sometimes it gets cold. It looks as if I travel from one country to another. But in reality I live in Moscow and don't go abroad at all. The whole December children had no opportunity to enjoy skating or skiing. MY FAMILY. My family is fine. Dasha continues playing the piano. But at the same time I worry about my daughter's health. She suffers from asthma and in the middle of the night she began choking with coug...[more] Greetings friends and brethren April-May, 2008 My family is fine. In May Dasha participated in the concert which took place in the Kremlin. She sings in a choir and her musical school's choir was invited to the concert dedicated to the Victory Day. Dasha with her choir sang the main song which was called "the Victory Day" with a famous Russian singer. The Russian president was at the concert and the concert was shown on TV and we recorded her first performance. Dasha was so excited to be among "the stars." Her favorite singers are Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, and others and she wants to be "a Hollywood star" very soon; Dasha often asks me different questions about the Bible and I am glad to answer her questions. Thanks to regular studying the Bible and to her serious questions I think she will obey the Gospel and will become a good...[more] Greetings from Moscow June 2008 MY FAMILY. Russian pupils have summer vacation at last. I am sure that the children all over the world look forward to the summer vacations coming. Dasha has finished the school year very well. She also makes a success in playing the piano. Natasha and I are doing well. I have prepared special Bible studies for Dasha because now in summer she doesn’t go to school and she has more free time to devote herself to the Word of God. WEATHER. It was too rainy in June and that is why I asked Lonnie to bring sunny days to Moscow from California and he kept his word. When he and Cindy came the weather changed and the sun was shining brightly. VISITORS ABROAD. On the 27th of May in the evening Lonnie and his wife Cindy came from America to help us and encourage the church in Moscow...[more] REPORT FROM RUSSIA July 2008 I sincerely hope that this report finds you doing well in your labors on behalf of our Lord's Kingdom. MY FAMILY. We are fine. Grandmother took Dasha for 4 days because Natasha and I plastered the walls in the flat. It was very dusty and we decided to send her to our grandparents for a while. WEATHER. The weather in July was typical for this season. And sometimes the heat got too oppressive and we often went to the swimming pool to get refreshed. THE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE. Natalia and Veronica (sisters) are diligent Bible students, they continue to want to know more about the Bible but at the same time they say that they are not ready to be baptized. Soon Natalia is going to Europe, to Belgium and then to the USA. Veronica stayed in Moscow but she attended the church not re...[more] GREETINGS FROM RUSSIA August 2008 Greetings to all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. MY FAMILY. August is the last month of vocation of Russian pupils. The weather was mostly bad this summer. It was too rainy. Children had to stay at home instead of playing outside. At the end of the month we prepared Dasha for school for the 5th grade: we bought textbooks, notebooks, and other school accessories. We also bought school uniform for her. First in June we sent Dasha to her grandparents to Tula to have rest from school and she was there for a fortnight and then we took her back. All the summer was free of school lessons and we constantly studied the Bible with Dasha. WEATHER. The beginning of August was cold and we wore jackets but in the middle of it the weather changed a...[more] THE WORK IN RUSSIA September 2008 I hope and fervently pray that this report finds you and your family doing well in your labors on behalf of our Lord's Kingdom. MY FAMILY. The first of September is the beginning of the new school year in Russia. Dasha went into the fifth grade (it is the secondary school). Unfortunately our text books are very heavy. This year she has more subjects and textbooks than the previous year (in primary school). Her school bag is very heavy and as usual we carry her bag to school in the mornings. WEATHER. The beginning of September was very cold and rainy. But there was a spell of fine sunny weather in late September which we call Indian summer (when the sky is clear and full of bright colors. The ground is covered with fallen leaves, and the trees are red, brown and golden.). TH...[more] NOVEMBER 2008 REPORT January 9, 2009 Dear Brethren and Sisters in Christ, this report will cover my activities during the period of November. MY FAMILY I am happy to tell you that everything is O.K. with my family. Dasha is in the 5th grade, her grades for subjects at school were good and excellent last year but now because she spends more time for music in her musical school and has good progress in it her school progress became poor. We decided to short her musical hours if she doesn't improve her school results. But one thing makes me happy that she continues improving her knowledge of the Bible and asks me to baptize her. I'd like to say that she started to ask me about baptizing her about two years ago but she to my mind wasn't ready to be baptized then because she didn't understand what a sin was etc etc. Now she gr...[more] DECEMBER 2008 REPORT January 17, 2009 Dear Brethren and Sisters in Christ, Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you. MY FAMILY - My family is fine. Dasha continues going to school and studying the Bible with me. Natasha helps me as usual in my work. WEATHER - The weather in December was different. In the beginning the temperature was unusually high as it was last year. We got used to such warm weather in December, but at the end of the month the snow fell at last. We like snow very much because we can skate and ski. I am happy to inform you that one more precious soul was added to the body of Christ My daughter obeyed the Gospel. She was baptized on the 14th of December. Dasha had been waiting for that about two years and now her dream has come true and she became a Christian. It was the happiest day fo...[more] Greetings from Moscow August 2009 Dear brethren and sisters in Christ, FAMILY - My family is OK. At last Dasha has finished the fifth grade and now she is in the sixth grade. She is very glad to have summer vacation. Dasha continues studying the Bible and now she studies John with me. Natasha and I decided to finish the repairing of our flat (at least we’d like to hope to finish it with the help of the brethren). When different people come to our flat (for Sunday’s meetings and on week days for Bible classes) they meet different problems such as a lot of dust (there are no wall-papers on the walls, the floor and the ceiling are made of concrete, and they produce a lot of dust because we have no parquet), people dirty their cloths, some of them coughs, we have no doors and they are not at ease to use the restroom...[more] Greetings from Moscow July 27, 2009 Dear brethren and sisters in Christ, greetings from Moscow. FAMILY - My family is OK. At last Dasha has finished the fifth grade and now she is in the sixth grade. She is very glad to have summer vacation. Dasha continues studying the Bible and now she studies John with me. Natasha and I decided to finish the repairing of our flat (at least we’d like to hope to finish it with the help of the brethren). When different people come to our flat (for Sunday’s meetings and on week days for Bible classes) they meet different problems such as a lot of dust (there are no wall-papers on the walls, the floor and the ceiling are made of concrete, and they produce a lot of dust because we have no parquet), people dirty their cloths, some of them coughs, we have no doors and they are not at e...[more] back |