The Visas Are Here

Dacula, Georgia (ACN)

Paula, just commented on my previous post and wanted to check in and see how things are going, so here is the latest from the international city of Dacula, Georgia.

Yesterday we received our visas. For those of you who might not know, in order to enter Russia you must have a visa, which is a formal document attached to your passport by the Russian Embassy here in the US. Of course for them to do that, you must fill out and submit a visa application. However, before you submit the visa application you must obtain a formal written invitation from a person or organization in Russia.

Well we did all of that work for the eight people going this year and low and behold yesterday the 8 passports with visas attached showed up on my doorstep. Praise God! Each year I worry that we didn't fill out the paperwork properly or maybe after the last visit they will not let us reenter Russia, but each year God provides a way for us to go. So as always we give Him the praise for allowing us to return to Russia, a place I consider a second home.

At this point nearly everyone has their funds raised. See my previous post for the exact status. I am getting reports that team members are getting their seasonal flu shots and the H1N1 flu shot. I have received both shots, Stephanie has received the seasonal flu shot and Joshua has received both shots.

We were concerned that the women would have to wear head coverings (scarves) and dresses or skirts when in the church, but as it turns out the custom is a little more relaxed than that. Married women must wear scarves during church services and all women must wear skirts during the church services. When we are working in VBS the women can wear whatever is convenient.

God has truly blessed us this year with funding, and relatively inexpensive airline tickets, and a church with whom to work in Siberia, and people who are excited to go, and people at the church who communicate in a timely fashion answering our questions. We hope to build a lasting relationship with this church and help them to plant other churches.

Well Paula I hope that answers your questions. Our team of 8 is much smaller than the team of 18 with whom you went. Hopefully, my management skills have improved to the point where I can manage this group better than I managed your huge group.

As always to each and every person who has gone with us on any of our trips, you are all invited to return with us. We have posted the 2010 trip on the web site with the hopes that we will be able to attract a good sized group, between now and then. God has already provided a handful of people for that trip, six I think.

For those of you who have supported us with money and/or prayer please know that we thank you for all of your support. Without your support and that of our Lord and Savior these trips would not be possible.

May God bless each and every person who reads this blog and may He inspire each one to go with us next year.

Andy