Here is the news we got through a discussion group that missionaries share and post to for the city on Oct. 22nd (abbreviated): The Moscow TimesNew, Tougher Rules for Business Visas By Alexander OsipovichStaff Writer The government is tightening the screws on foreigners who want to work here full time without a work visa —…

This really has nothing to do with ministry in Russia, except for the fact, that what I’ve been through with Dell is way too reminiscent of what I have to deal with here all the time. I’d like to do what I can to help Dell get the message that they are going to die…

My motto over the last year or more has been “walking by faith.” My tendency has been to plan and think things through and analyze them to death, even to the point of questioning God is leading – the infamous “analysis paralysis.” It’s been amazing how much less trouble and stressful life is now that…

Most people here require a good deal of explanation from me when I have to say that I don’t have an office – that my work is all over the city. But then, since when is anything I do ever easy to explain? My office here in Russia, as it mostly was in Richmond, is…

Every Saturday morning the Harbor director, Lyuba, and a few of Harbor residents (in turns), engage in their own ministry to the community, spending a few hours at one of the 70+ orphanages (housing 100-120 orphans each) in St. Petersburg. The main objective is to give these young adult orphans experience in playing appropriately with…

Even as early as March when I came here in advance of our big move to scope things out, I began asking God as I would walk around to break my heart for the people and give me His perspective and passion for seeing people – and the whole city- transformed by His love and…

Busy days here are days in which you get three or four things done. Take the day this week in which I paid the rent, and 8 hour ordeal. How could it take 8 hours? 8:15. Take the boys to school (45 min.) 9:00. Coaching appoint ment at school with Pastor Igor (more later). 10:00.…

Would that I could report already some budding relationships with our neighbors. I’m afraid that is not happening yet. I have heard Russians described as like a nut that is hard on the outside and soft on the inside. Americans, by contrast, are like a peach – soft on the outside and hard on the…

“All right, Lydia, let’s figure out this washing machine,” I proposed one morning shortly after our move to the new apartment.I had just gotten used to the large washer at our temporary place, and now I needed to learn this new European model. (This is the kind where you open the lid from the top…

As we were getting ready to come over this past year, Diana and I began to develop a relationship with the founder of the Harbor, Melinda Cathey. Her enthusiasm for how God might use us to serve the ministry grew the more we got to know her. By the time we arrived, we had a…