Not long after we moved into our apartment, I noticed that this building, which is on our street, less than 100 meters from us, is an orphanage. I knew from my research that you don’t just walk into these places. You need a relationship or some good reason to be there. But I would pray…

Here are some of the things that God seems to be laying on my heart for the new year that I hope to pursue, given that some of the most significant aspects of our transition appear to be behind us. One way of formulating my overall vision is to say that I hope to be…

Lydia has written about her new art class on her blog with pictures.Below is from a mother’s perspective. Lydia loves art. Every free moment finds her either reading or sketching. Therefore, we earnestly prayed for an art class possibility for her. After all, we do live in the cultural capital of Russia. In October an…

I was in the cafeteria chatting with some of the staff at the boys’ school a few weeks ago and was offered a new drink to try. They asked, “have you ever tried mushroom?” I though I had misunderstood them. Did they say, “greeb” (mushroom) or “greepp” (the flu)? Neither made much sense, to say…

Just to give you a good example of how thoroughly permeated this society is with evil, I’ll relate this one little problem to you: Most homeless here are not mentally ill or drug addicts. There are three categories: the elderly ex-cons middle-class single people How do the elderly end up here, when they should be…

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…