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…

School started with great fanfare at the beginning of September. Pictured here is the opening ceremony that is a Russian tradition of starting the first day of classes with formally introducing the teachers, students, having some poetry reading, and tea and snacks. To help with the boys’ adjustment to school, the idea come up for…

Marshrutkas = taxi vans found throughout the city (usually yellow) seating about 20, but can hold several more with standing and squishing. Usually we ride the marshrutkas to and from our temporary apt. to the Metro station to avoid a 30 min walk. They are relatively cheap — about .50 per person and our 2…

We have some new photos to add to our display.The building is a two-story apartment building, which is unusual in itself. It was build by German prisoners of war after WW2, so it’s considered good quality. As with most entrance ways, it’s nothing to write home about (although I guess that’s what I’m doing, isn’t…

It was a year ago that we last rested — right before this whole race to prepare to leave for Russia began in August of 2006. Even though our week-long trip to Sopron, Hungary was a CRM staff conference, it felt like a breath of fresh air to slow down and not have to work…

I spent two semesters living and studying in Vienna back in 1984 and 1987 through a program with the Duke Wind Symphony. I made lifelong friends with the students and our director, and I got to know and love the city dearly. It, like St. Petersburg, is a cultural center. In fact, I spent the…