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Flat Stanley visits Siberia
Dear Pastor and Co-laborer, April 30, 2014
It is hard to believe that two months have passed since our previous prayer letter. Our lives have been so busy these past two months that it seems hardly possible that many events could possibly fit into just two months. Praise the Lord for His protection and provision.
As you may remember from our last prayer letter, on February 28, our family had to return back to the US to apply for new visas. Although the trip back to the US was an unexpected trip, it was a much enjoyed reprieve from the work here in Russia. Within a few days of our arrival back we were able to send off our paperwork for our new visas. Within three weeks, we were approved for our new 3 year visas and were able to return to Russia on April 2. What a blessing and a relief it was to have our visas in hand.
After a long thirty-two hours of traveling, we arrived safely in Krasnoyarsk! Later that day, we were able to get the keys to our new apartment which was an unexpected blessing. We began to move in immediately. We couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by God’s goodness to provide us with our new home. We haven’t had a place to call home in over 2 1/2 years. Our landlord also rents to another missionary family here, and sought out this apartment and purchased it specifically for us to rent. This is unheard of here in Russia. Most people would choose not to rent to foreigners because it can be a hassle with paperwork. She goes above and beyond to take care of everything for us. Our apartment hunt consisted of looking at one place and seeing it for about 10 minutes and closing the deal. We were thankful to have found a place before we left for the States, and it was all ready for us when we arrived. Praise the Lord!
Since we have been back, Amber has started Russian lessons. She says there’s nothing more humbling than a Russian lesson! Also, the Sterling family has arrived back to the field and we have transitioned from working in the village of Elita to here in the city at Krasnoyarsk Baptist Church. This church is an established church with a vision to reach the surrounding towns and villages with the Gospel and see churches planted in those towns. While serving at KBC, our ministry focus will be to see a strong youth group established, teaching, discipling, as well as assisting in every way possible with the two existing church plants out of KBC. We are very excited about how the Lord is going to use us here in Krasnoyarsk as He prepares and equips us for the ministries He would have us start in Eastern Russia.
In closing, we have a “little” blessing to share with you all. Come the beginning of September, we will be welcoming our daughter into this world. Jacob is excited to be a big brother and we are excited to meet her. We are humbled by God’s goodness, provision, and blessings in our lives these past couple of months. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve God on your behalf on the field of Russia. Please pray for us that God will give us wisdom and direction in all things. That God will be honored and glorified in all that we say and do, and that souls will come to know Christ.
Until Next Time!
James, Amber, Jacob, and little lady Pranger
It is hard to believe that two months have passed since our previous prayer letter. Our lives have been so busy these past two months that it seems hardly possible that many events could possibly fit into just two months. Praise the Lord for His protection and provision.
As you may remember from our last prayer letter, on February 28, our family had to return back to the US to apply for new visas. Although the trip back to the US was an unexpected trip, it was a much enjoyed reprieve from the work here in Russia. Within a few days of our arrival back we were able to send off our paperwork for our new visas. Within three weeks, we were approved for our new 3 year visas and were able to return to Russia on April 2. What a blessing and a relief it was to have our visas in hand.
After a long thirty-two hours of traveling, we arrived safely in Krasnoyarsk! Later that day, we were able to get the keys to our new apartment which was an unexpected blessing. We began to move in immediately. We couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by God’s goodness to provide us with our new home. We haven’t had a place to call home in over 2 1/2 years. Our landlord also rents to another missionary family here, and sought out this apartment and purchased it specifically for us to rent. This is unheard of here in Russia. Most people would choose not to rent to foreigners because it can be a hassle with paperwork. She goes above and beyond to take care of everything for us. Our apartment hunt consisted of looking at one place and seeing it for about 10 minutes and closing the deal. We were thankful to have found a place before we left for the States, and it was all ready for us when we arrived. Praise the Lord!
Since we have been back, Amber has started Russian lessons. She says there’s nothing more humbling than a Russian lesson! Also, the Sterling family has arrived back to the field and we have transitioned from working in the village of Elita to here in the city at Krasnoyarsk Baptist Church. This church is an established church with a vision to reach the surrounding towns and villages with the Gospel and see churches planted in those towns. While serving at KBC, our ministry focus will be to see a strong youth group established, teaching, discipling, as well as assisting in every way possible with the two existing church plants out of KBC. We are very excited about how the Lord is going to use us here in Krasnoyarsk as He prepares and equips us for the ministries He would have us start in Eastern Russia.
In closing, we have a “little” blessing to share with you all. Come the beginning of September, we will be welcoming our daughter into this world. Jacob is excited to be a big brother and we are excited to meet her. We are humbled by God’s goodness, provision, and blessings in our lives these past couple of months. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve God on your behalf on the field of Russia. Please pray for us that God will give us wisdom and direction in all things. That God will be honored and glorified in all that we say and do, and that souls will come to know Christ.
Until Next Time!
James, Amber, Jacob, and little lady Pranger
