A Week Like No Other

Unlike any week we have been on the mission field, this week has been a combination of exhilaration, exhaustion, excitement, and trauma. (Sorry, I couldn't think of anything else that started with 'ex'.) We spent the week with RamCorps, a group of musicians from the University of Mobile, and they took care of the exhilaration, exhaustion, and excitement. We went to different venues, watched them play concerts, and then watched while they made relationships with the people we met. We had three new people on Thursday night at English club as a direct result of the work they did this week. We sent them home on Thursday, and while we're glad for the rest, we already miss them. They were wonderful, and they did a great, great job here in Moscow.

The trauma was a result of a broken pipe in our wall, which spewed about four inches of steaming hot water onto our floor, and then into the apartments below us. Our neighbors were not happy with us at all, completely ignoring the fact that we did not break the pipe but were victims, too. We think they are all appeased now, and that relations are again on speaking terms, but it's been a tough week dealing with the damage and the angry neighbors who have showed up at our door.

We have also found out that another unit on our team, a family we love very much, is heading back to the States. We know that this is never an easy decision, and we are praying for their peace about it. When we came to Moscow, our team had six units. (Our company counts a single as a unit and a family as a unit.) Now, we are down to two units--us and another family. Please pray for us as we seek the Father's will for the next step our team will take.

Something else to pray about is what will happen to our team's house church when the other family leaves for Stateside assignment in July. Please pray with us as we contemplate where to take the church and in what direction. It is extremely difficult to plant a church here, and we do not want anything to happen to the church that is already in existence. In addition, we have had several people in the last week ask us if we will be having a church in our home when the other family leaves. There are some logistical issues with that, so we are praying through the different possibilities. Please pray with us that no matter what, God would be glorified, and our team's little church would be protected. (By the way, I am assuming you all know this, but I don't use names of other missionaries for security purposes. Our team is here on a platform, and to use names might endanger that. I do actually know everyone's name!)

Here's a story just to let you know how God is at work. On Thursday night, Irina was new to our English club. When I told her as she was getting ready to go that I was so glad she had come, she told me that she had really enjoyed herself, and that she understood now why people want to come every week, because our home is inviting, and the environment is fun and friendly. Pray that it will be only a short time before Irina asks us why our home is that way. There are spiritual conversations waiting to happen there. We are starting to see progress every week. It is such an exciting time to be here!

As you go through your week, please know that we do not take for granted your prayers, and that we appreciate every prayer said for us. We are starting to really feel like this is home, and we know that is a direct result of the prayers you have lifted on our behalf. Thank you so much. We love each of you, and we are so glad to have warriors out there, lifting up our arms when we become too tired. We love you!

Blessings,
Kellye (for all)

p.s. Monday is Marc's 40th birthday! Say a special prayer for him on Monday!