From Russia with Love - January, 2009
posted in Missions, Eastern Europe |From Russia with Love
Newsletter: January 2009
Eileen R. Emch
Prestoncrest Church of Christ
Dallas, Texas
Eileen’s Website
Greetings from Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Since my last general update, I’ve become a gypsy. Yes, I have. Four trips to Ukraine and a fifth in the works will do that to a person. All this travel is necessary and is due, in part, to Russia’s revised visa laws.Let me explain. As you may recall, effective January 2008, holders of certain types of one-year visas – including religious activity visas such as mine, as well as business visas – may reside in Russia a maximum of 90 days per 180 days. In other words, the visa holder may be in Russia a maximum of three months every six months – and thus, it follows that one must be outside the country at least three months of every six. This makes for lots of traveling.I wouldn’t wish this gypsy stint on anybody, certainly not on anyone with children. As I prepare to exit for 30-some days, the whole thing is a royal inconvenience, exhausting actually. But it does get better: Fast-forward a month or so and I return to Rostov with pleasant memories made of new friends and having made some positive contributions along the way, I trust.Another plus: This gypsy adventure has been such a faith-building experience. It’s so humbling to see how the good Lord has provided and protected me each step along the way. And three things make it all so much easier: 1) Ukraine is just 70-some miles west of Rostov and nowadays, US citizens can enter Ukraine without a visa. This is a major plus. 2) There are many Churches of Christ in Ukraine: More congregations exist there than in all of Europe and Russia combined. And so far, I’ve visited 11 congregations across Ukraine. 3) The law specifies that the 90 days outside of Russia need not be consecutive days. That is, one can come and go throughout the 180-day span, as long as the total does not exceed 90 days. So these are three tender mercies, special blessings which make things significantly easier.
More good news: The end is in sight for this vagabond lifestyle. When my current visa expires in early May, I plan to replace it with another type of visa – possibly a work visa or even a 3-month religious activity visa. So I really do need your prayers for wisdom, insight and that the right doors will open.
Well, enough about all that. But first, let me invite you to take a look at my new slide show, A Gypsy for Jesus, in my photo albums at Webshots.com. Oh, and lots of stories at my (award-winning) blog, From Russia with Love.
Now for a Look at the Rostov Scene:
Children’s classes: Four children come regularly to classes our Bible classes and of course we want four times that many. Still, there’s steady progress with our teachers Zhenya and Karina who work with the older children and sister Amal and the younger class. Amal also teaches afternoon classes midweek for the children in English, crafts, Bible lessons and cooking. Nothing can beat national teachers such as these dear sisters who are passionate about pointing children toward God.
Serving others: Several of our church family have been in and out of the hospital, giving us opportunities to serve. Patients here rely on family to bring them food because hospitals provide just enough soup and bread to ward off starvation. Furthermore, patients are responsible for getting their own prescriptions filled because hospitals don’t do that either. Speaking of being helpful, sister Miriam, 81, is our champion visitor of the sick and needy. Before she retired, Miriam worked for the Moscow Circus. Now, she quietly goes about visiting and encouraging others. I tell Miriam that I hope to be as compassionate and caring in my 70’s as she is now, in her 80’s.
Church building: For the third time in five years, it looks as though we might have to move out of our building. Our brother and attorney, Sasha, thinks that this time it will really happen. You see, the city administration wants to buy our church property as well as the entire block. So we request prayers for our brothers Gheorge and Artash who are quite busy working to resolve this.
Congregation in general: Our attendance has been around 25 lately, not as high as we would like but there’s the promise of growth just ahead. For one thing, this year, we expect to welcome home two of our outstanding leaders after they complete their studies. Tatyana plans to return from Barnayl, Siberia, after she helps with the 16th annual Siberian Christian Conference in March. Gheorge, our church administrator, is her father and we’re hoping to send him to the conference and back with Tanya on the train, a three-day trip. And of course, our dear brother Igor Egirev has been studying at the Institute of Theology and Christian Ministry in St Petersburg since November 2006. We hope Igor, Natasha and family will be back in Rostov this year or maybe next.
As for me, besides travel planning and/or recovery, I keep plenty busy with orphanage visits, giving a hand to adoptive parents, language studies, writing and providing behind-the-scenes support to the church and folks here. Besides that, I’ve been visiting English classes at a private educational company which is looking to employ a native speaker of English. (Hmm!) And – drum roll please – this coming week on January 29th, I will have been in Rostov 10 years. Ten Years! I’m definitely going to be doing some celebrating!
I’m so very grateful for the opportunity of serving here in Rostov-on-Don. I consider this ministry a sacred trust and feel so humbled and honored to be entrusted with it. A very big thank you to the congregations and individuals who have supported this work over these ten years. We’re a team, you know. It’s my job to go and to do. But the other part of the equation is the prayer and financial support, which is vitally important.
Well, those are the highlights for the moment. Thank you for your interest, encouragement and prayers for Russia and Ukraine. Please take a moment and share what’s going with you and yours.
S BOGom, ((Go) with God),
Eileen
Blog address: Visit my blog at http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com for a taste of life in Russia.
Photos: The latest are posted at http://community.webshots.com/user/eileena110.
Mailing address: You can send letters and such to me at Prestoncrest Church of Christ; 12700 Preston Rd, Suite 210; Dallas, TX 75230-1824 or directly to me here: Russia; Rostov-on-Don 344 022; Semashka 99/248, Kv 7; Eileen Emch.
Telephone: First, dial the international access prefix (check the front of your telephone book), then 7 (for Russia), 863 (Rostov city code), 250.0171 (my place).