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Leaving New Zealand on this trip was not without its drama.
Ten minutes from home at 3.30 am the car burned out a wheel bearing.
Some money from Japan still had not passed into my account, and
when it did I discovered I had left my credit card behind and
couldn't access it. By the time I arrived in Seoul for an overnight
stop, I discovered my bags had not arrived.
Sometimes I worry instead of trusting God. He arranged for all
my baggage to arrive in Khabarovsk at the same time, including
a wheelchair that had been donated, and I didn't have to pay any
excess baggage charge.
KHABAROVSK
My first 5 days were spent in Khabarovsk, taking video of the
work of Joy McRae with street children and homeless men. Joy's
work is expanding to train school dropouts and other handicapped
young people who have fallen through the cracks in the Russian
society.
The wheel chair I brought was for a 30 year-old girl born with
the effects of Thalidomide. Tanya's Russian chair was not strong
enough to stand the rigours of Russian village life. She received
the reconditioned chair with joy, and I heard that after we left
she was overcome with tears to think that people in NZ cared that
much about her. Thanks to CMWTD in Auckland for making this possible.
I preached in "Svet Mira" (Light of the World) church
on the Sunday. Pastor Andrei has been a friend ever since my first
trip here in 1992, and his church has grown strong.
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TO VLADIVOSTOK
The overnight train brought me to Vladivostok, where David Borland
(Pastor of Hamilton Elim Church where we attend) was still teaching
in the Bible School. David was happy to see me, he seemed to have
survived the snow and cold well enough, and was thriving in the
classroom. The interpreters had managed to understand David's
Scottish accent, at least in most cases. The students couldn't
speak Scottish, but they loved him anyway!
The next day David flew back to NZ and I began to teach. That
week it was a series from the Sermon on the mount about Kingdom
Living. Much of my spare time was devoted to office work and preparing
for the coming Graduation.
On the Saturday I was invited to speak at the Vladivostok Womens' Aglow meeting. About 25 ladies met at a Christian Cafe that started recently. Then on Sunday I preached in the "Church of the Living God" while Pastor Alexei was absent. He enrolled in a University course on Religion to give him some "official Russian" qualification, and has spent the last weeks studying and taking examinations. They even scheduled classes on Sunday!
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GRADUATES' REUNION
Right after the Graduation Dima and I boarded the overnight train
for Khabarovsk. A group of previous graduates were on the later
evening train. We gathered o the Saturday afternoon at "Svet
Mira" Church for our reunion. We had planned 3 open meetings
for Des to teach at, plus 3 private meetings for our group. In
Des's absence I became the "guest speaker" and gave
a series of 3 messages from the book of Hebrews, and it seems
that everyone was encouraged by the teaching.
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SUPPORT FOR WORKERS
My one feeling of sadness this trip is that we were unable to
give as much money as usual to the workers we support. Only a
few of them are sponsored, and of course we passed on what was
received. Other workers only received US$100 each for 3 months,
which was the remaining available money divided between them.
Please pray that the Lord will provide for them in some other
way, and that next year we will receive enough gifts to support
them. If you would like to sponsor a worker or pastor, please
let me know.
BUILDING PLANS
Arrangements for rebuilding at the Bible School next year are
still uncertain. Our hope is to have something prepared so that
building can start in April or May after the snow has thawed out.
Plans and construction information from an American group of engineers
seems to have gone astray, and this has delayed our ability to
make decisions, and to begin raising funds. We also want to call
for volunteers to come and assist with this work, but we need
scheduling information first.
Donations can be sent to:
Faith Ministries
P.O. Box 12357
Hamilton, N.Z.