Stuff

Anatolii (the driver we hired) has been sick, but he's well now. He might be able to go next weekend.

Please pray for a safe and uneventful trip for Anatolii and for us to be able to fit everything into this already crowded apartment when he gets back.

Thank you for praying!

Julie was able to get her test done, results translated and sent in, all in one day. Please pray that this last document catches up with others quickly, so that her visa application can be processed.

Julie

Please pray for our friend Julie tomorrow. She found out that she does have to have an HIV test for her Russian visa application. She's going to try to get that done in Zaporozhye tomorrow. Please pray specifically that she'll be able to get results the same day and send them off. Thank you!

And praise the Lord that we can spend time with Julie!

Neighbor

Please pray for the neighbor below us. He's very grumpy about any noise that we make. We don't want to bother him, but it's impossible for little children to be as quiet as he wants.

Another step forward

Will now has all the documents ready! Now we just need to pray for timing and logistics. I'll let you know when there's a time set for Anatolii's trip.

Another week

Anatolii probably won't be going in the next few days. Will pretty much got power of attorney for him to represent us in bringing our things into Ukraine, but now that needs to be translated and amended to be valid in Russia, too. So, tomorrow Will is headed back to the notary to start on that. One step at a time. . . .

Got the number!

Will got his tax number yesterday. He was hoping to meet with the truck driver (Anatoli) to get the papers they need here, right when he got back, but couldn't get in touch with him. This morning they started those documents, though.

Please pray! This is the last step to getting our things from Russia. Anatoli wants to be at the border on Monday, because he has a friend working then. Border crossings into Ukraine by car are really, really corrupt still. (Somehow customs in the airports and on trains is easy and streamlined. They just leave all the trouble for the roads.) We need you to pray our things right across.

And praise the Lord that the tax number came through. No problems, even with different translations of NC.

Progress

Yesterday Will got his notarized passport copy in Zaporozhya! He went back today to turn it in for a tax number.

Did you know that Will was born in North California? Or even that such a state exists? That's what they put as his birthplace (NC) on the copy! You can laugh about that and pray that no one notices. (There can be problems with documents don't match up.)

Paperwork progress

Will is slowly wading through getting our things from Russia. Just an example of the frustration: we need a document from a notary. The notary can't work with anyone who doesn't have a tax number. Will calls to find out how to get a tax number: "Just bring us a notarized copy of your passport." Simple. Except that the notary won't work with him at all!

Please pray for progress! Will's in Zaporozhya today trying to figure out the next step.

Heading home

Asya and I have had a wonderful time with Julie in Odessa. We are getting ready to start our trek home. We'll arrive tomorrow morning. Please pray! The trip here was very hard. It's a little cooler now, which should help, but please pray that Asya will SLEEP!

Thank you to those of you who are praying for Julie, too. We had a big scare, because getting her visa sounded very iffy for a little while, but the Lord worked all that out, and she should have it on Friday. We were hoping that she'd be able to get it today, and leave at the same time as me. Now she'll be here alone for a few days.

Odessa!

Asya and I are running off to Odessa for a few days! Please pray for safe travel, a good visit with our friend Julie (and for her to get a new Russian visa there), and for Will at home and church with Jaan and Raia.

Camp teenagers

Thank you for all your prayers for the day camp here! I have photos posted on our blog.

Please pray that some of the oldest kids--from Will's group--will come tonight for the weekly church youth meeting.

Camp update

Camp is going well. I don't think I mentioned that Will has the oldest group, the teenagers. They're hard to work with, but at such an important age for building relationships! Please pray for a good finish. We're all tired, and tomorrow is the last day.

Camp!

Day camp starts tomorrow! Please be praying for everyone involved. Will is going to be teaching several Bible lessons, helping with music, and probably more.

Teeth and tummy, part 2

Asya's tummy has settled down; praise the Lord! Her mouth still looks like a disaster zone.

Teeth and tummy

Poor Asya isn't feeling too good these days. She's working on two teeth, and her stomach has also been upset. Please pray for her to feel better soon!

Camp evening

Thank you for praying! Will's evening at that one youth camp went well.

Please be praying for the upcoming children's day camp here. The youth are preparing. It will be August 11-15.

Susan

Please pray for our friend, Susan, and her family. (Click to go read their prayer request.)

Rejoice!

Praise the Lord with our friends, Jon and Carrie Dulin, in Russia! They got the three-year residency permit that they had applied for!

A camp visit

Will has been invited to visit a camp in a nearby village to talk to the youth tomorrow night. Please pray that will go well.