Julie's off!

Julie's visa did come in yesterday, and she got on a train back to Moscow. She should be getting in there pretty soon now. Thank you so much for all your prayers! I'm sure you can keep praying as she figures out how to be able to stay there for a year now and catches up with all the work waiting for her.

Julie's visa

We were expecting that Julie's visa would arrive in Zaporozhye tomorrow, but the UPS tracking site keeps saying that it's in Kiev, and its status is "Exception," and the only explanation is that an unforeseen event occurred. Please pray that whatever that is will be worked out soon! We love having Julie here, but her work in Moscow is piling up, and she does need to get back.

Computer

Sigh. Computers are nice when they work. And Macs are wonderful...in America.

Our computer died yesterday. Really, I am mostly praising God about this, though. Just the day before I had finally backed up all our pictures and documents, after a week of trying to do that. (Do you know how amazing that is?!?!?) And we have this older laptop, so we're still in touch.

Please pray that we'll figure out a way to get our main computer fixed, that it will have a safe trip to America and back, etc.

It's all here!

Thank you so much for all your prayers! We now have everything that we had left in Russia. I don't know that it was a cheap border crossing, but it was fast and without problems.

Now can we pray away the musty smell?

Anatolii

Anatolii (the driver we hired to bring our things from Russia) made it to Kovrov, and he's heading straight back. It's a more than 24 hour trip, but I guess he could be at customs sometime tomorrow. Please pray for an easy and cheap border crossing! (The Ukrainian side of the border is notoriously corrupt.)

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.