WHAT A WEEK!
It's been c-c-cold this past week, but great news from home, a wonderful closing for the Camp Director's Institute and a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Peterhof really made it a great week for us all.
We received a bunch a great news this past Monday, starting with an offer we couldn't refuse. Friends offered to sell us a 1997 Dodge minivan for a very reasonable price, and we accepted! Now we are the proud owners of a vehicle, for the first time in our married lives (now if only one of us had a driver's license...). ;-)
We were also offered a used washer & dryer set for free, although we can't make use of it until we get a home. For now our friends will hold onto them for us, since the mobile home we will be staying in until the early 2007 is already equipped. As well, several other offers of help have arrived over the past week, for which we are very thankful!
Two days ago the Camp Director's Institute wrapped up in Moscow, with thirteen of the twenty-one directors graduating with full honours. The graduation ceremony was a wonderful time of closure for the event; it really made the students feel they had accomplished something significant.
We praise God for these graduates and for every camp director in the Institute who studied diligently and applied themselves wholeheartedly in their camp ministries.
While it had been a cold week Sunday was a gloriously warm day, so we (minus Sonia) decided to introduce the girls to one of Russia's crown jewels, the Summer Palace gardens at Peterhof. We took a 30-minute cruise to the lower gardens and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon of sunshine, fresh air and 18th century splendour. The girls especially enjoyed the "fun" fountains, and managed to get quite wet in the process! Pictures of the fun are posted for all to see on Flickr.
Thanks for your encouragement & support! Hope you had a wonderful week too!
- Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena
COMING TO CANADA
The list has been revised! Our support page of "Canadian needs" has been updated to reflect the aforementioned news. One new thing on the list is the need of a freezer. We would appreciate any help you can give. Please pass on the word and stay tuned for more updates! Thank you for your continued prayers for our big move.
BLESSINGS
Praise God for the successful conclusion of the 2005-06 Camp Director's Institute!
We just learned that the residents in Nina's apartment building have agreed (finally!) to install a domophone – an outside intercom door-thingy (I can't remember what they're called in English!). We pray that this will bring to an end the use of Nina's stairwell by drug addicts.
We are very thankful for provisions such as the minivan and appliances. It's so encouraging to see how God provides through His people!
PETITIONS
Continue to pray for me as I try to transition out of day-to-day IT management of the CCI/Russia office. Pray also for Mark B. as he learns to take over from me.
Sonia is looking for a new job, hopefully as an English tutor. Her current job entails a great deal of late-evening travel downtown, which is not at all desirable as the darkness of autumn sets in. Pray that she will be able to find a better way to earn some funds.
Please continue to pray for our financial needs. More information about our support is at www.krhamm.com/support. DID YOU KNOW...
...that standalone food freezers are practically unheard of in Russia?
...that the Russian government is considering measures to encourage an increased birth rate including a "childless tax"? With Russia’s population declining by 700,000 people each year, the government is starting to take notice that Russia is fast disappearing...
ESSENTIAL INFO
Kevin & Lena Hamm are missionaries with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International, serving with Christian Camping International/Russia in St. Petersburg, Russia.
A printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is always available for download.
Visit www.krhamm.com/pray for links to print versions, archives and more.
For more on our ministry in Russia, please visit www.krhamm.com.
You can help! Please visit www.krhamm.com/support for ways you can help our family & ministry.
Hundreds of our recent photos can be viewed at Flickr.com. (And now Sonia's pictures too!)
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