Hamm Prayer Points: May 2007

Friday, May 25, 2007

Hamm Prayer Points - 25|05|07

WHAT NEXT?

So the transition continues... Sonia is moving to Brandon this week to take up residence with family friends (see Blessings below). Yesterday she was hired by Michael's ("the Arts & Crafts Store") in Brandon, where she is set to begin work on Monday. Sonia has been hired to teach a basic jewellery design course, and will also be given the opportunity to work as a store associate. Sonia is excited to have her first job in Canada, especially as it will allow her to work in a field that she is both talented and interested in! So, if you are looking to learn how to make your own jewellery, and you live in the Brandon area, sign up for Sonia's June course! ;-)

As Sonia makes the move to Brandon, Lena & I are contemplating where the rest of us will live! While our apartment has not yet sold (hopefully soon!), we are starting to look at possible locations and homes. We still haven't decided which city we'll settle in, but it looks like it will either be Winnipeg or Portage la Prairie. Please remember us in your prayers as we seek to settle in the "land" God has prepared/is preparing for us!

The other significant question before us is what sort of work/ministry transition we'll have to make. We are considering several possible options, but we're not yet prepared to explain further. One question we are certainly wrestling with is have we reached the place where we should stop seeking a "support" position? For the past eight years Lena & I have been wholly dependent on the financial support of individuals and churches. Prior to that, I have been fully supported by donations only since 1993! We have been tremendously blessed during these years, but with the passing of numerous supporters we have seen our support base dwindle dramatically over the past two years. It has been a significant challenge to relate to current and seek to locate new supporters over the years, especially as we haven't been able to travel here as a family for almost five years. Much of the effort involved in maintaining our support has fallen to my parents. Without their regular calls, notes and informal talks, many of our supporters would have felt unappreciated and unneeded. The fact is that many (most?) ministry workers depend on donations. We are wondering if the time has come to look for a position that frees us (and our supporters) to serve in different ways.

We welcome your comments and questions, and we continually covet your prayers!

— Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

BLESSINGS

Praise God that Sonia was provided with a home in Brandon. We received an unbeatable offer from family friends to provide Sonia with room & board for basically cost. We are so very thankful for this blessing!

We are also thankful that Sonia was able to get a good job in Brandon.

PETITIONS

Deena continues to experience ups and downs in her health. Please pray that she will attain a (reasonably) healthy life in Canada!

Please remember to pray for a buyer for our home. We have lowered the purchase price, so hopefully this will bring a buyer.

DID YOU KNOW...

...that Lena could hardly believe how beautiful the lawn looked at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg (photo above)? She is only used to Russian parks which have next to no cut grass that you could walk on!

...that we are now planning to travel to Abbotsford, British Columbia, in mid-August (sans Sonia)? We have a time of reporting/debriefing at MBMSI headquarters scheduled during that time, and we hope to meet with family & friends along the way. Stay tuned for specific dates, and please let us know if you would be interested in seeing us along the way.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Kevin & Lena Hamm are missionaries with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International, assisting Christian Camping International/Russia.

A printable version of this newsletter 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, please visit www.krhamm.com.

You can help! Please visit www.krhamm.com/support for ways you can help our family & ministry.

Thousands of our recent photos can be viewed at Flickr.com. (Sonia's pictures too!)

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Hamm Prayer Points - 16|05|07

THE FIRST MONTH

It's been quite a month! Since our arrival on April 15th we've been alternating between paperwork and housework (and not much else)! At times it has felt uncomfortable not working as such, but it has been a very necessary period of transition for our family. Lena has had some time to resume work on the Graphic Bible translation project, Sonia has been volunteering at the MCC Thrift Shop in between applying for employment, and Maya began formal (not "former" as I previously mis-typed!) schooling at Lighthouse Christian School in Portage la Prairie.

As we continue to adjust to the pace and differences of life in Canada, we are preparing to tell stories of what God has been doing in the lives of believers in Russia. We are still not certain when our trip to British Columbia will take place, but we hope to finalize details soon. Once we have formally met with MBMSI, we will begin visiting with supporting churches, telling stories and saying thank you for the past years of support and prayer.

This past week we celebrated Lena's birthday and yesterday we rejoiced that Nina was able to celebrate her 65th birthday with friends in St. Petersburg. It has been wonderful to celebrate God's blessings in our lives together with family & friends.

Please continue to remember us in your prayers during this time of transition and planning. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are still very much in need of both!

— Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena