Monday, January 29, 2007

Hamm Prayer Points - 29|01|07


THE LONG STRETCH

Today is the start of a fifteen-day work week for CCI/Russia staff. From now through February 9 we will be pausing only for sleep as we complete the preparations for the Christian Camping Leaders Conference, move three van loads from the office to the conference site and run the six-day event!

We're all excited to again be part of our annual conference and are looking forward to incoming day. Until then we will be scrambling to prepare the registration material, welcome packages, CD & DVDs for distribution, packing lists, silent auction items, teacher's handouts, testing materials, certificates and so much more!

The only downside to the conference is the fact that we will have to leave our families behind in St. Petersburg. On only one previous occasion was Lena able to participate fully. With Nina unable to manage the household in our absence, Lena will have to remain home during this time.

Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry of Christian Camping International/Russia!

— Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena


COMING TO CANADA

News! Confirmation that our paperwork had reached the Canadian Embassy in Moscow finally arrived this past Friday. Now that we know that the paperwork has arrived safely we again go into patiently-waiting mode as we pray the documentation sent will satisfy those in charge of our case. Please keep the visa process in your prayers—we really don't know what will come next, but we pray that the next thing we'll hear is "Your visas are ready for pickup"!!!


BLESSINGS

* Praise God that the immigration paperwork arrived in Moscow.

* Sonia is getting closer! Today she finished (more or less) a pair of elaborate silver earrings. She has one more major project to complete before she can recive her diploma.


PETITIONS

* Pray that the "proof" (a letter from MBMSI) that was sent to Moscow will satisfy the authorities that I will return to Canada with my family.

* Please continue to uphold our office staff in prayer as we make the final prepartions for the conference and make the move to the site this weekend.


DID YOU KNOW...

* ...that weather reports in Russia state the wind speed in metres per second? To make matters worse for foreigners, they don't mention the windchill factor!

* ...that the Canadian Consulate here in St. Petersburg is closing at the end of February? This will be a real hardship for local residents (like Nina!) who will want to apply for tourist visas to Canada.


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!)


Monday, January 22, 2007

Hamm Prayer Points - 22|01|07


WE (HEART) SNOW!

Winter has come back to St. Petersburg. While we may live at the 60th parallel in Russia, that doesn't mean that we have a "real" winter! Too often our winters are simply cold & rainy, but once in a while we get enough snow to cover the dirt of the city!

Work is pretty busy right now with lots of preparation for the conference. Meanwhile Lena is starting a new project for Canadian LifeLight Ministries: she is translating the Lion Graphic Bible into Russian.

Thank you for your faithful prayers & support of our ministry!

— Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena


COMING TO CANADA

No news is...no news! We're still waiting for confirmation that our paperwork has reached Moscow. We're but a few weeks away from the ultimatum that the Embassy laid down for us in December. Without those documents our application will be denied and we will have to begin all over again. Please keep the visa process in your prayers!


BLESSINGS

* Good health has returned to our home! Thank you for praying for Lena over the past week.

* It looks like sleep habits have also improved in our home. Your prayers are appreciated!


PETITIONS

* Please continue to pray for the upcoming (Feb. 4-9) Christian Camping Leaders Conference. We have eleven days until our staff leave for the conference site, and there is still lots of preparation to do. Please pray for good health and plenty of energy for our staff of eight as we sprint toward the conference start date.

* Sonia is hoping to complete her jewellery studies by sometime next month. She still has several tasks and a major project to complete before she is given her diploma. Please pray that she will be able to finish well.


DID YOU KNOW...

* ...that Soviet bus stops were, well, "unique"? I've seen a lot of interesting ones in my travels, but this site showcases some of the best (or worst). Enjoy!


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!)


Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Hamm Prayer Points - 16|01|07


HAPPY OLD NEW YEAR!!!

Russians love saying that each year at this time! January 14th was of course the first day of 2007 for those (read: Eastern Orthodox churches) who follow the old Julian calendar. Celebrating two Christmases and two New Years is perfectly fine for holiday-hungry Russians! Now that we have entered the second half of January/New Year, a regular work schedule will finally resume in this country.

Our office staff of eight have been working diligently during this time, preparing in earnest for the upcoming winter camping conference. Following is the conference course list, giving you a good idea what is in store for the 300+ pastors, camp directors and other senior camping leaders:

Track 1: Camp Director I

  1. Basic Camp Directors Course
  2. Legal Aspects of Camp Management
  3. Strategic Planning

Track 2: Camp Director II

  1. Staff Performance Analysis and Evaluation
  2. Staff Interviews
  3. Effective Ministry Principles: Start with Yourself
  4. Beyond Time Management

Track 3: Program Leader I

  1. Basic Program Leaders Course
  2. Vital Principles of Working with Campers
  3. Effective Bible Lessons

Track 4: Program Leader II

  1. Advanced Program Leaders Course
  2. Generating Ideas
  3. Motivating Staff
  4. Developing Camp Staff

Track 5: Spiritual Counselor I

  1. Spiritual Counseling
  2. Helping Victims of Accidents and Natural Disasters
  3. Sowing and Reaping Spiritual Fruit in a Child

Track 6: Spiritual Counselor II

  1. Teaching Campers to Forgive
  2. Christ, the Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets

Track 7: Special Campers

  1. Campers from Orphanages
  2. Deviant Behavior in Campers
  3. Campers with Special Needs

Track 8: Youth & Young Adults Ministry

  1. Ministering to Young People in Camp and Church
  2. Youth Camps
  3. Youth Subculture Peculiarities
  4. Extreme Projects for Youth

Track 9: Regional Seminars

  1. Course for Regional Seminar Program Leaders
  2. Seminar for Regional Seminar Group Leaders
  3. Regional Seminar Logistics and Academic Program

Minor Courses

  • Photo Ministry in Camp
  • Building Camper Relationships
  • Tent Camps
  • Winter Camps
  • Code Sign Camp for Boys
  • Day Camps
  • Round Table for Pastors
  • Owning Your Own Campsite
  • Family Camps
  • All Camp Games
  • Tent Camp Ideas
  • How to Avoid Burn-Out in Ministry
  • Camp Territory Activities
  • Night Games
  • Video Salon

As you can see, there is a lot planned! Please remember in prayer our academic team and all the instructors, the majority of whom come from Russia and the CIS.

Thank you for upholding the ministry of CCI/Russia in prayer!

— Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena


COMING TO CANADA

Here is where we're at: All of the newly-requested papers have been sent to the Canadian Embassy in Moscow. We have not yet received verification of the arrival of said documents (those sent by registered mail), nor do we know if the medical tests have already been processed and sent to Moscow (from St. Petersburg they were sent to London for processing). We trust that the documents we have sent will satisfy those handling Lena & Sonia's case. For now there is nothing more to do but pray & patiently wait some more!

Once we receive further news from Moscow, we will have to start things moving:

  • Our apartment will be put on the market in hopes that it will quickly sell.
  • Most of our furniture and appliances will be sold, given away or brought to Nina's apartment for her personal use (those she can fit into her tiny one-room apartment!).
  • All that we are keeping will have to be packed into suitcases for transport to Canada, shipped directly to Canada (if we can find feasible means of doing so) or packed for storage until we can retrieve it later.

Please continue to remember the visa process and our preparations in prayer!


BLESSINGS

* Snow has finally come to St. Petersburg! It's not much, but it covers the dirt nicely...


PETITIONS

* Please continue to pray for the February 4-9 CCI/Russia Christian Camping Leaders Conference. Pray that all those who plan to attend the conference will be able to do so (many are struggling to find the finances needed), and that the remaining conference staff will be found to fill positions in hospitality and instructor services.

* Lena has been very ill for the past two days. As I write this a doctor is on her way to our home (praise God that house calls still exist in Russia!). Please pray for her healing and for comfort during this trial.

* After three days of normal sleep after our trip, delayed jet lag has seemingly set in. Maya especially has had trouble sleeping through the night, which of course affects the rest of our sleep. Please pray for better sleep patterns to develop in our home.


DID YOU KNOW...

* ...that some of things I'm getting used to not seeing in St. Petersburg include vending machines, newspaper dispensers, drivers who stop for pedestrians, clerks who make small talk, stores that give treats to children and charity drives/donation boxes (or even evidence that there are such things are charities!)...just to name a few!


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!)


Thursday, January 11, 2007

Hamm Prayer Points - 11|01|07


Goodbye, Canada!THANK YOU, CANADA!

Or "Gift Canada" as Maya put it one day after receiving yet another gift from a complete stranger (this time from the Post Office).

What a wonderful time Maya & I had in Manitoba! The weather was unbelievable and God provided amazingly through His people. We were showered with gifts and blessed by nearly everyone we met. It was of course difficult to be away from Lena & the girls during this time, but God cared for us all. Despite some ill health, Maya & I thoroughly enjoyed our time with Canadian family & friends.

I should add that the "time with friends" part was minimal, due mainly to lack of good health on our part. We would have loved to have been able to take more people up on their invites but it was not to be.

Thank you to all who prayed for our family especially during our time in Canada. We will share in more detail about some of the blessings we received when we resume our regular publishing schedule.

May God continue to use you to bless others!

- Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena


COMING TO CANADA

Now major news to share...yet! Please keep praying!


BLESSINGS

* Praise God for a safe return journey! We had no difficulty with our flights or (whew!) with Russian customs.

* Lena, Sonia, Deena & Nina had a safe and enjoyable Christmas during our absence. Prais God for His protection and care.

* Thank God for the many gifts we received during our time in Canada. Most of our financial needs were met by the generous hearts of God's people!


PETITIONS

* Please pray for preparations for the upcoming CCI/Russia Christian Camping Leaders Conference, to be held north of St. Petersburg February 4-9. There is much to get ready, and our staff of eight are in the thick of preparations. Please remember them in your prayers.


DID YOU KNOW...

* ...that Russian passport control stamps the passports of all Russian citizens? I've never had my passport stamped by Canadian authorities, so I guess that the Russian practice is unusual...


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.