Class

(Team meeting on Friday with lunch afterward with Blair!)

Over the last week, we have had the privilege of taking a church planting course at the Bible School. Blair is a pastor of a Wesleyan church in Texas. He flew here last Saturday, (when Philip went into Moscow with Brian) and the classes began on Monday evening. Philip had one church planting class during seminary, but I have never taken a class about church planting. The classes ran from 6pm-9pm each night. Philip and I took turns going to class while the other person put Adalynn down for bed. Philip went Monday evening and then got sick, so I went Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening. (Philip finished out the class by going on Friday and Saturday) I had a great time learning more about vision and the workings of what goes on during a church plant. I also began to feel more of a sense of how important church planting is...everywhere...both here in Russia and in the United States. I learned a lot and really felt the excitement of being on a team that is starting a new church here.
Blair flies home on Monday morning. He is going to be meeting with our new church plant team on Sunday evening. This Sunday is our first Sunday as a "new church". We haven't launched the church yet. We are still in the strategic planning stages, creating a vision for the church as well as bathing the community in prayer.

Thanks for your continual interest in our lives. We have just a little over a week until we are flying back to Indiana for the birth of baby #2! We are packing our things in the midst of classes, meetings, and language tutoring. Funny how your things seem to "grow" once they get out of your suitcase...things never fit back in your suitcase the same way! (don't worry, Mom and Dad G. we aren't bringing back as many suitcases as we brought:)!)

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and baby Gwen

Baby Gwen

Are you wondering what this is? I'll give you 3 guesses...have you made your guesses? Well, I am sure you guessed wrong! This picture is of an instrument used to hear a baby's heartbeat. Wow. Let me give you some background to this picture. This morning I went to the "doctor's" for a simple check up to make sure Gwen is good to fly home in a few weeks. I went with an interpreter because I obviously needed someone along to interpret for me!
Many things are about connections around here and about who you know. We connected with someone in our church and she made a call to a doctor friend of hers. So off we went this morning (it was just Tanya and me). We took the bus to where this woman's clinic was located. We (Tanya) asked a few women along the way if we were headed in the right direction. We arrived, checked our coats, got some plastic (they look like shower caps) to put over our shoes, and then sat and waited. We were able to "cut" in line since the doctor was expecting us. The room was her office and then off of the office was the "examining" room. I walked in and I felt like I was at COSI (a science museum for kids in Columbus, OH) looking at a display of doctor's things from years ago! The doctor listened to the heartbeat and felt the baby. She said the baby was little, but everything was good. She also took my blood pressure. That was about it! We were done. It makes me thankful for the resources and doctors we have in the States. I don't think I'll complain about waiting in the waiting room at the doctor's office anymore:)!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and a small baby Gwen

Philip's Trip to Moscow

Saturday morning Philip and Brian left Vladimir at 5:15am for Moscow. They were headed to pick up Blair Ritchey from the airport. He is teaching a church planting class at the Bible school this week. Before picking up Blair, Philip and Brian headed to a supermarket and Starbucks! (Philip did bring me home a bag of Starbuck's Decaf coffee!!! Yum!) After picking up Blair at the airport and eating a quick lunch, they headed to an open market place where they could buy souvenirs. They arrived home around 7pm that evening.
Adalynn and I spent the day helping out at the Yarmarka. Well, helping as much as we could! The sale went well and we got rid of a lot of things. There is still a handful of stuff to find homes for in the next 2 weeks.

Here is an ice skating rink inside the mall!

Philip got some yummy treats at Awah (Ashon). We are enjoying peanut butter, flour tortillas, popcorn, Tabasco sauce, and taco seasoning!

A Russian dish called shashlic.

A look from the mall window of part of the market place

The entrance to the market place.

Shopping

A happy wife and daughter--double cheese burger, fries, and chicken nuggets! I know, I know who gets excited about McDonalds?---someone who hasn't had something like that for awhile!

See you all in 2 weeks!
Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and baby Gwen

Yarmarka

Yesterday, Friday, our team spent the morning and early afternoon setting up for the yarmarka (yard sale). Kerry has been organizing and heading the sale up. She has done a great job! Today is actually the day of the sale. We have sold a lot of the furniture already! We are hoping to sell a good portion of stuff today. There are kitchen things, bedding, books, videos, DVDs, carpets...you name it! A lot of the items are things from Global Partner past missionaries as well as things that have just collected over the years. If you aren't too busy, you should stop by:)!

Look at my nice organized sheet/bedding section:)

On another note, Philip went to Moscow this morning bright and early! Adalynn woke up this morning and asked for "Daddy". Philip and Brian went to pick up Blair from the airport. Monday will start his classes on Church Planting at the Bible School. Philip and I will be taking turns going in the evening!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and baby Gwen

Events

Another family picture!

Upcoming Events:

*The Tokareva Wesleyan Church is in the process of financially taking over the current building which has been used for years by the Bible College, Church, and Global Partner's offices. Therefore by the end of this month, Global Partners will be finding a new location for their offices. We are fervently praying for new office space. It has been a hard task trying to find somewhere to rent. Please pray for our field director, Brian, as he searches for new space in the next 2 weeks. We are trusting in the Lord to provide the right place! It is hard not to stress out about it as the month of March seems to be flying by! We will be moving out of the current building by April 1st.

*Because of the transition out of the current building, we are having a yamarka (garage sale) on Saturday! We are selling a lot of things including furniture, books, linens...you name it. On Friday, our team will be taking things from the garage and storage rooms and organizing it for the sale on Saturday. We have already sold a handful of items, so that is something to be thankful for!

*Also on Saturday Philip will be joining our field director, Brian for a trip into Moscow. They will be picking up Blair Richey from the airport. Blair will be teaching a week long intensive course on Church Planting at the Bible School. Though Philip has to get up and be ready to leave by 5:15am, I by no means feel sorry for him since I hear there will be a STARBUCKS stop once in Moscow! (Adalynn and Philip are discussing his Starbucks trip on Saturday...Adalynn tends to agree with me...we are jealous)

*In three weeks, yes just THREE, we will be on our way back to the good old state of Indiana in the States. We cannot believe how fast the last 10 weeks have gone. We will be flying "home" for the birth of our 2nd daughter. Gwen is due May 20th, so we will be home in good time to prepare for another life change...1 child to 2! Pray for us as we begin to prepare for yet another transition.

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and baby Gwen

Church Planting Team

(Meesha, Andrey and Lena, Natasha, Lena and Volodya, Brian and Cara, and us)

This picture of our new church planting team looks it was taken a century ago, but I promise it was just taken a few nights ago!

We had our second church planting strategic meeting Monday evening. It was and evening filled with good discussion, yummy treats with tea, and a time of prayer. This team of 10 (including us) will be planting another church here in the Vladimir region. Our field directors will be leading the group as we focus toward creating a vision and direction for this new church. There is so much that goes into planting a new church! The evil one is well aware of what a new church will bring. Please be praying for our team members as spiritual warfare is evident. We need unity, strength, humbleness, and boldness as we face the future together. We will continue to meet together each week.

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and baby Gwen

p.s. Another one of our faithful supporters has renewed their Faith Promise!!!!!! Praise the Lord!

Happy Woman's Day!

Though she doesn't look thrilled, Adalynn wants to wish you a Happy Woman's Day! It is the second biggest holiday in Russia! It is a day to celebrate women with gifts, flowers, and candy. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?! We got our Russian tutors gifts and they were both thrilled to receive them! The Russians worked this past Saturday so they could have Monday and Tuesday off to celebrate this holiday with family and friends. Many people will go out to eat, go to a coffee shop, go shopping, or spend time with their families. We are going to Brian and Cara's house for lunch today to "celebrate"! Adalynn and Sophia like to play together as well, so it will be a fun time for all!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and baby Gwen