Bachar and More

Today is Wednesday. Eleven members of our team, along with Igor (our interpreter) and Valentina (head of the Tomsk Peace Foundation) crammed into a small van for a long "road trip" to Bachar. This village is several hours away from Tomsk and has two orphanages. It was the site of a former "gulag" or prison camp. The Texas Annual Conference built a new building at the main Bachar orphanage in the late 90's after a wall had fallen-in on an old building housing children. Our team members will do Christian activities and crafts with the children, as well as give them gifts of stuffed animals and Marvin UMC backpacks. It will be a long trip, but a really wonderful opportunity to interact with more precious children and see the beautiful native countryside. The team plans to arrive back in Tomsk late this afternoon.

Bill is working on sheetrock today (taping and mudding) at Tomsk UMC. He and Garth managed to hang all of the sheetrock yesterday.

Today I am working with the pastor, Yelena at the church. We are going to share ideas concerning church development and programs. I was excited to learn that Bishop Vaxby and the Russian Methodist Church have just adopted the 5 Practices of Fruitful Discipleship, which we have embraced in the Texas Conference and at Marvin UMC. Yelena and I have been dear friends since 1999, so having the time to meet with her is a blessing! Those of you who attended our wedding in 2005 remember that Yelena and Mike Dent performed our wedding at Marvin!

At 7 p.m. the entire team will attend the worship service at Tomsk UMC and then go out as a group for pizza!

The weather has been cold (upper 40's and low 50's) and rainy for 2 days, but we are NOT COMPLAINING! We just keep thinking about our friends and family in the hot USA, as we snuggle under wool blankets at night! Hopefully we can bring some cool weather back with us on August 3!

Our trip continues to be a wonderful "mission of love!" Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support!

In Christ's Amazing Love,

Melissa