Christian Fellowship can't be beat!

We have had 2 absolutely wonderful days!  I am going to start with our Sunday~We got picked up at the light up on Karl Marx Rd.  Yeah, right here a block from us is Karl Marx Rd.  Anyway, beyond that point, we were on our way with the Loomans.  I am going to include some pictures, so I hope you enjoy them.  We made it to church, and no wedding today.  There was a nice crowd, but not too crowded.  The service got started, and we sang a song, and then we all prayed together.  At that point, a musical group was introduced that was visiting from the capital of Ukraine~Kiev.  They started sharing God's blessings and testimonies, and would introduce and sing a song, and then move on to their next song, with an introduction of God's blessings.  It was really pretty neat, however, it did go on for a bit.  We would think this song would be the last, but then they would sing another song.  This lasted until 12:20, at which point one of the fellows from the group finally got up and started to preach.  I have to say that one of the things that I have really liked about the preaching in Russia is how straightforward they are with how to put God's word into practice in practical ways in our lives.  So, he preached, and then they were closing out with one last song, and people started coming forward to repent.  It was really cool.  I think there were at least 6 people who accepted Christ as their Savior right then and there.  What a blessing to experience!

Now, I would like to add some sweet little things.  Um, the church has not been packed, nicely filled, but not packed. (keep this in mind for later)  Iris (our friend and translator through the service) told us that also normally there is not that much going on at their church, and that we really have come at an unusual time of year when there does seem to be quite a bit going on.  We're like, "YEAH, YEAH, you probably tell everyone that."  And she says in effect that normally there are 3 sermons (their service, if you remember, lasts 2 hours), and normally there are not a lot of other things going on.  So, God has been adding some special treats for us.  I really wanted to get a picture, but did not want to be disrespectfu.  However, I mentioned that to Iris, and she said that taking pictures is not a problem.  She said that people do it all of the time.  So, I decided that I would take a picture of the group, and walked down to the balcony railing to get a better picture.  At that point, I wanted to get a picture of a group of women all sitting squeezed into a pew.  This had really piqued my curiousity because there was plenty of room for them to sit in other pews.  I did not understand why they would squash all together.  So, I finally got up the nerve to point it out and ask Iris why all of these ladies were sitting so tightly together.  So funny~~we are all so much creatures of habit.  Her response was this.  "Normally our church is packed, and there is hardly room to sit, so everyone has to sit very tightly together.  Those ladies always sit together, and even though it is not packed, they still choose to sit together."  So, they were sitting together because those are THEIR seats, and you know, you have to sit in the same spot when you go to church.  hehehe  I loved it!

We enjoyed our church service once again.  Then we were on our way to the village where Tim and Iris live.  It was really a beautiful day, and was warming up.  We traveled out to their village, and were so blessed by their hospitality.  Iris really put out a spread for our lunch.  It was delicious!  ~~The best part though was the fellowship.  It was so nice to spend time with Iris.  Diester and the guys were playing baseball in their back yard.  Iris showed me her lovely garden (puts mine to shame, but gives me hope for next year), and then we got to meet their goats, Shalom and Hosannah.  I sat in the sun a bit, and soaked up the sun.  Something I am really missing~~and then we had dessert again!  We came in after a bit, and then we got to share stories of our lives.  For those of you who know who this is, Edith Schaeffer from L'Abri was at Tim and Iris' wedding in Switzerland.  All of Tim's family (from Wisconsin) got to stay in the chalets at L'Abri, and Edith Schaeffer gave them a signed book on marriage that her and her husband Francis (deceased by this time) had authored.  What a treat!  It must've been special all around~~Iris got tears of joy in her eyes as she spoke of their wedding.  Oh, I should ask to see pictures.  I still have time.  It sounds liked it was a total blessing for them.  Ahhhh!  When God blesses a marriage!  What sweetness there is!

Okay, so we enjoyed fellowship with them until after 7:00 pm.  It was just like we have known them for years~~that kind of fellowship~~sharing stories of God's provision and him bringing us out of our past lives.  How nice is that!   Then it was time for us to head home.  I took some pictures of us heading out.  First, the Siberian hillsides that they overlook are just beautiful, and go on forever.  As we were still leaving the village, there was an older woman just sitting out on a stoop in her flowered dress with her scarf on her head.  I mentioned to Iris that I wished I could have had a picture of that~~it seemed so Russian, and she told me that that lady was selling fresh milk.  Oh my! ! !  Then, we went a little further, and came upon the 2 shepherds bringing the village cow herd home for the day.  Iris explained that everyone with a cow will milk the cow in the morning, and then the shepherds come by and get the cow, and basically round up all of the cows in the village, and take them out for the day onto the hillside to graze, and then will bring them home in the evening, and the cows basically exit the herd when they get to their home.  Then their own farmer will milk the cow for the evening milking.  One of the shepherds was on foot, the other one on a horse (would we call him a cowboy?)  Wowsa! The culture here is just a tad bit different.  What an amazing bit of history that still takes place today.  I loved it!  And Iris and Tim do have running water (thanks for the prayers for their well), and electricity.  What am I trying to say~~modern conveniences in the midst of ancient traditions and ways of life.  It is sooooo cool! 

Then before we came all the way home, we stopped at the METRO.  Just like a Sam's Club.  We picked up some things there, and Iris picked up some things.  We came home, and crashed for the night!  What a day!   Thank you God for the Loomans, and for your blessings on our day!

Now to try and post the pictures with this!  I hope you can see them.  Michelle