Our Apartment... Getting Closer

The floor plan as it is now.

We finally have the keys to our apartment. Svetta has been waiting for the apartment to be finished for almost three years. Now that it is finished, they still have not hooked up the gas because not everyone has paid for it, and there are still a lot of things that will need to be done or redone. The company that was building the building is bankrupt and just needed to finish the project as fast as they could. Because of this, and several management problems, many things were done incorrectly or not at all. Since the company is out of money and they were able to get the paperwork out to the people who own apartments, the owners now have to pay to have these things fixed and done. However, when it is all done, it will be a very nice place to live! There are four buildings in the complex and people are already living in three of the four. We are in the last one. We are hopeful.

Aside from that, the apartment is bare walls with just plumbing, electric, and some basic fixtures. This means we have to finish the whole thing. We also have decided to move some walls around. Right now it is a two room apartment with a kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and a corridor. We are going to rearrange the layout to give us a bigger kitchen and a living room instead of a corridor with two smaller bed rooms. It is only about 700 square feet, so there is not a ton of playing room. But with some smart planning and hard work I think we can do it. Right now I am working on the floor plan. (I finally get to put to use some of what I studied in community college before I went in to ministry.) I found a free CAD drawing program. It is somewhat limited, but it is good enough.

All this means we will have to live with Svetta’s mom for a while until we are able to get the place in such a condition that we can move in. We don’t need much. All we need is to smooth the floor out, clean the place, wait for the gas to get turned on, and get a washer, a fridge, and a bed before we can move in. We will do the remodeling little by little as we can afford it. I am not sure how long it will take to get it all done. Our main obstacle is finances. I was a carpenter in the States, and I know that I can do pretty much everything that we will need to do. I will just have to do some things a little differently than I am used to. They build a little different over here and they use different materials. But I am sure I will pick it up quickly.

Please keep us in prayer. Pray that the Lord will provide for what we need to be able to finish the apartment and move in. There is a lot we need to do, and we can’t do it without the help of the Lord! If the Lord leads you become a part of our ministry, there is prayer, contact, and support information in the right column. Thank you and may the Lord bless you all!

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Back in Russia

Svetta and I spent our last week in the States with family in Littleton and in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My aunt Lisa lives in Colorado Springs and my cousin Mary lives in Littleton. We tried to hang out with both families before we left. It was a time of relaxing, work, packing, fun, and mixed emotions. We were both anxious to get back to Russia, but were also hesitant to leave family and friends.

In Littleton the school year had already started for the three Wilinchus girls: Madison, Leah, and Jayne. So they were all busy with school while Mary and Lee of course had to work, but we enjoyed visiting in the evenings. The girls are fun and enjoy spending time with us as much as we do with them. I am amazed at how fast they are growing and maturing. It will be interesting what they will look and act like when we come back next year. While everyone was at school or work, Svetta and I got some last minute shopping done. I needed a book, and Svetta needed a dress for a wedding we are going to in Russia in September. She didn't really have a dress right for the occasion. We really enjoyed our time in Littleton.

School was also starting at my aunt Lisa house, but we found opportunity to spend time with my little cousins. They are also growing fast. On the weekend we were able to get on some horses. Last year Svetta rode a horse for the first time, and we wanted to do it again at least once before we went back to Russia. My aunt and grandma took us on a nice little trail not too far from my aunt’s house. Svetta fell in love with the horse she was on because she was a good calm horse. We really enjoyed the ride. We also met with the mission’s director at my aunt’s church and we pray that we are able to build a relationship with them.

On Wednesday the 17th we got on a plane for Russia. It was a long trip: 10.5 hours from Denver to London, 9 hours in London, 4 hours to Moscow, and then 11 hours in a minibus to Cherepovets, about 34.5 hours in all with little sleep. We arrived home at 5:00 pm on Friday the 19th tired and ready for bed, but not before we went to check out our apartment. We are still getting used to the time. But life goes on. We are starting to get back into teaching English, and trying to get all our papers in order for Svetta’s new identity as Svetlana Pavlovna Houlmiere and to finish my residency process. We are praying about how to get started in ministry; things are already starting to develop and we are waiting to see what the Lord has planned for us. We are excited to be back, ministering in Russia. Please keep us in your prayers as the Lord lays it on your heart.
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Having Fun in Colorado

We are now on the last leg of the journey here in the States. We have spent the last three months in Gardnerville, Nevada, and are now in Cortez, Colorado. Next week we will be off to Colorado Springs and Denver until we leave on August 17th. The date of our departure is quickly approaching, but not before we have some fun in the sun with family.

My aunt and uncle (Tara and Chip), with their two children Zenda and Alex, have moved from Idaho to the ranch house in Cortez. This is good for us because we were not able to spend much time with them when they lived in Idaho because it was so out of the way. They will be taking over the property and turning it into quite the little farm with cows, chickens, gardens, and so on. You can keep them in prayer that their business will take off in this area.

We have been here for almost a week and are having a good time. My cousins are 12 and 9 years old and are good kids that are fun to be around. We are really enjoying our time with them and their big beautiful dog Balla. She is a Great Pyrenees. We have spent a lot of time working, but have also made sure to have some fun. One day I decided to try to make something I saw online called a Swedish Stove. Basically it is a stump split only about three quarter of the way down with wedges in it. You start a fire on top and as it burns it starts to burn down the middle of the stump and you have a little stove-top. I didn’t do it quite right and split the log the whole way, but it was still fun playing with fire and making smors. On Thursday we all went out on Tara and Chip’s boat. Svetta really enjoyed it because when she was young her family had a boat and used to go hunting and fishing on the boat all the time. It brought back some good old memories.

Tuesday we will be heading up to Colorado Springs with my aunt Lisa. We will be meeting with her church up there and hopefully that will turn into a close and fruitful relationship. You can keep both the traveling mercies and church meeting in prayer.

I can’t believe we will be leaving soon, but I am excited to get to ministering in Russia! I know the Lord has good things in store for us and the ministry in Russia. Thank you for all your prayers and support, without which we would not be able to minister. You are a crucial part of our ministry team and an example of the body of Christ working together for the kingdom. Please continue in your ministry to us as we continue in our ministry in Russia.

I rescued this humming bird from
the garage and nourished it back to
life with sugar water.





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IBS Seiminar at High Sierra Fellowship

One of our goals as we come back to the States every year is to do Inductive Bible Study seminars. So we were happy to be able to do a seminar at High Sierra Fellowship June 21-25. I believe what the church in general needs is to really start studying God’s word. The reading and studying of the Bible is not solely given to pastors and teachers, but God desires to speak to all people through His world.

It was a great time as about 15 people gathered for the seminar. We had a great time of fellowship and growing in the understanding of the Bible. I hope next year, and the following years, that we are able to do many more seminars like this. Now, as we approach our departure date, our thoughts are again turning back towards doing seminars in Russia. Please pray that the Lord would open doors for us to do seminars in Russia, and that He would lead and guide us as we seek His will. Also keep in prayer when we come back next year that the Lord would also prepare us, give us wisdom, open doors, and bless us in our ministry. Thank you, may the Lord be with you.