Ministry Update

Several important matters of ministry: I've been meeting for several weeks with Oleg as he prepares to preach. It was a while in getting to this point, but I am excited that Oleg is on the preaching schedule now. It's been refreshing to meet together to discuss the ministry of preaching, from theory to practice. These meetings have been an important part of our transition out of ministry.

On Saturday, Lena, her mom, and I visited with Natalya, a dear church member who has been fighting cancer for several months now. She is very hospitable, generous, and hopeful. Her diagnosis, unfortunately, is not so bright. Apparently, the cancer has spread to her lungs. And, the doctor treating her has been showing signs of incompetence or simply lack of concern. Natalya is debating whether or not to go ahead with more chemotherapy. Some of the treatment she was on nearly killed her because the doctor simply wasn't monitoring her condition closely. It's a difficult time for her now. Please pray for her.

On Sunday, I preached again and after church, we took Lena's mom and an older church member, Svetlana Pavlovna, out to eat. It was a great afternoon and she seemed to enjoy herself. Christ has really changed her life in so many ways.

On political matters, government leaders have finally agreed to a September date for the new election. Tensions rose last Friday and even Time magazine was reporting about possible military clashes. There is still some concern about who is in control of the police forces maintained by the ministry of the interior.