News from the Far North of Russia
January 26, 2012
Yura Belonozhkin ministers in the Far North of Russia, doing great work in many areas.
February retreat preparation
I’ve been driving around the Region meeting with pastors, presenting the Forge (as we call it) ministry to the churches and pastors. Although I did it already last summer, most pastors take it as something new. But anyway, I’ve met a lot of support from them. I will even have a chance to preach in one of the churches on Sunday before the retreat. That’s what we discussed at pastor’s meeting mostly.
This time we will have the retreat at a new place, together with new people, so it all is going in some different way. I will have to go to Rickolatva, the place where the retreat will be, on Sat, 4th. The people there, who are helping this time, seem to be not understanding exactly what it is going to be. we need to discuss some issues in person.
Men’s meetings in Monchegorsk and Zapolarny
We had 2 small group meetings this month – in Monchegorsk and Zapolarny. There were 11 men in Monchegorsk and 12 in Zapolarny. Monchegorsk meeting looked more like a core team meeting. There were men who have always attended all the meetings and who share the vision. we discussed the Feb retreat, set out the agenda for it, made the schedule for all 3 days. One of them will lead a class in Feb, he took a topic about the “Father wound”.
vWe also agreed to collect funds, we set out the minimum sum we pay every month – 500 rub (app $17). So that day we collected 2000 rub. we will use those funds to cover somebody’s expences to attend the retreat, if this somebody is not able to pay for himself, or purchase gear – tents, sleeping bags and mats, ski, etc. I want to collect enough to buy a rubber boat by summer. We are planning a rafting trip in July.
The meeting in Zapolarny was different. There were many new people, whom I’d never met before. There were 3 of us from Polarny, and the others were from Zapolarny and smaller towns around. we had an “All alone wound” class, which caused much discussion at the end. Some of the guys are planning to come to the retreat.
Our group in Polarny
Good news – a 14 year old boy accepted Christ 2 weeks ago. It doesn’t happen here very often, so we are really encouraged. Right after he accepted Christ he went to the men’s group to Zapolarny with us. He prayed and worshipped with us. Very encouraging. The family which had marriage problems is getting better. The guy looks like he is getting close to the Lord. Very slowly though, but he is moving anyway. Some outreach events are scheduled for later Feb and March (after the men’s retreat).
We are also working on Alfa project. it is new for us, but we already purchased the books and booklets for teachers and workbooks for attendants.
Some personal news
My father came to visit and stayed with us for 4 days. It was really great time. Really great. My father is a painter, and he brought 30 his paintings with him. Our local museum made a special exhibition of his paintings. The opening was on Jan 21. But it was way more interesting, because that day also was 45th anniversary of the naval academy which he graduated from back in 1975.
Our fleet commandment organized a celebration, where my father was invited, and it all was at the museum among his paintings. reporters from newspapers and local TV channel came to intervew my father. He said a speach before the audience of nearly 80 high rank navy officers. Some of them appeared to be his old classmates who he hadn’t seen for decades. I haven’t seen him that happy for a very long time, maybe never. And I was very proud of him. We organized an excursion for him to the ship where he served as an commander’s assistant. That was a surprise for him. It was a very, a truly blessed time.
Masha was recently in Polarnye Zori (a town 300 km south from here) right now with a master class. She helped the church there develop their women’s ministry. She also worked with the town crisis center, a municipal organization which helps people in crisis situations.
Welcome To Our Newest Board Member
January 20, 2012
We welcome Larry Heller to the Stoneworks Board of Directors. Larry grew up in suburban Chicago to Christian mother, atheist father with a Jewish upbringing. He became a Christian through the ministry of Young Life in 1972.
Larry moved to San Antonio in 1975 to attend Trinity University (BA in music), met his wife-to-be Kim the year after graduation, and married in 1982; they will celebrate 30 years of marriage this July.
Larry and Kim have five terrific children – three of which were adopted from Russia as older-age adoptions. Sergei, 18 (adopted at age 8), Olya, 21 (adopted at age 12) and Zhenya, 20 (adopted at age 13). Their oldest children, Tyson (27) and Max (23), are graduates of Rice and Texas A&M Universities respectively. Tyson will receive his M.D. this May.
Larry’s first mission trip to Russia (summer camp ministry) was in 1999, and he has been coordinator of missions to Russia for the Oak Hills Church since 2000. Larry has served on the boards of Springs Of Revival, MIR and Road of Life, a transitional living program for orphanage graduates in St. Petersburg.
As a result of 13 years of summer camp ministry, Larry dedicates one trip to Russia each year to advance the many strong and deep relationships he has with orphans, children, young adults, interpreters & their families and the Russian families of his own adopted children. Larry is blessed to serve as father, godfather, mentor, supporter, life coach, financial safety net and prayer warrior to several dozen people in St. Petersburg.
New Year Celebration
January 16, 2012
A week before a New Year (for Russians it’s a biggest holiday, unfortunately) we asked Yuri and Marina where they are going to celebrate New Year. They said they had no plans and most likely would stay home. To stay home for them means to spend time in one room with Marina’s mother and her boyfriend who are drug addicts, get drunk and watch TV all night.
We both decided that it’s a great opportunity for them to have totally new experience, to have fun and joy without alcohol. We asked our church leaders if we could use church facilities for a New Year’s party and invited them for this event to our church. Other church members expressed their desire to come and some of them came early to help prepare.
Yan had been working hard on a program, putting together games, music clips and slides.
Twenty people came including our graduates, Yuri and Marina also invited another graduate girl Ksusha.
Yan was leading a party and did a very good job! In the beginning we sat at a festive table and Yan asked every one to say their name and one thing special about themselves. At 20 min till midnight we all came to the sanctuary. Yan showed a video of the fireworks in Sidney and invited everyone to make fireworks of our praises to our Lord who is worthy of all glory, so we entered in the New Year worshiping God!
Then Yan started his program dividing everyone in two teams. Each team had to collect letters, winning in competitions, then to make a word from these letters. If a team lost in the competition, team members could get a letter if they were singing karaoke. The word which had to be found was ‘Christmas’. We wanted everyone to realize that even year 2012 means that 2012 years ago Christ was born and that was such a remarkable event that changed not only a calendar but whole world!
In the end when Yuri and Marina with their son Dima and Ksusha were leaving everyone came to say goodbye saying warm words and inviting them to come to church as good friends! They were pleasantly surprised how cheerful, fun and active Christians can be. Others thanked us for the invitation and said that they had a very good time!
Please pray for Yuri, Marina, their son Dima, for Ksusha and her son Igor’ to draw closer to the One, who loves them very much and want to change and bless their lives.
On Corruption in Russia
January 3, 2012
From Liz Sukhovskaya:
A recent article in the St. Petersburg Times gave an interesting look into the issue of corruption.
I found this quote especially interesting:
“Russian bureaucracy is such a giant beast that what is sometimes termed as corruption is just a misconception that actually has more to do with the heavy bureaucratic structure where there is an unwillingness to accept responsibility. It’s easier to say no than it is to say yes because saying no doesn’t carry any risk.” (emphasis mine)
There is no doubt about the existence of corruption in the Russian government, yet in day-to-day life I try to think the best of people and see them as humans rather as The Machine. I’m not sure if I’ve ever been a victim of corruption, and I’m not sure I would catch on if I were being encouraged to pay a bribe.
Who is corrupt?
I came across my residency permit honestly, although it took a lot of sweat, blood, and tears. As I look around at the other people in the Immigration Office, I see their sweat and tears (literally) as well, and it’s hard to believe any of them are offering bribes. Who is, then? I remember a couple of times when there were line-jumpers. Someone barges in with a baby or some other sort of diversion, and the next thing you know he’s in with the Inspector and doesn’t come out for an hour, while everyone else is still waiting out in the hallway. Did money change hands for him to get into The Room, or was it just a case of being pushy? Did the The Inspector act illegally? Hard to say.
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