Thanks grandma!

Uncle Ilya just got back from a trip that included a swing by grandma's place. In America, when we visit our grandmas, sometimes they sends us home with leftovers or cookies, and we feel pretty lucky. That's cute, America. In Russia, when you visit grandma, she sends you home with liters and liters of pickled vegetables, jams, apples from her tree, and a pallet of flowers for the garden (though I must say, not even a whole pallet of canned tomatoes could make up for a pan of Lois' hot fruit compote or one of Patty's pecan pies!)

Pickles, pickled tomatoes, and pickled peppers (a whole peck!)

Pickled veggies, jam in the small bottles, big bottles of homemade juice

Apples and flowers

Aunt Tanya was excited because Ilya was bringing her flowers; I thought she meant a bouquet!

As exciting as getting canned food from grandma is, even more exciting are some upcoming visits from none other than mom and dad! We spent a few hours on Skype going through the long visa application process, and God-willing we'll meet up in a month in Prague then head over to Russia together! I have to leave to renew my visa, so it was a perfect opportunity for a trip.

No strangers to adventure, these two

I can't tell you how excited I am that they're coming! I'm already ticking down the days. They've never been abroad together, so this will be a whole new adventure for them, but after the blast I had with Wyatt here I'm confident that everything will go great.

Canned goods and good people, that's the life!

In closing, here's my cat chillin' in my shower. What a dummy.

 

 

Cat's hate water, did you miss the memo?

Пока ребята, Russian Jane

Thanks from Pastor Ilya

Hello everyone!

As many of you know, I live with a pastor and his family. Back in July, I asked if you would be willing to help raise some funds to replace a car the Ivanyenko family lost in the flood. Well, if I go to my window and look into the driveway, there stands our new (used) Nissan Qashqai, an economical little SUV that is perfect for Russia's roads and Ilya's travel demands.

To those of you who participated, thank you so much; you can't imagine what it means to have a reliable car once again, and what a hindrance it was not to have one.

Ilya has written a thank you letter to our church, though his thanks extends to everyone who participated.  So once again, here's a letter from Pastor Ilya:

  

Novorossyisk Bible Center

 Russia, Krasnodar Region, Novorossyisk

                  360923  Lenin Prospect 71a. Tel. 8909 4500 321

                        sobor@list.ru ……………………………………………………………………………

To the pastor of MAC

Missoula, Montana 

From Minister I. V.Ivanyenko

Novorossyisk

           

Dear brother Jeff and all the children of God at MAC:  I sincerely thank you, your elders and your members for your tenderness and readiness to meet the needs of the saints. On July 06, 2012, there was a flood in our house in Novowossyisk. Praise God that everyone is alive and well, but there was a little property damage, and our car was totaled by the floodwater. You responded to the needs of our church and did some fundraising to help us buy a new car, raising $8000 total.  It's an immense blessing for us; in my ministry I'm responsible for the missionary activities of our denomination, ECMS, and my works involves lots of travel to visit our missionaries and ministries.  All of your fundraising enabled us to buy a 2008 Nissan Qashqai. It's economical, reliable, and comfortable on our roads.

We sincerely thank the Lord for you and your participation in our ministry. We pray for you and hope that the Lord will abundantly meet your needs in your personal lives, and in ministry. 

We invite you as to come to the field in Krasnodar region as workers of the Lord, and to relax on the Black Sea.

ECMS Director of Missions, 

Ilya Ivanyenko

  January 2013

There you have it guys, a warm thanks from Pastor Ilya. And I want to thank you personally for helping these people who have become family to me. God is good!

Пока ребята,
Russian Jane