Hope in Different Forms.

     These weeks have been good ones.

     This past Sunday we went to our host’s church and afterwards did street evangelism with her and her friends. We wrapped bibles with invitations to their church inside. We handed them out with light bulbs and the phrase, ‘this is the light for your flat, and this is the light for your life.’ It was encouraging and inspiring to us to see women doing evangelism in their own city.

     Thursday and Friday we went to a city called Arsenyev. Our purpose there was to connect with an English club. We prayed that God would open doors for conversation to be about Him. The club met both days and we did have some really good discussions.We were able to build relationships with a few people in particular and to encourage the people we met and call out the potential we saw in them, and are still keeping in touch.

     We have continued with our weekly English class with locals, our children's English classes, and doing ministry with village children and are beginning to build even deeper relationships with the people we've met in each of those. We have also continued with more street evangelism, and are working on meeting up with the people we've met through that to help them with their English, to talk more, and hopefully hook them up with some local ministries and churches we've become apart of here.

     Coming here we knew that God wanted us to be a part of bringing hope to this country and this week the three of us realized that hope looks different to each of us and we each have a different role to play in bringing it here. We’re a mix of salvation, healing, and purpose and we continually pray for God’s ideas in showing that to this country. We've also realized the importance of the small things: compliments, smiles, and hellos. Those things can make all the difference here.

    Prayer for opportunity to speak truth, bring hope, and make a difference would be so appreciated. As well as prayer that God would continually show us and remind us just why He has us here. Paige and Heidi are slightly sick right now as well and we would appreciate your continued prayer for our team in that. Thank you for your prayers and support!   

             Rachel for the team. 

Honoring the Lord with our hearts.

Hello Friends and Family!
     It has been a really great two weeks here in Vladivostok! We have been doing so many different things! We're finding that missions here means building relationships and we've been doing a lot of that. Once a week we lead a ladies English class in an apartment and we've also helped teach a children's English class twice and will continue with that. We cook once a week for a discipleship class; we've done street evangelism in the city a few times; we're working with a church connected to the YWAM team here and we've helped with and shared at their youth group and homeless church service.
     We've met so many people and started so may relationships and we're excited to see where they lead! We're praying for open doors and open hearts that receive.
     Our fourth member will no longer be joining us and while we are saddened by this, Jesus has really been showing us how to embrace Him as a member of our team. We are becoming more solidified as a team of three and will continue to be servants of Jesus and work towards love, joy, and hope in the country of Russia.
     Please continue to pray for unity and good communication in the team. Pray that God would give us his heart for the things that we do and the people we come into contact with.

                                                 ~Rachel for the team

                                Dave and Masha - two members of the YWAM Vladivostok team.  

                                              Walking on the frozen ocean.

                                           View from our apartment window.

Everywhere we walk, there is ice; snow boots are a must.

                  Our new friend Masha we met at church. She runs the homeless service we helped with.