Adam Called - Monday Update

Heard from Adam today via phone! Yeah! I was waiting patiently by the phone from 11 to 1 hoping he'd call. 2pm rolled around and no call - guess I wasn't going to hear from him after all. Much to my surprise my work phone rang around 3pm and Adam called! At midnight Russia time!

They had a great day of meetings that the local nationals (local church leaders) set up for the teams. Adam was matched with Angela from southern Indiana, Natasha (translator) and one of the nationals. One of their meetings was at an apartment with a group of ladies.

One of the saddest stats Adam heard today is that in this region of Russia about 60% of the men are alcoholics. He has seen this first hand. They see drunk men falling over in the streets at 9am in the morning! This level of alcoholics has led to many women being in violent domestic relationship and/or having to divorce, separate or flee these relationships and try to make a life on their own. This group of ladies all had alcoholic husbands and really rely on one another.

Adam asked for prayer for one of the ladies in particular. Ironically...her name is Natasha. (I guess there were four "Natashas" in that apartment during their meeting...go figure!) He has asked that we pray that God really works on her in the next two days to surrender to Christ. She seems so close to this point, but is having troubles doing so. Adam said a lot of the reservations has to do with the traditions that come with being in a very Russian Orthodox community and accepting Christ and taking a more evangelical point of view of Christianity is frowned upon. Many people fear being shunned by family and friends.

Adam said Natasha is viewed as "the leader" of this group of women and that she is likely the key for several of these women to give their lives to Christ. Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work mightily in her this week and that her witness will be powerful to this group of women to follow.

Adam said that they went swimming in a river tonight to cool off. It's been so hot in Russia. It was a good time and a chance for him and some of the guys to connect.

Apparently the food has been amazing. Their local hosts are feeding them very well...

Please pray for rain and cooling. There's concerns that if wildfires get close to Chernobyl it might stir up radioactive particles. See NYT article that mentions this. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/world/europe/10russia.html Many people are fleeing Moscow due to the heat and smoke issues. The team will be traveling to Moscow Thursday evening. Please pray for safe travels and health during this time.

I totally blanked on asking Adam how preaching went on Sunday. I'll try to ask when he calls hopefully later this week.

Keep praying! It's a dark region spiritually. Really need to bathe the Ryazan region and Russian people in prayer. There are some exciting things happening and God is absolutely at work!