From the TEAR Newsletter, we bring you information on what we are doing. 

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

May 30 - June 8th, 2004

Thank you for your support for our recent mission trip to Russia. I believe we made a difference in the lives of the children in the orphanage, and I know God made a difference in our lives. After a thirty hour travel experience, from Sunday morning in Atlanta to Monday at midnight, we were able to get to our hotel in Shuya, Ivanovo Region, Russia, about 180 miles north east of Moscow.

The next morning, as we arrived at the orphanage, we were greeted with big smiles from these boys, looking out from their sleeping quarters. You can see the boys are sticking out through two windows. The winters are so cold and the heating so limited that most all buildings we went to, even those not at the orphanage, had two sets of windows and doors.

As the children played together, even without interpreters, they made good friends fast. Here’s Sarah getting tickled before a photo, with Xhona and Natasha.

While one team taught the children songs and shared in music, another would be telling Bible stories and starting a craft, and another team would be on the playing field. Everywhere you looked, you would find children (and even more than a few adults) getting hugs and giving smiles!

Mary and Shasta had a great time playing ball; they figured out hand signals to indicate what they’d like to do – football, soccer, Frisbee, etc.

Misha (Michael) was one of the boys who came up to me and wanted to play Frisbee or soccer.  Even though we never actually spoke, they touched my heart.  

Perhaps the single most important thing we can do for the future of these children is to teach them about Jesus, so that no matter what they face, He will be with them.

In addition to the Bible stories, recreation and music that our team did with the orphans, our Sunday School teacher, Buddy Hulsey, and others presented a seminar to orphanage workers about how the Bible answers tough questions of today for marriage and life. A director the next day told them that our seminar was the first one that ever gave answers and did not just raise more questions. Each worker was given a Bible, and Buddy had them look things up in it, helping familiarize them with God’s word. 

Here’s the outside of part of the orphanage/school/ dorms, there are three major connected buildings, and a separate one with the showers and laundry room. 

Here is one of our great interpreters, Nastiya, demonstrating how the orphans take a shower today.  They fill the bucket (sometimes they have hot water) and then dump it over their heads.

FBC Woodstock has donated the money necessary to bring the showers into modern day, and the new ones have shower heads, new tile, and heated floors.  They should be in use by the time you read this!

The interpreters did a great job sorting through the hundreds of requests a day, like “Nastiya, what’s she/he saying?!”  and “Nastiya, tell them run after they hit the ball!” as well as their job of translating the Bible stories and helping with the music.

One of the highlights of our trip was dinner in a worker’s home. TEAR pays for the food, and we get a multi-course wonderful meal! We split up into three groups, so we wouldn’t overwhelm anyone in particular. I got to share with them about Lou’s involvement, and how good Jesus has been to the girls and me during this time.

The three standing people to my left are teachers at the orphanage, and the girl just to the right of the adults was one of our interpreters, Natasha, fifteen years old. She and her mama, Olga, who pastors a home church, both helped us with the children. It was their first time interpreting at the orphanage, and they were as touched as we were.

Natasha, Sarah, Mary and Xhona share a moment on the playing field; the children had a great time together!

Please pray that the impact made upon all the children will grow. That my children would have His heart for reaching others for Jesus, and that the orphan children would have a great desire to learn more about and become disciples of Christ.

Pray for the people of Shuya, that they would be drawn to Jesus and be given a desire to know Him personally.

YOU & your fellow team members prayed and raised enough money to be able to provide some funds for other than orphanage work. As we prayed, a building came onto the market that had not been used in years. It’s just a shell, but we were able to purchase it with the extra funds. Please pray that God would be glorified; that the funds to renovate the building will come, and that the home church that exists today will grow in anticipation of having space.

Buddy announced that it will be the "Lou Massey Memorial Church Plant."

The Team in Moscow, next to Red Square

Reta Hall, Janet Piper, Buddy Hulsey, Terri Hooks, Marsha Jones, Doug Rogers, Donna Rogers, Leo Semenov, Mike and Pam Matthews, Trent Mulkey (Mike's grandson), Nadya Wilson (friend of Rebecca Nealey), Rebecca Nealey, Tara Chase, Tami Shelabarger, Luba, one of our interpreters (a TEAR employee in Moscow), Sarah Massey, Kate Moyers, Kathy Moyers, Mary Massey, Rebecca Wilson, Mary Beth and Hannah Nealey

Russia Mission Trip Shuia 2004 Photo Albums

You should be able to follow these links to albums on ofoto.com that will allow you to view all the pictures I took.

Travel from Atlanta to Shuia, Monday and Sunday, May 30 & 31: http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.cirwzdhj&x=0&y=6ws1sj

First day in Shuia at the orphanage, Tuesday June 1:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.71ud63rb&x=0&y=-cbz3vl

Second day in Shuia, Wednesday June 2:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.5zp91cjr&x=0&y=r2kr21

Third day in Shuia, Thursday June 3:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.1swfkgo7&x=0&y=5pdrn

Fourth day in Shuia, Friday June 4:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.aoy9g4o7&x=0&y=wtrmll

Last day in Shuia, Saturday June 5:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.3hz1swdj&x=0&y=-dv3oim

Travel day to Moscow , and time with Peter Rumachik, Sunday June 6:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.6pysfauf&x=0&y=6kr35p

Sightseeing, shopping and Circus in Moscow , Monday June 7:
http://www.amazon.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=12urza3.5ca6pgrr&x=0&y=-6mn23

How can you continue to be involved? Your prayers for the orphans, and for wisdom as we seek Him for how best to impact these young lives for eternity. My prayer is that when you arrive in heaven, thousands of people will come and tell you that because you cared enough to pray and support His work, they are in heaven. I also hope that God will show you how you, personally, can become more involved in this ministry.

Buddy has challenged us with his dream for the Russian ministry:

1. We will need to make multiple mission trips per year to support the orphanage - other than one team from our church, no one else has ministered to these orphans before we came
2. Lots of people participating in the My Child program, where you select a child to write to, and give $25/month to the orphanage where the child is living. [Also, if you know members of other churches that may be interested in the orphanage ministry, they can become a "ROCK partner," (TEAR's orphanage-church pairing program).] 
   
   See www.tear.org for more information, or let me know and I'll get you in touch with someone who can help.
   
   
3. Plant one church every other year, consistent with the goals of the missionaries on the field
4. Involvement of other persons - other classes - other churches to minister to the orphanages in the area
5. Build relationships with and support for other orphanages in the area
6. Educational foundation for kids leaving the orphanage. If they can find funding for their studies, they have at least a place to stay and some chance of learning a skill after being kicked out of the orphanage when they finish the Russian ninth grade (17-18 years old). Leo has a very heavy heart about the kids once they leave the orphanage, as most are too easy prey for evil. I have volunteered to serve in this area, so you should be hearing more about it from me.
7. Every class member part of the ministry.

Henry Blackaby said "Find out where God is working and join Him." We've found one place! God has invited us to join Him in this work.

Thanks again for giving us the opportunity to be so richly blessed to be part of God’s work in Russia. The challenge is huge, but God is larger than our understanding!

Jesus bless you!

Mike, Sarah and Mary Massey

June 2004