Oh goodness!!

Ok y'all!! This happened!!! Are you impressed?!?!

Can You Give Me A Hand?

So far we've had such a wonderful time here in Russia!! We've been in one school, one military school, a linguistic center and the orphanage! In most of those places we've been able to be very open in sharing the Gospel!! We're praying for hearts to be receptive to what were sharing!!

Also.. This is for Renee... Abbie has tried many Russian foods with some success and many unsuccess! Pray today... We're eating a TRUE Russian meal at lunch time!!!:)

Man plans their ways... But it is the Lord who directs your path!

Boy... When I reflected on that verse before this trip... I asked the Lord to guide and direct our path as He saw fit! And that He did!! :) We were supposed to have left Germany at around 755 and we ended up leaving at 915!! The pilot didn't feel comfortable flying that particular plane into the kind of weather that Ekat was experiencing! So we waited! We finally got into the plane and flew the 5 hours to Ekat!! It took me awhile to wind down so I played some puzzles and chatted with Bailey on that flight! We both finally fell asleep for about and hour and half and woke up to the pilot making the all call that due to fog we were having to wait to land! We circled Ekat for approximately 30-40 minutes THEN had to fly about 40 minutes away to Ufa! When we landed there they were having heavy snow so we had to wait till they de-iced the plane! For which they had no de-icing stuff?!? How does an airport in winter in RUSSIA not have de-icing materials!!??? Well alrighty then!! Haha!!

Once we waited there about 4 hours on the plane... They just decided to go ahead due to the many delays to go try to fly back Ekat!! We finally arrived in Ekat at about 1130!!

As soon as you land you have to get all your documents in order and go through passport control! There were about 2 full planes from Beijing and another country and we girls were being made pretty uncomfortable! The nice passport control lady told all these men to let us go ahead and leave us alone so after a little over an hour we it through passport control to get our luggage! Then through the final security to FINALLY see Jesse and Olga our sweet translator!!

WHEW!!!

Needles to say... We were exhausted!!

Through all of that... We knew that for whatever the reason or reasons there may be... The Lord directed our path!! We had plans for Sunday!! That changed! We were supposed to head to the church right after we landed... And we finally were able to get out of the airport after this church service had ended!! We know that everything happens for a reason and is ultimately for a greater purpose!!!

We are thankful for the Lord's protection, His provision, and His plan! And we're thankful to finally be out of an airplane... And to finally get some rest!

After a sweet time of fellowship with Pavel last night we were able to get some sleep!! I had never been so thankful for a bed!! After 53 hours of being awake with 5 hours intermittently being asleep... We rested!! Thank you Jesus!!!

Hallo!

That's 'hello' in German! We have had a fantastic time just being tourists in Frankfurt and Rüdensheim!

It started off with a great transatlantic flight that was uneventful!! Just the way I like it!! I had one 'wheres my passport scare' but that's it!

We rented a car and rode up the Rhine River to Rüdensheim and had to cross the river on a car ferry!! Real fun!! After we crossed the river we went to some little shops, looked at a really old church and ate lunch! We went back to the little place from last year with a quaint outside seating area! Marc, Wally and Bailey got wiener schnitzel and Abbie and I got waffles! Abbie loved the waffle but not the applesauce and ice cream on it!! For the record... It was SOOOO yummy!!

We rode up along the river and looked at all of these amazing castles that have been raided by Napoleon! Ibises the term 'we' loosely... Due to the fact that my narcolepsy had taken full effect... Along with Abbie and Bailey! Haha!! Wally experienced it too... And just about got whiplash from it!!

We are now waiting for our next flight from Frankfurt to Ekaterinburg! Pray for safety while traveling and rest! When we get to Ekat... We hit the ground running!!!;)

Landed in Philly...

Go ahead... You know you wanna sing the Fresh Prince of Belair theme song!! Haha!!

We've landed and everyone is doing great! Abbie was anxious prior to boarding but was totally fine once she got up!! Wahoo!!

We did experience one road block prior to boarding! The plane ran out of room for carry-ons!! One of my biggest fears!! All I could think of is don't flip out like Ben Stiller did in the movie Meet the Parents! Haha! Thankfully I took out the essentials... My clothes for Germany... Toothbrush... An of course Danielle friendly snacks!!;) and threw it in my pillowcase!!:) I will find a way!!!:)

When we got on the plane... There were about 15 half full or completely empty overhead compartments!!

Oh well...

On another note... Flat Stanley has been to Philly!!

The joys of being a teacher!!

We're now off!! Auf Wiedersehen!!

Pray Pray Pray!!!

Hello Everyone!!!

I just wanted to ask each of you all to be praying for the Russia team this week. We are heading back to Ekaterinburg, Russia and Nizhny Tagil (Yes!! That’s spelled correctly!!) :) to serve the local blind community, orphanages, teach English, and minister to local Russian Baptist Churches. I apologize in advance for the length of this post... but figured this was the easiest way to get people to PRAY! I hope to be able to update while I'm there... depending on internet availability! :) If not... you'll get THE update when we return! 

A little history of Ekaterinburg:

It is a city of 2.5 million people and it’s located 1000 miles east of Moscow in the Ural Mountain region of Russia (If you look on a globe or a map… it’s right at the Europe-Asia border). Less than 2% of the population is Christian.

Nizhny Tagil is a city of 400,000 people with only 1 small Baptist church (25 people) outside of the city.

There are many specific prayer needs that we would love to be lifted up throughout this week.

Basic needs:

~ Safety in travel: long plane rides, pilots and drivers to be alert, pray we go through customs smoothly, pray for luggage to arrive the same time we do! :) (Deut. 1:30)

~Time zone adjustments (flip flopping days and nights!) (Ps 62:5)

~Health- Pray that each member will have strong immune systems and be healthy for the entire trip. Pray that my food allergies won’t be an issue while eating different things. (Jer. 17:14)

~Opportunities to encourage the believers there and the missionaries that we will be working with (Eph 3:14-21)

~Divine appointments with Russians to share the Gospel; Pray for salvation, seeds to be planted and some watered! Pray for revival in the hearts of Russians. Pray they see Jesus in us. (Prov 25:11)

~Spiritual Warfare: Satan wants us to not be effective. Pray Eph 6:10-20! For us to put on our armor, and protection of our minds, hearts and relationships amongst each other.

~Events: working in orphanages, blind community, teaching English, meeting college students- pray that each is a sweet time of fellowship. (1 Peter 2:5, 9)

~Pray for other team members: Bailey Gray, Marc Roath, Wally Blain, and Abbie Blain (Col 1:9-12)

Daily Schedule: (Remember we are a half a day ahead of you!! :)

Friday and Saturday (3/09-3/10): Pray for travel mercies! We also have a long layover in Frankfurt, Germany! We will be exploring the area!! AND I won’t have to drive stick-shift on the Autobahn!!

Last year... me clinging to the car... I mean giving PRAISE to GOD after I drove a stick shift for the FIRST TIME EVER... and my FIRST TIME EVER driving in a foreign country and with different road signs... and the German inspector man said I was a great driver considering most Americans bring the cars back beat up! :) That is seriously a GOD thing! haha!

Sunday (3/11): Arriving in Ekaterinburg today!! We are driving from Ekat to Nizhny Tagil and will be attending the Russian Baptist church. We will be getting to know/encourage members there! Also… please pray as I help to lead in worship today!

 You're the God of this city... You're the King of these People...

 You're the Lord of this nation... You Are!

 You're the Light in this darkness... You're the Hope to the hopeless... You're the Peace to the restless... You are.

Monday (3/12)- Russian cultural training- getting to know the history of Russians- this is VERY important time for team members (especially first time teammates)! We cannot meet the needs of the Russians without understanding who they are and their past. My first trip to Russia, this was the time where my eyes were opened to this being a place not like other mission opportunities. Their history plays a vital role in how they view God. We’re also visiting an orphanage today, taking a historical tour and meeting with some English school students.

Tuesday (3/13)- Visiting the orphanage and sharing with college students. Pray that we will be able to get to know them some and be able to share the THE TRUTH! Also pray that I will be able to connect and share with some of the girls that I met last year!

English school students!!!

At the holy place...

Wednesday (3/14)- Nizhny Tagil- visiting the orphanages and meeting with the English students.

The blind community in Nizhny Tagil, Russia.

Thursday (3/15)- Travelling back to Ekat and stopping to learn more about the Russian culture.

Left: Church on the Blood- Russian Orthodox Church

Right: A holy place where the Romanov family were buried. I forget the actual name! :/

Friday (3/16)- We are have a scrapbooking/ card making party with local English learners/teachers. Pray for great conversations and opportunities to share what Christ as done for us!

Sweet time of fellowship with the English teachers in Ekat!

Saturday (3/17)- Ekaterinburg- We will be meeting with English teachers and having a fun day!!

Am I in Narnia?!?!

Sunday (3/18)- Traveling home! :) Pray for easy adjustment in transitioning back to work/school/families.

This will be me... for the first 3 days after coming back to EST! PLEASE PRAY!! :)

Your prayers are VITAL! Thank you in advance for diligently praying each day for lives to be changed and souls saved! Please let me know how I can be praying for you!

"The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness."- Luke 4:18

To God be ALL the Glory,

Danielle