First week back

Observations:
* There are more & more signs of wealth here in Russia - expensive cars and big malls - but it still doesn't seem like everybody has access to it
* Everyone is carrying a cell phone - and often talking on it
* Prices of everyday items have really gone up - eggs have doubled in price since last summer - yet when we go to the "mall" supermarket there are 67 working cash-registers and each of them has a line behind it
* Driving, or just riding in a vehicle, is an even more hair-raising experience than in the past because the number of cars on the road just keeps increasing
* The church leaders here seem tired and overwhelmed - but we haven't had enough time to tell yet if that first observation is accurate
*Life has gotten much more convenient - we managed to buy a cell phone SIM card, a mattress, a new shower fixture and switch our internet connection all in ONE day (unheard of efficiency in the past!)
* Life still takes longer here than it does in America

We haven't hit the ground running, per se but we didn't expect to. It's partly that Russian culture, in stark contrast to American culture, is just not as interested in "planning ahead". Things happen as they happen here. Which is not to say that they never plan, but when it's not necessary to plan - they often don't. We didn't arrive here with much of a set agenda for our time in Russia. We know a few of the general things we'll be doing, but much of what we do day-to-day is either spur of the moment or will get worked out now that we're here. The senior pastor of the church here in Yekaterinburg just arrived back in the city from a two-week intensive seminary course in St. Petersburg. Now that he's seen us and greeted us, he's ready to sit down at talk about what we'll be doing this summer. And it's not just because it's us - the Belarusian group coming to visit next week have times for events planned (so they can be advertised) - but they don't know yet what those events will be! It's just a very different way of approaching life than we're used to. We want to be of service however we're needed and so we do our best to go with the flow. We know it would impose stress on our Russian church partners for us to insist on a plan before they are ready! We are, though, looking forward to sitting down with Pr. Leonid this week and hearing his ideas for us.

Please pray for:
* Our meeting with Pr. Leonid that it will be fruitful in figuring out the best ways for us to serve the church in Yekaterinburg this summer.
* Dan has spoken with Pr. Ilya from the church in Chelyabinsk and he asked that Dan choose the theme for his talks at the church camp/retreat in July. Pray for discernment as Dan prepares those sermons.