Kirkwood NY 13795

Hello Everyone,

It has been a long time since I have given you any updates and I again apologize for such a long delay in writing to you. In my last letter I shared with you that I and a Russian team of Christians are trying to obtain a legal license here in Russia to actually become a rehabilitation center and a post orphan transistion center. This will allow us to help orphan teenagers who have left the orphanage and will have problems surviving on the outside world, as is often the case in Russia. This is the most dangerous and vulnerable time for orphan children. Too many kids end up on the streets as homeless, prostitutes, or even end up not surviving within so many years after leaving the orphanage. On the other hand, a handful of orphan children have become successful after life in the orphanage but these are only the ones that have been given help by an outside source or individuals. Through much prayer we are still in the process of obtaining this non profit organization status. The first time the documents were submitted, they were rejected by the Russian authorities. Who knows why but this is common in Russia. We are now attempting to resubmit everything and pray that if this is God's will, we will be granted this license to be able to help these kids. We will also be allowed to remove children from bad home situations in the villages outside of Kaluga.

Last week an American group was here from Tenessee and on their last day in Kaluga, I accompanied them to Moscow to help them find their way around. On Friday evening as we were going back to the place where we were staying, I was told that a young boy of about 12 or 13 was hanging around outside the store asking for money. We knew that he needed food so one of the young girls from the group and I bought some groceries for him. Victor, a russian interpreter from Bryansk that worked with the American group, and I returned to him and started asking questions. He told us he had run away from an orphanage in Vladimir because other boys had beat him. He was now living on the street. I asked about helping him to get back to an orphanage and he clearly stated that he did not want to go. I did not push him about this issue but I told him that I would come back in a few days to see him. He agreed and thanked us for the food. Afterwards we talked to one of the ladies that worked in the store. She told us that he comes there often to try to get food. She said that he was a decent, pleasant boy and that he did not drink, smoke or steal. I plan to go back to see him and I pray that God will use me to help this kid.

I have just finished my first course of study to obtain a license to minister. This has taken up much of my time during the last few months. I am also becoming more involved with teen home groups. This includes working with a lady from a local church who is an english teacher at a University here and to bring her students into my home to share the Gospel with them. A separate home group that i have is where we invite orphan children in who have left the orphanage and are still living in Kaluga.

Last month I was able to send two girls to a training seminar in Ukraine called "Life Skills Training". Sasha and Katya from two different Baptist churches here in Kaluga attended. They are now going into Boarding School # 1, a place where I have been going for 6 years now, and then will begin teaching in at least 2 more orphanages starting in September. God has really blessed this and opened the doors to allow this to happen. This training is for older orphan kids to teach them how to survive on the outside world after they leave the protection of the orphanage. I have sat in on these classes. The kids (especially the boys) are very involved in it and the directors are very much in favor of it. This training is based all on christian values and principles.

Update on homeless boy: I returned on Thursday evening to the place where i met this boy (named Vova) with a christian lady (Yulia) from a church in Moscow. We stood there and waited for over an hour and then we finally saw him. We approached him. He was afraid and standoffish at first but as we talked to him more, he became more open and started to communicate a little more. I had only recently met Yulia and i believe it was God's will for me to meet her for this specific situation. Vova seemed to open up to her more as she talked to him. He said that he had been on the street for about a year. He complained that he didnt feel good and Yulia said afterwards that she was afraid that he may be sniffing glue or paint, which is common for kids living on the streets to ease their hunger pains (or is it pangs?). We bought him some food and juice, gave him a gospel booklet, prayed with him and Yulia asked if she could come back to see him on Monday. He agreed. I know that it will take time for her to develop a relationship with him and for him to learn to be able to trust her. I will return sometime also but being that i am not often in Moscow, she agreed to go back and see him when i am not able. She will try to help him to get off the street. Please keep this situation in your prayers. I will keep you updated... We had a special teen night at the Baptist church here which brought in about 30 teens as well as some orphan kids from the city. Leaders from the church played games with the kids and gave the Gospel message to them. Many teens were interested in coming again and we agreed to do more of these events this summer as well as hosting summer camps for kids. Thank you again for all of your prayers and support.. God Bless you all

In Christ

David

"Suffer the the little children to come unto me, for theirs is the Kingdom of God" - Mark 10:14