Village Bible Church || Aurora | Indian Creek | Sugar Grove | IL

The morning sessions for Thursday have already concluded. The week is more than half way over, but the time has gone by quickly and the relationships we've built have been a great encouragement.

The men in our training module have demonstrated a deep commitment to the Word of God. The discussion has been rewarding and their insights into the Scripture have been surprising. Sometimes it's easy to forget that God's Word and God's Spirit can build up God's people anywhere in the world. What a great reminder.

Yesterday we got to see the city of Yaroslavl between sessions. How many 1000 year old cities have you visited? Yaroslavl has a rich history, and like any Russian city, it places a heavy priority on monuments, churches, and artifacts. The city is gorgeous, and the Kremlin evidences the architecture of its day, complete with thatched roof, portals for shooting arrows, and high walls. What an experience!

We've also had some interesting foods. Yesterday I picked up a slice of roast beef and ate it with my bread. It was tender and appetizing. I later found out that I was eating cow tongue. Wow! I wish I didn't know that. Today I was happily enjoying my potato cakes and chopped beef gravy and later discovered I was eating liver. It tasted great! We're being treated so well, it's hard to believe we're in a different country sometimes.

We have two remaining sessions; one that begins in an hour (3:00 pm local time), and one that will begin tomorrow morning at 10:00 (we're 9 hours ahead of you). So far the week has been fruitful and effective. Each lesson has been engaging and helpful. The men have received the lectures with grace and appreciation. Thanks for your prayers.

Please continue to ask for the Lord's wisdom, discernment, and power as we try to bring all of the lessons to a close. I know each of the teachers have pages of material left to communicate, and it's likely that we will not finish everything we prepared to give. Please pray that the Lord will use the information we'll share and strengthen the ministry of the men who've come to listen.

Many blessings to each of you.