finally home

it's hard to sum up our trip to italy/sicily/russia. it was awesome in some ways and hard in others. italy and sicily were beautiful, yet to stand in the colosseum where 1000's of our brothers and sisters where murdered was quite difficult and sobering. that part was rough. it was also nice to be in the cold weather in kemerovo, russia and to finally visit after years of hearing about the work going on there....yet once you see the cold, and the difficult situation of most people, it's hard to even eat or pray without thinking that somewhere in russia, i have a brother or sister in Christ who will go to bed hungry or lonely or sick or poor tonight...all this while i sit in the comfort of my warm house stocked with healthy food enjoying all the comforts afforded by the gracious favor of being born in America. so while i'm grateful to God for His abounding grace to me, i'm broken hearted over my selfishness, the condition of my brothers and sisters, and my general spirit of apathy toward Christ and his children. i cannot say enough about the church in Kemerovo. they are wonderful people, Godly, humble, and kind. they need our prayers and our support. 2 scriptures come to mind.

Eph 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Matt 25:37-40
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[f] you were doing it to me!’

What will you do?

enjoy the pics...(chad and ps., i had a blast)