Yesterday started off with a bang...or maybe I should say a fall. I was taking a bath, when my landlord's mom showed up to pick up the rent. Well, my bath was really hot, I got up really quick, and I hadn't eaten yet, so as I was standing in the hall talking with her, I started to feel dizzy. I suggested that we sit at the table as she counted out the rent. We sat down and she says she got up to 12 thousand (roubles) when she looked over and I was slumped over the table. The next thing I remember is some strange woman leaning over me, literally saying "do I need to call soon?" ("Soon" sounds alot like the short name for an ambulance here). The dear woman lead me into my room, and had me lay down on the bed. She pulled up a chair and head my hand as I started to figure out where I was. She sat there and talked to me for a half hour or more. In the midst of that, in my weak and vulnerable position, she told me about her son that had died 6 months ago, and she asked me about my church here. She said she wasn't prepared to change her faith, but "thanks to curiosity" she wanted to visit. Because of fainting, we got to talk about Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, the Bible, the differences between orthodoxy and Baptists. She took a Bible from me, and times for services. Only the Lord knows what will come of it. She didn't want her daughter (my landlord) to know that she asked about it. But I am continually mystified at the opportunities that open up, in the strangest ways, at the strangest times. Praise God that He opens the doors.

Let's just face it folks - I am a bad blogger. It is kind of like when I keep a diary (which I am always sort of doing). If I don't write for a couple of days, the sheer weight of all that I should put in there just crushes me, and I don't put anything in there - for months. And thus, I haven't blogged here since the beginning of the summer. Well, it is time to through off that weight, and just start somewhere. So here is what is going on now in Tambov:

*Club Provodnik*
This discipleship ministry has been going on for about three years in Tambov, and it has started up again for this year. I am helping Pastor Vadim with administrative details, with the seminars for leaders, conferences, and traveling to visit the clubs in the different cities. The small group encourages each other to read each day, and share what God is teaching them. They have a lesson each week from the Word of God. And they are committed to praying for each other.

*Orphanage Ministry*
A Team from Truth Church in Tambov have started to travel to the Goreloe Orphanage every other week. We are preparing a Sunday school for the upper grades and just spending as much time loving the kids as possible. We are blessed with a very supportive administration, and very interested kids. This last time we had a team of 12 people go, to handle 3 classes. Transportation is always a problem, unfortunately, and we are still learning how and what to teach these kids, but I am so excited to be, finally, regularly visiting these kids, and telling them about God and His love.

*English Club*
Every Friday, the teenagers have their own Club Provodnik, and right before it, I have English club. The desire is that the teens would be able to invite their friends to English and that they might want to stay for the Club as well. We have only been meeting for two weeks now, but we have already had a guest come, invited by her classmate, Natasha, who attends church. I am excited about this opportunity to make new relationships, though teaching English is a challenge for me.

*X-Radio*
Two mornings a week, I am a DJ on xradio.su, an Internet based radio ministry. Through the site and through concerts that are help in our youth center on a pretty regular basis, this ministry has been a good opportunity to meet kids in town. Several kids from this ministry came to camp this year. We have made several friends, and had many good opportunities to talk about Christ because of these contacts. So, twice a week, I get on there to keep in touch and to help this ministry grow.

*Teacher's College*
Last year, Pastor Vadim, who is a teacher by profession, was invited to give seminars on youth topics (sex, friendship, emotions, etc.) at a local teacher's college in Tambov. Most of the students are female, so he has invited me along to talk with the girls and to, hopefully, build relationships with them. Now, this year, the college has asked him to come every other week, and to speak on spiritual topics!! So, once again, this is going to a regular opportunity to spend with these girls (and a few guys as well), but now with an open door to talk about spiritual things.

Well, those are the basics of my life in Tambov. God has open doors that I was praying for (orphanage) and doors I never even imagined (Teacher's college). It is still hard to live here, but it is also rewarding and right now, as I read over this list myself, I know how blessed I am, to be able to spend my every minute doing this kind of work.

This week, all the SEND missionaries in Lipetsk and Tambov will be together at Transformation Christian Center (our building in the woods, where we have camp) to talk about what we are doing here. This retreat time, I think, will be a very important time for our team. Please pray for us....

If you would like to get my prayer updates (which do come more regularly than the blog entries) let me know! (sendjenni@yahoo.com)

 

 

 

Okay, I have finally gotten around to keeping my promise to post pictures of my car and apartment on here.   Sorry it took so long.   Here they are:

This is my 2002 Opel Corsa.  

It has been a real blessing to have that car, though she comes with alot of extra responsibilities....

And here are the pictures of my apartment in Tambov:

The bedroom:

There is a balcony off of both of the main rooms

My desk doesn't usually look this clean!  :)

My little sleeping alcove, which is a favorite with most people.  The wallpaper in there is covered in yellow stars that glow in the dark!  :)

The hallway is the first place we changed the wallpaper, from a very ugly large burgundy flower print to a nice green:

And here is my front door (not that I have a back door! :)

The living room is the other big room:

The large couch was my biggest purchase.  It folds out into a nice bed for guests and has alot of storage space underneath for bedding.  

The Kitchen is the other place where we changed the wallpaper.  It is very small, but I really like how it turned out.

That is my washing machine, not a dishwasher next to the sink.  I still have to get something to cover over those old tiles on the wall.

That shelf is one of my favorite purchases.  I am not even sure why I like it so much, but I do!

The hardest part about this kitchen is that there are no drawers, at all, not one drawer....it took some creative thinking to figure out how to store utensils and silverware.

And last, but not least, the two most important rooms in the apartment.  

And the biggest remodeling job....a bathroom with new tiles, tub, sink and cabinet.   this room is really nice and all new now!

There is still some work to be done, like hanging a shower curtain, sealing off the tub, and getting a new shower head, but that will have to wait until another day...

Well, there is the tour...tell me what you think!