siberiangrits

Well, we have some exciting news from the Russian front. Thomas and Jimmy Sullivan arrived safely in Moscow on Wednesday morning. They toured around Red Square a bit and then took a train to St. Petersburg, arriving early Thursday morning. They are staying with an Irishman named Trevor who has been very helpful in getting ideas. He has suggested that we might be able to get a “cultural exchange” visas rather than religious worker visas. These cultural exchange visas would give us a little more flexibility in entering and exiting the country as we need.

Some of you may recall some friends of ours: Bill and Robin Harris. Their daughter Katherine played the piano at our wedding. She was fantastic! But that is another story. Anyway, Robin and Bill have been an invaluable help to Thomas. For example…

On Friday morning Thomas was able to see the two pediatric neurosurgeons at the Polenov Clinic. He said that as you enter the building, you didn’t feel any extreme bit of confidence in the surroundings, the typical rundown building that was built to look 50 years old when brand new. You’d have to see structures in Russia to understand completely, but I assure that this happened all the time during communist times. So, Thomas wasn’t sure what he would find in the doctors. Robin and a friend of hers named Nadine accompanied Thomas to translate. To his and then our great delight, the doctors were quite kind and helpful. The doctors said that they would be able to treat Isaiah. They want to see him two times a year. One of the doctors said that in the case of an emergency regarding Isaiah’s shunt, we would be able to call him on his cell phone and he would make all necessary arrangements for the surgery to take place. And some of the most relieving news: If he does need to have a shunt revision, the cost would only be around $1000! That is a fraction of a fraction of the price that such an operation would cost in the States. We are overwhelmed with how God is already providing for Isaiah’s care in St. Petersburg. The doctors also said that they could give us information about therapy and other help that Isaiah might need.

Today Thomas was able to meet with two ladies who are language tutors, Galina and Ludmila. (Please forgive me if the “translation” isn’t spelled exactly correctly.) Thomas worked with Galina three years ago and is excited to have the opportunity to learn from her again. He would work with her four days a week for a couple hours at a time. I would work with Ludmila at a beginning level, also for four days a week for two hours at a time. Knowing that we already have language tutors secured makes our future seem much more real and definite. When Thomas told me about our teachers, I got so excited! I’m going to learn Russian! Galina asked Thomas what our goals were in language learning. Thomas told her that he wants to be able to teach and to preach in Russian and that someday I hope to be able to offer counsel and help to other people without having to use a translator. She said that those were both high goals, but certainly possible. Start praying now!

Thomas also said that when they met with the teachers at Ludmila’s home, it was a distance from the center of the city, but the rent is much lower. He said that the ride to the city is very easy, so he is going to talk to the realtor about that area, and Ludmila is going to keep her ears open for any good apartments.

The Lord has continued to show us that this is the way that He has called us to go. Please pray for us as we prepare. Thomas still has some things to take care of before he comes back to us. Of course, we are very excited about his return, too.