Ready to go...almost

Countdown:
Days: 20
Dollars: 0

PRAISE GOD! With your help I have now raised all the funds that I need for this trip.  There are a couple of expenses that I have realized I did not budget for like taxi's and buses, but I am confident that God will work it out.  

I am almost ready because it seems like time has flown by from the time that Ryan and I decided that I would make this trip to now.  But these last 30ish days are dragging.  I have been anticipating this trip for so long that :
I am ready to be there, doing this work that we set out to do.  
I am ready to get my suitcase out and pack.  
I am ready to go to the store and  buy my snacks. 
I am ready to gather and organize my toiletries.  
I am ready to coordinate with my roommate who will bring the hairdryer and who will bring the flat iron.  I am ready to tightly roll up my clothes so I can also fit in the various item that our group needs to bring for our students and the church we support.  
I am ready to go on my first mission trip.
I am ready to go on my first international trip.
I am ready to fly across an ocean.
I am ready.....almost.
I am almost ready for the way this trip will change me.
I am almost ready to teach college students about respect and fairness.
I am ready....almost.

I ask you to please continue to pray for our team as we prepare.  Pray for our families as they prepare for us to be gone for 16 days.  Pray that the exchange rate for Rubles will go up, so we can get more for our money.  Pray for our team to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  

Thank you!
JP

Last Hurdle - Done!

Countdown:
Days: 33
Dollars: $200

Thirty-three days left and our team is all set.  Our coordinator got our Visas in the mail on Monday and that was the last major hurdle we absolutely had to over come before we left.  PRAISE GOD!  All 6 of us were able to get our Visas without any trouble!  I should have mine in hand by Sunday!  

I ask that you pray with me over the following people:

Paul- the minister at the church in Volgograd.
Irina - a member of the church in Volgograd and she also helps coordinate our apartments.
Ludmilla Karpova - the director of the Character for Kids program at the university.
All the current university students that we will come into contact with.
All the former students that we continue to build relationships with.
The women who we will rent our apartments from.
All the members of the church in Volgograd that we will visit.

Thank you for your continued prayers as I prepare for this trip.  

~Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.~

6 Weeks To Go

Countdown:

Days: 41

Dollars $300

Wow, time really is flying.  May people have been very generous and I am nearly at my target amount to raise for my trip to Russia.  This last $300 that remains is basically the amount that I will need to cover the cost of my apartment for the time that we will be there. How great is that?  $300 for 16 days, you can't beat that.  

Well, that's about all I know for today.  Please continue to pray for the team as we prepare.  Please also pray that God is already preparing the ground ahead of us so that we can plant seeds while we are there.  We can only do this through Him, and we are blessed to have this opportunity. 

Until next time....

Paka!