Thanksgiving, David's Operation and Year-end giving

We are so Thankful!

November 28, 2005

Dear Praying Friends,

I hope this email update finds you doing well. Thanksgiving has come and gone and the Christmas season is upon us. We trust that you enjoyed a few days to be with friends and family. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with our team. Besides eating lots of turkey, we also watched some taped football games and played board games together. The children enjoyed making gingerbread houses out of cookies and frosting (See below).

We are so Thankful

• Alex’s emergency appendix operation eight weeks ago was a total success. We were quite impressed with the excellent care he received at the Children’s Hospital here in Ekaterinburg. He is completely healed up now and back to playing hockey.
• We have a wonderful team of co-workers here in Ekaterinburg.
• We have a wonderful team of ministry partners who faithfully pray for and support our ministry.
• Nine students have trusted Christ this semester. Three students have come to faith in the past week.
• Abbey and Nick are both enjoying Russian kindergarten where they are learning not only to speak, but also read and write in Russian.
• Bear continues to thrive in his school situation. He has not only made great progress in his English communication skills, but he can communicate quite well in Russian.
• After nearly two years of hard work, Abbey was invited to participate in her first ballet recital last week.
• We are unworthy but thankful recipients of God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please Pray

• Little David has had seven ear infections in the first eighteen months of his life. Susan and David are currently in Helsinki, Finland. On Monday David will have surgery to insert ear tubes. Please pray for a successful surgery and that this would solve his chronic ear problems. Also, please pray for safe travel and a quick return. I am home alone with the other four kids until Thursday morning.
• That many of the students who are still considering the claims of Christ would place their faith in Him.
• That many of our believing students will be able to attend the Winter Bible Conference in St. Petersburg this year.
• That the Lord would provide a classroom helper for Bear for the next school year. (If you know of any speech therapists or others who have a heart to do a one year mission please let us know.)

Year End Gift

Each year, we ask you to consider making a special year-end gift. This helps to make up for any shortfall we experience during the rest of the year. Also, we have encountered some higher expenses than we expected over the past year. In particular, these higher costs are in the areas of schooling, conferences and medical bills. Additionally, we were recently informed that our cost for the Campus Crusade benefits package will be increased by $110 per month in 2006. Would you prayerfully consider helping us to meet these financial needs by making a special year-end gift? If you are able to help in meeting this financial need just click on the link below. This will take you to our secure web-site where you will be given all the information you might need to make a year-end gift. Thank you for considering this request.

http://mcfarlandfamily.ministryhome.org/contributions.php?PHPSESSID=a958e9f2b0b9adf6b2f4280876f0220b

-- 
In Christ’s great love,
Darin, Susan, Alex, Bear, Abbey, Nick and David

Email followups

I got this pic of the Forrest Fun Party from a student Natalia. Natalia is back row right, and next to her is her best friend Kate. Natalia is from Rodney, Julie, and Linsay's class; Kate was next door in Ashley, Mark, John and Myra's class (correct me if I got that wrong).

I have received emails from both of these students. This first one is from Kate. John told us that, in class, Kate said "modern science has disproven the existence of God". Interesting that she is staying plugged in w/ Compas.

Hello, This is Katya, the best friend of Natasha. I am continuing to go to Compas. I like our meetings. We'll have Halloween soon! I would like to make a special image - something uncanny but madly nice (as Karlson said).

And this is from Natalia:

My studies at my Institute is very interesting, but it keeps me busy almost all the time, because I have got a lot of home tasks. I try to find a bit free time to meet Jenn ( we speak about the Bible or sometimes just walk) Jenn, Ashley, Natalie and other Americans, who also study in Russia, came to our Institute and talk to students. I think everyone was glad to meet them. I invited my friends to the games which are on Tuesday. They were happy.

So both are in the student meetings and making friends with the stinters; even inviting more friends. That's encouraging, keep praying that this year will bring BIG things in Russia. I think year has great Kingdom potential!