Pre-vee-yet America,

We got to Ekat at ~ 12:30am ... we're flying the redeye (and how)! We made every connection and so did our bags ... what a praise that is.

Our itinerary was slightly different this year. We took British Airways across the Atlantic instead of American (usually on a 777). So we got to fly a British Airways 747 ... I always wanted to fly in one of those. All I can say now is, "Wow, I want my 777 back". Which just goes to show you can't please everyone all the time. But seriously it was a good experience to fly on a 747 and I can say now I am over that. :-)

Robbie Update: I just posted onto my personal blog and instead of send you all duplicate email, just click the link and you can read his good report. Thanks to all you who are praying for him and are praying for us.

Prayer Requests:

• Us to beat jet lag
• Chris and Holly's flights to go well
• Strong and deep connections with our students
• A unity of spirit between the NBC team and the stint team

Please pray for Robbie

My brother-in-law Robbie is scheduled to undergo surgery on Sept. 28th ... that is the very day I leave for Ekaterinburg Russia. This is an involved surgery that lasts about 7 hours.

Robbie has been diagnosed with kidney cancer and it has spread to his adrenals. The doctors will be removing the infected kidney and the infected adrenal glands.

What little good news we have is that his second kidney is clear and his lungs, bones, and brain are also clear! Praise GOD!

Our family covets your prayers very much.

Ekat 2007

Hello Again!

Well, our NBC team leaves for Ekat, RU on Friday morning! I can't believe we leave so soon and I haven't posted to our Ekat blog yet.

We have a lean and mean team this year. For the first week Jerry Pattillo (and NBC staff-er) and I leave for Ekat and Talk the Talk classes. I anticipate a lot of walking, running, and serving ... business as usual. . :))

For week two, Jerry and I will stay and welcome the veteran husband and wife team Chris and Holly.

Jerry and I will be relying heavily on each other as we and Darin's stint team lead/local team lead Russian students into the brave new world of knowledge and dependence on God. Personally I look forward to renewing old friendships and developing new ones.

Please P-R-A-Y for us! Please pray that:

• we will be humble servants of God.
• that students will consistently attend the classes.
• for students to attend the weekend retreat.
• that everyone we meet will be "open" to our message.
• for divine appointments.
• for Satan to be silenced ... he hates that! :)

But seriously folks, while I am in Russia I have a brother-in-law that will be having surgery for kidney cancer. I am both excited and worried about leaving at this point in time. I am excited for all the new people I will meet and entwine my life with. And I am worried about those I leave behind and their plight in this life. I know I will be back to join their struggles, but the uncertainty of surgery and cancer grips my whole family. Right now I can't give you much more of a prayer request other than P-R-A-Y! For us and for Robbie (my brother-in-law). Pray, Pray, Pray .... God will accomplish the rest; 30, 60 and even a 100 fold.

The prayers of the righteous availth much.