Hi there!

It is a real blessing to be here in Switzerland. But, Ai - I want to be back in Russia!

Before I left Moscow the lady representative at the SA Embassy told me it would only be 2 weeks (plus time for postage) for my passport to get here. That time has passed now, but there has been no news of new passport from Moscow and I'm not hearing anything from the guys in SA either.

One of the guys from SA Embassy here in Bern said it would take much longer. I don't know how that works... but I'm sure there is some logic to it all.

Any way. I'm working on the lady in Moscow to get the guys in SA to speed the whole proses up. But you can only apply so much pressure on a person...

One great thing is that I've got lots of time to pray and rest.
Yes I'm helping my host with his renovations to his house, but its not so tiering.

Just before I left Moscow I realized just how tired I was. I fell asleep at a concert with a loud speaker blaring about 1 meter away from my head.
I couldn't concentrate on anything, and I had dark rings under my eyes.

Praise the Lord for this break!
I really needed it!

Please pray for me.
Like I said. Its nice here in Switzerland, but again I just realize that the Lord has called me to Russia. I can't wait to get back there!

Please pray that I'll get my passport soon that I can get the rest of the documents needed for Russia.

Praise the Lord for providing my finances. I had to pay some fines for having my passport stolen. and all the new documents aren't for free. On top of that I still have to pay my accommodation in Moscow as I couldn't find somebody to stay there for the time I was to be away. But like I said... "We serve an Awesome GOD!!!"

Please pray for my time here in Switzerland as well. That I'll be able to connect with some churches.
I'm planing to visit some of the churches, share the our vision for the work in Moscow (and Russia) and see if they want to network with us (Mission Russia).
Pray for that as well.

Praise the Lord for this new mailing list we got setup with the Mission Russia website.
All my news letters will now be sent through this.
This will be much better that the old mailing list with the big add infront!

Thank you for your prayer and financial support.
With out the prayer-backing and financial support from you guys back home, I wouldn't be able to last a day out here.

May the Lord bless you!

Albert

MGU - Moscow State University - what an interesting place!
The main building towers out over the rest of Moscow, and that is so symbolic of what is in the hearts of the students of MGU.

"MGU is special & a cut above the rest!"
If you are somebody - you need to be there.
If you want to be somebody - MGU is the place for you.
You can see the pride on the faces of the students.

There are two ways of looking at MGU and its leading role in Moscow, and Russia.
1. You can think that this is too a difficult target group, and that you will not get anywhere with them.
2. Or you can see all the future leaders of the country and society.
People from all over Russia are studying there.

Sure it will be a big job, but if the Lord is doing it... It will happen!

We are busy with a church plant in that area. The work in the university will fall under the covering of the church - Tserkiv Tsartsva Bozhe - Kingdom of God Church.

The first part of this great work is PRAYER!
(Naturally this part will carry on long after the other parts have started.)
Without prayer, nothing of lasting worth is possable!
Before you can sow, you have to till the ground. You can't just water, or just weed the ground. First things first.

We are praying that the Lord will bring the pride down - and that every knee shall bow before the Lord!

"As I live, says the Lord, that every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue confess to God." Isa. 45:23

We are praying for the students and lecturers!
Praying that God will bind up the broke hearts, heal the blind and set the captives free! Isa 61

I have made some good contacts, they are these... You can pray for them by name:
Nikita was asking all the right questions and I just pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to him and that he will realize that the Lord is real and that the Lord has all the answers for him!

Mary has an idea of God, but she has never heard about a personal God who can actually speak to people... She asked if I always hear these voices in my head. We talked for a long time and she was just firing away with questions. I could see she was seriously challenged.
I will meet her again this Saturday.

I met Gosha at "English club" at MGU, he's very open and I'm praying that the Lord will create a great friendship with him.

Please pray for these people!
Please pray that the Lord will break down all the wrong ideas that the system has been pumping into there minds.

After the ground is ready, we can start with the second part of the work - SOWING! Getting the word out! Getting into contact with the students.
Pray that the Lord will give opportunity's to speak to students and to really CONNECT with them.

Before I left SA somebody prayed with me about Russia and said that I will not be working in the "mold" of previous mission work. Last week, we were praying with Carol Singleton and again the Lord confirmed those same words... The Lord will give me the "key" to reaching the students and it will be completely different from the way things have been done in the past.

Please pray with me that I'll be able to hear clearly from the Lord as to how and what He is planning to do with the Students of the MGU. One thing is for sure. He has great plans for these guys!

I also need prayer for my passport and visa stuff that has been stolen.
As far as I know now, I'm getting an "exit visa" and have to leave Russia till I have a new passport and visa.
The time it takes for this will be about:
2 weeks for the passport.
21 working days for the invitation letter.
3 days for the visa.

I'm sure that its part of His plan that I should leave, but a month and a half is a long time!
Please pray that I wouldn't have to stay a day longer than what He has planned.

Please pray that I'll get all the finances needed for all of this.
Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support.

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe in His hands!

Al the Pote