Snow is just around the corner. . .

The clouds are moving in. It's beginning to get rainy and colder. Before long the people of Udmurtia will be settled in for another time of beautiful snow and sub zero weather. It's also a time to think about things they've heard and seen.

Many have heard the good news and are thinking already. Some have received Bibles for the first time and are already reading. New church groups have formed in Udmurt villages and are singing the new songs that tell of Jesus.

As the winter moves in and covers the land with a time of cold, may the warm love of God be embraced in their search for truth and love. It has been a great time of meeting new people and sharing that love. Pray for the Lord of the harvest to bless and send fruit and laborers.

Blessings all.

JG

'Will there be any dogs in Heaven?". . .

That's a question asked by many kids. If Jana Snell has anything to do with it there will be. She has learned to communicate to at least 3 Russian cats, 1 rabbit and this 'little' Russian dog. She's taking the cultural exchange to a whole other level.

The video crew left for Moscow today with a tremendous Udmurt choral sendoff. Thanks Gunther and Mark for tackeling a tough job, but well done.

Our kids also left for Novosabirsk this evening. Good news; they have 'job' here and one apartment contract signed.

Our team, is winding down with a birthday party, a puppet outreach workshop, and church at Sarapol.

Pray for our train departure Sunday; the kids back to Novo; the video team back to various places; and us as we wind down and go back to the states.

Lots of barriers, but the Lord overcomes them all. PTL.

blessings

Jack

Udmurt Bibles and children's books in Udmurt language. . .

Udmurts from a church in Voktinks are taking the good news out to neighboring villages. We were able to attend a combination worship service, thanksgiving dinner and a 29 year marriage anniversary all in one here in this village. Nellie Yount from Yellville FBC enjoyed helping pass out Udmurt language Bibles and children's books. Pray for: more Bibles and books to give out . . . more teams to go out to other villages. . . and more prayer to break down the obstacles that are keeping those things from happening. Thanks to all of you for praying. JG

'I become all things to all men that I might by some means win some. . ."

Greg Warlick from Choctaw OK got a promotion tonight. Valodya's brother, Slava is a high ranking lieutenant in a Russian max security prison. He tried to get his uniform to fit on a much larger Greg, but. . . great time with his family; eating, sharing information about each other and most importantly, prayer together.
We also learned that every prisoner has access to a Bible.
Pray for Slava and his wife Larissa. She is a doctor in their village.
More visits in schools today. We all are staying very busy traveling around, but the Lord is blessing tremendously.
Pray for: relationships developing; hearts to be receptive to God's love; obstacles to be overcome; and believers here to be strengthened. Thanks!

'Getting To Know You" . . .. . .

Greg meeting some Russian firefighter 'buds', Nellie passing out Ruby Truax's 'love you' hearts with an Udmurt lady and Jana sharing her 'favorite things' with girls and guy at school 48 was a very blessed 24 hours. Thanks for praying cause these things happen because of it. Blessings ( all planned by Him) are what we are doing and receiving. Tremendous. More culture exchanges tomorrow and more blessings also.

Items to pray about: two couples who are wanting to 'live' in Izhevsk being accepted into language school / their living quarters/ and our group getting to meet all that Dad wants us to.

"And they went everywhere preaching the word. . . "

It's Sunday morning and we have team members literally everywhere around this southern area of Udmurtia. The real blessing is that it's Udmurt Christians out doing the work of ministry to their people and we are just encouraging them. Susan and Greg are in a village with Udmurt singers doing outreach, Marc Hooks is here in Izhevsk, Sara, Nellie, Jana and myself are in Voktinsk going out to more villages and an Udmurt church. Yes there are disappointing news items such as Zoya not with our ministry, but there are many more encouraging things, especially the new groups meeting and doing outreach themselves.
Susan and Greg's meeting resulted in a new one in the family Friday night and they are still out there with the singers doing a concert this morning (this is where the J Film was shut down last night).
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

Jack

"If it's not worth singing about, it's not worth talking about . . ."

that's a saying that Udmurts have. That's also what this group will be doing this weekend in a village while they show the Jesus Film and sing about the greatest gift given to all mankind. These are a small group of Udmurt believers who want to sing about their hope in Him and give their countrymen something to talk about. Pray for us as we walk with them and "hold up their hands".

Jack