Dear Friends,

As well as a new group photo, and name, to reflect the fact that Anya has joined us on our adventures into Russia, there must be some other new things we need to tell you and so an update is required!

Today, we've heard that our visa invitation letters have been received by the language school, so that's a big stage done - they will now send them to us by special delivery (which we hope will be done tomorrow!) and this should take 5 working days....so early next week, we should be holding the invitations. Please pray that there are not any delays or problems with this! Then, we send them and our applications to the London embassy and again should have the visa the following week - meaning our aim for being back in Russia in the first week of June is still very possible....volcanic ash and BA strikes aside!

So we'd really appreciate your prayers in this regard!

This last week we've just had a really encouraging time at our sending church in Stockport, but during that week had a car crash (not our fault!) which was a little alarming at the time, but God was so good and no serious injuries were incurred (other than to the car we had been lent!) But that reminds us to keep praying for safety and protection.

Something we also heard last week, and waiting to hear more details on, is news from a number of churches in St Petersburg, who've been open to us all since we all arrived in the city, and where relationships have been growing. At the end of April there was a third conference, attending by 9 churches, the majority of which are interested in being a part of New Frontiers, relating into the same people that Hope Church do - so in less than two years, God has worked wonders!! We'll let you know more about this when we do! But it's very exciting!

The repair work on our flat has also been completed, following the hole in the ceiling that occurred from the melting snow.

So there is a relatively short time left now, with the final stages of the visa's and flights to be sorted, and the return journey HOME to be made by all four of us.....thanks so much for your prayers, messages and encouragements through this time.....we'll send short updates when we have the Visa and so on, but will write more fully again shortly from Russia.

Please do pray with us that this whole transition goes smoothly and adjusting to life in St Petersburg, with our new baby, is straight forward.

Blessings and much love,
Tim, Rachel, Mia and Anya.....soon to be IN RUSSIA! x