Hi everyone,

We just wanted to send a quick message around to keep you up to date but more so to ask for prayer as we seem to be going through a battle as we prepare to return home to St Petersburg.

Please do pray for Anya who is unwell at the moment. She has a high temperature, which probably followed on from a cold she had. She might also have had an ear ache. She was due to have her 12 week injections today but these have now been moved to next week instead making it tight before we head back.

The rest of us are also a little run down by it all - so please pray Health Health Health!

We also need your prayers for the packing, journey & flight and then the transition back into our life in Russia, with the addition of Anya.

Our visa application is proceeding - we are initially applying for a 3 month visa, which will then be extended in Russia, like we did 2 years ago. When we extend it, the Russian's require an HIV test certificate as part of the process, a general requirement for these types of visa. And because a 3 month visa can be extended, there is a chance that they'll want this certificate for this application as well - which will mean we'd have to go up to London tomorrow, pay loads for a one day test, and then get this to the embassy later the same day. We really don't want to have to do this. We'll hear today or tomorrow if its needed. Please pray!

All being well with the visa, we should get them back Thursday next week - which means our Saturday flights are still possible. We have up to the Friday evening to confirm and pay for this flight, so pray everything goes smoothly - and that there is no BA strikes or volcanic ash!

Thanks so much for your support in these matters! Your prayers make all the difference.

With love,

Tim, Rachel, Mia & Anyax