Hmmm...

This is the second time in 24 hours that I have read this passage. My devotional has used the verse in Mark 10:24 often, that with God all things are possible. But Mark 10:29-31 state:

29 "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

So right now we need prayers for:

1) That K (the new translator) would arrive, safe and rested, and be able to help us communicate with AS and the others around here. Again there are no people who speak English here, and Dave and I speak very (VERY) little Russian.

2) That we can continue to bond with AS. He's a sweet little guy, but distractable. He seems interested in Skyping with other family members etc. I think that will be good. But he will be leaving everything he knows. Even if it's not the greatest place, this is his home.

3) That we can get the paperwork done THIS WEEK that we need to get done in order to receive our court date.

4) That there are NO DELAYS. The courts here love to delay, particularly if you don't do certain things to grease the wheels.

5) For Dave and I to stay strong and faithful to what we're doing. We feel that there are a lot more obstacles in the way here. We want to continue to do what we've set out to do, but this city is very depressing. I can't tell you how bleak it is... I have described it as merely surviving, not really living.

6) For our kids. That they can remain healthy and strong while we're away. And that our separation won't be too long. We're not sure, now that we're here if they should come over or what. There is nothing to do here, nothing to see, and it's a little more dangerous than in Kiev. We're trying to make a plan, and were hoping to do so in the next week.