Yet Another Blog

HAMM PRAYER POINTS 16|10|06

CIRCUS!!!

Sunday afternoon we (Lena, Maya, Deena & I) had the opportunity to visit the Grand St. Petersburg Circus for what may be our last time. The girls love going to the circus, though we rarely go more than once a year. (For pics from our visit check out Flickr.)

It’s quite the privilege to be able to live in such a culturally-rich city. Permanent circuses, ballets, symphonies, museums and puppet theatres abound! There is almost no end to the list of cultural attractions in St. Petersburg.

We will be sorry to leave our beloved "Piter", but we are thankful for the opportunities we’ve had to enjoy some of the city’s treasures over the years.

- Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

COMING TO CANADA

Patiently waiting… Still no word from the Canadian Embassy in Moscow. Hopefully news will come soon—please keep praying!

BLESSINGS

Praise God for the opportunity to serve in St. Petersburg. Despite the frustrations we’ve had living in the “Venice of the North” this city has been a source of endless wonder and adventure for our family.

We praise God for you, our friends and supporters! You continue to bless us in so many ways—thank you for continuing to stand by us as we wait and prepare for the changes to come.

PETITIONS

Visa news (of course! Please pray that some news will come soon!

Sonia is still looking for a new job. Please pray that she will be able to find a part-time job that will not interfere with her studies or require late-night travel.

Please continue to pray for our financial needs. More information about our support is at www.krhamm.com/support.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that the Grand St. Petersburg Circus is in it’s 129th year of operation?

…that there are two permanent circuses in St. Petersburg and more than twenty troupes in Russia?

ESSENTIAL INFO

Kevin & Lena Hamm are missionaries with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International, serving with Christian Camping International/Russia in St. Petersburg, Russia.

A printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is always available for download.

Visit www.krhamm.com/pray for links to print versions, archives and more.

For more on our ministry in Russia, please visit www.krhamm.com.

You can help! Please visit www.krhamm.com/support for ways you can help our family & ministry.

Hundreds of our recent photos can be viewed at Flickr.com. (And now Sonia’s pictures too!)

HAMM PRAYER POINTS        05|06|06 

NINA

As we told you last week Lena’s mother Nina was scheduled for a visit
with a specialist this past Thursday. Instead of learning about
scheduling a coronarography, the doctor informed her that the results
of her test clearly indicated that she needed open-heart surgery.

This came as quite a shock to Nina, as the hospital doctors had said
nothing about this (they instead informed only the specialist). Nina
was also told that she would have to go on expensive medications (250
CAD per month) while she waits for the surgery, which, coincidentally,
she may not be able to receive after all! The specialist told her that
there was a very good chance that the heart surgeon would refuse to
operate on her because of the deteriorated state of her heart.

This Wednesday (June 7) Nina will meet the heart surgeon to discuss the
possibility of open-heart surgery. If she is permitted to have the
surgery, the cost will be upwards of 7000 USD.

In the
meantime, Nina remains on medications (the monthly cost of which is
twice her monthly pension), confined to a "stress-free" environment and
strict diet. The discomfort of her condition is not too great,
thankfully, but she remains in pain. We are thankful that her spirits
remain relatively high, despite Nina being prone to worry and despair.

It was three years ago that Nina left the only home she ever had and
moved to St. Petersburg to be near her family. Since that time her
assistance and support has allowed Lena & I to minister to
Christian camps near and far. Without her regular help with our girls
we would have hardly been able to travel to teach at seminars and serve
at camps. We are so thankful for our mother and babushka—our only
family in Russia!

Please keep her in your prayers! Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

COMING TO CANADA

As you read above, it is now very obvious that delays in our move to
Canada are in no small way related to Nina’s need for our presence here
in Russia.

We continue to trust the Lord’s timing in selling our home, finding
a home in Manitoba and transplanting our family halfway around the
world. Thank you for praying!

BLESSINGS

Answered prayer from previous weeks! Praise
God for the Christian Camp Leaders’ Conference in Vladivostok.
Seventy-five students and instructors took part in the seven-day course
for senior camp leaders and pastors. Twenty-one camps were
represented—a wonderful answer to prayer!

PETITIONS

Please
pray for the Staff Training Workshop currently underway (June 4-9) in
Norkalni, Latvia. This is the training event for the Baltic states:
Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia. and the final spring event for our
staff. Especially pray for the health and strength of Ira Rechitskaya,
who is the dean of this, her third STW this spring.

I had been meaning to add a praise report for our household appliances
(really!). It is almost six years since we purchased our apartment and
the major appliances for our home. Since then they have worked
wonderfully (need a reliable refrigerator? buy Minsk!) for the most
part. Unfortunately our German washing machine decided that today was
the day to give up the ghost. We of course have no desire (let alone
money!) to replace it…but then Lena has little desire to go back to
washing our family’s clothes in the bathtub! Please pray for
inexpensive "healing" for our Bosch!

DID YOU KNOW…

…that
high school students from across Russia can check their final exam
scores online? Join thousands of anxious Russian teenagers in accessing
www.ege.ru to get all the final results (it helps if you can read Russian)!

…that
pictures from our trip to Uzbekistan are finally online? View over
seventy pictures from Tashkent and the Staff Training Workshop at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/72157594152329586.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Kevin & Lena Hamm are missionaries with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service International, serving with Christian Camping International/Russia in St. Petersburg, Russia.

A printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is always available for download.

Visit www.krhamm.com/pray for links to print versions, archives and more.

For more on our ministry in Russia, please visit www.krhamm.com.

You can help! Please visit www.krhamm.com/support for ways you can help our family & ministry.

Hundreds of our recent photos can be viewed at Flickr.com. (And now Sonia’s pictures too!)

HAMM PRAYER POINTS 22|05|06

NINA UPDATE

It has now been 10
days since Nina was admitted into the hospital with heart attack-like symptoms.
Since May 12 little progress has been made in her diagnosis and recovery. Nina
continues to be on a strict regimen of rest and medication. It was only three
days ago that she was finally allowed to get out of bed to walk to the dining
hall. The doctors continue to run tests and try various medications to try and
get her blood pressure down. They seem quite puzzled by her symptoms, which
don’t quite match their test results! As we wait for Nina’s return Lena
continues to make the long journey to the hospital every other day. We are
thankful that Nina is in good spirits and that I am able to take some time off
from work during this time (to stay with the girls during Lena’s absence).

Thank you for remembering our family in your prayers.

– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

COMING TO CANADA

Now that Canada seems a lot further away than it did a month ago, it’s a
little harder to get excited about planning! The other day Maya exclaimed, "I’m
tired of waiting! Tomorrow I’m going to Canada!". Please remember our need for a
home come late autumn!

BLESSINGS

The last time Nina was in the hospital, this
happened… We are very thankful that Nina’s home has been kept safe from
intruders or other problems thus far.

PETITIONS

Please continue to pray for Nina in
the hospital. Pray that her health will be restored so that she can return home.
Also remember to pray for Lena as she makes the long treks to bring Nina food
and supplies.

Be in prayer for the Christian Camp
Leaders’ Conference to be held in Vladivostok (May 25-31). This is major event
for the camps and churches in the Far East of Russia. For too long we have been
unable (for financial reasons, mostly) to conduct a training event in this, the
neediest of regions in Russia. Please pray for the final organizational details,
and especially pray for the safe travel of the participants and instructors
across this vast territory.

Sonia completed her first exam
(English—her easiest test!) this past Saturday. Please keep praying for her as
she prepares for the next four exams.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that the least expensive
(non-bulk) toilet paper you can buy in Russia is simply called "54 Metres"?
While you can guess how long it is, did you know the price per roll is around 3
rubles (about 15 cents)?

…that the best bargain in "made
in Russia" commodities is wood matches? A package of eight
boxes goes for a mere 4 rubles!!!

ESSENTIAL INFO

Kevin & Lena Hamm are missionaries with Mennonite Brethren Mission and Service
International, serving with Christian
Camping International/Russia in St. Petersburg, Russia.

A printable version in
Adobe Acrobat format is always available for download.

Visit www.krhamm.com/pray for links to print
versions, archives and more.

For more on our ministry in Russia,
please visit www.krhamm.com.

You can help! Please visit www.krhamm.com/support for ways you can
help our family & ministry.

Hundreds of our recent photos can
be viewed at Flickr.com. (And
now Sonia’s pictures
too!)

So…where is my profile picture???
Anyway, I can be found at www.krhamm.com, along with pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm. So there I am!