What God did for our family in year 2006!

Hello our dear friends, sisters and brothers in Christ,

This year is coming to its end. This ia our complete 1 year of our living in Mariupol city. Totally since our arrival to Mariupol city in 2005 we live here 1, 5 year. I decided to summarise what God did in our lives for the passing year 2006. I hope it will be a good testimony and encouragement for our family in the future and everyone who will read our family blog.

We believe that God is faithful and great. He gives even more than we ask Him. He loves and cares about us every day. He is the main resource and supplier for our family. I am so thankful that he found me and my wife in this world, accepted into His God's family and joined us together.
Let's roll!

1. January 11, 2006 our second daughter Sarah was born. Lena was operated again, but with God's help everything went well. She feels good and healthy now. Sarah's doing well too.

2. Through Lena's parents and our friends God provided for FREE: new furniture for children room, new sofa, clothing and different home appliences such TV set, music center, microwave oven, blender, electric squeezer and meat grinder and many other stuff .

3. Lena's parents sponsored repair of the basement of the house and the yard.

4. Lena's friend and sister in Christ presented 1500 grn gratis as help to pay credit for refrigerator.

5. God provided general health for our family members. God healed Lena's hands, Sarah's allergy became less.

6. I started to study at distant European school "Yeshko" for Logistics Manager.
7. We were visited in the Summer by many guests:

For Easter holidays came Lena Salamatina and her friend Saron - missionaries from OM mission in Rivne.

In June Roma's father lived with us several days.

In July we were happy to meet Maya from House of Hope. She lived with us almost a month.

We were happy that she had opportunity to go to seashore. It was first time in her life when she saw sea. And the most important thing was that she had fellowship with Christian youth from our church. She could meet and talk to the youth with the same background as she was (from the orphanage).

8. We were able to give housing for Lena's nephew Roma. He lived with us from April 2006 till the end of August 2006. In fact his parents do not live together. His mama lives and works in Ireland trying to earn money for a flat in Ukraine. His father lives and works in Moskow. This year Roma's mom wanted to take Roma to Ireland for permanent living . That's why she asked us to accept Roma to our family while all necessary documents have been preparing. Because Roma's father had to go to Italy for 3 months. But unfortunately she was refused at the Ambassy. Therefore Roma had to come back to live with his father again. During the period he was living with us we noticed that he enjoyed visiting Sunday schools and having relationship with youth from the church. We even organized for Roma a trip to the Christian camp for 10 days.

There he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart. It was first experience in his life. But now we worry about him because he lives with his father -unbeliever in Moskow. We need to support him in prayers very much. May God send Christians into his life and provide a healthy church for him.

Besides many other people visited us: people from the local church, pastor and his family, Roma's uncle and mom from Ireland, Lena's friend from Sweden and other people.

At the last week of December 2006 we had a missionary from Indonesia. His name is Endri Sulaksono. Now he serves for Rivne OM mission. He came to Mariupol together with Lena Salamatina (Rakultseva) and her husband Misha Rakultsev to celebrate Christmas and New Year. He spent at our house 2 nights. We had a nice time with him.

It was busy time. But God gave us strength, patience and provision. Praise Him!

9. We visited Rivne with the whole family and my sister's wedding there.

10. We met some our friends in Rivne. We planned to meet many of you. But we were limited with time and resources. We are thankful to our friends, missionaries from USA -Greg and Brenda who shared their appartment when we were in Rivne. Thanks to Ron and Joane who prepared everything for us, for a nice dinner. And we are thankfull to all people who were hospitable to us during our stay in Rivne. May God bless you richly.

11. God gave us a good church and we are glad that pastor and church members are happy to accept us as full church members.

12. I spend much more time with my wife and my children. I still continue to enjoy this process. When I can minester to my own family. It's a wonderful time.

This is year was exiting and busy for us. Frankly speaking there were difficult times too.

But we trust our Heavenly Father and we know that He wants only good for us. With His help we are strong enough to overcome difficulties. By the way we want to than you for your prayers for our family too. We need them very much.

We pray and expect greater thing next year! Our life is too short to live it in vain. Therefore also support us in your prayers in order we could spend each day of our lives with wisdom and for God's Glory!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Yours in Christ,

Sergey, Lena, Ruth and Sarah

(Hedgehog's family)