Trying to catch my breath...

I have not written much in this space lately.  And, quite frankly, the main reason is that I have been so busy writing things for other places, that I have neglected my own space.  So, while I have a few minutes of quiet this morning I thought I would try to catch up just a little.

Last Monday we officially launched a new web site (www.EngageRussia.org) which is the centerpiece of our Engage Russia initiative.  This website is the central hub for the campaign and is what connects folks from around the world with what we are doing here in Russia.  We also have a profile page and group on Facebook and are hoping the 200+ people that are part of that group will begin dialoging together about how they can cooperate together and form partnerships with field personnel here in Russia.  If you haven't joined already, you should!

If you don't know already, it is my primary responsibility to create media which connects people from around the globe with our field missionaries in the hopes of forming partnerships that will engage the unreached people groups of Russia.  What does that really mean?  It means that I am constantly on the road or connected to my computer creating video, writing materials, sending updates, or promoting these unreached people groups.  And, so far, I think it has been quite successful.  In the two months since our first trip to the Republic of Chuvashia there have been around half a dozen churches who have committed to pray for, and in some cases, physically engage the Chuvash people.  That is pretty exciting for me.

Last week we went to Northwestern Siberia in search of the Khanti people group.  We never found them.  It was too cold and too dangerous for us to go on an expedition to find this semi-nomadic tribe of reindeer herders.  But, it was a good trip and we learned a lot about the people that will be useful in the future.  We hope to complete that project in the spring.

This afternoon we leave for Udmurtia.  I am looking forward to it.  I love the Udmurt people and taking the overnight train is always one of my favorite things.  We will be gone until Monday shooting a video feature on a couple of volunteers who are working in the area this week.  Why?  Because we want to show that there is no one "profile" for the kind of person who would come to work with the unreached of Russia.

Well, time is running out and I must pack my bags and pick up a sack full of chicken sandwiches to much on while on the train.  More updates next week.

Blessings,

Marc