October Update

[CarlaSun@aol.com]

Dear Prayer Partners,

Greetings from Moscow.  It has been a long summer and much has happened on 
the Field and on the Deputation Trail.  The Sunbergs are happy to finally be 
back home in Moscow.

What happened after September 11?  Many people have asked what the response 
has been in this part of the world to the September 11 events in the US.  The 
most wonderful response has been the outpouring of love and prayers of our 
national Christian workers.  When President Putin asked for a time of silence 
for the US on September 12, our two Nazarene churches in Moscow got together 
and held a worship service, and prayed for the people of America.  E-mails 
were received from Pastors and leaders in our churches from Central Asia, 
Ukraine, Volgograd and Moscow.  Such an outpouring of love and concern!  The 
people here are being very protective of those of us from the US.  It is 
great to feel their love and support.

Stress -- We all continue to feel quite a bit of stress.  I think that has to 
do with so much to do, and often not enough time to do it.  Please pray for 
the workers here.  Bob Skinner has spent much time recently out in Western 
Ukraine, helping new congregations to be established.  However, this takes 
him away from his family in Kyiv.  Please pray for the Skinner family.  
Please pray for our people in CAC2.  They have had the greatest stress in 
recent days in regard to the aftereffects of Sept. 11.  They have had to live 
each day, wondering where they will live the next and how to go on with their 
work.  As a result of the September 11 events, training sessions here on the 
Field were canceled.  Speakers from the US were unable to come and so the 
schedules musts be rearranged.  All of the changes can cause stress!

Meetings and Rejoicings!! -- On October 26 we will begin our Pastor's and 
Spouse's retreat for the CIS Field.  This year we are anticipating about 60 
people in attendance.  Please pray for this event.  In the midst of all the 
stresses of the fall, this should be a great time of being together and 
enjoying God's presence.  Bruno Radi, Regional Director from South America 
will be with us and sharing with us the "Impacto" program.  We are praying 
for God's presence and a great time of training for our leaders.  Following 
the Pastor's retreat we will have an Educational Planning Meeting -- as we 
brainstorm for the future!  We praise the Lord for all the students who are 
participating in the Extension program for the Field but there are many 
wanting full-time study in the Russian language.  Please pray for wisdom and 
guidance as we plan for the future.

Youth Center Registration Update  -- a meeting was held with the Realtor 
working on the Youth Center registration.  She was very disappointed to have 
to tell us that she has not been able to complete her work.  She said this 
was the first time this had ever happened to her.  It seems that the obstacle 
is that the buildings belong to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, listed as 
a Christian Humanitarian Organization.  Because the word Christian is listed 
as part of the official name, the local government officials are afraid to 
allow us to register the building.  However, we have not totally given up 
hope and we ask for your continued prayers.  The Realtor said that she 
believes there may be a possibility to meet with the director who should 
decide this question after he returns from vacation after October 15.  Please 
pray that a meeting might occur and something can be decided.

A praise??-- obviously the economy in Moscow must be better be better because 
the number of cars on the road is incredible.  Moscow was not built for many 
people to have cars.  The number of cars has increased about 5-fold since our 
arrival here.  Recently I spent 40 minutes at one intersection.  Distance 
which used to take 20 minutes now take at least 45 and getting from one end 
of town to the other can take 2-3 hours depending on the day.  A prayer -- 
Many of the drivers are crazy!!!  If the traffic is too backed up at the 
intersection they simply drive into oncoming traffic to cut around everyone.  
This is happening to the point when a light is red they'll fill up all the 
oncoming lanes and there's no place for anyone to go.  If you follow the 
traffic rules people yell, honk and flash their lights at you.  In the last 
two days I have had people run their cars right up beside me (between the 
lanes) and yell at me, or flip me off because I wasn't speeding!  It makes 
you feel sick to your stomach.  

Pinson family -- a number have asked me who the Pinsons are and how they are 
doing.  The Pinsons live in Cincinnati, OH and Sherry does a lot of work for 
the CIS Field.  She edits our newsletter, designed and made all the brochures 
for General Assembly -- and those beautiful golden domes, if you were there.  
She is now also an editor for "Holiness Today" but volunteers her time for 
the CIS.  We want to continue to lift the Pinson family in prayer.  Just last 
week Rachel went through a series of tests and they are awaiting the results 
to see how she is doing.  She has been handling her chemotherapy quite well 
and they praise the Lord for this.  Please continue to pray for all of them.  
Fred, Sherry's husband and Rachel's father is grateful for all your prayers.  

Happy Events  -- Viazma First Church of the Nazarene will dedicate their new 
building on Sunday, October 14.  Please pray that the Lord will bless the 
dedication and the building, to be used for His glory.

St. Petersburg Apartment -- Please continue to pray for this situation.  
After the last update we thought that things had been resolved.  Since then, 
the police arrived and took Jon Mowry over to the new apartment site and had 
a little 'chat' with him.  It is our understanding that the apartment has 
been sealed since that time and we are now having to work with a lawyer to 
get the problems solved.  The Mowrys really need to be able to move into a 
larger living space and the longer this times, the harder it is on them.  
Please continue to pray for them.

This has been a long note.  We appreciate you all and your prayers for the 
Field.  Thank you so much!!!

God bless you.

Chuck and Carla Sunberg