Fall 2003
"Let the hearts of those REJOICE who seek the Lord!"
The Lord has certainly given us cause to rejoice as we seek Him in our lives and ministry here in Russia. As His children we were created to praise Him and rejoice in Him in all we do and say... and yet He constantly provides our every need and gives so much abundantly above and beyond mere needs, what else CAN we do but praise Him? The Lord indeed is good. I pray that for every one of you this is your heart's deepest conviction as well as your experience, in living with and serving Him.
We now have a daily (and nightly) reminder of the Lord's goodness and mercy to us in our precious son Jaan. I can only say that he is even more wonderful than I had dreamed! I have always loved children and wished for children of my own, while somewhat fearing the responsibility of being 'The Father.' Now I understand that this is simply the next step in being conformed to the image of my heavenly Father. As we seek His wisdom to be good parents, we glimpse again and again just how much He must love us as His children...and we rejoice in Him!!
"Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and HE shall bring it to pass."
In our last newsletter I asked for prayer for wisdom as we would be thinking and praying about moving out to the city of Kovrov. We were looking for further direction as to timing, as well as a job for the time being. I had pretty much decided that by next fall at the latest, we ought to have moved. Seems like at church, and just in general lately, we've repeatedly been discussing trusting the Lord - with our lives, our plans, our families. Interesting, isn't it, that as believers, we're constantly being called to completely trust our Lord - and when it comes down to it, all too often, somehow that's the last thing we want to do.
In our last newsletter I asked for prayer for wisdom as we would be thinking and praying about moving out to the city of Kovrov. We were looking for further direction as to timing, as well as a job for the time being. I had pretty much decided that by next fall at the latest, we ought to have moved. Seems like at church, and just in general lately, we've repeatedly been discussing trusting the Lord - with our lives, our plans, our families. Interesting, isn't it, that as believers, we're constantly being called to completely trust our Lord - and when it comes down to it, all too often, somehow that's the last thing we want to do.
Ah, but whatever the Lord pleases, He does, and HE performs what is appointed for us... and we rejoice in Him because He is Good and does good, and blessed is the one who trusts in Him! Once again we step forward into the unknown, trusting Him alone to be the One who makes it all clear in His time. The Lord has given us the desire to support our friends in their ministry in Kovrov. If the Lord has thus directed, sitting in a different place agonizing over details is, well... pointless, isn't it? I had asked you all to pray that I could find work this fall. There were a lot of different opportunities, and somehow none of them panned out. After much prayer and talking through things, we decided it'd be better to move sooner rather than later. Lord willing, we'll be moving to Kovrov mid January!
We were able to visit Pavel and Tanya in Kovrov this past weekend. We had called back and forth a little, but this was our first opportunity to pray and talk through things all together. They are joyously awaiting our arrival. They've been praying for four years for partners, and we've been praying for further direction since we moved to Russia two years ago. The Lord has united our hearts in the times we've had to minister together, and although there's much that we don't know at the present, we do know that we're heading in the right direction!
What more can I tell you? We will be supporting and helping the Korneichuk family in their church planting and missionary work in any and every way possible. What might that entail? Youth work, music ministry, orphanage work, evangelism/outreach, Bible studies, discipleship...how's that for a start?! I pray that the Lord will use us as the full-time partners dedicated to ministry that Pavel and Tanya have prayed about for so long. We won't be teaching English to support ourselves anymore, although it'll be a great opportunity for outreach, i.e. English class/Bible studies offered free of charge. We're praying for some amount of monthly support, and praise the Lord, the cost of living in Kovrov is much more affordable than in Moscow! We'll also be looking for an apartment in the next couple of months.
Maybe it seems like there's a whole lot of missing details? Maybe there are! But, let the hearts of those REJOICE who are trusting the Lord!! We are rejoicing in prayers answered, in His provision and wisdom, His grace and peace and joy that He so freely gives. We want to ask for your prayers during the next months. We want to be here in Moscow as much as possible, taking part in every opportunity for ministry and fellowship at Resurrection Church until the time we move. At the same time, understandably, much of our time and thought will be focused on Kovrov.
PLEASE PRAY for:
-WISDOM in further planning and talking with Pavel and Tanya.
-PROVISION of an inexpensive apartment in Kovrov that will be good for our family.
-FOCUS on our ministry at Resurrection Church while we're still here!
-PROVISION of some amount of monthly support for living there.
(For anyone wanting to help us financially, please make out any checks to:
Grace Bible Church, 1627 The Plaza, Charlotte NC 28205)
-WISDOM in further planning and talking with Pavel and Tanya.
-PROVISION of an inexpensive apartment in Kovrov that will be good for our family.
-FOCUS on our ministry at Resurrection Church while we're still here!
-PROVISION of some amount of monthly support for living there.
(For anyone wanting to help us financially, please make out any checks to:
Grace Bible Church, 1627 The Plaza, Charlotte NC 28205)
Thank you all so much for your faithfulness in praying for us. I know that we wouldn't have made it to this point without your love and prayers. Please do continue to pray for us and to REJOICE with us in the Lord's direction and provision!
A Jaan Update (from Phyllis)
As you know, our son Jaan was born September 10. Now, at two months old, he weighs about ten and a half pounds, which means he has gained almost four pounds! He is strong and healthy and the answer to all our prayers. We are enjoying and rejoicing in every day with him. Lately, he has started smiling a lot. It used to be that he just smiled randomly, or while he slept. Now it's obvious that he is interacting with us.
As you know, our son Jaan was born September 10. Now, at two months old, he weighs about ten and a half pounds, which means he has gained almost four pounds! He is strong and healthy and the answer to all our prayers. We are enjoying and rejoicing in every day with him. Lately, he has started smiling a lot. It used to be that he just smiled randomly, or while he slept. Now it's obvious that he is interacting with us.
Jaan has already been very busy in the short time that he has been with us. While his Grandma Kathy was here he visited the Tretyakovsky Art Gallery and took a train out of Moscow to visit friends. Last weekend we spent three days with our friends in Kovrov, and he did really well with all the traveling and new people. At church here in Moscow he has gotten the reputation of being some kind of American super baby. He goes everywhere with us, and generally just sleeps quietly; everyone insists that a Russian baby wouldn't be able to do that!
Now Jaan is looking forward to meeting his Hunsucker grandparents and Aunt Abby in two weeks! =) We wish he could see all of his other friends and family in America, but that will have to wait for later.
With love and prayers,
Will, Phyllis and Jaan Hunsucker
Will, Phyllis and Jaan Hunsucker