Every six months the Russian government requires us to leave the country in order to re-register our visas. This time we decided to make a trip to Tallinn. The last time we visited this lovely city was for Timothy’s first birthday. The weather did not cooperate with us and rained the entire time except for the last morning and that is when I took most of these pictures.

Abby and Ramona in the a local mall’s play land.

Tallinn and the wall which protects old town.

One street in Tallinn’s old town.

YWAM St. Petersburg is running Mission Adventures in the summer and during the off season they are holding meetings for youth to encourage them. The name of these meetings is Chainik which literally translated means teapot. The other meaning is simpleton and that is the focus of these meetings and the ministry, that we should all have simple faith in Jesus. The world will see us as fools, but the scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Tonight was the first Chainik.

Tim, the director of YWAM speaking with some of the youth leaders.

Dave in one of the skits.

Here is a picture of my lovely Abigail. She loves hats and shoes (in this case slippers). I cannot remember how many times I tried to get my son to wear those slippers, but they came of three seconds after I put them on. My daughter on the hand has taken to them like fish to water. What a doll!

Timothy and Abby posing for a picture. They are both growing so quickly. It’s fun as a parent to watch them grow and develop. As the Lord says they are truly, “fearfully and wonderfully made”!

A wedding done Russian style…

My former colleague and friend Zakhar and his fiancée’ Katya are getting married in true Russian style – the ZAKS wedding. ZAKS or the wedding palace is the Russian civil ceremony where most Russians hold their weddings. St. Petersburg has a hand full of these palaces scattered throughout the city. The couples often march in under a recorded (sometimes live) musical accompaniment and then a woman often conducts the ceremony. It usually takes around 15-20 minutes, after which the couple and their guests are promptly herded out of the palace and the next lucky couple begins their ceremony. This palace where my friend was married is the most prestigious in town and sits on the embankment of the Neva River. Riding to church we passed it one morning and counted 7 limousines waiting outside for the couples to finish their ceremonies.

This is a picture of the couple making their entry into the wedding hall.

Here is a shot from the back of the room.

This is the final shot before the lovely couple kisses.