Before I start I would just like you to know that we appreciate the tons of emails you gave us while we were away and supporting us in all of our situations.
Although things did not work out for us to live there, lets focus on the things we did accomplish while there.
We helped a family of 2 daughters and single mother move into another apartment. Their names are Lela, Alia, we dont know the mothers name. Also we were able to help participate and lead in the the Sunday morning service in Gatchina, Neva and Lomisosivf. When we were in Gatchina last January there were a few kids living in the church in. Their names are Kolya, there were 2 Vitalic's, Maxiem, Luba, Antone, Veika. They all stayed there on a regular basis. And when we arrived this time, only Maxiem was living there. It was a huge disappointment, but it also showed how much work we had the opportunity to do. Within our first week with the help of Jan Blackburn and Linda Steel (two women from NRH CoC) we were able to throw a party and had a really nice turnout and a lot of kinds came. Then Kolya came back and stayed a few night (as opposed to going out and drinking with friends) and then help lead the sunday service that week. The following week he brought 3 friends with him to church so that we could be there and hang out with them and get them to come more often. This is a huge thing considering that Kolya is made fun of a lot just for the fact that he has faith in God. Its very uncommon for Russian kids to have a belief system. Unfortunately we were still stuck in Finland at that time and were unable to be with these kids.
So that comes to why we were in Finland in the first place. When we went to Russia the visas we were there on were tourist visas, only valid for 1 month. So when that time ran out the plan was to go to Helsinki, Finland and apply for 1 year multi-entry business visas. This is common and shouldn't have had any problems. While we were in Russia laws changed on the new visa rules and while we were in Finland these laws went into effect. Causing us to have some serious problems. Like Russ said Sunday morning it seemed like we got a different story every time we went and tried to apply. Ultimately the final straw was that you have to apply for a Visa within you home country. So unfortunately we no longer had a choice but to come home.
As I think about what has happened to us I read the stories about Paul and all the struggles he had as he tried to get into countries. And that is what gives me hope. We cannot say what is going to happen next, financially we cannot afford to go back for another long term trip for awhile, but we are considering going back on just one more 1 month trip.
Thank you for all your support, contact us with any questions you might have.
God will open up the doors we will need to go through, so pray that we know which ones are open to us.
10/8/2007
Hey im sorry that it has
taken so long for to give all of yall an update. things are
starting to settle in which means at the same time, things are
starting to get busy and crazy. we still thank everyone at home
for your prayers and finacial support and making this opportunity
possible. what we have set up so far is for us to go to Gatchina
on Friday until Sunday night for 3 weekends a month. During
the week days if we have absolutely nothing to do then we will
go to Gatchina anyway. and second is the Neva Church, and we
will be doing anything that they ask that isn't in the way of
Gatchina. by the 3rd week in this month we should be in our
apartment which SHOULD make things a little nicer. (having a
bed and a bathroom would be great!) but we are getting around
just fine so far and both learning how to read and speak Russian
(kinda like a first grader). again i want to thank everyone
of you for your prayers. I am specifically asking for strength,
wisdom, and patients.
paul
To specify on what we are doing..At Gatchina we are working
with children that live at the apartment flat there and that
come from the Internaught, (an orphanage close by) where kids
come from and any on the street that would like to attend. It's
basically an open house to anyone. We work there by cleaning
the flat, running errands, working with the kids and any activities
planned for them. Really just anything Natasha needs us to do.
Last night there was a local family moving apartments and we
went and helped move furniture so they could put down a floor.
Which is part of the reason why we got home late. But small
stuff like that, like Paul said, we will be doing things with
Neva. Just small stuff that they need help with. I think we
should be moving to an apartment soon i hope, that will be nice.
We also will be working with Lominosive, but very little because
they have more than enough help and we are focusing more on
the places that need help. They have many helping hands and
a paid youth minister. Thank you all for the prayers, we need
all we can get lol It's going to be a long winter :)
corey
Introduction
Corey Latham
and Paul Hazelip will be in St. Petersburg, Russia for a total
of ten months. They are leaving September 13, 2007 and expect
to be home some time in June of 2008. They will reside in an
apartment in St. Petersburg due to the central location. While
there, they will be working under the direction of Joel Petty
and other local missionaries. The churches that they will be
working and helping with will be the church of Neva, Lominosiv,
St. Petersburg, and Gatchina. Gatchina and the inner city kids
that come to that church for food and protection will be their
main focus. The Russian orphanage (Inter naught) is just down
the street from this church in Gatchina, and will be a central
focus of their mission efforts. They ask that you please continue
to pray for them in every way you can think of.
