April 15, 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

It seems like lately we have been starting out our letters by saying something like: “amazing how quickly two months go by without even realizing it.” The same can be said for this month. As we write, it is 61 degrees in Moscow and 59 in Palatka, Florida. It is unseasonably warm, and we are enjoying it now that the slush and sleet have disappeared.

What is happening at the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy? One of the fun parts of working here is that there is always news! We just found out yesterday that our second person has been accepted for relocation in the United States. If  you remember the Ethiopian couple who was referred by MPC and relocated to Alexandria, Virginia, then you need to know of this young man who is originally from the Congo. He was pursued by the police to a church because of his political beliefs. He hid in the church and as the police were trying to drag him away the pastor intervened and gave him enough time to escape. He made his way to another African country and then on to Moscow. 

It is nice to know that MPC is so well known that when people of color come to Moscow people from MPC are the first people they contact. He went through one of our orientation meetings for refugees. He was interviewed by Homeland Security, and yesterday we found out that he has been accepted for resettlement. Please pray for him during this time of great joy but also transition. 

This week we tried our hand at hosting a youth group from the States. A group of 15 youth from First Presbyterian Church in Marietta, Georgia, an awesome Christ-centered church, is currently with us working hard in a variety of different ministries. Check out their photo album and blog about their trip and also another Web site they put together and you will read some of their (and our) experiences and see some great pictures as well. They have three different trips going on at once so make sure you look at the material focused on Moscow. It has been a sensational week working with these youth and young adults.

Some very specific challenges are affecting the church, and we would like to ask you to remember them in your prayers. There is a fairly large American contingency within the church whose work visas have been denied, and it is creating a very difficult situation for them. Many of them have children in school who will not be able to finish out the year. Without a visa, their future employment is also up in the air. Please pray for these families­—that God would make clear to them what decisions they need to make for their future. Also pray for us as we attempt to minister to them during this difficult time. Speaking of visas, our situation is still not completely clear, but we are confident that all will be worked out for us to be back in either one form or another. Our church was officially registered, but our social ministries organization was denied for a second time. We have had to change the name of our social ministry incorporation and are trying to reregister that way. We were just told some potential good news, but everything has to be in the conditional whenever you are speaking about visas, that we could probably get a work permit and visa through the newly registered church.  We will keep you up to date, but keep that as an ongoing prayer request.

We have had the joy of welcoming to MPC our new Lutheran intern. His name is Vladimir Tatarnikov, and he is from Belorussia. Vladimir has stepped in and taken on a load of responsibilities and is an absolute joy to be around. He has captured the hearts of the youth group from Georgia. We are so blessed to have him.

He also has a very fascinating background. Many of you may not know about Belorussia. It is the only remaining nation which still exists under the former Soviet style dictatorship, although it is completely independent. There is absolutely no freedom of religion there. He has finished his seminary training at the Lutheran seminary in St. Petersburg. Once he finishes his year with us next February he will be the only ordained Lutheran pastor in all of Belorussia. In that country you are not allowed to speak about Jesus Christ unless you are a registered pastor within a registered church. For example, you cannot speak about Christ in your apartment, on the street or anywhere except a church. It is amazing to think that such a place still exists. We hope to make a trip together there in September. I am so looking forward to it. We hope to bring with us the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church here in Russia and our Presbyterian colleague, Ellen Smith.

March saw the visit of the Lutheran European liaison, Arden Haugh. It was great to feel that connection with the church in the States. He was able to see the new parish center and the strides that are being taken to get that up and running. Please pray for the center for continued financing, for the programs that will be run out of there, and for the safety and protection that it will provide for the people of color who come to Moscow.

Easter was a wonderful celebration. It was very different from last year in that school vacation was well after the weekend so the church was brimming. We even had people sitting up in the balcony. We have a great new choir director who is taking the choir to new levels and is filling the seats with new members. Last Sunday we had over 30 people in the choir (okay, so 15 of them were from the Marietta church, but you get the point).

What’s new with the family? We were scheduled to fly to Kenya in February for a pastor’s conference but because of the civil unrest the conference was cancelled. We were able to go to Italy instead. We didn’t realize how much we needed to get away. It was our best trip to Italy ever. We visited Rome, Naples with Vesuvius and Pompeii, stayed in Salerno with the mom of our dear friend Sabina. After church on Sunday we spent the afternoon with the Carlonis, who were family to us while we were in Italy and continue to be so. We had a dinner at Albanella with the Auricchio family, the little mountain village that is now the site of a beautifully remodeled and very active church.

We then went to Assisi and continued on to Florence and Casa Cares, the farmhouse/guesthouse tucked away in the Tuscan hillsides. We took day trips to Pisa, and then up to Bologna where we got to stay with Sabina and Davide and saw little Alessio, our godchild growing up. It was a special, special trip.

Our summer plans are coming together. Our calendar is pretty much as follows: Northeast - June 2-9, 22-30, Southeast - June 10-21, Northwest - July 1-17. Bob will then fly back to Moscow and Stacy and the girls will stay in Washington until school begins in the middle of August.

How about them girls? Rachel’s best friend had to leave because of visa issues, and her family is now back in South Korea. We are so grateful that she has another great friend, and they are spending a lot of time together. It is hard to believe that in just over a year she will be a teenager.

Naomi is almost as tall as Rachel. She continues to read everything around her and just got a book on chess. She plays often with Bob, and he fears the time is near when she will beat him fair and square.

Bethany absolutely loved Italy. She loved the kids and didn’t seem to mind that they couldn’t understand a word of what they were saying to each other. She just charged ahead and played games and was silly. Amazing what doors silliness can open in life.

That is about all for now in Moscow. Please remember to pray for those things which we mentioned in the letter. Also know that our door remains open for any who might want to come visit.

Your servants in Christ,

The Bronkema family

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 158