Dear Friends,

Zdrastvite! (How are you?)

Extension course students with Archbishop Ratz.

A short autumn weather has crept in, and before long temperatures will be falling rapidly, even before all the tree leaves fall in this part of European Russia. Hannah and I want to convey warm greetings to you all along with our update news before it becomes too cold.

As mentioned earlier, Theological Seminary of ELCROS (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States), where we serve, changed its trimester system to a semester system beginning this academic year. On September 11 — the historic day in U.S.A. — the fall semester began. This year we admitted two new students who joined the existing class. This semester Joe is teaching Wisdom Literature for Old Testament studies and the Synoptic Gospel for the New Testament. There will be a visiting scholar from Germany late November for a short-term intensive teaching on the New Testament Apocalyptic Literature.

Beginning August 23, an extension program took place for two weeks. This time 31 students participated in this intensive study. It was the last session of six courses for most of the students. Eight new students, however, joined the program, and we have many applications for the next program in January 2007. Joe taught the topic, “Biblical Perspective of Sin, Confession, Forgiveness and the Eucharist.” Students in this extension program are mature and highly motivated. Some of them are on pension, and many of them have their own professional jobs while serving in local congregations. The evaluation given by the students on the program was very positive and somehow overwhelming.

In early October, the Rev. Godeke von Bremen, rector of the seminary, will return to St. Petersburg from Germany as he has been fully recovered from the minor stroke he suffered near the end of this last trimester. All of us at the seminary look forward to seeing and working with him again. Our work will in fact be much easier with his return. There used to be five theological lecturers and two language teachers until the end of last trimester. One German lecturer (who has been teaching New Testament subjects) had to leave for good as his four-year term ended. Then Godeke’s sudden illness brought a sort of crisis both in administration and academic life of the Seminary. During his absence three of us have been taking care of daily operation of the Seminary.

Our new apartment on campus makes our life much easier than before. Joe doesn’t have to drive back and forth. We have more contact with students and staff. Hannah has been very busy improving the interior of the apartment. Since the Seminary is located just at the southeastern outskirt of the city of St. Petersburg (2 km away from the border of the city) along the bank of Neva River, the air is much fresher. As the main road is about 200M away, we are out of noise pollution range. As a matter of fact, you must pass a graveyard to come to our seminary from the main road.

There is a Korean Missionaries’ Association in the city. We joined the Association since we moved to St. Petersburg in 2002. On the first Monday of October this Seminary is going to host its monthly meeting. The Korean missionaries will join our community lunch after their opening worship service. The Rev. Bradn Buerkl, a mission co-worker from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) teaching church history, is going to make a presentation on the history of Lutheran Church in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union in the afternoon.

Family news

Our son John is doing quite well since he established his own law firm (Harrington & Kang LLP) in Newport Beach in southern California with three other partners. His wife Agnes is busy with homemaking and taking care of Rachel (age 5) and Brandon (age 3). Rachel is taking piano lessons and ballet lessons along with attending kindergarten. Brandon goes to a preschool. He is such an adorably easy boy.

Our daughter Ruth is also doing well in operating Gigi’s Dance Closet in Pasadena. She and her husband Mike are currently home schooling their three children, Peter (age 8), Sara (age 6), and Samantha (age 4) while working. So they are incredibly busy, and we admire their energy and passion for the education of their children. Mike has served on the session of the Altadena First Presbyterian Church for a term and now he is deeply involved in the Darfur issue.

Please allow us to extend our sincere gratitude for your continuous prayers and support for our ministry. Your care and love are always remembered by us and in our prayers.

As Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner, we would also like to bring the seasonal greetings to you. May the Lord keep you, your family and ministry much blessed!

Dosvidanya! (Good Bye!)

Joe and Hannah
Novosaratovka, Russia

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 188