January 2006 Rehurek Newsletter from Samara, Russia

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, we have arrived in Samara and are slowly getting acclimated to the 12 hour time difference. It is not easy to adjust, especially when Josiah wants to sleep all afternoon and evening and then wakes up in the middle of the night. Also, we are presently experiencing the coldest cold spell that Russia as a whole has seen since 1979! The temperature on our arrival was -36 C and has not warmed up to above -20 C since. So Josiah has only been outside a couple of times to ride in a car to our destinations.

We have had a wonderful reception with the Klassen and Snyder families, the two other Grace Ministries International missionary families living here in Samara. Our apartment is spacious, fully furnished, and is very conveniently located across from several stores with easy access to public transportation. We can’t wait for warmer weather so that we can explore our neighborhood. And, yes, there is a phone line in our apartment! Thankfully there is also a McDonalds just a few blocks away and easily accessible by public transportation. We live in a good part of the city not too far from the Klassens and Snyders. We had a wonderful team get together last Friday evening at the Klassens, enjoying food and fellowship with both families. John and Danese Snyder have two teenage boys and Brad and Heather Klassen have three girls and one boy.

We attended the central church today, Transfiguration Church, where the Samara Preachers’ Institute and Seminary are also located. Jon will teach his first class on Tuesday afternoon. He is teaching Christology, Pneumatology, and Angelology to the seventeen full-time seminary students. The institute and seminary are in need of a full-time theology instructor, so please pray for us as we seek to determine whether or not the Lord is leading us to return here next Fall for long-term ministry. The need is great and we just want to do what would bring the most honor and glory to the Lord as we seek His will for our future ministry. Please pray for us in this endeavor.

We have been told that it is not very secure to receive letters in our apartment mailbox, but we have been informed that it is reliable to receive letters and packages at the church address. We will forward that mailing address to you once we have the full and complete information.

We hope to keep all of you informed as often as we can on what the Lord is doing in our lives and in the lives of those we come in contact with here in Samara. Our feeble language skills are serving us well but we need to learn more Russian in order to better communicate. As you think about and pray for us, please ask the Lord how He might lead you to participate alongside of us in ministry, whether that would be through prayers, encouraging e-mails, financial support, or whatever He lays upon your hearts. We cannot do this without your love, concern, prayers, and support along the way that so many of you have already so faithfully and consistently demonstrated towards us. If the Lord does lead us to return here for long-term ministry, then we will need to build a strong prayer and financial support base and we would love for any and/or all of you to be a part of that blessing.

By His Grace and For His Glory,

Jon, Natalie, and Josiah

Praises:

* Good flights with little or no ‘episodes’ from Josiah

* Safe arrival in Samara

* Safe and convenient apartment

* Wonderful reception by the Snyders and Klassens

Requests:

* Acclimation to the cold climate and time change

* Readjustment to the Russian culture and language

* Preparation for Jon as he teaches the seminary students

* Adjustment for Natalie and Josiah as they spend so much time in the apartment each day

* Ministry opportunities to serve

* Finding and purchasing a few items that we need in the apartment

Personal Contact Information:

Jon and Natalie Rehurek

Mailing address yet to come

Home phone # in Russia: 011-7-846-263-8032

Email: jonrehurek@juno.com and nrehurek@juno.com

New Financial Support Information:

Grace Ministries International

c/o Grace Community Church

13248 Roscoe Blvd.

Sun Valley, CA 91352

Phone # 818-909-5700

* To support us, please write a check made payable to Grace Community Church.

* Please write “The Rehureks-Russia” in the memo line.