Benefit Concert for Nina: May 10

Greetings!

This is a short update to inform you about the following:

• To date just over 5000 CAD has been received to help cover Nina's medical and related expenses—Praise the Lord! This means that only $9300 more is needed!
  
• Benefit Concert for Nina: Saturday, May 10 from 7-9 p.m. at the Portage Evangelical Church, 72 - 3rd St. NE in Portage la Prairie (click here for driving directions from Winnipeg). Friends have organized a concert featuring Alfred MacLaren, winner of the Country Gospel Music Association's Male New Artist of the Year award for 2008, with a special performance by the Allard Family. Children's entertainment for ages 10 and under will be provided by Eugene, Comedy Illusionist. A free-will offering will be taken with all proceeds going to help with Nina's medical expenses.
  

We are very grateful to all who have contributed over the past weeks. Nina is overwhelmed by your generosity and love shown to her. We would love to see you this coming Saturday if you are able to attend, but of course we understand that many of you may not be able to do so. Regardless, we thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to keep Nina in mind as she visits the hospital on Wednesday for x-rays (she still has some major discomfort in her left lung).

Grace & peace,

Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

HAMM’S HEADINGS – APRIL 2008

[click here for a four-page, full-colour print version in PDF]

Note: Those of you who receive Hamm Prayer Points will find that much of the following information is an updated summary of what you have received recently. However, we ask you especially read the "Question & Answers" section.

Nina's Visit To Canada
Canadian Hospitals!

Greetings and Happy (Orthodox) Easter! For those of you who don't receive Hamm Prayer Points, we have some significant news to share...

The really brief version:

Just over four months into her Canadian visit, Lena's mother Nina was taken to emergency at our local hospital on March 16. She had been experiencing chest pains and fatigue. Thirty-six hours later she was taken by ambulance to St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg for further tests. On March 19 surgeons performed an emergency triple-bypass on Nina. One week later she was discharged and has since been resting in our home in Portage.

The long version:

Sunday, March 16: After two days of increasing pain and discomfort, Nina asked us to take her to the emergency ward at Portage District General Hospital here in Portage la Prairie. After numerous tests and time spent under observation, an angiogram was scheduled for Nina in Winnipeg.

Tuesday, March 18: After waking up feeling quite ill, Lena received a call from the hospital that Nina was set to depart for Winnipeg by ambulance at 9 a.m. Lena quickly prepared for the trip and accompanied Nina to St. Boniface General Hospital. After waiting until the afternoon for the angiogram, the test was administered and revealed that Nina's heart was in desperate shape.

Wednesday, March 19: By noon, doctors at St. Boniface had met and decided that an emergency bypass operation was the only recourse for Nina. Her heart could not survive any further delay. Surgery was scheduled for the evening. I joined Lena in Winnipeg after taking Maya & Deena to my parent's home. We arrived at the hospital at 10 p.m., but the surgery went later than expected. Shortly after eleven one of the nurses met with us to assure us that the triple-bypass operation was going well. Just before midnight the surgeon arrived and gave us the complete details. The surgery was a success and Lena saw her mom just after one a.m. We returned to my uncle & aunt's home by 1:30 for some much-needed rest.

Thursday, March 20: Lena had to return to the hospital before 9 a.m. so that the nurses could communicate with Nina. We spent much of the day at the hospital, but in the evening we were thrilled to discover that a Russian-speaking nurse would be taking care of Nina for the next 12 hours. Lena & I enjoyed our first restful night in a long while!

Good Friday: Lena seemed to be getting sicker instead of better, so after checking in with Nina, Lena spent the rest of the morning waiting in the emergency room, trying to see a doctor. By lunch time Lena had been given some medical attention and was headed for an afternoon rest (once again a Russian-speaking nurse was caring for Nina). After the rest, my Dad & Mom brought Maya & Deena to visit. Lena hadn't seen the girls in three days, so it was a happy reunion.

Easter Sunday: Lena & I were able to attend the early service at Fort Garry M.B. Church before being summoned to the hospital so that Lena could interpret for the physiotherapist. Lena had to spend the afternoon & evening with Nina, but was able to come downstairs for a short while when our girls (this time including Sonia) came for a visit and supper.

Tuesday, March 23: Shortly after 9 a.m. Lena & I met with the hospital administration to find out what Nina's bill would be. As an out-of-country patient, Nina was expected to pay a substantial fee for her week at St. Boniface, plus whatever the doctor & anaesthesiologist would charge. After asking if there was any way for the amount to be reduced, we were asked to detail our & Nina's situation. After we explained, the gentleman in charge looked thoughtful and said that it may be possible to reduce the amount by 40-odd percent, providing we could put the details of our situation into a letter for the hospital. We happily assured him that we would, and thanked God for apparently providing a way to reduce the huge bill. As we waited for Nina's surgeon to meet with us before the release, we wondered what the rest of the bills might be like. After the doctor had given his okay for Nina to go home and had answered all of her questions, Lena asked him if he would be willing to see Nina once more before she left for Russia. The surgeon asked Lena to follow him to the consultation room, closed the door and told her, "I understand that your mother has no medical insurance and that you will have to pay for all of her expenses." Lena nodded. He continued, "I talked with [the anaesthesiologist], and we decided that we would not charge you anything." Lena was speechless! Finally she thanked him and told him that this was an answer to the prayers of many friends and family. It truly is! Shortly after that Nina was on her way to Portage la Prairie. We have so much to thank God for!

Tuesday, April 15: During her time of rest & recovery at our home in Portage la Prairie, Nina began to experience increasing pain in her lungs, resulting in coughing fits and shortness of breath. A low-grade fever was also troubling her. On this day Nina was blessed by the visit of her Russian nurse from St. Boniface. Svetlana (who hails from St. Petersburg) called Nina several times over the past weeks. Today Svetlana drove from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie to give Nina an unofficial "check-up". After listening to Nina's lungs, Svetlana urged us to take Nina for an x-ray as soon as possible.

Wednesday, April 16: This morning we consulted with a number of knowledgeable people and decided that it would be wisest to take Nina directly to Emergency at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg. So here we are at St. Boniface again, four weeks to the day since Nina had her operation! After spending nine and a half hours in the Emergency room, Lena & Nina finally left with some good and not-so-good news. It turned out that Nina's nurse was correct—fluid was building up in her left lung, causing it to collapse. The doctor on duty prescribed medicine that should alleviate Nina's condition within two weeks (it's a pity that the doctor in Portage who examined her last week didn't notice it then). Thankfully, Nina's blood work & AKG revealed that she is otherwise fine.

Your Questions, Our Answers:

Q. Would Nina have been better off getting this surgery done in Russia?
A. Russian hospitals would not have performed a heart bypass on Nina. Because she is a pensioner, she would have been hospitalized and kept comfortable, and that's all. Without 100% of the money for the surgery, it is likely that Nina would have perished in St. Petersburg.

Q. Didn't Nina have insurance?
A. There was no insurance available to Nina that would have covered these expenses. As Nina had a pre-existing heart condition (she had been hospitalized several time before in Russia), having an insurance company cover Nina's heart bypass expense would have been highly unlikely.

Q. What are Nina's total medical costs?
A. While we are still waiting for some of the bills to come, the rough total for Nina's medical expenses is just under 12,000 CAD. In addition to that, there have been just over 2400 CAD spent on airline tickets (changing Nina's ticket & obtaining an accompanying ticket for Lena), visa change application, lost income and other miscellaneous expenses. This is a far cry from what the totals could have been! Thanks to the kindness of Drs. Warrian & Peters, and the mercy shown by St. Boniface General Hospital, the money owed by Nina is far less than it originally seemed. We praise God for His blessings! Of course, $14,000 is still a lot of money for anyone, especially for a foreigner whose pension is barely $125/month.

Q. Since Kevin is now a Vice-Principal and no longer a missionary, can't you afford most of the expense?
A. Believe it or not, we were better off financially as missionaries! While I love my job at Lighthouse Christian School, it is a small school that receives no government funding. They cannot afford to pay me more than what a teacher's aide earns in a public school. No complaint, just simple fact. Please understand that Lena & I are not asking for your financial support. We both are paid by the ministries for which we work. However, Nina cannot survive without outside financial help, and we are limited in the assistance that we can provide.

Q. What about Nina's plane ticket & visa? When will she return to Russia?
A. Nina arrived in Canada on November 5, 2007. She is permitted to remain until May 5, 2008. Because Nina's surgeon instructed her not to travel so soon, we have requested a one-month extension to her visa. We have now changed Nina's return ticket to June 2^nd (she can't travel much later than that, as "high season" starts before mid-June). We still await a decision from Citizenship & Immigration as to Nina's status.

Blessings

• My Dad & Mom—they took care of Maya & Deena during our time in Winnipeg and also brought the girls to visit us on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
  
• My Uncle Hank & Aunt Lynn—they provided a home for Lena & I during the time Nina was in St. Boniface.
  
• Pastor Ramsy—he visited several times with us at the hospital and prayed with Nina.
  
• The nurses & staff at St. Boniface who cared for Nina.
  
• The doctors, nurses & staff at the Portage hospital who cared for Nina.
  
• The surgeon & anaesthesiologist who donated 100% of their effort to giving Nina new life.
  
• The willingness of the administration at St. Boniface to reduce the amount owing for Nina's care.
  
• All who prayed, visited, sent cards and helped in tangible ways!
  

Petitions

• That Nina's body will continue to heal as it should.
  
• That Nina will be granted an extension for her Canadian visa.
  
• That God will continue to provide for Nina's financial & material needs.
  

How You Can Help

Many of you have asked how you can help, and many have helped already! Several families provided meals during our first week back home, many visited & brought cards & flowers, and a number of people have given money to help cover expenses. Nina's most immediate need is money to cover the medical bills. As of this writing, another $11,400 is required. Some have asked about receiving a donation receipt for monetary gifts, but that is impossible for us to provide since we are private citizens. We are deeply grateful to all who offered or provided assistance to date. Please continue to pray for God's provision to meet this financial need, whether through the giving of God's people or through other means. As well, we covet your prayers for Nina's continued health improvement in both body & spirit!

In Other News...

Sonia completed her first year in the Fine Arts program at Brandon University. Her professors were very pleased with her work, and she is looking forward to returning to study in September. Sonia has moved home with us, and hopes to find a job in Portage la Prairie so that she can earn money for the next school year.

Lena completed her translation of The Lion Graphic Bible for Canadian LifeLight Ministries. She now has new translation work, this time for the Far East Broadcasting Corporation. Lena is translating radio scripts for broadcast in Russia. Lena quit her job at Reflections Café in Portage la Prairie in order that she may be able to devote more time to translation work.

Thank you for standing with us,
Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

Just in case you do not have our current contact information:

Mail:        123 2^nd Street NE, Portage la Prairie MB, R1N 1R9
Kevin's cell:    1.204.872.3802
Lena's cell:    1.204.872.0325

Hamm's Headings - July 2007

Oh, Canada!

It's been a while since the last 'Headings! Here's a summary for those who've missed news of the past six months:

• Our family underwent a colossal struggle to prepare to leave our home of seven years. We had to part with most of our material possessions (we had to get everything down to ten suitcases) and say goodbye to Nina, our ministry co-workers and our friends. Less than a month before our flight, Maya came down with chicken pox. Deena was next, followed by Sonia (on her 18th birthday, no less!). Thankfully we were all better when the time came to travel.
• Sonia's first priority upon arrival was registration at Brandon University. She was accepted into the faculty of Fine Arts (four-year program), and was also provided with a home with friends in time for September classes. Sonia then got to work: she taught three jewellery classes at Michael's in Brandon, and was offered a full-time job at Portage MCC Thrift Store. She is enjoying her work, and is trying to save lots of kopecks pennies for university.
• Maya arrived in time to participate in and graduate from the "ABC" program at Lighthouse Christian School in Southport (south of Portage la Prairie). She thoroughly enjoyed her two months of classes there, and is looking forward to being in school full-time in September when her Auntie Kim will be the Junior Learning Centre Supervisor! Another major happening in Maya's life was receiving eyeglasses for the first time. She will need to wear them in an attempt to correct an astigmatism in her right eye.
• Deena is adjusting well to life in Canada (especially the first-time experience of running outside barefoot!), but has also been the recipient of something new: a puffer. Because Deena has some problems breathing normally, the doctor put her on a trial puffer to see if it will help (he suspects allergies are the cause of her woes).
• Lena continues to work at the Graphic Bible translation project. Unfortunately, she hasn't had a lot of quiet time to work on it (it's hard to find a quiet place in a mobile home!). Otherwise Lena has been busy caring for the girls, volunteering at Portage MCC, cutting hair and continuing with the acclimatization process!
• Kevin has a new job! Starting September 1st I will be the Vice-Principal/Senior Learning Centre Supervisor at Lighthouse Christian School. This is an administrative position, not a teaching one, but it will afford me the opportunity to continue to train young Christian leaders. I am looking forward to this new ministry opportunity!
• Our new home is almost ready! Through an incredible series of blessings we were able to purchase a house in Portage la Prairie. While not new (it was built in 1906), it will be a wonderful home for our family, with a complete suite ready for Nina's anticipated visit. We take possession on August 12th, and would be very grateful for help in moving! Meanwhile, our apartment should be officially sold by the time you receive this, Praise the Lord!

What else have we been doing for the past three months, you ask? Besides the very needed time of adjustment and rest, we have been busy visiting government offices, filling out forms and getting doctor, dentist and optometrist visits out of the way. Our family puts in a lot of hours volunteering at Portage MCC, and we have also spent time meeting with supporters and preparing for what comes next. Starting this autumn we will be reporting to our supporting churches. More details to come.

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Summer/Fall Ministry & Family Events

July

2 – Kevin teaching at Valley View Bible Camp
4 – Kevin, Lena, Maya & Deena head west
5-7 – Hanging out in Hinton AB
8 – Arrive and get settled in Abbotsford
9-12 – Meetings with MBMSI in Abbotsford
13-17 – Visiting in the Abbotsford area
17 – Departure for Edmonton
18-21 – Visiting in the Edmonton area
22 – Kevin, Lena, Maya & Deena return home to Portage la Prairie
29 – Kevin speaking at the Bible Baptist Church in Portage la Prairie, broadcast live from 7-8 p.m. on CFRY (AM 920 / FM 93.1)

August

9 – Kevin's birthday
12 – We take possession of our new home!

September

15 – Sharing at Froese family gathering
27 – Maya's 7th birthday
29 - Oct 5 – Camp Directors Institute (Moscow)
30 – Presentation in Lakeview Community Church (Killarney MB)

TBA

Church presentations in Newton, Selkirk & Winnipeg. See www.krhamm.com/calendar for up-to-date info.

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Transitioning...

It is hard to describe what it is like for a family to make the move from the only home they've known to a such a completely different country as Canada is from Russia. Certainly the fact that we have only existed as a family in Russia means that this move will be less than straightforward. While friends and family around us are cruising along at top speed, we keep sputtering to a stop trying to figure out how to shop for groceries, pay bills, get medical care, schedule time and more. It is so hard to explain how this change is affecting our family, but it certainly does!

We appreciate it so very much when friends ask us if we need help, supplies or furnishings. We often don't know what exactly we need, but certainly do have needs! A huge thank you to all who have checked in on us to see how we're doing. It is easy for us to feel lost here! Time spent in fellowship with family & friends has been especially meaningful. Thank you for every effort you've made to help us make the transition. Following are a few more details about the changes in our lives:

• Our temporary home has been a mobile home located just south of Portage, within easy walking distance of my parents' home. Since last autumn, when it first looked like we may be coming soon, my parents have been storing our ever-increasing stockpile of food, furnishings and clothing. Since we wouldn't be able to bring much, Mom & Dad and many relatives & friends began collecting essentials for us months in advance of our coming. Once it was clear when we were coming my parents turned the "warehouse" into a home. When we arrived in the wee hours of the morning after a long day of flying it was such a blessing to be able to walk into a ready-made home! Thank you to all who helped and gave!!!
• The Portage MCC Thrift Store has been an amazing source of supplies for us for many years. The staff & volunteers there have blessed us with assistance and donated goods, and we have been able to find much of the clothing we've needed for our family. We happily joined the ranks of volunteers when we arrived, and we love to help out in whatever way we are able. Of course, being volunteers means being able to get first dibs on new "treasures"! :-)
• Work on the Lion Graphic Bible has given Lena the opportunity to keep her translation skills honed. The project is a casual translation of the Bible in "comic book" format for youth. Lena hopes to continue with translation work once this project is completed. Please contact us if you learn of any work opportunities for her!
• Lighthouse Christian School is the successor to the Christian school I attended near Portage. The school is located in Southport, a short drive from Portage. The opportunity to work there is a tremendous blessing. After facing months of uncertain answers to "what's next?" it's great to know that I will have a place in the ministry of Christian education. Since the school uses the A.C.E. program, I do not have to be an accredited teacher, as the curriculum itself is the teacher. As Vice-Principal I will take leadership in the Principal's absence and conduct chapels and Bible studies. And as the Senior Learning Centre Supervisor I will supervise the older students and assist them as needed in their planning and assignments. To top it off, across the room from me will be my sister Kim Otsuji, working as the new Junior Learning Centre Supervisor!

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Blessings

• Lena & Sonia's meeting with Canadian Immigration officials went extremely well. We were somewhat disappointed that the process wasn't more painful—we put a lot of effort into preparing for the interviews!
• Our home church, Community Fellowship in Newton, hosted a food shower for us upon our arrival, providing us with needed food and household supplies. What a great blessing!
• Lena was offered a part-time job at Reflections Cafe in Portage, part of Heritage Book & Gift Shoppe. She is excited to have the opportunity to be out and serve and meet new people.
• Selling our apartment in St. Petersburg took a bit longer than we thought it would, but in the end it was well worth it! There are still a few minor details to be worked out, but Lord willing, by the middle of August the funds from the sale should make their way here. What an answer to prayer!
• We had a wonderful trip to Alberta & BC by train (we set foot on Sask. soil for about 10 minutes). Okay, so the train wasn't a complete blessing, but at least the girls had room to run around and play and I didn't have to drive! We had some great visits with friends and relatives along the way, and a wonderful visit with MBMSI staff. A huge thank you to the MBMSI staff, especially Paul Dyck & Teresa Born, for making our debrief such a joy!
• We are so very thankful for all the help my Mom & Dad have been to us over the years, especially as they prepared for our arrival. Over the past fifteen years they have been my/our "home office", keeping in close contact with our supporters and making sure all the t's got crossed and i's got dotted. Praise God for their faithfulness!!!

Petitions

• Please pray for the staff of the CCI/Russia office in St. Petersburg as they carry on the ministry of leading the Christian camping ministry in the former Soviet Union.
• Pray that the papers and money transfer from the apartment sale will be completed without problem.
• It is our prayer that Lena will be able to travel to St. Petersburg in autumn to help Nina obtain a Canadian tourist visa. We would love to be able to bring Nina to stay with us over Christmas! Please pray that we will be able to afford the travel & visa costs.

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CCI/Russia Ministry Update

Staff Training Workshops... CCIR's annual training workshops were held in four former Soviet states this past spring. Seven STWs were held in Belarus, Latvia, Russia and Uzbekistan. Praise God for hundreds of newly-trained leaders!

Keep informed about the Christian camping ministry in Russia and the former Soviet Union by visiting www.ccirussia.org/en.

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3 Ways You Can Continue to Make a Difference

As we wrap up our formal ministry with MBMSI & CCI/Russia we would like to offer you ways to continue your life-impacting support:

You can help MBMSI... Though we will no longer be formally serving with MBMSI, we hope to assist in various ways, as we are able. Meanwhile, MBMSI continues in the ministry of holistic church planting that transforms communities among the least reached. There are many ways you can be involved: pray, go or give! For more information please visit www.mbmsi.org.

You can help CCI/Russia... As time permits, Lena & I will volunteer our services to assist the work of Christian camping in the former Soviet Union. If God provides the needed finances, we would love to be able to return to Russia to assist with future leadership training. In the meantime, CCI/Russia would benefit greatly from your prayers. There are also needs for materials and finances. For more information visit www.ccirussia.org/en or contact us directly. We would be happy to show you ways to impact the lives of children & youth in Russia & beyond.

You can help us... As we prepare to settle in Canada, we will continue to face challenges in our transition. Lena & Sonia especially will need your prayers as new immigrants adjusting to life in Canada. Please don't forget us! :-) We dearly appreciate your prayers! Since we are setting up a home in Canada for the first time, there are many things we need. Perhaps you can assist us in meeting our material needs. As mentioned above, Lena & I are interested in future service with MBMSI & CCI/Russia. If you would like to see us continue in this ministry, please let us know. If enabled, we would love to continue to serve in this and other ways. For more ways to help us, please visit www.krhamm.com/support.

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Is This The End???

Hamm's Headings will continue to be published for the foreseeable future. We would like to update you on our autumn presentation schedule before summer is out. And we would of course like to keep you informed about our family & ministry happenings in the future! If you wish to remain on our mailing list, please do! If not, no problem.

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flickr= Photos

View thousands of photos of our family, ministry and travel at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm and at www.flickr.com/photos/sonique

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More Questions (& Answers)

Here are some more frequently asked questions (with answers) we're facing as we prepare to wrap up our service with MBMSI and CCI/Russia:

Are you in Canada "for good"?

In order for Lena & Sonia to become fully (or at least more permanently) Canadian, they need to reside in Canada for at least two out of the next five years. With Sonia entering a four-year university course and with our little ones starting school (Maya already & Deena soon enough), it's not likely that we'll want to move anywhere else soon. We would love to return to Russia someday (and Lord-willing will), but for the foreseeable future we plan to make Canada our home.

Does this mean you're leaving the ministry?

Yes and no. Our term with MBMSI will end on August 31, 2007 by mutual agreement. As for CCI/Russia, I hope to be able to continue helping CCI with website work, technical editing and by providing consultation; all on personal time. We also hope to be able to return to Russia to do training in the future, if the Lord allows and the finances are in place.

Are you still in need of financial support?

Yes! The past year has been a very lean one for us financially. In August 2006 we took a 25% pay cut in order to pay off our deficit with MBMSI, but we currently receive only 75% of our needed monthly donations. As we come to the close of our service with MBMSI, the need to pay our bills (such as our flight to Canada) remains. We would be very grateful if your financial support would continue until the end of August. (Please remember to quote our project code on all donations sent to MBMSI: C0327)

Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement & support. We look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months!
– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

Our new contact info:

Mailing address (as of August 12):

Kevin & Lena Hamm
123 2nd Street NE
Portage la Prairie MB R1N 1R9 (not 1N9)

Telephone:

Kevin's cell: (204) 872-3802
Lena's cell: (204) 872-0325

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Hamm's Headings...

• A newsletter from Kevin & Lena Hamm, missionaries with MBMS International, serving with CCI/Russia (St. Petersburg).
• Hamm’s Headings is written by Kevin Hamm except where noted. The material contained herein is personal, and is not necessarily reflective of MBMSI or CCI/Russia.
• The print version of this newsletter was created using Scribus, a free desktop publishing program available at www.scribus.net.
• We welcome your comments and questions.

Web sites:

• This newsletter is online at www.krhamm.com/current.
• View current and past issues at http://hammsheadings.blogspot.com.
• Subscription preferences can be changed and online issues viewed at http://hh.injesus.com.
• Vital links: the CCI/Russia site at www.ccirussia.org/en and the MBMSI site at www.mbmission.org

Hamm's Headings - February 2007

Canada, Here We Come!

An early Valentine's gift arrived on the 13th: "the" letter came from the Canadian Embassy in Moscow! In it, we were told that Lena & Sonia's immigration visas were ready for pickup. Praise the Lord! After over a year of forms, mailings, paying, waiting & praying we finally have the permission to travel as a complete family to Canada. We have sent the passports to Moscow and should receive them back early this week. Now that we're almost ready to travel, we have to prepare to close up shop, as it were.

In short, here's what we have to do:

• Sell our apartment (it is now on the market)
• Pack all we can into ten suitcases and five carry-ons
• Try to store the essentials that do not fit in Nina's one-room apartment
• Sell and give away all of our appliances & furniture, along with most of our books, toys & household items
• Book one-way tickets to Canada
• Say good-bye to Nina and our friends & co-workers

It is quite the task before us. Since we really cannot begin to pack/sell/buy plane tickets until we know when/if our home will be sold, we have to remain "on the tarmac", so to speak. We don't anticipate much difficulty selling our home, but of course we cannot be certain of the timing involved. Typically once a price has been agreed upon, the time to complete the sale and move out is about four weeks. That should give us enough time to hold a yard sale (sans yard, naturally!) and get packed.

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In Brief...

• The visas have been granted and are on their way to St. Petersburg
• Our home is now on the market; we need to sell it before we travel to Canada
• We hope to arrive in Manitoba by late March or early April
• We may or may not have a temporary home waiting for us upon our arrival
• Once we arrive and settle in we will spend the next six months doing MINA: Ministry in North America, as part of our service with MBMSI
• Beyond that... only God knows for certain!

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What Happens Next (and how you can help)!

Now that we are definitely coming to Canada we have to get organized. Once we have a buyer for our home we can confirm our flights and prepare to leave. The arrival of the visa news was most timely: because of the additional delay I was able to fully participate in our annual winter conference (see below).

Please pray

...that our apartment will sell for a fair price
...that we will wisely & efficiently use the time remaining

We still need

...a temporary home in the Portage la Prairie area to settle in
...some things for our Canadian home (please contact my parents, Jake & Elsie Hamm, at 204-857-3802 or jakehamm@mts.net for specifics)
...more monthly support (our deficit has been erased, but we're still under budget)

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Ministry Highlights

September 16-22... CCIR's first-ever Camp Director's Institute completed its' final semester with 13 directors graduating. Praise God for these highly-trained leaders!

February 4-9... CCI/Russia's annual Christian Camping Leaders Conference was held north of St. Petersburg. 315 participants & instructors representing 95 camps came from more than 10 countries to receive new training and encouragement.

Photos: www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/72157594533822895

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Blessings Received!

• A retired couple in Manitoba gave us the money they normally spent giving Christmas presents to each other!
• Many people gave us personal financial gifts during our time in Canada to help us with expenses and clear our deficit with MBMSI.
• Lakeview Church sent a Christmas care package and money for our girls' presents.
• The mobile home where we have been storing our personal belongings was broken into the day after Christmas, but thankfully nothing of note was taken and only minimal mischief was caused. We are thankful for God's provision & protection!

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Since we last wrote...

• Maya celebrated her 6th birthday and Deena celebrated her 3rd birthday
• Lena continues to cut and style hair in her spare time
• Sonia is three weeks away from completing her jewellery-making/design course
• We hosted Lena's maid of honour and her daughter for three days this past month. We hadn't seen Natasha since our wedding almost eight years ago!!!

For a weekly dose of Russia trivia, news, praise reports & prayer requests, subscribe to Hamm Prayer Points: hpp-subscribe@myinjesus.com

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A Tale of Two Christmases

Dec. 12 - Jan. 8... Maya & I travelled to Canada to visit family and prepare for our impending move. Also during our time there we gave a report at our home church: Community Fellowship in Newton. (View photos from our time in Canada here: www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/72157594428159193)

Meanwhile, back in Russia...Lena processed the newly-requested documents for the immigration process and had minor surgery (thankfully all went well). After that the remaining ladies (Lena, Sonia, Deena & Nina) had a nice, quiet Christmas celebration together. New Year's wasn't quite so quiet, however! As Lena wrote at the time,

"This year started on an odd note: our telephone died, the closet door with the mirror tore off, the kitchen garbage bin fell apart, our cutlery drawer was pulled out by Deena (she must have swung it out) and lost its handle (I pinched my finger while screwing it back on), and then our paper cutter lost its blade! I wondered what would be next (get ready for more)! At 8 p.m. the doorbell rang. We didn't expect anyone, but I though to myself "The Korobovs?" [good friends of ours]. Sure enough it was Igor and [six-year-old] Kristina. Igor had a bloody bandage on his nose and wrapped-up fingers. He said that they got into trouble, Ira [his wife] was on her way to a hospital and he needed us to take care of Kristina until Polina [their 17-year-old] came. He didn't say much, but it sounded like they had been attacked beside their car by some drunks. They were in their car when a guy jumped onto it, forcing Igor and Ira to come out of the car, and then they attacked them (I don't know exactly how many there were). Kristina saw it all from inside the car - what stress! Ira was taken to the hospital while Igor dropped Kristina off and then went there too. Polina joined us about 40 min. later. She wanted to go home by bus, but I called a cab (I paid for it) and had her call us from home. She called us shortly after, said that both Ira and Igor will stay in the hospital for at least two days - they both have their noses broken, Ira also has a brain concussion."

Thankfully they both recovered from their injuries. Unfortunately they were unable to get any assistance from the local police—the attackers obviously bribed the cops as Igor & Ira themselves were harassed for trying to report the incident. All in all a very disturbing but unfortunately common Russian experience. Please pray for the Korobov family, especially for their salvation.

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Upcoming Ministry & Family Events

March

6-9 – CCI/Russia Strategic Planning (Moscow)

12-16 – Camp Director's Institute Instructors Training Course (Moscow)

18 – Campers' New Testament Planning Session (Moscow)

April

5 – Sonia's 18th birthday

17 – Our 8th wedding anniversary

29 - May 4 – Staff Training Workshop (Norkalni, Latvia)

May

4-9 – Staff Training Workshop (Minsk, Belarus)

5-10 – Staff Training Workshop (Blagoveschensk)

6-11 – Staff Training Workshop (Novosibirsk, Russia)

11 – Lena's birthday

13-18 – Staff Training Workshop (Moscow)

14-19 – Staff Training Workshop (Irkutsk)

15 – Nina's birthday

20-25 – Staff Training Workshop (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)

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flickr= Photos

View thousands of photos of our family, ministry and travel at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm and at www.flickr.com/photos/sonique

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Just the "FAQ"

Here are some of the more common questions we're facing (along with a few answers!) as we prepare to leave our place of ministry for the past eight years:

Why are you coming to Canada now?

Several reasons: If we waited until Sonia turned eighteen (the momentous event is only seven weeks away!) the immigration process would have become much more expensive and difficult. As well, both Sonia & Maya are ready to start new schools, so the timing is especially good for them. As for our ministry work, the CCI/Russia office is now in good hands in regards to my replacement.

Does this mean your work with MBMSI & CCIR is over?

Not at all! As far as MBMSI is concerned, we are (way) overdue for MINA, a time of reporting, debriefing and rest. In all likelihood we will continue with MBMSI through 2007. As for CCI/Russia, I hope to be able to continue helping CCI with website work, technical editing and by providing consultation. We also hope to be able to return to Russia to do training in the future.

What will you be doing in Canada?

In addition to what is described above, we will be trying to get settled into our new life (remember that none of my girls have lived in Canada before, and it has been 8 years since I lived there). We will need some time to acclimatize before making significant decisions pertaining to our future ministry & home.

Do you still need more financial support?

Most certainly. We are thankful that we no longer have a deficit with MBMSI, but we currently receive only 75% of our needed monthly donations. As we continue with MBMSI for the foreseeable future, our support needs will remain. We will let you know well in advance when the time comes that we will no longer require financial support.

Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement & support. We look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months!

– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

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Hamm's Headings...

• A newsletter from Kevin & Lena Hamm, missionaries with MBMS International, serving with CCI/Russia in St. Petersburg.
• Hamm’s Headings is written by Kevin Hamm except where noted. The material contained herein is personal, and is not necessarily reflective of MBMSI or CCI/Russia.
• The print version of this newsletter was created using Scribus, a free desktop publishing program available at www.scribus.net.
• We welcome your comments and questions.

Web sites:

• This newsletter is online at www.krhamm.com/current.
• View current and past issues at http://hammsheadings.blogspot.com.
• Subscription preferences can be changed and online issues viewed at http://hh.injesus.com.
• Vital links: the CCI/Russia site at www.ccirussia.org/en and the MBMSI site at www.mbmission.org

Hamm's Headings - July-August 2006

"We don't want to go home!"

Lena & I heard those words several times from our girls this past summer. The past two months saw a lot of travel—first a family trip to Finland (July 4-14) and then four of us spent four days at our church youth camp north of St. Petersburg (August 21-24). After camp I returned to Helsinki alone for a three-day seminar (25-27th).

This summer was likely our last in Russia for some time. A move to Canada is a few short months away, so we are very thankful for all the ministry opportunities we've had as a family over the past 7 years. We may not be certain if we'll be back or not, but we are certain of this: "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." (1 Th. 5:24).

As we wrote last time, we are in need of more financial support. With a shrinking support base, we have had to take a 25% cut in salary and have had to cancel several ministry plans due to lack of funds. Please pray for increased support! If you are able to help in any way, please contact us. Thanks to all who support us with prayers, encouragement and material assistance! You are very appreciated!!!

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Do you believe?

"Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you? Does Mommy believe it too? Does Sonia? Does Babushka? Good, 'cause I want everyone I know to be with God!"

These were some of the questions Maya asked one evening as we were about to say our prayers. It seems that watching The Story of Jesus for Children had a profound effect on our soon-to-be six-year-old. Her pointed questions of my beliefs revealed a deep understanding of God's mercy and grace.

Praise God for His unspeakable gift and for a child's faith! May many more children across this land also be able to say, "I believe!"

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Coming to Canada

We pray that in the next few weeks we will receive word from the Canadian Embassy in Moscow about Lena & Sonia's immigration visas. Our departure date will not be determined until then. Meanwhile, we're happy to report that it looks like we have a home until the New Year, but we still need a vehicle. (For more information on our Canadian needs, please visit www.krhamm.com/support#canada).

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Summer Ministry Highlights

Living Grace Youth Camp. Wow! God is so very good! We are still buzzing after a great church youth camp held August 21-24. For days afterwards Deena talked about going back to camp, and she didn't understand half of the great things that took place!

This year four of us were able to attend camp; only Sonia was unable to because of school and work committments. Lena & I took turns being with Maya & Deena, so while I was with the girls Lena was able to cut and style hair for seven of the girls plus Pastor Andre (who got to be first in line). During my "family time off" I led all the games and activities, hosted the general sessions and even had the opportunity to preach one morning.

We were blessed with thirty youth in attendance, most of whom came from our church. We had invited five youth from a local orphanage, but at the last minute they were unable to attend. Still, we had a great group and the three pastors & I were thrilled to see the depth of questions the youth had about going through the transitions in their lives. Many of the youth come from broken families, and have faced many difficult transitions in their young lives.

We are very thankful for Living Grace, our local church fellowship, and for the opportunity we've been given to assist with the annual youth camp.

Enjoy viewing camp photos at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/72157594268686279.

Sport Seminar. Immediately after camp ended Thursday morning we headed home and I quickly re-packed and caught a train bound for Finland. I had been invited to teach a sport ministry seminar for a local Bible School, and CCI/Russia agreed to send me on their behalf.

The seminar began Friday afternoon with over twenty Bible school students, youth leaders, camp leaders, missionaries and laypeople in attendance. They all had come to learn how to use recreational sport to further their respective ministries.

I taught over one hundred games during the three-day seminar, and showed participants how to prepare, teach and evaluate a recreational program with a ministry focus. The response was very encouraging and everyone went home with a wealth of resource material and the determination to use their newly-honed skills to the glory of God!

You can see pictures from many of our seminar activities at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/72157594259246272.

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In other news...

July 4-11... we travelled as a complete family to Helsinki, Finland for a short vacation. This was especially great for Nina to be able to spend time with family after a long period in the hospital. Nina had never travelled outside of Russia, so this trip was very special. We enjoyed family activities and a good amount of R&R. Highlights included visits to Sea-Life and Moominworld!

August 9... I celebrated birthday number 40! have now celebrated thirteen of my last fourteen birthdays in Russia. Who (besides God) could have imagined that I would spend (so far) over 1/3 of my life in Russia!

As well... Sonia continues to enjoy studies at jewellery school and has now landed her first paid job: working three times a week doing telephone surveys.

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Blessings Received!

• Families from Lakeview Community Church in Killarney have been faithfully taking turns sending us personal letters each month. It has been so encouraging to "meet" new friends and to hear how God is blessing them in their place of ministry.


• Nina has been doing very well since her time in Finland. Praise God for her improved health—she has even been able to resume helping us with the girls (even if only for short periods at a time).


• Nina received 500 Rubles (about 21 CAD) recently to help cover the cost of her prescription medications. This is an annual donation from a local deputy (city councillor) in St. Petersburg (it's not much, but it helps).


• A number of generous donations were sent to us just before we learned that we had a significant deficit with MBMSI.

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Did you know...

...that in Russia it is impolite to accept an offer of tea or coffee (or food in general) the first time? You are expected to "give in" only after the third offer or so!

...that people visiting parks and tourist attractions in St. Petersburg are now being serviced by "toilet buses"? These mobile washrooms have several "stalls" labelled with the following warning: "Stalls are very small. If you cannot fit inside, leave the door open."

For a weekly dose of Russia trivia, news, praise reports & prayer requests, subscribe to Hamm Prayer Points: hpp-subscribe@myinjesus.com

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Upcoming Ministry & Family Events

September

16-22 – Camp Directors' Institute, 3rd Session (Moscow)

27 – Maya's 6th birthday

October

20-22 – Christian Camping Leaders Conference planning meeting (Moscow)

22 – Deena's 3rd birthday

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flickr= Photos

View hundreds of photos of our family, ministry and travel at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm
and at www.flickr.com/photos/sonique

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Camp "Code Sign"

CCI/Russia president Alexander Kharitonov served as chaplain at Camp Code Sign in southern Russia this summer. Here are highlights from his time there:

Camp Code Sign was a wilderness tent camp (boys only, age 13-17). Campers were responsible for their own well-being: they had to fetch water, collect wood, cook their meals, etc. Success was only possible if the entire team worked together. It took some teams several days of self-induced fasting to recognize that truth!

All the camp activities were tied into a sequence that led a camper to a celebration of achievement. The first half of camp was dedicated to teamwork; the second half emphasied individual skills and persistence.

Bible teaching at camp focused on Scriptures that reveal God's purpose for men and showed specific male challenges and shortcomings. God was clear from creation about His plan for men, yet century after century we failed to "cultivate and keep" what God entrusted to us. The Bible is full of examples of misery Israel found itself in because its men fell short of their calling as God's messengers, priests, husbands and fathers. The same holds true about today's Russia. Yet there was (and is!) the second Adam, our Lord Jesus, who fulfilled God's high calling for men and reconciled manhood with its Creator. It was a joy to reveal the fulfillment and victorious life that every young man has in Jesus!

Most campers were non-believers, even though a majority of them came from Christian homes. This is a dilemma our churches face: at "teen" age many abandon churches and choose other pursuits. This disease first afflicts boys–and as a result, our churches are men-desolate. Changing this destructive pattern was one of our major goals.

Many of the youth heard God's voice and obeyed it. Every fourth camper was reconciled with God, praying for God's forgiveness and direction in front of the group. Likely many more made serious decisions in their hearts. Most importantly, none left without being exposed to a better path in life. A life of victory, life with a purpose, life with God.

Praise be to Him! Please join us in lifting up the hearts and minds of the 100+ Camp Code Sign community as they returned to their homes and try to put into practice what they learned and resolved at camp.

This is just one of hundreds of testimonies that our office hears every year. Thank you for your part in praying for the camps in the former Soviet Union. Thank you as well for enabling us to play a small role in training and supporting these camp leaders.

– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

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Hamm's Headings...

• A newsletter from Kevin & Lena Hamm, missionaries with MBMS International, serving with CCI/Russia in St. Petersburg.


• Hamm’s Headings is written by Kevin Hamm except where noted. The material contained herein is personal, and is not necessarily reflective of MBMSI or CCI/Russia.


• The print version of this newsletter was created using Scribus, a free desktop publishing program available at www.scribus.net.


• We welcome your comments and questions.

Web sites:

• This newsletter is online at www.krhamm.com/current.


• View current and past issues at http://hammsheadings.blogspot.com.


• Subscription preferences can be changed and online issues viewed at http://hh.injesus.com.


• Vital links: the CCI/Russia site at www.ccirussia.org/en
  and the MBMSI site at www.mbmission.org

Hamm's Headings - May-June 2006

Changes

The past two months have seen a lot of endings and beginnings in our life. Sonia graduated from high school and began new studies in jewellery design; Lena completed a five-month hairdressing course; Nina spent several weeks in the hospital for high blood pressure and an indeterminate heart condition; and I have begun the process of transitioning out of day-to-day CCI/Russia work.

With all the changes in our lives we take comfort in the fact that God is preparing the way ahead of us: “The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps.” Psalm 85:12-14 (NIV)

As you will read on page four, our financial support level has also changed in recent months. If you can help take the place of supporters who are no longer able to help, please contact Jake & Elsie Hamm at (204) 857-3802 or visit www.krhamm.com/support for more information. Thanks to all who support us with prayers, encouragement and material assistance!

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Keep in touch!

Hamm’s Headings is primarily a bi-monthly summary of Hamm Prayer Points.

Every Monday a new Hamm Prayer Points is sent by email. If you would like to receive our weekly updates, filled with news, trivia, praise reports & prayer requests, send an email to hpp-subscribe@myinjesus.com and we'll be happy to sign you up!

If you have any questions about our mailings (or wish to stop receiving some or all of them), please contact us directly at kevin-at-krhamm-dot-com.

---

Nina's Health: In Brief

Lena's mother Nina has had a hard past two months. After babysitting during our absence in Uzbekistan, Nina has been admitted to hospital twice for extended stays and tests. With an uncertain diagnosis, she is on expensive medications awaiting possible surgery.

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May: Ministry Travel and Hospital Visits

Staff Training in Tashkent. For the second year in a row Lena, Maya & I travelled to Uzbekistan to train camping leaders. From May 4th to 9th we joined almost 100 other participants and instructors at Camp Step near Tashkent. Representatives from camps across Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan came to receive intensive training in counselling, program leadership, child psychology, music, sport and other areas. Lena & I were privileged to help train seven sport coordinators along with one future seminar instructor. We were thrilled to have been a part of God's work in Central Asia! Please view our pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/72157594152329586.

Nina's Heart. Two days after we returned from Uzbekistan, Nina was at the medical clinic for tests when her doctor asked her to go to the hospital for further care. Upon her arrival she was told that she was close to having a heart attack. From May 12-26 Nina remained in hospital as doctors made little progress in diagnosing her condition. During Nina's stay Lena made journeys to the hospital to bring food and supplies. Nina was released on the 26th and put on heavy medication, the monthly cost of which is twice her monthly pension, and was told to meet with a doctor about the need for surgery. He told her that she clearly needed open-heart surgery (at the cost of 7000 USD) but there was a very good chance that the surgeons would refuse to operate because of her deteriorated state. This came as quite a shock to Nina, as the hospital had said nothing about this. We appealed for prayer and resolved to get another opinion. Upon meeting with a respected heart specialist Nina was told that instead of certainly needing open-heart surgery, she certainly does not! The specialist told her that in her case it is either going to be long-term medication or corrective surgery (a coronarography). We are very thankful that open-heart surgery appears to be unnecessary. As you can imagine, the ups and downs of the medical news have been quite unsettling, especially for Nina. Recently Nina received very encouraging news: a Canadian family gave 250 CAD to cover the cost of her June medications. What a wonderful blessing! Praise God for the blessing Nina has been to our family as a caregiver and helper. Without her regular help in the past three years we would have hardly been able to travel to teach at seminars and serve at camps. We are so thankful for our mother and babushka—our only family in Russia! Please keep her in your prayers.

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June: Endings and Beginnings

Staff Training. Praise God for the Christian Camp Leaders' Conference in Vladivostok. Seventy-five students and instructors took part in the 7-day course for senior camp leaders and pastors. Twenty-one camps were represented in our furthest-flung region—a wonderful answer to prayer! As well, we praise God for the successful completion of six Staff Training Workshops. Over 600 participants from 154 camps received hands-on training for summer camp ministry. Our staff covered territory from Riga in the north to Tashkent in the south and from Minsk in the west to Vladivostok in the east (tens of thousands of kilometres on plane and train) to help lead these vital training events. Praise God for His mercy & grace!!!

Coming to Canada. We had been wondering why there had been so many delays in our move to Canada...perhaps now we know one of the reasons: As my mother pointed out the other day, God knew that Nina would need us here this summer! Very true, we believe. Nina returned to the hospital in mid-June for almost two weeks, but was released in time for us to travel to Finland in early July as a family (more on that in the next issue).

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Sonia Speaks!

Hi! I think it's time I wrote a few words about my life. School is finally over: it's funny to think about how just a month ago I was sitting in my room preparing for upcoming exams! Thankfully everything went well; I got high marks for all my exams. Thank you for praying for me during that time! The graduation party was a special time with my friends and teachers.

And right after my grad I started attending the School of Jewellery Arts and I have to admit that I felt like an alien on a distant planet for quite some time. I mean, I've never melted silver, I've never used a fretsaw or, as a matter of fact, broken so many of them in one day. But I've learned that this kind of “labour” can be very rewarding when you get results from your work, such as the ring I just finished making (I designed it myself). So I think that my future job will be connected with jewellery-making.

I am looking forward to my next year in Canada. I miss my family and friends there, though I know that time will pass quickly. Thank you for remembering me in your prayers. Please continue to pray for me as I study, because the work load is immense. Looking forward to seeing you in Canada!

– Sonia

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Did you know...

...that Nina's meals at the hospital cost her 7 rubles per day (about 30 cents)? This gets her either porridge or broth each meal with a little bread on the side. Needless to say, we bring Nina "proper" food frequently!

...that as part of the "Last Bell", the official end-of-year ceremony at school, Grade 11 students are given a tiny bell pinned to a sash to wear?

...that there is a saying in Russia, "God loves (the) trinity". This is often quoted when drinking as an excuse to have a third round! As well, this why Russians traditionally greet one another with three kisses! One more "three": when you say something that you want to happen, you should spit three times over your shoulder!

For a weekly dose of Russian trivia, be sure to subscribe to Hamm Prayer Points!

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Upcoming Ministry & Family Events

August

9 – Kevin's Birthday
14-17 or 17-20 – Living Grace Youth Camp (Kevin directing)
25-27 – Sport Seminar in Helsinki, Finland (Kevin teaching)

September

27 – Maya's 6th Birthday

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flickr= Photos

View hundreds of photos of our family, ministry and travel at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm and at www.flickr.com/photos/sonique

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Blessed!

Dear Jake & Elsie Hamm,
Daffodil season is over and so I have completed another season of selling daffodils at the road in aid of Kevin and Lena. Also I grew a good amount of vegetables etc. and made a lot of jam most of which I give to the Food Bank or charity but I did sell some last year and so am able to send a little extra money this year. I've had 2 years struggling with Fibromyalgia - however I am feeling quite a bit better now and I hope it is passed. As long as I can stay in this place I will try to carry on with this little help. In Jesus,
[name withheld to protect privacy]

Over the past six years our family has been blessed with an incredible group of supporters. We are so grateful for people who give of their time, money and material blessings to support our family. From growing daffodils to crocheting tablecloths to care packages to monthly donors there is no end to the ways God's people have been caring for us.

As time passes, however, circumstances change and people have to make adjustments, often with age. Over the past few months three of our regular supporters have had to end their support for such reasons. As we have told you before, we have never reached full pledged support and with the loss of this support we are falling further behind.

Lord willing, we will continue in our ministry with MBMSI and CCI/Russia for the foreseeable future. In order to continue in this work, our family needs more regular support. Ten dollars, twenty or whatever you can donate per month would be a tremendous help. Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and thanks to all who regularly give!

– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

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Hamm's Headings

• A newsletter from Kevin & Lena Hamm, missionaries with MBMS International, serving with CCI/Russia in St. Petersburg.
  

• Hamm’s Headings is written by Kevin Hamm except where noted. The material contained herein is personal, and is not necessarily reflective of MBMSI or CCI/Russia.


• The print version of this newsletter was created using Scribus, a free desktop publishing program available at www.scribus.net.


• We welcome your comments and questions.

Web sites:

• This newsletter is online at www.krhamm.com/current.


• View current and past issues at http://hammsheadings.blogspot.com.


• Subscription preferences can be changed and online issues viewed at http://hh.injesus.com.


• Vital links: the CCI/Russia site at www.ccirussia.org/en and the MBMSI site at www.mbmission.org

Hamm's Headings - January-April 2006

Decision Made!

Those were the words that greeted us a short time ago on our daily visit to the Immigration Canada web site. Shortly afterwards we received a letter confirming that my application to sponsor Lena & Sonia for permanent residency in Canada was approved! Praise the Lord!

One question remained: when would we receive permission to travel? That question was answered in a letter dated April 10th that stated that we would have to wait another six months before the visa would be ready.

So...instead of a summer arrival, it looks like we'll be home in time for Christmas! While not a disaster, it does mean that Sonia will have to wait longer to enter university, Maya will not be able to begin grade one in September and our search for a home in Canada will have to start over (to a certain extent).

Please continue to uphold us in prayer as we move towards a major family transition!

---

Keep in touch!

Hamm'’s Headings is primarily a bi-monthly summary of Hamm Prayer Points.

Every Monday a new Hamm Prayer Points is sent by email. If you would like to receive our weekly updates, filled with news, trivia, praise reports & prayer requests, send an email to hpp-subscribe@myinjesus.com and we'll be happy to sign you up!

If you have any questions about our mailings (or wish to stop receiving some or all of them), please contact us directly at kevin@krhamm.com.

---

Coming To Canada...In Brief:

Lord willing, we plan to sell our home in St. Petersburg and move to Manitoba in November of this year. We are still looking for a home, a vehicle and many other essentials. We plan to remain in Canada for at least three years, or until Lena & Sonia are granted permanent residency. Beyond that...? God knows!

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January: New Year of Blessings!

Christmas Outreach in Kolpino. On Orthodox Christmas Day (Jan. 7) I assisted members of our church's satellite fellowship in the town of Kolpino with a very special outreach. A wonderful afternoon of getting acquainted, games, food and sharing was held in a public courtyard. Over 300 people came: kids, youths, moms, dads and a lot of babushkas! I led games with over a hundred of the most active participants (even some babushkas joined in!). Afterwards the crowd enjoyed blini (Russian crepes) with a choice of toppings (sour cream, jam or condensed milk), hot tea and plenty of sweet treats for all the kids. Then the group listened to Pastor Vadim share about what Christ's birth means to us. Many people committed to attending the next church service. What a wonderful blessing it was to be a part of this outreach! You are welcome to view pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm/sets/1783918.

CCI/Russia Christian Camp Leaders' Conference. Our annual six day conference was held one hour north of St. Petersburg Jan. 29 - Feb 3. Over 300 attendees and instructors came from across Russia, Belarus, the Baltic States and three Central Asian countries to hone their camping skills. At the conference I ran the computer centre (servicing tech needs, producing conference CDs, etc.), handled videotaping & photography duties and taught a four-day course: Information Technology at Camp. It was a great time of fellowship, sharing & ministry. You may view the CCLC video report (low-resolution version) at www.krhamm.com/files/CCLC_2006.wmv.

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February: Preparation & Productions

The busiest time of year for our ministry is spring when we conduct Staff Training Workshops across Russia and other neighbouring states. In preparation for these seminars, the Christian Camping International/Russia office here in St. Petersburg is busy coordinating eventlogistics with local leaders and preparing materials for the STWs. Each year we produce dozens of publications, both printed and electronic. So far this year we have produced nine compact discs (including four music albums) and a new Bible lesson series (still in production) called Desert Detectives.

My responsibilities include the technical editing of all written materials, designing CD interfaces and the printing and pressing of CDs. We are very thankful for the talented authors, designers and other contributors who help to make our ministry effective.

You can view the complete catalouge of CCI/Russia publications at www.ccirussia.org/en/publications.

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March & April: Training & Ministry

Camp Directors' Institute. The second session of CDI was held March 6-17 in Moscow. Twenty-two experienced directors received intensive instruction from five Western instructors during the program. Praise God for these camp directors!

Women's Seminar. CCI/Russia sponsored a post-abortion seminar in April: "Facilitating Biblical Healing". Many women attended and received hope and healing.

Staff Training Workshops. Six STWs are planned for April-June 2006. One each in Moscow, Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Minsk (Belarus), Novorossiysk, Kurgan and Norkalni (Latvia). Once again, over six hundred camp staff from across Russia, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Kyrgistan, Tajikstan and Kazahkstan are expected to be trained this spring.

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In Other News...

January...was extremely cold (we even had to spend an entire day with no heat and light in -28 cold!)... On Orthodox Christmas eve our family went door-to-door with home-baked goodies and Christmas greetings... We received a very thoughtful care package from Lakeview Community Church.

February...marked the beginning of Lena's third hair-dressing course.

March...was a busy month visa-wise: I had to apply for a new one-year Russian visa and an Uzbek tourist visa at the same time.

April...we celebrated! Sonia had her 17th birthday and we had our 7th wedding anniversary... Throughout the winter the new playground was heavily used and appreciated by dozens of families.

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Did you know...

...that when the temperature falls to -23 or below, parents are allowed to keep their children home from school? This past January Sonia discovered why that's a good idea as she and her classmates attended class while it was +5 indoors!

...that Nina qualifies (by virtue of her small pension) for a quarterly allotment of foodstuffs? Recently she stood in line at a government office and returned with eight kilograms of groceries. Included in the bags were 1 kilogram each of rice, buckwheat and macaroni, along with sugar, canned beef, condensed milk and even a wafer cake! While it is certainly not enough to last her for three months, it does help supplement her meager (about 130 CAD/month) allowance.

For a weekly dose of Russian trivia, be sure to subscribe to Hamm Prayer Points!

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flickr= Photos

View hundreds of photos of our familyministryty and travel at www.flickr.com/photos/krhamm and at www.flickr.com/photos/sonique

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GOD IS GOOD!

But way down in my heart of hearts
Way down in my soul of souls
Way down I know that I am a fortunate man
To have known divine love

–– "Heart of Hearts" by Mark Heard

When we look back at our seven years of serving together in Russia as a family, we can not help but be amazed at God's provision. When I arrived in St. Petersburg in March 1999 I had two suitcases and a computer. Lena was living in Nina's tiny apartment in Omsk together with Sonia, making just enough money to scrape by. When we married a month later we had no home, no furniture and not much more than the clothes on our backs. (Hmm, sounds a little like our planned move to Canada!)

But we had God–—or to put it more correctly, He had us in His hands. He provided us with a home, two more wonderful girls and the opportunity to travel tens of thousands of kilometres across the former Soviet Union to teach and serve.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV)

To be loved by the Divine Creator of the universe and to be held in His hands is a most wondrous thing. There is no better place to be. Thank you for allowing us to serve in this way. Your prayers & support have kept us in His service. We look forward to many more years of family service, as God allows.

—– Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya & Deena

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Hamm's Headings...

• A newsletter from Kevin & Lena Hamm, missionaries with MBMS International, serving with CCI/Russia in St. Petersburg.


• Hamm'’s Headings is written by Kevin Hamm except where noted. The material contained herein is personal, and is not necessarily reflective of MBMSI or CCI/Russia.


• We welcome your comments and questions.

Web sites:

• This newsletter is online at www.krhamm.com/current.


• View current and past issues at http://hammsheadings.blogspot.com.


• Subscription preferences can be changed and online issues viewed at http://hh.injesus.com.


• Vital links: the CCI/Russia site at www.ccirussia.org/en and the MBMSI site at www.mbmission.org