Dear Ones,
 We discovered Monday morning, just as we were leaving for the college that our schedule had been changed (our life in Siberia!). So, we teach our 1st year students this coming week. This gave us all week for serious rest, beginning a fast, and time to work on my Sakha Worship (song) book and type much of the Sakhalyy translation for Mike’s theology program for the churches. Luda translates Mike’s teachings and I type it up for him so that it is ready on Saturdays.
I had a wonderful time with Pasha and our sisters this week at our home church. I spent Tues. with her and Thurs. I attended a prayer meeting at the home of another precious sister. We finished our Sakhalyy study materials on the Trinity: God: The Holy Spirit, and Mike will teach it next Sat.
Ever waited eagerly for someone close to return from a long trip? Well, our dear Vasili returned from 3 months in the taiga. He brought many ducks, and we had tasty duck soup. Mike is on another extended water-only fast so he hasn’t had any ducks yet—but he was 2 days duck plucking! I fasted with him for 3 days and it was great for my body and spirit. We’ve done Bill Bright’s lemonade fast in years past, and will use it again when/if lemons are available! We’re reaping many physical and spiritual benefits of fasting, like Mike’s full-recovery from the “bug”!
Spiritually, we are fasting for wisdom regarding our visas, summer schedule here, and our return to the US. According to new laws, our business visa requires us to exit Russia within 180 days of April 1st, 2007. We may reenter any time and stay through March 30, 2008. We’re thinking too of applying for a labor/residence visa which will take us through Oct. 2008 without having to leave.
 Presently, our schedule is to be in Suuntar June 19-21 for their Sykh (summer festival) and assist in the baptism of many believers. We’re then invited down river to Verkniviluisk as special guests of the mayor for their Sykh, June 23-25. We then help Luda teach an English camp there. In mid -July we anticipate a trek upriver from Verkniviluisk to Ügülatsi to consult with its leadership and residents to best prepare for our life there this winter. Ügülatsi is suffering terrible hardship, with 70% unemployment, and its 600 people are loosing hope. We’re asking our LORD to show us how He can use us to bless these people. For several weeks Mike and Vasili plan to fix our cabin and convert another into a 12-volt hydroponics lab to grow herbs, and veggies through the winter. We’re trying now to find inexpensive tickets: Moscow to NY’s JFK between Aug. 7th & 9th. We plan to stay in the US until early Nov., returning to Ügülatsi by Nov. 20th when the winter “road” opens and we can bring a big truck full of critical supplies for the village. All this needs much prayer!
 Today, Saturday we joined in a Sykh for the 102 teachers of our Vilyuisk Teacher’s College. Two weeks ago, we celebrated a Sykh with our students. I visited with Vita, a teacher who was among our former students in 1999, and Mike joined in the sports games. It was an amazing day.
Vasili’s boat and motor are 30+ years-old and his motor is dying. He’s navigated the Vilyuy River for 30 years and knows every bend. The river and Vasili’s tiny boat are our only way to Ügülatsi in summer. We so dislike making specific appeals—but this is a critical need and the time is short. Please seek God with us in this. We need a new outboard for travel from mid-June to early Oct. We found new ones in the big city: Yakutsk, but the LORD must make happen what we cannot. To be stranded on the Vilyuy or its tributaries to Ügülatsi would be a very serious matter for us.
Pray for us too, as we teach this week. Also, I need to finish my music book before leaving for Suuntar. We’re praying for our home church: New Bethel SBC as they prepare for their summer VBS. We send all of you our sincere love and thanks for your continued prayers and support. We are so honored and humbled to do and to live here what God ordained us, trained us, and filled our hearts to do among His beloved Sakha Tribe—thank you for helping make it so…
In Christ,
Diane & Michael Meagher
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