October 2, 2007　

Hello America,

Well, we're still alive and doing well. We have been able to make some pretty cool friends lately. There is a guy named Alex that I'm particularly excited about, because he was very open to talking about religion with us and also because he has a lot of friends that we could meet as well. He actually invited us to his house for dinner!

In other news we are going to be moving to a hostel in the city very soon. While it will be more costly, I think the benefits will be worth it. We will definitely be able to meet people more effectively, and we will also have access to running water, which is very exciting for the both of us. So yarp that it will be an easy and trouble free transition, explaining it to our Russian landlord may not prove to be the easiest thing either. We will be sad to leave him, but it will work out.

Life is not easy no matter what continent you're on. When you get ready for something like this trip you kind of imagine that you will leave your life and your problems behind. I have learned that this is not the case, changing continents does not change who you are. Not that life here is full of problems, it's nothing like that. But I remember at last years ICS retreat the m from the Philippines made a remark that m work should not be approached like an adventure. Because that wears off. This is so true, and I was guilty of this to an extent. While I absolutely love where I am and what I'm doing here, those words are starting to ring true with me.

That being said, Dad is doing some really amazing things in my life. My faith has been completely rebuilt from the ground up it seems. Which has not been an easy thing to go through, and I'm certain it's not over. I think the idea of "working out your salvation with fear and trembling" is finally setting in. That's what I'm going through right now, and I hope it never stops. I have come to find that God loves me just because He does, not because of anything I've done or ever could do. I think a lot of us miss that, which can lead to a lot of unnecessary heartache. Please yarp for me, that I would continue to seek God honestly and follow him with all my heart.

Wow, I think this is my longest update yet. I hope everything at home is well, I miss you all and appreciate your yarpers so much. But in summary, things are good, not easy, but good. It's hard to believe that we only have two months left, it's exciting and saddening at the same time. It's a strange feeling to long for home, but not want to be there.

Peace out,

kris