RUSSIAN

USSIAN HARVEST
ARVEST
RUSSIAN HARVEST 
AAugust
P R 2010
I L & M A Y 2 0 1 0

MICHAEL & KAREN MCDONALD

S E RV I N G T H E RU S S I A N C H U RC H
F O U R S Q U A R E M I S S I O N S I N T E R N AT I O N A L - H O P E C H A P E L N A S H U A N H
NORTHEAST DISTRICT OF FOURSQUARE CHURCHES

Camp and Family Ministry

main  speakers.    On  the  ?irst  night  

Michael  taught  about  “The  
Foundations  of  Christian  Marriage.”    
On  Saturday  morning  Karen  taught  
a  session  on  “How  to  Raise  Children  
Who  Will  Follow  Christ.”    

Greetings from Marriage Seminar

Nizhny Novgorod Source of Life Church

The  month  of  July  was  a  mix  of  

For  the  (irst  time  in  ages  we   ministry  and  relaxation  for  us.    We  
took  a  break  from  ministry   began  the  month  teaching  a  one-­‐
late  in  the  month  for  two   night  session  on  marriage  at  a  local  
weeks.    We  spent  time  just   church  called  “Source  of  Life.”    This  
relaxing  at  home,  made   was  our  ?irst  time  to  teach  in  this  
several  day  trips  to  swim  in   particular  church  and  we  enjoyed  
local  rivers,  visited  a  local   meeting  many  new  people  and  
handcraft  factory  and   being  able  to  speak  into  people’s   Family Camp
museum,  and,  of  course,  we   lives.  We  are  looking  forward  to  
cooked  out  several  times.   more  ministry  opportunities  with   In  the  afternoon  the  adults  split  by  
this  church. gender  into  2  groups  and  we  had  an  
We  also  took  an  overnight   open  time  for  questions  and  
train  trip  to  Moscow.     answers.    On  Sunday  morning  
Michael  needed  to  visit  the   Michael  preached  a  message  with  
U.S.  Embassy  to  renew  his   the  theme  “Eight  Keys  to  having  a  
passport.    Unfortunately  for   Successful  Marriage.”    
us  we  picked  one  of  the  
hottest  days  in  over  80  years   Family  camp  was  a  great  experience  
in  Moscow.    The   for  us.    We  enjoyed  teaching,  
temperatures  were  near  100   meeting  new  people  and  sharing  
F  and  the  smog  in  the  city   some  of  the  things  we  have  learned  
was  terrible.    Despite  this  we   about  married  life  as  believers.    We  
enjoyed  the  trip  and  even   received  an  invitation  to  teach  at  
had  time  to  visit  the  new   The  following  weekend  we  spent   the  family  winter  camp  this  coming  
Starbucks  and  sit  and  drink   our  time  teaching  at  a  family  camp.     January.
great  iced  coffee  in  real   This  camp  was  sponsored  by  “The  
comfort! Light  of  Christ”  church,  one  of  the   Following  camp  we  had  a  very  
larger  and  older  churches  in  the   heavy  schedule  of  marriage  and  
city.    We  were  honored  to  be  the   family  counseling.    Marriages  in  
Russia  can  be  very  troubled.    
Christian  marriages  are  hardly  any  different  than   Crisis in Russia
those  outside  of  the  church.    It  is  our  opinion  that   Speaking  of  temperatures,  the  last  two  weeks  of  July  
almost  every  issue  in  troubled  marriages  can  be   have  broken  most  records  in  Russia.    We  have  had  
overcome  if  at  least  one  of  the  pair  will  make  a   temperatures  in  the  high  90s  and  into  the  100’s  every  
determined  effort  to  be  a  true  disciple  of  Christ  and  to   day  for  a  month.    There  is  a  drought  in  Russia  and  the  
follow  Him  in  obedience.    Marriage  is  about  laying   forests  are  very  dry  which  has  led  to  huge  forest  ?ires  
down  your  own  life,  dying  to  your  own  self-­‐ covering  hundreds,  perhaps  thousands  of  square  
centeredness  and  living  for  another  person.    The   miles.    Because  of  this  our  city  has  been  blanketed  in  
concept  is  a  simple  one,  but  of  course  the  application   smoke  from  the  ?ires.    The  air  quality  is  very  poor.  We,  
is  not  always  so  easy. like  most  Russians,  do  not  have  air  conditioning  and  
our  apartment  reeks  of  smoke  and  at  night  it  is  very  
The Book! dif?icult  to  breath.    

The  book,  The  Cross  &  the  Switchblade,  has  ?inally  

gone  to  the  printer.    We  had  raised  enough  funds  to                                                                                                                                          View  on  a  normal        
print  1000  copies  @  $1.00  per  copy  but  we  made  a                                                                                                                                          day      
last  minute  appeal  for  funds  via  our  Facebook  page  
and  two  missionary  families  donated  another  
$300.00.    We  were  really  surprised  when  the  printer  
agreed  to  print  an  additional  1000  copies  for  the  
additional  $300.00!  By  the  time  you  read  this  
newsletter  we  should  have  taken  delivery  of  the  
books.    Next  month  we  hope  to  have  photos  and  soon,  
testimonies,  as  the  books  begin  to  be  distributed  in  
the  local  prisons  and  jails.

                       Holy  smokes!

As  we  write  this  newsletter  we  are  sitting  in  a  local  

mall  trying  to  cool  off  and  get  away  from  the  smoke,  
but  even  in  here  the  smoke  hangs  in  the  air  inside  the  
mall!    We  are  not  sure  how  long  this  will  last.    We  
have  been  breathing  this  smoke  now  for  several  
weeks  with  no  relief  in  sight.
Normal  view
Please  pray:
• for  sustained  health  in  this  extreme  air  pollution  
• pray  for  the  families  who  have  lost  loved  ones  and  
homes  in  the  raging  ?ires  
• pray  for  the  people  this  coming  winter  as  25%  of  
the  agriculture  has  been  destroyed
• pray  for  rain  which  is  desperately  needed  to  stop  
this  destruction

In  spite  of  the  discomfort  we  would  not  trade  this  life  
for  anything  (Well,  perhaps  for  some  fresh  air).    We  
love  living  and  ministering  here.    Thank  You  to  all  
who  pray  for  us  and  ?inancially  support  our  work.    We  
Nothing  but  smoke! could  not  be  here  without  you.

Important Giving Directions! Please make checks to “HOPE CHAPEL” and write
“Russia” or “McDonald” in the memo portion. Please mail your check to: HOPE
CHAPEL NASHUA, PO Box 1458, NASHUA, NH 03061-1458.

For on line direct giving

https://give.foursquare.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=477&frsid=67

Thank you so much for your partnership. Individuals may send support to our home
church at the address above.