We started with, "Getting out of Denial", The 8 Principles, & "Admitting Need" lessons.  Followed by "Choice 2 - Getting Help" which took us to "Choice 3 - Letting Go" & "Turning our Lives over to God."

60 courageous men and women from 5 different churches were packed in a small upstairs room with no a/c. No one complained as they listened intently.  Even though parts of it were hard for them to hear (since as we all know churches are a great place to hide from whom we really are). Because if we really tell who we are, what will people think of us? 

To make it practical for them, Mac scheduled us to give our testimony right after the "Let Go" principal. We were a little apprehensive how our story would come across using an interpreter.  But God's story of redemption transcended the language barrier. We had barely started sharing and as I looked out at the audience, tears were flowing.

Afterwards people came up saying how we told their story. They said they are praying they will be courageous enough to open up in the future.  We said, "That's why we are here; so you can gain freedom by coming clean." That will be the principle we will start with tomorrow, "Coming Clean".  One woman hugged me tightly and told me God brought us here just for her as she told me a part of her story and of the hope she has now.

The jet lag is still hanging on as we were wide awake at 3:00 a.m. after going to bed at 11:00.  Please continue to pray for us for supernatural energy as we begin each day at  8:00 a.m. & the seminar goes till 8:00 p.m.

We look forward to celebrating the Lord's Supper together with our Russian brothers and sisters on the Lords's Day.

Romans 12:1, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."

Love,
Mary