Hello everyone!

Thanks for your patience. It took us a little longer to get the family settled than I thought. But we're all doing great!

The church was very excited to have Rayma and the kids back and gave them many hugs and kisses. Everything is continuing much as it was after the concerts. There are about 12 new people that have continued to come and we've begun to actively disciple them in the Word. Several of the more mature Christians started Bible studies with a few of the new ones, and we plan to begin a new believers study sometime after the New Year for the rest. It's very exciting to see them each week and know that we'll soon be baptizing many of them. Praise God!

The next several months have a number of fun events were looking forward to. The day after Christmas we're having a special Christmas service at the church. We'll have some special music, a message, food and a comedic performance of the Christmas story. On New Years Eve we all gather at the girl's apartment and celebrate with a white elephant gift exchange, a message, and more music. On January 8th, Max, Peter and I will be going to Moscow for the National pastor's conference. In February, we have the National women's conference in Omsk and Moscow. And we're hoping to have another Baptism in March. As many of you know we're also planning another concert outreach here to Perm in April, but we'll talk more about that after the New Year. God is continuing to do amazing things in our lives, and we ask that you would please keep us in prayer during this next season of our church's life.

We do have good news about the Visas. The good news is that we don't have to come home!! When we were told about the changes the government made to the religious worker's visas there was a good chance it would be the end to our ministry here in Perm. After talking it through with the CCCPM staff in Moscow and in Oceanside, California we all found that there is an alternative to the (very limited) religious worker's visa. It was such a relief to know that we had another option even if it was the only one; however, and unfortunately, the alternative isn't pretty. The only option we could find that would work for us is the three month tourist visa. Although we can only stay in Russia for three months at a time we do not have to return to America. Let me say that again. We do not have to return to America, instead we can exit to any of the nearby countries and get another three month visa in only 10 days. Because of this, our plan is (Lord willing) not to come home to the United States until our commitment here in Perm is finished. The three month visa is extremely good news to us and our church however there are obvious difficulties and challenges. Leaving the country every three months can be exhausting for a family of four as well as financially draining. We don't yet have all the details of what it might take to leave every three months but once we do we intend to let you know.

I understand this might not sound exactly like the good news you were expecting but it really is. In the last two months many missionaries have already left Russia. Alex and Liliya at the Bible College in Moscow are planning to leave ASAP, another family in Moscow is considering throwing in the towel, because it is not feasible for them to stay. Another family in Volgograd has left, as well as some American friends of ours Ed and Karen here in Perm. A lot of missionaries are returning home to America because of this visa situation. WE WANT TO STAY and believe the Lord will provide for us to do this. That is good news! Please pray for us in this area and we'll continue to keep you posted on our situation.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and encouragement! We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season and, on behalf of the Barnhart family, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

God bless you all and enjoy the pictures.


In Christ,

Dave, Rayma, Elias and Will