God is so very good!

It has been almost seven months since Lena left to bring her mother Nina to Canada for a six-month visit. There were of course many highlights to Nina's visit, but there was no time more memorable than her past eight weeks. When Nina was admitted to hospital on March 16, we couldn't have imagined what would come next. After Nina's life-saving emergency triple by-pass we quickly recognized God's hand in leading Nina here, in having her extend her stay (she had been scheduled to return in early March) and in surrounding her with a community of His people.

God provided for Nina's needs in miraculous ways. Through the incredible donation of the surgeons (providing all their services at no charge), through the generous reduction in fees from the hospital and through the overflowing kindness of friends, family & strangers (correction: brothers & sisters in Christ whom we simply have yet to meet!).

We are thrilled to share with you that we have received over 99% of the needed funds for Nina!!! Here are the actual figures:

Total Expenses:    $14,582.44
Gifts Received:    $14,480.00

Nina's expenses grew somewhat from the time of her surgery due to follow-up examinations and tests. While we do not anticipate many more expenses in her remaining two weeks, there may be a few minor ones. Regardless, we want everyone to know that Nina's expenses have now been covered and that any additional monetary gifts received will be used for Nina's future care.

On Monday, June 2 at 12:20 in the afternoon, Nina will depart from Winnipeg and head for her home in St. Petersburg, Russia. Lena will accompany her and then return the following Monday. Before that, I will leave on a nine-day trip to Missouri for the A.C.E. International Student Convention. Our family would covet your prayers for the next 12 days as we prepare for our journeys, travel and cope with each other's absences.

We have one final related note to share with you. It was just over five years ago that we put out the call for people to invest in an apartment for Nina. Many of you will recall that Nina had been living by herself in Omsk while we, her only family, resided in distant St. Petersburg. As a family we did not have sufficient funds to obtain a home for Nina, so we asked for people to help. More than two dozen families & individuals answered the call and provided enough money for us to bring Nina to St. Petersburg. Now, five years later, their investment grown substantially. We are happy to report that Nina's apartment is worth approximately 2.5 times the 2003 purchase price! We will be contacting our "investors" very shortly to share specific details about the apartment investment.

For all that God has done for Nina (and her family) through you, His wonderfully kind people, we offer our heartfelt thanks!

Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina

Greetings!

This is a short update to inform you about the following:

• To date just over 5000 CAD has been received to help cover Nina's medical and related expenses—Praise the Lord! This means that only $9300 more is needed!
• Benefit Concert for Nina: Saturday, May 10 from 7-9 p.m. at the Portage Evangelical Church, 72 - 3rd St. NE in Portage la Prairie (click here for driving directions from Winnipeg). Friends have organized a concert featuring Alfred MacLaren, winner of the Country Gospel Music Association's Male New Artist of the Year award for 2008, with a special performance by the Allard Family. Children's entertainment for ages 10 and under will be provided by Eugene, Comedy Illusionist. A free-will offering will be taken with all proceeds going to help with Nina's medical expenses.

We are very grateful to all who have contributed over the past weeks. Nina is overwhelmed by your generosity and love shown to her. We would love to see you this coming Saturday if you are able to attend, but of course we understand that many of you may not be able to do so. Regardless, we thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue to keep Nina in mind as she visits the hospital on Wednesday for x-rays (she still has some major discomfort in her left lung).

Grace & peace,

Kevin, Lena, Sonia, Maya, Deena & Nina