June in review! What a wonderful and busy month this has been. I will say thank you for your prayers and support before I get started. I know that without all you do this month could not have happened.

My Yana, my driver, plays French horn in both the symphony and Music Theater, and the mother of two find young boys, finished her studies at the University in June and now has a teaching certificate to teach German and English. My Dasha and two other Alateen kids, Kristina and Katya graduated from regular school. Our first Alateen camp was great. I went to Almaty for my eyelid injections and took my whole crew for a retreat. Some of them had never seen Almaty and those who had were very young when they went. What a treat for me to see them having that much fun swimming and going into the mountains.

We helped financially to repair the roof at the orphanage’s summer camp. We went to the opening of this camp and saw a great performance of singing and dancing. We had a birthday party for the June birthdays at the orphanage camp.

Seven years ago, I started Alateen in Kazakhstan at the coffee house in Mykaduke. We expanded to a nearby village and began a new group there. I met a young man named Ruslan, a special young man who helped me connect with the boys of his area. When I met him, he had already been touched by God’s hands and wanted to go into God’s work full time. I wanted him to start his work with me. God had other plans. Ruslan entered the Catholic Seminary six years ago. Sunday he was ordained as a priest in the Catholic Church. I am so proud to just know this young man and wish him all happiness and fulfillment.

Another joy in June was to see Marika, the two week old baby who came to the coffee House 7 years ago with her 18 year old mother. They needed help. I told her mother, if she would come every week day, we would feed her and she could then nurse her baby. Marika is now a beautiful, almost 7 years old, young lady working around the Catholic Church with her two aunts and grandmother. I almost broke down at the ordination. When I saw Marika and her mother there, I finally had to go outside and just let it go. They were both so beautiful.

Many missionaries do not see the fruits of their labors but, this year and others have shown me that God has used my little part to make a difference. Praise God.

I feel so blessed by all of you and, of course, by God in all the ways He helps us. Continue to pray for us and, as you can, keep supporting our work, I just know He will open more doors for more opportunities to do His work!