More than seasons are changing in Moscow.

           The heat was unbearable, the smoke and smog choking. Would there ever be reprieve – we wondered. For weeks this summer Muscovites were shut in, windows closed, fans whirring in a vain attempt to move the acrid air around for the fleeting feeling of something cooler than 95 F. Those who made it out to the sea or far away cities were the lucky ones. “They escaped the burning of Moscow” we joked. Then, just as suddenly as the heat and smoke gripped Moscow it relinquished and disappeared. In its place were a cool breeze, a light drizzle and the faint hint of yellow in the withered yet surviving oak leaves. The lifeless, parched grass grew back greener than ever and the wilted, depressing flowers that struggled to decorate the city lifted their heads in pride as the rain fell and fed them. Moscow was coming back to life.
            At the same time students and professors returned from the far reaches of Russia, Europe and America. With them they brought stories of life change, new experiences and most of all hope. One student whom we have known for months asked us to call her by a new name. Another student who is not a believer (yet) but spent a lot of time with the visiting summer project brought up all kinds of great questions about faith and life. Students we have discipled for years came back from their summer projects and travels with new dreams and ideas for reaching their campuses with the love of Jesus Christ. Before our very eyes the city transformed from a surreal, smoke-filled ghost town to the thriving, potential-filled, hope-giving metropolis it is known for.
            The Moscow Metro team experienced change as well. We had a farewell, a reunion and rebirth. We said a tearful but grateful farewell to three members of our team. Keith and Lori Beyar, the visionaries and builders of the current student movement in Moscow have followed the Lord’s leading into a new, dynamic role as part of the Leadership Development Team for not just Moscow, but all of Russia. They will be able to use their gifts of shepherding, training and motivating on a scale that will bless more than just the campus ministry but all of New Life Russia. Thankfully they still live down the street and while not officially part of the team they remain just as close as ever. The same can be said of Robi Myers. The fearless, joyful and outgoing Campus Director for the past two years. She too has taken up the challenge to reach beyond Moscow and influence the lives of Russian students all over Russia as part of the National Catalytic Team. The Moscow Metro team misses her lively and passionate contributions already but knows that her being in the middle of God’s will is the best thing for her, for that we rejoice. We are grateful for the season that the Lord was gracious enough to give them to the Moscow Metro team and it is with warm wishes we say thank you and farewell (but never goodbye) to our friends and teammates.
           In July we welcomed home Chris and Liz Lawson who had been back in the states preparing for the birth of their first son, Graham.  They were received with lots of freshly baked food, Russian goodies and tons of doting (mostly on Graham). We are delighted to have them back as are they excited to be here and be a part of what God is doing.
           The Moscow Metro team is changing. In some ways our team seems as brand new as the yellows, pinks and reds emerging from the fall leaves, in other ways it feels as familiar and welcoming as your morning cup of coffee. This year we have Kim Buck, Chris and Liz Lawson, Dan and Rachel Culbertson and Dave and Jessica Coats. We are a mix of experience, freshness, achievers, learners, believers and dreamers. Our focus is shifting slightly from going broad to going deep and broad. We continue to hold out and strive toward the dream of giving every student in Moscow a chance to hear and respond to the Gospel. Yet while doing that we also expect to go deep with the students—believers and non-believers alike—that God has given us. It is a year of going deep and wide and trusting God for the miraculous in between.
           As the leaves continue to change and rain down with the drizzle and winds of September and October we say good-bye to summer and welcome fall. The old is going and the new is coming. Some of our old dreams are dying while new ones are born before us. Dear teammates who have labored alongside us have passed the torch to us as we pass on the hope we have found to those new 17-year-old university students. The two constants in any university ministry are that things change but God does not. In that we rejoice, in that we hope. Thank you to those of you who have served for a week, summer, year or several years. Your seasons of service are part of the story that God is writing in this great city. It is with expectant hearts that we look forward to a new year. Pray with us for the miraculous.