Countdown to Belarus

We use a color-coded Excel spreadsheet for a daily calendar.  There is a large red block filling the lower portion of the calendar.  Our trip to Belarus, departing September 9, is fast approaching.  But there are only two days before that trip that are not filled with other colors.  Life comes toward us at warp speed these days. 

 

This week (in a big blue block of days) we travel to Heber Arizona for a conference with our International Leadership Academies staff from around the country.  Please pray for our team as we seek God's wisdom and direction and make specific plans for the course of the ministry and individual projects to tackle (it is football season once again).

 

But Belarus is foremost on our minds.  We are very excited to have another opportunity to minister in the most Communist republic of the former Soviet Union.  Twenty-six students from five countries (including a Nigerian prince) will get their first taste of academy training from Dave as he teaches his Spiritual Leadership course that had such a profound impact on last year's students.  Because the Minsk academy has a two-year duration (as does the Moscow academy), there will be a happy reunion with those students who are now starting their second year of training.  Dave has been brushing up his Russian phrases in order to honor our hosts.  Fortunately, we both already know how to say "taxi", "passport", "Big Mac" and "Coca-Cola" in Russian (oh, so do you!).

 

We are trying something new this trip.  We now have a website which will *hopefully* contain not only our trip reports, but also pictures to help you meet the people and see the sights along with us.  Feel free to send anyone to the site, which can be accessed via DaveandKathyC.com  Hope you enjoy the trip with us.

 

Blessings upon you,

 

   Dave and Kathy

Welcome to the Cottrell Chronicles

The Cottrell Chronicles are here to keep our prayer partners informed about the works that God is doing through our daily lives, and to place prayer needs before our interceding friends in the body of Christ. The information here is the same as that provided in our newsletter, but we also plan to publish pictures to enhance the experience for our readers as we seek to take you with us as we travel to faraway places and meet wonderful people whom we wish to serve.

Blessings upon you.