Reaching to Russia - A New Day...

As I looked out of the window yesterday morning where I was staying in Novosibirsk, I saw this…

Sunrise over the Ob River looking back towards the “Right Bank” of Novosibirsk.

As I left the CFA team for a lunch meeting I had to attend yesterday, I saw this…

CFA team members met with a group of restaurateurs from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, for 3 hour work session following their attendance at our SERVE Seminar the day before.

After traveling to Tomsk yesterday evening, arriving at our hotel by 8 p.m., skipping supper altogether, falling into a fatigue induced coma like sleep for 4 hours, this is what my brother/roommate and I saw when we finally opened our eyes:

We woke up at 1 a.m.  It was still dark.  We went back to sleep.

It’s about 4.15 a.m. right now.  Apparently, our whole team did as we did last night so we’ll start this morning together at 6 a.m. by putting together the Tomsk conference notebooks, going over the presentation plan, grabbing a bite to eat and being ready to be at the conference center at 8.30 a.m.

Remember those prayers I keep thanking you for?  Please don’t stop them.  Coach Meyer used to always say, “fatigue makes cowards of us all.”  I’m seeing where I might start feeling like a coward given the pace we are a keeping.  These Chick-fil-A men are driven though by a love to teach and a belief in what they are doing here.  Come to think of it, so am I!

Feeling a lot less cowardly,

Rob

Rob Browne Executive Director Director of Russian Operations rob@youthreach.org
678-935-0220 x103 Direct 404-518-5646 Cell 678-935-9674 Fax	http://www.youthreach.org           1911 Grayson Hwy, Ste 8-344           Grayson, GA 30017

Reaching to Russia - The Sharing of SERVE

Chick-fil-A’s Winshape International will carry out SERVE conferences in more than 30 countries this year.  YouthReach International is honored to be Winshape’s only partner in Russia and to have just finished the 2012 SERVE 1 and 2 Conference in Novosibirsk, Russia.

Over the last 48 hours, some have asked both here in Novosibirsk and via email from around the world, “how exactly does a SERVE business conference benefit a mentoring ministry like YouthReach International?”  Here’s the short version:

SERVE allows YouthReach International to both thank current partners and develop new partners in Russia by offering a value added, real life benefit to their organizations and initiatives via world class level leadership training.  Some of the organizations who sent representatives to SERVE 2012 yesterday have assisted our sister organization, Best Friend, and YouthReach International with financial, logistical, recruiting, relational, legal, and developmental resources in the past.  It is “our pleasure” to offer back to these organizations training and resources that will help them advance their purposes as they have helped us to advance ours. 

The room was filled to the point of me having to stand in the corner most of the day as SERVE Team Leader Brandon Mulkey (Lubbock, TX) kicked off the training. 

High level leaders from companies in the staffing, hospitality, ministry, non-profit, construction, financial, medical, and real estate industries, to name just a few, were represented.  Best Friend President and YouthReach International Russian Operations Manager Ruslan Asadov and Best Friend Founding Board Member Nastia Shishkina have been and will continue to leverage the relationships formed and deepened through this event for the advancement of Best Friend and YouthReach International’s purposes in Siberia.

Thank you gifts from Anna Klemeshova and Irina Krutasova of “Be Happy Event Décor and Design” were presented to the team at day’s end.

Gift giving in Russia is more than a duty.  It is a deeply engrained, sincere cultural expression of appreciation and gratitude.  2 business leaders from a local company created limited edition hand-made collectables for this year’s SERVE event and presented it to (L to R above) Mark Drake, Philip Browne, Scott Pleasants, Al Puglisi, and Brandon Mulkey.  This company has also created 59 one of a kind collectables that will be for sale at YouthReach International’s Spring Fundraising Dinner in Franklin, TN, on May 12 at the Cool Springs Marriott Hotel.

 
One of the gifts presented to each member of the team was a traditional Russian matroishka doll in a Chick-fil-A, “Eat Mor Chikin” theme.  One of these dolls will be presented next week to CFA Founder Truitt Cathy at CFA’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA.

One always wonders, at least one tall, red headed guy always wonders, how presenting a Bible based Biblical leadership model will impact the hearer’s heart and soul in ways beyond business.  Said tall red headed guy will really never know but he does see things from time to time that give him reason to believe impact is indeed happening.  In this case, I actually had my camera ready to capture what I think was a sincere moment of internal reflection.

A business leader from another city in Russia turns a reflective gaze out a window after watching a moving CFA video.

One of the more impactful things I saw during this year’s SERVE Conference was a video produced by CFA Corporate.  It can be seen online here.  After watching that video two or three times this week, I’ve found myself wiping my eyes each time as I remember each Mentor that comes to a retreat, training event,  orphanage outing, or camp brings their stories with them to our ministry.  So do the team members from California to Tennessee and South Dakota to Texas that will be leaving for their summer trips in the coming months.  I absolutely think of Tanya and Dima and Sasha and Alisa and all the kids at the orphanages with whom we work and their stories, many unspeakable, that are hopefully being changed forever by the ministry of Best Friend and YouthReach International.  I really do not know what this man above was thinking after the video was over, those around him had sat down, and the next Powerpoint slide was shown.  I trust though that his story has now been touched in some way by The Story that should mean most to us all.

Far from finished, our team spends half a day today with a  group of Christian businessmen from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, who are already opening up a chain of cafés in this next large city on the Trans Siberian Railway after Novosibirsk.  They all attended yesterday’s conference and will remain today for a closed door follow up session with the CFA team.

After lunch, we will board a van and ride 4 or so hours to Tomsk, Russia, where SERVE 1 and 2 will be carried out for a commercial partner of Best Friend in one of our other focus cities here in Siberia.  Your prayers for safety, energy (some of us have not slept in 36 hours due to jet lag and last minute changes to our program that demanded an all nighter before yesterday’s conference), and favor from all we meet will be very appreciated.    

You all seem to really like the photos I’m including by the way.  Maybe less “jibber n jabber” and more “shudder n Flickr” is what’s needed around here!

Thankful for you all, I am,

Rob (and some of the most wonderful people at Best Friend and Chick-fil-A I could ever hope to serve alongside)

Rob Browne Executive Director Director of Russian Operations rob@youthreach.org
678-935-0220 x103 Direct 404-518-5646 Cell 678-935-9674 Fax	http://www.youthreach.org           1911 Grayson Hwy, Ste 8-344           Grayson, GA 30017

Reaching to Russia - When Many Are One

From Florida, Texas, Georgia, 80 km south of the Arctic Circle, Cape Town, South Africa, by way of Big Lake, Russia, and from all over Novosibirsk, our team has gathered in the name and because of the unity we have in Jesus Christ to train leaders for the rest of this week.  It never ceases to thrill me at how so many parts from so many places with so many differences but one major similarity can pull off these logistical Olympics called SERVE Seminars every spring.  We’re on the eve of starting and I still do not know how we got this far or exactly what will unfold tomorrow morning.  I just know God is in the middle of it and we stand to see amazing things come about.  Of that I am sure.  Amazing what happens when many who are one in Him work together for Him.

A few photos before I fall into a jet lagged induced coma and then get up in 5 hours to do it all over again.

 
Tanya and I go waaay back.  She’s an angel with a voice and a laugh that somehow rises above the life at the orphanage in which she lives.  Tanya is sponsored through our Orphan Sponsorship Program by a family who lives in a Muslim country in the Middle East.  Ever thought about sponsoring a child through our program?  Let me know if so. 

These are but 3 of the Magnificent Many Mentors who serve as part of Best Friend and YouthReach International. Ruslan will be with us this whole week making key connections with business leaders we will meet.  Nastia, far right, has worked tirelessly to promote and carry out the SERVE Seminar.  No one in this whole country of 143,000,000 understands and believes in the SERVE Model more than Nastia.  Anya, middle, is on a flight to southern Vietnam tonight with her mom to enjoy a much needed vacation.  We were able to have a long lunch together yesterday to discuss the further relationship between Best Friend and YouthReach International.  What a wonderful partnership this already is!

(L to R) Philip, Scott, Al, Gulia, and Nastia celebrate the last handbook being put together tonight in the hotel lobby.  Speaking of team, what this crew did in 1 hour what would have taken most a half a day to complete. 

So, enough prep, enough promise, enough promotion.  It’s go time.  Your prayers for rest tonight and a great to start to a long day of meaningful, life giving  interaction tomorrow with our guests is asked for and appreciated.

In Him and For Him,

Rob and the 2012 Chick-fil-A/Best Friend/YouthReach International Team

Rob Browne Executive Director Director of Russian Operations rob@youthreach.org
678-935-0220 x103 Direct 404-518-5646 Cell 678-935-9674 Fax	http://www.youthreach.org           1911 Grayson Hwy, Ste 8-344           Grayson, GA 30017

Reaching to Russia - Here, Safe, and Ready to Go

Hello from Novosibirsk!

 

I and the Chick-fil-A team arrived this morning into Novosibirsk tired after an Atlanta to Los Angeles to Moscow to Novosibirsk sprint but excited about the week in front of us.  We look forward to working with the men and women God brings to us as we present the Chick-fil-A SERVE 1 and 2 Training for the 4^th year in a row here now.  Your prayers for Philip, Brandon, Al, Mark, Scott as well as Ruslan, Nastia, Gulia, Nelly, Olga, and Timur who will be part of the presentation are so very needed.

 

I actually bought and brought a camera with me this time as many of you have commented of late how appreciative you are of seeing pictures in these updates.  With that in mind, enjoy this picture of myself Brandon Mulkey (Lubbock, TX), Al Puglisi (Boca Raton, FL) and Scott Pleasants (Ft. Worth, TX) at Red Square last night in one of the most beautiful snow falls I’ve ever seen in this great land of many beautiful snow falls. 

 

Scott, Brandon, Al, and me at Red Square last night in Moscow.  Beautiful night of snow it was.

 

I have a meeting with our core Russian leadership team here in a few minutes while the Chick-fil-A guys sleep the trip off.  We’ll all visit an orphanage together later this evening and then enjoy dinner at a local mall with as many of our current, past, and future mentors as want to come.  It’ll be a wonderful start to a very, very busy and exciting week.

 

Thank you all again for standing with us in the ministry the way you do.

 

In Him,

Rob

 

 

Rob Browne Executive Director Director of Russian Operations   rob@youthreach.org
678-935-0220 x103 Direct 404-518-5646 Cell 678-935-9674 Fax	http://www.youthreach.org           1911 Grayson Hwy, Ste 8-344           Grayson, GA 30017

 

 

Ukraine Update - I am in Abilene

Hello Everyone-

 

I arrived safely into Abilene last evening.  The beautiful and talented Shana Morrow and our youngest of three daughters Elizabeth (also beautiful and talented) were waiting for me as I exited the terminal.

 

I am pretty tired but grateful to be back home.  There is a lot of good work to be done in Ukraine and I am anxious to get some strength back and begin forging ahead.

 

Thanks to all who walked through the last 15 days with me through prayer.  Our Lord's peace, presence, and wisdom were always with me and those I was blessed to interact with.

 

Gratefully,

Tony

 

Ukraine Update - Headed Home - Tuesday March 13th

Hello one last time from Donetsk,

 

Arthur will take me to the airport in about an hour.  

 

Once Arthur drops me off at the airport, he will return to the office, complete any final work that needs to be completed, and drive an hour and a half to his village where his wonderful family is waiting for him.

 

Hopefully, after a needed but short night’s rest, I will be on the shuttle to the airport and I will fly out from Munich to Frankfurt and on to DFW and Abilene where my wonderful wife and youngest daughter will be waiting for me.

 

I cannot express enough appreciation for those of you who have walked with me this far through prayer.  Prayers for these final two days of travel are requested and greatly appreciated.

 

Gratefully,
Tony

 

 

Ukraine Update and Pictures - March 11th

Hello Again From Crimea in Ukraine,

The Mentor Retreat was attended by 7 of our wonderful Mentors in Simferopol.  We were blessed by our very gracious friend Georges Carillet, the President and Professor of Bible and Christian Thought at Commonwealth International University (Crimean-American College), who allowed us to use their conference room to complete our retreat.  Thank You so Much Georges!

Arthur and I wearing the exact same shirts - shows unity

Me teaching (I knew each one of you would
want more photo's of me teaching 

God provided the strength and wisdom needed to positively and effectively complete each portion of the retreat.  For all of you who prayed for the retreat, thank you.  Feedback from our Mentors was very positive and encouraging.  Truly, we have a great group of Mentors in Crimea.

It is currently 2:45pm and Arthur is translating letters to and/or from children and sponsors and I am writing and/or returning e-mails.  

Vika, Anya, Sasha, and Masha -
four more of our wonderful Mentors in Simferopol. 

Sometime soon we will begin packing and preparing to head to the train station where we will board the night train from Simferopol to Donetsk.  We will board around 8:15pm and hopefully arrive into Donetsk around 6am on Monday morning.  Your prayers for safe travel and sleep are most welcome.

Be Strong and Courageous!

Tony

Ukraine Update and Picture - Friday March 9th

Hello All -

 

Thanks to all who prayed for a good night of rest.  I slept very well and am gaining some needed momentum as I begin preparations for the Mentor Retreat tomorrow.  Please remember to pray God's blessing upon our time tomorrow.  We have so many important things to cover and I do not want to hinder God's working in and through me so that all I say and do is exactly what needs to be said and done.

 

I have included a picture of me and Nina.  Nina works at a Kiosk in Simferopol and I found a very important gift for a very important person on one of her shelves.  She was very kind in helping me find the exact gift I needed.  She was gracious enough to take a picture with me, but was insistent that she receive a copy of this picture.

 

Arthur and I spent a couple of hours this morning brainstorming how to improve our Mentoring program so the children we serve can gain even more from what YouthReach International has to offer.  Arthur came up with some great ideas and we will work hard to develop a plan that can help these ideas become realities.

 

Arthur and I will continue conversations throughout the rest of my time here and, hopefully, we can gain a clear understanding of some key initiatives that we can work on together to strengthen YouthReach International's efforts in Ukraine.

 

Again, please be in prayer for the Mentor Retreat that begins tomorrow at 9am and will end sometime around 5 or 6 pm.  Truly I want all of us who attend to receive exactly what we need so as we leave we know our time together has been richly blessed.

 

Gratefully,

 

Tony

 

 

Ukraine Update: Wednesday March 7th

 

Hello Everyone!

 

First, and most important, THANK YOU for your prayers.  The trip to Gorlovka to visit with the Trade School Administration and the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education in Donetsk were absolutely wonderful.

 

Our meeting with the Social Protection and Counseling Director in Gorlovka was absolutely blessed as well.  We spent about an hour discussing how we could partner to better serve the orphan graduates at the trade school.  We have agreed wholeheartedly on future steps to take.  We have a lot of work to do, but it is very good work we will do.

 

The meeting with the Deputy Minister of Education was blessed as well.  We discussed how YouthReach International could help her serve the children who live in the Donetsk Region orphanages.  We came to a very clear agreement on how YouthReach International can help.  Again, a lot of very good work to be done.

 

So far the trip has been enlightening in a variety of ways and I am looking forward to seeing what our Lord has planned for our time in Simferopol.  Arthur and I leave on the night train to Simferopol at 8:15pm tonight and should arrive into Simferopol at about 5:15am on Thursday Morning.  We will have access to Internet at the hotel where we will stay so I should be able to provide an update sometime Thursday evening.

 

Be strong and courageous!!

Tony

 

Reaching to Russia - A Jaw Dropping Announcement

Atlanta airport.  Concourse B.  Gate 3.  Wednesday, March 7.  I was sitting in the gate area waiting for my flight to board.  Like most travelers these days I was l listening to my iPod and working away on my computer.  My back was to the TV monitor showing CNN Airport News.  I could hear nothing other than the interview I was listening to.

 

For some reason, I looked up and saw the faces of 100 plus people fixed on the TV above my head.  People literally had their jaws agape.  Most pulled their earbuds out to hear what was the on the TV.  Others simply turned off their iPods/computers so they could hear.  All were intently focused on what they were seeing and hearing.

 

It was one of those moments where I both wanted to and dreaded at the same time turning around to see what had captured everyone’s attention.  A school shooting?  A terrorist attack?  A kidnapping?  An airplane crash?  My heart sank.  What would cause an entire gate house at the world busiest airport to be so transfixed on a 20 inch video monitor? 

 

I spun around with a knot in my stomach and got my answer.

 

Apple is releasing the iPad 3. 

 

 

I’ll be honest.  I rolled my eyes.  As I am often likely to do, I started to craft a story around this curious moment I had just observed and participated in.  It’s the curse/blessing of being a habitual story teller I guess.  I wheeled my head back around and typed this:

 

4G internet causes our jaw to drop but 1 out 10 Russian orphans killing themselves before 18 years old may or may not illicit any lasting response.

HD graphics pulls our attention away from our work but a small army of volunteers mentoring orphans in Siberia barely lifts our heads.

An improved (and they said “much needed”) camera calms the mind of the future consumer but 200 plus kids needing a sponsor does little to move us.

 

 

And finally, I wrote this too:

 

May I be slow to judge others when they see a need and quick to respond myself when I see a need. 

 

I see a need.  I really do.  And I am committed to a response that lessens or alleviates that need where possible.  While my job is to respond to that need as a leader of an organization, my heart is not always as in touch with that response as it should be.  I have found myself praying recently, “Lord align my actions fully with my heart.  Even more Father, align my actions with your heart.  Actually God, align my heart with your heart.”

 

Am I alone in needing an alignment of some sort? 

 

My flight home is boarding now.  I gotta run…

 

 

Rob Browne Executive Director Director of Russian Operations   rob@youthreach.org
678-935-0220 x103 Direct 404-518-5646 Cell 678-935-9674 Fax	http://www.youthreach.org           1911 Grayson Hwy, Ste 8-344           Grayson, GA 30017

 

 

Ukraine Update from Tony Morrow

Hello Everyone!

 

The Donetsk Mentor Retreat has concluded.  God richly blessed each of the three sessions and, even though I am a bit tired from speaking and facilitating, my heart is full of peace and thanksgiving.  A sincere "Thank You" to all of you who were praying for this event.  God responded to these petitions and provided everything that was needed.  Please see attached photo - The Kirovsky church of Christ blessed us with the use of their building and fed us a wonderful lunch and dinner.  A very big THANK YOU to Arthur Ohanov (The Preacher at this congregation) and the wonderful ladies who worked so hard to feed all of us.

 

After (hopefully) a good night of rest, Arthur, me, and 3 Mentors will make the hour and a half journey to the orphanage in Snezhnoye.  We will give cards and pictures to the sponsored children, share pictures of our 2011 summer mission trip with all of the children, gain as many letters and pictures from all of the children that we can, and give as many children as much heartfelt attention as we can before we begin the journey back to Donetsk.

 

Have a wonderful day!!

 

--
Tony Morrow

Director of Ukraine Operations

Youthreach International

 

Reaching to Russia - Two of Three Trainings in Russia and Ukraine Are Completed

Hello from Atlanta!

What an amazing week last week was in Novosibirsk.  14 Mentors from three cities gathered together at the Bethlehem Retreat Center for 3 days of training that I truly believe will be seminal in the ongoing work of YouthReach International in Russia.  Thank you to all who prayed and especially to Mike Neill and Margaret Moore who accompanied me on this great adventure.  Their teaching, prayers, and hearts for our ministry were evident from the moment we arrived in Novosibirsk. 


Mike Neill, Margaret Moore, Rob Browne, and Lilya Stasuk (orphan turned mentor in our ministry) enjoy a walk in the forest during our retreat.

Though many of our mentor team could not join us due to work or studies or other commitments it was clear that the teachings of Mike and Margaret will have long term ongoing impact on all of our work.  Mike's reminder of the worthiness of the call they are answering and Margaret's challenge to infuse spiritual disciplines into their daily walk will provide strength and renewal for them all going forward.


These are some of the people who serve so humbly and consistently the orphans and at risk youth in Novosibirsk, Tomsk, and Big Lake, Russia.

As noted before, such gatherings are now happening in Ukraine as well where YouthReach International Director of Ukrainian Operations, Tony Morrow, is leading two gatherings, this weekend and next weekend, in both regions of Ukraine where YouthReach International is working.  Please pray for his and Arthur's energy as they teach, train, travel, visit, plan, network, and encourage. 


Tony Morrow leads our Ukraine Mentor Team during an all day gathering at the Kirovsky Church of Christ in Donetsk, Ukraine.

Finally, what would a trip to Russia be without getting to visit some of the children in our program.  After returning to the city and attending worship at Reconciliation Church (one of our dearest partner churches) some of us were able to run to St. Nicholas' Orphanage and play in the snow/ice with those we adore.  It truly was another one of those trips where you go to give but you receive far more than you could have possibly imagined. 


It's NEVER too cold to play outside if you are a real Siberian!  It was a joy to spend some time with kids on Sunday evening after our retreat.

Again, your prayers, encouragement, and support all fill in wonderfully to help this ministry thrive. Thank you all for each role you fill in this great story.  In all things, to Him and Him only be the glory!

Gratefully yours,
Rob

Rob Browne Executive Director Director of Russian Operations rob@youthreach.org
678-935-0220 x103 Direct 404-518-5646 Cell 678-935-9674 Fax	http://www.youthreach.org           1911 Grayson Hwy, Ste 8-344           Grayson, GA 30017