Prayer Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

A lot has happened since we were married two and a half years ago. Between finishing college, three moves, and the birth of two daughters, we’ve been pretty busy. The Lord truly has blessed us!

Right now we are serving in our home church, Calvary Chapel Bozeman, as Sunday School teachers and worship leaders. Jason is working for a company run by believers building cabinets and countertops, and Rachel is blessed to be able to stay at home with the girls.

As many of you know, in the past few years we have been feeling the Lord call us to serve Him in Russia. He has burdened our hearts for the orphans and street children, and we desire to some day use our little family to show them the love of Christ.

While the Lord has not yet shown us an open door for long-term ministry, this year He seems to be opening the door for us to move to the city of Blagoveshchensk, Russia, to attend language school at Amur State University. We believe that the Lord is leading us there to learn the Russian language and culture in preparation for future ministry.

Blagoveshchensk is a city of about 200,000 people located on the Amur River, which has formed Russia's border with China since 1858. It is the administrative center of the Amur Oblast (kind-of like a state) in far-eastern Siberia.

While in “Blago” we will be coming along-side another family from our home church, the Pauls. They have been in Russia since August 2007 and are currently in Blago attending language school and building relationships with English speaking students at the university. We are confident that in our time there God will open up opportunities to build relationships, plant seeds, and show the love of Christ to the Russian (and Chinese) people.

Currently, our departure month for Russia is January 2009. The day has yet to be figured out, as we are still waiting on letters of invitation from the university. We have been led by the Lord not to go under any mission organization, but instead be sent out by our home church.

As we prepare to move our family overseas, we ask you to come along-side us in prayer. There is much work to be done here in the States before we leave, as well as when we get to Russia. Please pray that the Lord would go before us, as we desire to trust fully in Him and not lean on our own understanding. Your prayers are a vital aspect of our ministry and training. If you feel led to support us financially, please make checks payable to Calvary Chapel Bozeman, with a note indicating that it is for the Todds in Russia. The church address is Calvary Chapel Bozeman, P.O. Box 3236, Bozeman, MT 59772.

Thank you for your love and prayers. We pray that our Father will richly bless each of you.