Trying
to schedule for classes. Suzanne wishes we could borrow this scheduling
program at school in Russia.Hi from the Achgills!
(June 28, 2005)
We are now embarked on our long planned year furlough states side. We will head back to Russia one year from now. For the first time our hi and bye will not be in the same breath!
As you may remember we have been planning to have our first ever year-long furlough to coincide with the time period that our oldest daughter, Merinda, enters College. She has for the most part grown up in Russia – a developing (whitewashed 3rd world country) - and we want to be there for her as she re-enters the American culture. A noteworthy quote as we were packing: "How do I pack my whole life into 2 cardboard boxes?!" Another quote: "…you can plop me down anywhere in Europe and I’d be fine, but how do I "be" an American?" She’s doing great so far, actually they all are!!!
Trying
to schedule for classes. Suzanne wishes we could borrow this scheduling
program at school in Russia.
What is Furlough? It is a required, mandatory, necessary, home assignment. We simply delayed ours for as long as possible to coincide with this stage of our lives. It’s used to re-tool, re-fresh, re-group, re-connect and in some cases re-train, somewhere after 7-10 or in our case 12 years, overseas.
When you are the human resources department, the transportation dep’t, the payroll dep’t, the communications dep’t, the PR dep’t, the recruitment dep’t, and the counseling dep’t all rolled into one – there are many areas that need to be re-tooled and even re-thought. But it takes too much time away from ministry when we are on the field, and the resources for all of that are usually not there. One goal is to make at least one short term mission trip to another part of the world to widen my view on what God is doing with other peoples, as well as taking some University level classes. I have several others and would love to talk with you some more about our time at home.
We have 2 very interesting options that we are praying about for ministry during this time at home. One is to be located in our old neighborhood and minister to the Russian professional population that works on the Space Station program at Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake Texas. We will be involved with discipleship to these and others in the professional world that we came out of 13 years ago before going to Russia. The second option would put us in College Station, Texas, working with International Students. Please pray with us for guidance and the logistics involved with each, and to be settled before school starts!
I will continue to make progress toward deployment of my world wide literacy computer program. I am working now on organizing reading primer material content. I talked with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) this week and they said I can use, free of charge, any of their discontinued Bible story graphic figures. This fills a long term desire of mine to add Bible stories with graphics to the His Hands Reader program. I want to make the path of learning to read fun for kids around the world. Reading the story of Ruth or the parables of Jesus with graphics will be timeless and interesting reading venue. These stories in Easy English format will help Chinese school children in learning English in their public schools. Prayerfully…translations of these stories will help Afghan kids learn to read their native language(s). I am looking for a volunteer to write the primer text to go with these stories. Do you know of someone who would be interested in rewriting these CEF Bible stories into Easy English format? Please have them contact me BobAchgill@hotmail.com
We will be using this time to catch up with you! We are set up for free minutes on Cingular 7 to 7 evenings Central Time … so please feel free to call us.
| Bob 713-456-9595 | Suz 713-456-9596 |
| Merinda 713-456-9597 | Dustin or Amber 713-456-9598 |
The "leaving" process was both hard and special. It is as though the depth of relationships is only fathomed when it comes time to say good-bye, even temporary good-byes. God has richly blessed us with experiencing that special dynamic with our Russian friends and disciples. We saw lots of new growth in openness to the Lord among old yet unsaved friends and listening to the Lord via Quiet Times among disciples in this past few months - growth that you often only see after years of service. With the advent of Cell Phone text messaging - sharing things gleaned from our time in God’s Word is only a message away since many of those whom we disciple have cell phones. :o)
Please let me know if there are some special things you want me to know, do or consider during this time back in the States.
As you pray for us you can picture 5 little vapor clouds. God has us right where He wants us to be in feeling pretty frail and dependent on Him. We are at His disposal to blow us wherever He wants us to His glory.
Bob Achgill
P.S. For those of you that have more time – print off the following attachment for some bedtime reading – a life with God is always an adventure and we really do count it a privilege to be in Russia!!! Thank you for keeping us there!! Click Here!!
Here’s a tickler…
" I’m sorry sir, you do not have a registration for your dog…" Lufthansa clerk
" But there is no bottom for the dog cage?!" Suz
" Where is it that I met you?" Rin
" Mom, let’s rent a Hummer?!" Dustin and Amber to Suz at rental car place in Dallas
An
official Aggie.
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ACHGILL CONTACT INFO While Stateside |
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June 28 - July 17 –Alabama area. Cell phone contact only as we’ll be on the road. I’ll definitely be available on Sunday July 10 and possibly the 17th. July 17 – August 20 – Clear Lake (Houston), TX Area Other planned trips to date:
BobAchgill@hotmail.com Cell: 713-456-9595 SuzanneAchgill@hotmail.com Cell: 713-456-9596
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Temporary Home address:Bob Achgill 15306 Ashburton Houston, TX 77040 |