New Beginning in Moscow

Our Provost in Moscow, Ilya Okhotnikov, has a new post on his blog. You can click here for his blog. But for your convenience here is his post regarding the beginning of the school year in Moscow.

September 1 is a National Holiday in Russia. September 1 is the Day of Knowledge. All level students\puples go to school on September 1. Kindergarden and preschool kids start it all on September 1. First graders (like Daniella this year) start schooling on Sep. 1. All the other students of school age go to school on Sep. 1. Even University students - all start Universies on Sep. 1. National wide. 11 time zones. Sepetember 1 - all the children on 1/6 of land go to school. National Day of Knowledge.

This 2008 year Eurasian Seminary is not an exception: we also start training of ministers for His work and ministry in Moscow. More than 20 extension program and more than 25 residential program students and their family members begin their training this September 1. New students of the 1st year come from different places of Russia: Siberian republic of Tyva, southern town of Volgodonsk in Rostov region, another southern town of Cherkessk in the Russian Northern Caucasian region, and from Moscow region. Among new students we have two new couples. Couples proved to be the most efficient ministers and most stable and dedicated graduates. ETSM totally for its short 10-th year history trained and equipped 10 couples. 9 of them are in the ministry!

Having the License "to do education" allowes the Seminary to have good standing with the authorities and the government in Russia, in Moscow, in our local city district and county's administration. Thank you once again for keeping the Seminary in your prayers and remebering our needs of official recognition of trhe education and for that long awaited license. Thank you very much!

As for our family: we enter into a new stage of our family life. This new stage for a family begins when 1st child goes to school. It is the time of anxiety and expectation for the child to do the best. Daniella is not the first born. Polina is our first daughter, she is 14. Polinais a very special daughte r of ours. She is in special care hospital as of Aug. 7, 2006. Daniella is the first child in our family who goes to school.We are excited about this new stage in Daniella's life and wish and pray for the best. Your prayers for us as a family and for the Seminary are very much appreciated.