A letter from Joe and Hannah Kang in Russia
Spring 2011
Dear Friends
Privet, dorogai druzia! (How are you, dear friends?)
Joe and Hannah in front of a snow mound in mid-March
Warm Christian greetings from the still snow-covered outskirts of St. Petersburg to you all! The rising temperature is slowly melting mounds of snow away day by day, probably until Easter. At this part of the globe, it is quite normal that we celebrate the Easter in snow. This last winter has been unusually snowy and cold as well.
Hannah and I hope that this last and short letter from St. Petersburg finds you all in good health and with meaningful life in the midst of the incredible natural disaster in Japan and turbulent situation in the Middle East and Northern Africa.
Joe teaching the fourth Gospel for his last semester.
Since our current terms of service will come to their conclusion by the end of September, this final semester seems to be passing quite quickly. In two months, after giving all the end of semester exams and graduation exams, we are going to bid farewell to our endeared students and friends and pack for our return trip to the States for good.
As you might have seen in our previous mission letters, however, we will be leaving Russia without any feelings of reservation. Of course, we have mixed feelings, especially since we are completing our world mission career and moving into retirement. Both of us are pleased, though, to see that our work for developing leadership has produced quite a number of faithful and reliable leaders for the Lutheran Church in Russia and other states. It is true that there are many challenging issues in this church. The Lutheran communities as well as other Protestant churches in countries of the former Soviet Union are still struggling for complete religious freedom and, most of all, for financial independence.
Lena — Joe’s interpreter and successor.
Nonetheless, many of our graduates are serving their congregations very faithfully in those countries. Only a few examples: Detriech Brauer, a ‘05 graduate, has been newly elected as a bishop of the Lutheran Church in European Russia. At this Seminary, Joe’s interpreter, Ms. Lena Bondarenko, has been ordained and is taking over Joe’s teaching responsibilities in Biblical studies, and for the seminary leadership, Anton Tikhomirov, one of the first graduates, was reappointed as rector by the seminary board.
For all of these fruits of our ministry we thank the Lord and friends like you who have heartedly extended love, prayers and support for more than two decades of our work. It has been our great privilege and honor to work in close and strong partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States and our PC(USA).
Joe teaching his fourth Gospel class.
In early June we are going to move into Monte Vista Grove Homes, one of the Presbyterian retirement homes in Southern California (2889 San Pasqual St., Pasadena, CA 91107). We would certainly be able to visit friends and congregations more frequently and freely then and hope that we could see you in person as well in near future.
Once again we thank you so much for your continuous support and prayers, which kept us in an ever-renewing and strong sense of call for this ministry! May the Lord bless you all with much love and joyful life throughout this Lent and Easter!
Slova Bogu, Dasvidanya! (Praise the Lord and good bye!)
Your friends in Christ Jesus,
Joe and Hannah Kang
The 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 203
