Vlad
Saturday afternoon we got to spend some time with Vlad. He’s doing great and of course was glad to see us after so many months of not being given permission to do so apart from through a glass partition and even then - only family members.
It was somewhat surreal driving up and seeing him waiting on the road for us outside the complex. The building he works in is visible behind him and Matvey in the picture. He is part of a 30-man crew which makes plastic cups 12 hours a day right now. We met in the building to the right of Matvey and warmed ourselves by standing around in the small kitchen area where Vlad served us coffee that we’d brought with us – cooking it up on the electric stove.
He called yesterday morning and asked if we could find him an mp3 player to listed to songs/sermons on as they have a “lights-out” policy and are often just lying there of an evening with nothing to do.
He has hopes of being moved closer to make it easier for his family and friends to visit and says that theoretically, this could happen within a month of the wheels being set in motion following an “incentive” in the right place.
There is a lot more freedom for these guys than where he was before. We can drop in anytime for a visit. If he gives the guards a packet of ciggies, he can go to the store just down the road even! Telephones are no problem and because the prisoners he’s working with are not so much of the violent crim element, personal items are safer. He’s happy and it sounds like is in a good place in his relationship with the Lord.
All in all, we are thankful so much to the Lord for His care and blessing.
Oh! Olya Shastlivaya, Vlad’s Mum, has been coming to church every week she can and truly it’s a delight having her.