In Moldova, the STM team will be paired with believers from another former Soviet Republic for up to five days doing works of service and evangelism. We will be working in villages helping those who are having difficulty helping themselves. We will do our work in the name of Christ. Primarily this focus will be on pensioners who no longer have the strength or mobility to care for their day to day needs. This 'daytime' service will provide an opportunity not only to be the tangible 'hands of Christ' in action but will also provide an opportunity for friendship evangelism. We are also arranging to put on rallies with Moldovan youth in the evenings.

In Ukraine, we will spend time with those we paired with in Moldova and others from another former Soviet Republic in an effort to prepare them for enhanced ministry when they return to their home country. Repression of believers continues in some of the former Soviet countries, and the EII STM has proven to be a time of encouragement for these believers. We will be meeting in a camp setting for encouragement of them by friendship and edification. In the past, the edification has been done by learning How To Study The Bible and Examining the Book of Acts. The study for the 2009 STM has yet to be determined. The edification role of each STM team member will be to support the leader (who is teaching overview of the NT) by facilitating small group discussion. Each member will be trained for this role with study questions provided for leading small group discussion.

EII's team is traditionally staffed by collegians and post-collegians. They will be serving to and with high school and college age Slavs. The EII team plays a very active role in one-on-one and group encouragement, edification and evangelism. Each participant will need to raise prayer supporters and approximately $3,500 for ministry expenses. The date for the 2009 trip is yet to be determined but most likely will occur in July. For more information or to indicate your interest in participating, contact Hal Hays at encouragehal@hotmail.com.