One of the many "babushkas" (grandmas) who pick flowers in the woods and fields, then sell them in the city for a few cents. Anita's bouquet cost about eighty cents. 

A Russian Orthodox prayer chapel wedged into the shops and offices which crowd the street leading to the Institute for Officers Training. 

This is the black cat we pet nearly each day. She seems to waith on us and approach us for a pet when we materialize on her section of the sidewalk. 

Here is our educational facility, Divisional Headquarters, and Taganka Corps. The last section of building on the right is an adjoining facility, and another building adjoins us on the rear of the building, so that we only have windows on two sides of the facility. 

"Salvation Army Karl Larsson Center, Divisional Headquarters of Russia, Taganka Corps and Social Center" 

Our offices on the third floor of the Karl Larsson Center. Eight people work in this relatively small area. Brad has recently relocated into the kitchen. 

Cadets arrive! Again...

We received the second half of the Heralds of the Good News and have been conducting classes with them for two weeks now. They come from Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania. Our Georgian cadets could not come due to visa complications, so we will send Captain Gia Mchedlishvilli to teach them for two weeks. We hope to resolve the cadets' visa issues very soon.

Brad and Anita visited Finland while renewing their registrations. All foreigners in our Salvation Army in Moscow must leave the country in order to renew registrations. We attended two worship meetings on Sunday while in both Helsinki and Poorvo--and we found an interpreter at both!

Brad has completed three more hours towards his Masters of Divinity, and starts the next three in just another week. Anita is busy this week with the Five Year Officers' Seminar, a review we conduct over a week's time with all officers completing five years service.

Thanks for all your emails, talks on the computer-phone, and support for our three sons while we are away. We appreciate each of you! Please leave comments--I have adjusted the blog to receive your impressions.

Cadets Ionuts (pronounced YO-noots) and Natasha carry out a skit during doctrine class. 

Anita preaches on Cadet Welcome Sunday. Captain Pasha Gorbonov interprets. 

Captain Svetta Sharova, newly installed Assistant Training Principal, dedicates the session flag as the Heralds of the Good News look on. We worked with Svetta and her husband Sasha in Moldova. 

Second intake of our Heralds of the Good News cadets. 

Anita with officers from Finland and Sweden. 

Songsters in the Swedish Corps adjacent to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters in Helsinki. 

Anita models with the large Lutheran Church (where we saw a wedding!) in the background. 

Beautiful Lutheran Church in Helsinki, Finland, where we visited while renewing our registration. 

Brad and Cliff share a birthday (August 31), but Brad does not want to share the cake. 

Caldwells overseas

Anita's feet continue to improve following her dual surgeries. Jason and Jaron should be back in classes at their respective colleges any day now. Brad is preparing his curriculum for continuing education and local officers' training (for lay leaders in our churches).

Also, we had a nice bit of cheesecake today, which presented us a fresh opportunity to chat about matters not tied to work. Nice to be in love...

Caldwells overseas

Cadets arrive!

The first half of the Heralds of the Good News have spent the month of August attending classes in Moscow and preparing for their upcoming Spring Campaign in St. Petersburg. Cadets from Ukraine, Moldova, and Russia have studied Salvation Army doctrines, competencies for officership, public ministry skills, creative prayer seminar, the Salvation Army Minute Book, and foundational skills. They depart tomorrow for St. Pete and then return home for two months of work in their various appointments. In November they will be back in class.

The second half of the Heralds arrives in Moscow in September to take the same classes just taught to their sessionmates. The two halves will not meet officially until the Eastern Europe Territory's Fifteenth Anniversary Congress with the new Salvation Army General in September, 2006!

Major Alexander Kharkov addresses the cadets in his sermon on their welcome Sunday. 

Colonel Raemor Pobjie dedicates the new session flag for the Heralds of the Good News. The second half of this session will arrive in September, while the first half returns home. The two halves will not meet officially for over a year! 

Svetta Gherman is greeted by Colonel Barry Pobjie on welcome Sunday for the Heralds of the Good News. 

Commissioning weekend

A flurry of activity consumed the cadets of the Preparers of the Way Session as they polished off last minute tasks before their big day. Following two years of flexible training (group classes in Moscow combined with service in their own individual corps back home) the Preparers would soon become Captains in The Salvation Army, one couple in Poland. The other captins would spread themselves throughout Romania, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova.

A full day of worship and reflection was given to signing personal covenants of service as future officers. Many responded to the messages of our Territorial leaders by praying at a makeshift altar in the meetings' rented hall.

Members of the USA South Summer Service Team played in the small but spirited brass band which marched cadets up to the platform and into their futures of ministry and witness for Jesus Christ.

Anita and Brad with two of their three sons at the commissioning service in the Izmahlova Complex. 

Cadets saw wood for the barbeque fire during the final celebration picnic during a trip well outside the urban boundaries of Moscow. 

Anita performs a duet with Captain Pasha Gorbunov during the post-commissioning concert. 

New Salvation Army Captains Beso Niberdze and Andre Inutochikin place their second year cadet bars on newly promoted second year cadet Kostya Jmakin during commissioning weekend in Moscow. 

Anita helps commission Cadet Maureen Diffley, a USA Southern Territory cadet who completed her training in Russia. 

Summer service members perform at Eastern Europe Territory Comissioning. 

Our sons await instructions at our Mission Training and Education Center lobby. We are so glad to see them face to face!

Cadets covenant day

Today our second-year cadets--so near their ordination through comissioning--sign their covenants of service in a day-long series of worship meetings to celebrate their dedication.

The Preparers of The Way sang songs, gave testimonies of their feelings about becoming officers, and signed a unique document in which they pledge their life's service to God. Their faces reflected excitement and accomplishment as two years of training, both on the field and intensive united classes in Moscow, come to an end...or to a new beginning!

Colonel Barry Pobjie, our Territorial Commander, recalled his early days of success and sacrifice as a young officer. Chief Secretary Lt. Colonel Bo Brekke recalled how he signed his application to become an officer by travelling to a darkened Divisional Headquarters, only to meet the Chief Secretary coming to building--at 10:30 at night!

Tomorrow is Commissioning--13 new Captains on the planet, and in God's Kingdom.