July 24, 2002
Today was a long one! We were urged to get up early for
breakfast and an early departure- 8:30. I woke up not feeling
too well, but I started off the day as usual with push-ups, sit-ups,
and a bit of first Peter. The passage this morning was on 1
Peter 3:1-7. This is a passage I have looked at much, but I took
a different approach this time in study- looking at us as the
bridegroom of Christ. It revealed to me how I should behave with
Christ as my supreme ruler. That started off the day very well,
except that I was dehydrated and feeling sick. In the morning I
helped Artyom, Becky Leonard, and Becca Tiede gather orders from the
missionaries to get souvenirs at discount price from a place called
Ismylova (spelling is probably horrible), in order that we might bring
them back and present them as tokens of gratitude and prayer reminders
to our supporters back home. Everyone seemed very
tired. The bus came late, again, and it seemed as though we were
heading toward disaster. Singing went okay- it seemed we were
just exhausted and our hearts weren't in it. I was to do the
devotional for the day, so I turned to Matthew 11, regarding finding
our rest in Christ. The message was brief, but then we went into
singing "All in All" at my request. I believe the Word and
singing really helped energize the group, which made me very happy.
We stopped by two correctional facilities to help 'retarded' children
(which in Russia just means they are a little slow in developing), and
give them gifts along with the Gospel.
The first group I encountered was very attentive and joyful- we
could not believe they were 'challenged'. Many accepted Christ
after Tom Miller did a wonderful job talking to them and answering
their questions, especially with regard to one asked about September
11th. We left the children very happy with their gifts, and
Christ. I did some playing on the guitar, and the children loved
it. They wanted me to plat more and were fascinated by Red
Raider. It felt so good to have the guitar with me, and I
immediately knew everything was fitting into God's plan. The
pieces of wisdom and guidance He had given me were coming to a
coherent whole. I can only see a part, but what I see is right
and good.
After this visit we went to a more
severely challenged group of students down the road. We were
given an incredible presentation in Russian music and traditional
dance, which we all enjoyed thoroughly. At this point, I was
starving and feeling really sick, as well as being tired and moody,
but God pulled me through along with strong teammates. After the
presentation was over, we separated into our teams and mine took a
group of eight boys, probably aged eleven to fourteen. I played
a song for them, and then after Melinda and Paula gave their
introductions with pictures I showed them mine, which flowed directly
into a Gospel presentation to them. They listened intently, and
all eight prayed to receive Christ. We gave them More than a
Carpenter flipbooks with the Gospel of John attached to the back,
along with a pictoral Bible. They were also given bouncy balls,
rubber insects, candy, Gospel Bead Bracelets, and explanations of the
bracelets. They also asked for me to play more for them and
afterwards asked for my autograph, which I gladly gave them, along
with my interpreter signing in John 3:16 under each one in Russian.
I am confident that firms seeds were planted and given water to grow
there. After this meeting, we left to eat and enjoy some
incredible Russian cuisine, thanks to the generosity of our hosts.
I ate my first Caviar, which I heartily devoured partially because I
was hungry, and partially because I had to play the part of a man and
devour the disgusting food! Regardless, it was about 3:30 when
we ate, and we were told to eat lightly in order that we would have
room for dinner tonight. Well, we finished, heard a good talk by
the director, who was an amazing woman who had lost an arm in a train
wreck, but geared her life to proclaim a message of the worth of life,
which she instills in her pupils today. She emphasized that
regardless of condition, these children, as all of us, are born to
live. Many will graduate from the school and make very healthy
salaries, even better than her own! They had a school shop
showcasing some of their products and earning support from their
school. I was very impressed by the products and bought a couple
trillets for my Mother there, who had actually requested some via
email the day before! Coincidence (trillets were pretty dang
hard for me to find in Russia! I think those were the only two I
ever came across...)? I feel God's hand guiding me, though I do
sense rebellion in my own heart. I must continually surrender
myself to God. We met back at the hotel after about an hour bus
ride through scenic Russian forests, and then departed to go to
families who would host us for the evening.
I had the fortunate opportunity to be
hosted by a Russian minister who spoke fluent English, along with his
wife, Natasha. They were very hospitable and the three hours we
were there with them flew by. After much enjoyable conversation
with them, the team headed back. It was about 9:30, and I was
starving again, for it had been some time since I had eaten last (the
host family had not been made aware of our need for supper!). I
hired my interpreter to take me to McDonalds along with a couple
others - Josh and Ramona, Josh a young man who worked at Raytheon, and
Ramona a sweet mother who kept telling me how much her son Rusty and I
have in common. It was a delightful evening, including such fun
as getting myself caught in the gate to the Metro train, twice.
A lovely little alarm went off and these metal arms came up and
smacked me where guys don't like to be smacked. It turns out
that you were supposed to put your ticket in on the left and
walk through on the right, whereas I had done the opposite and
was quite embarrassed for it all. We had a wonderful time
enjoying a little bit of the night in Moscow and returned back to the
hotel at about 11:00. I thank God for being here- I am so
blessed. This is amazing- I will seize the day and hold no
regrets. I shall charge forward in love to shate the Gospel.
Beginning and ending in Christ- I find my rest in Him and commit this
night and tomorrow to Him. There is no better place to be than
in His arms, and I count myself blessed beyond all measure to be here,
and be His child. Amen! And praise God! |