Our Sunday in Siberia has come and gone and we have many things to write about the day. It started with a visit with some children who were gathered to meet us. We traveled to their location and when we drove up in the bus, we were greeted by several of them standing outside the front door waving and shouting "Hello" in English. That warmed our hearts because we didn't really have any idea how we would be received. That first moment removed any doubts. The picture that was included in yesterday's post is showing Dave telling a story to the children. Of the roughly 100 children present, many were captivated by the stories and activities. Below is Matthew playing Simon Says. That was a big hit with the kids.
Next we went to the noontime church service which was great even though it was all in Russian. Another minor miracle was that the topic of Ilya's message was on the importance of parental involvement in the spiritual training of children. The amazing part is that I had prepared a few short words of encouragement for the church should I have gotten called up to speak and what I had prepared was also on that topic. Well, you can imagine how we felt when we started hearing Ilya's message from the translator. I'm thinking that we are running into too many of these little "coincidences" to consider them anything other than the providence of God.
The next thing on the schedule was lunch. And what a lunch it was! The wonderful lady in the kitchen has been serving up some great feasts. Below is a shot of the latest spread.
Next, we went with a group from the church to a neighborhood where there is a large concentration of drug addicts and people who are outcasts of society. A major ministry focus of the church in Russia is to preach the gospel to the large drug and alcohol addicted population. This being probably the single largest social problem in Russia, is also an excellent opportunity to share the hope of the gospel to people who experientially can understand that they have no other hope. For many of us who live a fairly comfortable life and feel pretty good about ourselves, it's easier to think that we are doing just fine without God. Here, the costumes of wealth, status, and style disappear into a vapor leaving the unvarnished reality that is in all of us without the grace of God.
So, every Sunday afternoon Ilya brings a group from the church in a bus to speak to people in this neighborhood. They invite those that they meet to come to church and ofer a ride on the bus. There were enough of us to split into three teams. Nate, Emily, Elizabeth, and I went with Ilya and and another translator. Matthew and Josh went with other translators including Ilya's daughter, and Dave's family went with Ilya's wife and other translators. Our group started by walking around outside the buildings and speaking with groups of people on the street. Because Ilya comes here every Sunday afternoon, many of the locals know him and speak to him as such. After a while, Ilya led us into the buildings.
I really can't describe what we saw in the stairways, corridors, and apartments and I don't have any pictures. What I can tell you is that Ilya knocked on apartment doors and he spoke to whoever answered. He asked them if they wanted to visit the church or if they wanted us to pray for them right there. Some didn't even open the door, some did but and were visibly drunk or strung out on something. Others were more curious and a few actually wanted us to pray for them including a man named Igri whose daughter was very sick in the apartment. I spoke to him with Ilya as interpreter and Igri and I really made a conenction. He was visibly moved by the words that we exchanged. Please pray for Igri and his family.
As we were waking down the apartment stairs to leave, we were passed by police walking up the stairs in the process of doing a drug raid. When we left the building, there was a van full of police unloading and people scatering everywhere.
The group with Josh and Matthew ended up speaking with some children and then got involved in an impromptu soccer game. The picture below is of Matthew and Josh challenging the entire Russian team. Some of those children ended up coming on the bus and attending church that night.
That night, our team did a presentation for the children at the church and then gave out dolls and scarfs. They were very well received.
That night we met a very friendly 16 year old young man from the church. His name is Israel and is English was quite good. He was so enjoyable to talk to and he really hit it off with our young men.
Here, Matthew is making a dinner choice. Josh's comment on this was that the way to eat one of these fish is to "Close eyes; open mouth; repeat if necessary"
I leave you with this funny little story. Monday morning I needed to exchange dollars for rubles at the hotel ATM and, being the big spending American that I am, I seem to have drained the machine of every last ruble! Everyone else is coming to me for rubles now. Can you say entrepreneur?
Next we went to the noontime church service which was great even though it was all in Russian. Another minor miracle was that the topic of Ilya's message was on the importance of parental involvement in the spiritual training of children. The amazing part is that I had prepared a few short words of encouragement for the church should I have gotten called up to speak and what I had prepared was also on that topic. Well, you can imagine how we felt when we started hearing Ilya's message from the translator. I'm thinking that we are running into too many of these little "coincidences" to consider them anything other than the providence of God.The next thing on the schedule was lunch. And what a lunch it was! The wonderful lady in the kitchen has been serving up some great feasts. Below is a shot of the latest spread.
Next, we went with a group from the church to a neighborhood where there is a large concentration of drug addicts and people who are outcasts of society. A major ministry focus of the church in Russia is to preach the gospel to the large drug and alcohol addicted population. This being probably the single largest social problem in Russia, is also an excellent opportunity to share the hope of the gospel to people who experientially can understand that they have no other hope. For many of us who live a fairly comfortable life and feel pretty good about ourselves, it's easier to think that we are doing just fine without God. Here, the costumes of wealth, status, and style disappear into a vapor leaving the unvarnished reality that is in all of us without the grace of God.So, every Sunday afternoon Ilya brings a group from the church in a bus to speak to people in this neighborhood. They invite those that they meet to come to church and ofer a ride on the bus. There were enough of us to split into three teams. Nate, Emily, Elizabeth, and I went with Ilya and and another translator. Matthew and Josh went with other translators including Ilya's daughter, and Dave's family went with Ilya's wife and other translators. Our group started by walking around outside the buildings and speaking with groups of people on the street. Because Ilya comes here every Sunday afternoon, many of the locals know him and speak to him as such. After a while, Ilya led us into the buildings.
I really can't describe what we saw in the stairways, corridors, and apartments and I don't have any pictures. What I can tell you is that Ilya knocked on apartment doors and he spoke to whoever answered. He asked them if they wanted to visit the church or if they wanted us to pray for them right there. Some didn't even open the door, some did but and were visibly drunk or strung out on something. Others were more curious and a few actually wanted us to pray for them including a man named Igri whose daughter was very sick in the apartment. I spoke to him with Ilya as interpreter and Igri and I really made a conenction. He was visibly moved by the words that we exchanged. Please pray for Igri and his family.
As we were waking down the apartment stairs to leave, we were passed by police walking up the stairs in the process of doing a drug raid. When we left the building, there was a van full of police unloading and people scatering everywhere.
The group with Josh and Matthew ended up speaking with some children and then got involved in an impromptu soccer game. The picture below is of Matthew and Josh challenging the entire Russian team. Some of those children ended up coming on the bus and attending church that night.
That night, our team did a presentation for the children at the church and then gave out dolls and scarfs. They were very well received.
That night we met a very friendly 16 year old young man from the church. His name is Israel and is English was quite good. He was so enjoyable to talk to and he really hit it off with our young men.
Here, Matthew is making a dinner choice. Josh's comment on this was that the way to eat one of these fish is to "Close eyes; open mouth; repeat if necessary"
I leave you with this funny little story. Monday morning I needed to exchange dollars for rubles at the hotel ATM and, being the big spending American that I am, I seem to have drained the machine of every last ruble! Everyone else is coming to me for rubles now. Can you say entrepreneur?
2 comments:
Wow, huh?
A-yuh!
Is that how the maniacs say it?
Can't wait to hear more - stay tuned..
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