Mission Trip to Belizyersk

Last weekend I went on another mission trip to a town called Belizyersk, much like the one to Karilov. This time I was not able to go for the whole trip because I had to stay and teach English. So on Saturday after English lesson I rode with Abner, his wife Ira and their son Tyoma to join the team. I am glad to say that though it was a great and exciting trip it was not quite the same excitement as experienced in Karilov.

Pastor Vitaly and the church there have been going through a hard time lately. It is a small church and Vitaly, in order to feed his growing family, is trying to juggle work and pastoring his church at the same time. After a while both the church and Vitaly are starting to feel worn out. So when he saw what we did at Karilov he asked us to come and do the same. I got there at the tail end of the event, in time to participate in the last evangelical meeting. It was a good meeting. Sveta, Abner, and Lina gave their testimonies; we had a great time of worship, and a good message taught by Pastor Yuri from Karilov. After the meeting we all had dinner and I taught a short English lesson for those on the team who were not able to come to the lesson in the morning. Then the guys decided to go to the banya, or sauna. Now that was a different experience for me. Basically we hung out and talked in our birthday suits, switching from a hot room to a cool room. It was a good time though; I really like this group of guys, and only wish I could be more a part of the conversation. After a couple hours it was time to go home. And this is when Igor felt lead to ask if I would like to teach the following morning. It is now about 1:30 in the morning and I have not prepared to teach a thing. In fact I had forgotten my Bible in Igor’s car and hadn’t even really read the Bible in a few days. But I agreed; I’m not sure why but I felt like I should.

I spent next couple hours of that night and a couple hours in the morning at breakfast trying to figure out what to teach on. Finally I decided to teach out of John 14, when Jesus really starts preparing His disciples for Him to leave and teaches them about the Holy Spirit. I have been sort of mulling over this passage for a while, therefore I figured it was the most familiar to me. The teaching itself was different experience for me. I felt very awkward the whole time and was sure that no one was getting a thing out of it. I don’t remember feeling like this even the first time I lead a Bible study. I have never been one for needing a lot of notes, but still I have never really preached a sermon with so little preparation. It was really uncomfortable almost to the point of being painful. But in the end I felt led to ask if anyone wanted to accept Jesus, and to my joyful surprise one woman raised her hand. After a little while I then asked if anyone wanted to rededicate their lives or confess and make a new commitment to the Lord. Amazingly almost everyone raised their hands. I was shocked and didn’t quite know what to say. I lead them in prayer and Igor ended the service with some more encouraging words. After service a girl asked to talk with Igor and me about some problems she has been having. It was a thrill for me to be able to talk to her and encourage her in the Lord. I have never really done anything quite like this. I have taught plenty of Bible studies and even lead people to Jesus, but this was different, spur of the moment and out of my control.

At lunch I found out we were going to go to a nearby rehab center and I was expected to teach again. Well I didn’t know what to do because, if you ask me, the last study was a miracle! I did a study on John 15, abiding in the vine. Again this was tougher than anything I have done. Part of it was the translation process; it is hard for me to teach through a translator. The other part I found out later. Here in Russia there is a slightly different understanding of terminology. I believe it might be because of a few reasons. One, he Russian language itself and how people understand things because of their language. Another, might be an inclination to oversimplify or make things too practical, not realizing that good theology could lead to better practice. Part of it could also just be me and my understanding of terminology. But I do not think that terminology should be a big issue, as long as it isn’t a result of or it doesn’t result in wrong teachings or practices and it isn’t allowed to cause confusion or dissention. I am learning that I have to be careful with my words and learn to say things in a way that they will be understood. This will hopefully get better as I get better at Russian. All this is to say that the experience was very uncomfortable, but the Lord was able to touch the hearts of a couple of the people there. One man even made a step of faith and asked for prayer. So we laid hands on him and prayed.

I learned a couple things on this trip and left Belizyersk with mixed feelings. On the one hand I was burdened once again by the language barrier and the confusion it causes; on the other I was pumped to see the Spirit work, despite my own inadequacies. I learned I need to be prepared. Not that I should have Bible study notes in my back pocket, in case I need them. Rather I am talking about what Jesus was saying in John 7:38 referring to the Holy Spirit working in and through a believer saying, “…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” I want the Spirit to move in me like that. I want to have the word planted in my soul and made alive by the Spirit, so that I can teach a study at the drop of the hat because I have His words living and working in me. God is teaching me through the Russian tradition of last minute planning and Igor’s last minute inspirations that I have become complacent. I do not really dig in the word for myself but only to share it with others, and I have been doing things in my own strength all this time. Of course I would not have been able to do anything I have done if I was not working in the Spirit, but am learning there is always room to grow in your relationship and dependency on the Holy Spirit.

Once again I thank all of you for your faithful prayers and support. It is a privilege for me to be able to do this, and you are making it possible for me. I would ask that you please keep me in prayer, that I would have rivers of flowing water, that I would walk closer with the Spirit and remove any obstacles that might be in my way, and that I would have the wisdom to understand how to say things here without causing confusion and I a way that will build people up and not tear anyone done. Continue to pray for the ministry in general as I seek the path God would want me to walk here in Russia. And last but not least, please pray for pastor Vitaly and his church as we continue to work with them to try and build them up into a strong healthy church. May His grace abound in your life, Amen.

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