Today was a recovery day from Sunday's long trip/day to Progrinichny. Sixteen hours door to door is a long day by any standard, but it is magnified by the poor Russian travel infrastructure. I have not been feeling well, but hope to do better by monitoring my diet. Russians have lots of small meal breaks with chai, so I feel like I am eating all the time.
Tonight we taught at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU). This and the Technical Institute are our staple ministry opportunities. As Paul says in I Corinthians 4:9 "we have become a spectacle to the world"; it feels the same way with these Russian students. I had 1-1/2 hours last night to teach Alexi's English class in the evening. I think I had two men and perhaps ten women. This is a wide open Gospel opportunity. Steve has made friends here with the administrator Helen since 2004, so we have an open door. So far Steve and I have spoke/taught for at least four different instructors.
One note about the class: I engaged the students about marriage, children, etc. Where three women had children, none of them was married. Only four of the class (of say 12) affirmed they desired to be married and have children in the future. I told them of the dignity and rightness of God-ordained marriage. There were some silent stares and stoical faces, but I unashamedly spoke that God in the Bible designed marriage for their good and happiness.
Talk to you later...got to share the internet with Steve!
Dear Mark,
ReplyDeleteSounds like with the marriage thing, you have met with an application of God's law that cannot be compromised over various cultures. Sometimes that is tricky to know the diving line, but I am proud of you for heralding God's unchanging truth on marriage...for those folks, for us, and for all nations. Hang in there...as you said, it is for their great good.
In GA...good 1st day of FIRE Conf. Meeting guys and renewing with a bunch I've known. Miss your smiling face and your encouraging persona around these parts. Greetings again to good 'ol Steve. One of my choice friends.
Blessings in Jesus,
Bob Selph
Thank you Mark for the updates. We are praying for you and Steve daily. It is great that he had a partner to share in the work there this year. Please let Steve know I arrived safely in Lakeshore MS.
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