Monday was a "catch-up" day after a very good Sunday (Lord's Day) in Uganay. It has been eye-opening to me that you can't simply go "full bore" all the time. There is no S on my chest, but I accept that. Paul says "We have this treasure is in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
We stayed in the village of Uganay today. I got my hair cut for 350 rubles ($ 11.00) plus a 60 ruble tip. The lady who cut it could not have been more conscientious. I have never walked so much in my life. Russia's infrastructure is lacking. Life in Uganay feels "3rd world" as Steve likes to say. There are numerous potholes, mud, cracks, uneven steps, puddles of water, etc. Walking is a challenge; walking at night is a hazard. But you adjust. I have learned to not wear my dress shoes at all.
Near Alexi and Luda's apartment there are probably 20,000 -25,000 souls in an area one-half mile square. Almost all of these live in hi-rise apartment buildings. You hear the sound of roosters at dawn, but it is the children playing during the day that I love to hear. None of them were even born when the gates or Perestroika opened here 20 years ago. Need I tell you this is a tremendous mission field? I might be wrong, but I believe the economic hardship here in the Far East can soften hearts to hear the Gospel. There is more opportunity than ever here, but Russia lost the seventy years between 1918 - 1988. Take those same years away from the United States and imagine our condition.
Bible school was real good tonight. I taught on "This Son is God." Ira is a very good translator; she joined us on our trip to Pogrinichny for the wedding on Friday. Philip has disappeared since Saturday. He apparently left for the store and has never returned. :( Yet we press on...
No comments:
Post a Comment