Day sixty-five, three remaining. Today we received the airline tickets and visa from our travel agent. God is good; two weeks ago I was a little nervous about the prospects of receiving them in time. Tonight I said goodbye to our community group, knowing I would not see them again until November 7th. I'm thankful for such a supportive and good-spirited group. We enjoy one another. Today was also filled with last minute instructions, mobilizing and/or reconnaissance for two new projects, a much-needed eye exam, contacts ordered, shirts being ironed (thanks lovely wife :)), figuring out where to stay in Queens, NY on the return trip, meeting with my neighbor and asking him to watch out for Cheryl in my absence, arranging for a friend to aerate the lawn while I am gone, email correspondence with friends and church, etc. Frankly, I am feeling stressed. Someone asked me if I would be ready to leave on Saturday. I said, "No, but I will be on the plane from Charlotte to New York at 1:00 PM ." Are we ever really ready? This deal of ramping down your affairs while you ramp up for thirty days of work-ministry is something I have never done before. Virtually every time I have gone on a plane was for the purpose of recreation or vacation. This is a first for me.
I believe I need to be a watchful learner of Pastor Graham on this trip. This has been on my mind. There is no doubting the identification of the rookie on the trip. Me. On the asset side of the ledger for this trip is that I am privileged to go with a seasoned pastor and missionary minister who has made this bi-annual trek faithfully since 2004. Steve Graham loves people, he loves the Gospel, and he loves the people of Russia in Vladivostok. I saw that for three days in our home at the end of March. He helped expand our parent's garden while wearing some exotic skinned variety of cowboy boots. It is a singular privilege that he invited me to join him. I'll learn by his side. And I am privileged to be sent by the saints of Grace Baptist Church of Taylors, South Carolina as their ambassador and servant to the saints of Vlad. One prayer - I hope God will add believers to the Kingdom through our witness in addition to strengthening his people through our ministry.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, help us love Russians whom we've never met in a way we've never loved strangers before. Help us communicate love for them before we speak your truth to them. Do something in us that only you can do for the sake of your Gospel. In your Son's name. Amen.
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