Tuesday, June 24, 2014

English Camp and What is Ahead.

We have been in Tomsk Siberia for one and a half weeks. So much has already happened, and I know God still has much in store for us girls.

June 16th through the 20th was English Camp. Early Monday morning all the campers showed up at Central Baptist Church and we loaded the bus. There was 52 campers in attendance and 10 American teachers. There was a variety of ages in our group. We had kind babushkas ready to improve on their English and children as young as 10 years old eager to be taught. When we arrived at the camp it was quite a change of scenery from being in the hustle and bustle of the city of Tomsk. We were surrounded by the Siberian forest. Tall birch trees, long grass, old wooden cabins, and the Ob River made up the scene. There was also many mosquitoes, but we were told by our American team that they were not as bad as last year.

Even though I felt somewhat unsure of my ability to be an English teacher to the campers, God was showing me once again that I can put my trust in Him wholly. I taught the Elementary level class and I had about 12 students in my class. My students were Masha, Nastyia, Tatiana, Liya, Karina, Sophia, Pasha, Oleg, Denis, Tehon, Bogdan, and Andrew. I enjoyed getting to know them all in class. We went through the English Workbook each day learning many new English words. We played many games and I was surprised by how much my students enjoyed the classes. I was told that many teachers in the school system in Tomsk can be harsh on students and not be helpful in answering students questions. The teacher is not a friend. I chose early on to be their friend. I also taught them the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand and taught them words that corresponded with the Bible story.

Everyday at camp we would play games, sing worships songs, have a sermon, and just spend time together. I had one on one talks with many Russians. I had some good conversations at the Banya. The banya is like a sauna. It is very popular in Russia.

                                                                             A Late Night Movie
                                                                                   The Main Building
                                                                                      The Banya
                                                                                          My Cabin
                                                                                           Ob River
                                                                                        Meal Time

During meal times we were encouraged by our team to sit with Russians and not Americans. At first it was a bit daunting, but soon I felt more and more at ease with being in situations where I had to stretch myself. I got to know quite a few students very well, and I am praying for many of them. Now that camp is over we are hoping to grow in friendship with many of the students we met and share the hope we have in Christ with them. The thing to do here is to walk around Tomsk with friends, and Hilary, Allie, and I plan on meeting up with friends from camp to further our friendship. 

At camp we met two Christian families that I was tremendously encouraged by. We will be doing English club on Saturdays nights with one of the families. On July 19th we leave to live with the other family in Kalposheva for two weeks. We will teach English and make friends there also. Many of the campers are actually from Kalposheva.

For the next four weeks we are scheduling English courses and our friends from church are helping us organize it. It has been hard at times to feel like God can use me here, but I know He can. Please pray for our English courses to be fruitful. Also, we have many people offering apartments for us to stay at, please pray that we would find the best place for us to stay. Most of all please pray for us to be seeking God's plan out in everything we do. Thank you all for your faithful prayers. 

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Reflecting on the Road Behind Me and Anticipating the Road Ahead

Hilary, Allie, and I have our visas! In three days we leave for Russia for six months and I could not be more excited! So much work has gone into preparing for this trip and I am elated that the time has finally come! The anticipation is the worst part. Looking back at everything that has brought me to this point fills me with a feeling of overwhelming gratitude for the blessings God has given to me.

For awhile, I left SBU and I did not think I would be going on a semester abroad. God has brought strong people into my life to challenge me and show me that I can do extraordinary things when I live my life with courageous faith. My heart no longer fears uncertainty, I embrace so much of the unknown. I wish I was a better writer so I could express just how grateful I feel to be freed from fear. I no longer worry about the future or about so much that is out of my control. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments. But the important part is to keep moving forward and to not make decisions out of fear. 
 
As I sit and reevaluate the past two years here at Southwest Baptist University, looking forward towards my last semester abroad in Russia, I can see how my studies have helped me grow spiritually and how community has helped most of all in my life. Personally, I have grown so much, and have been challenged so much just living life in a community with others. Living in community has helped me appreciate being still and learning from God.
 
I've always loved learning! I haven't always loved sharing my life with others, and that is not something you can learn to love in a classroom. I learned it many places, but I was challenged by it at Echo Ranch Bible Camp. The summer of 2010 and 2012 God gave me a community, a body of believers to be a part of. In the vast wilderness of Alaska God opened my heart to how much I needed Him, before anything else in my life. I formed a strong relationship with God in Alaska, and I am thankful for that time. My emotional development has been extremely impacted by Alaska. I learned so much about my strength and weaknesses in the body of Christ, and began to accept the person God made me to be for His Kingdom.
 
I used to be such a doubtful person. Always second-guessing myself. Always saying yes even when I wanted to say no. Never really standing up for myself when it mattered. My heart was thrown around in a sea of doubt, my feelings crashing against beliefs. I would hear the truth, but often it would only be words. It truly did not resonate in my heart.

I was not even aware of how much my feelings guided me, rather than God's promises to me. I was struggling, but I did not admit it to anyone. That first summer working at camp I broke down. I could no longer hide how much I was struggling in my faith, because I was surrounded with a loving community. God was pouring out His love and mercy on me through His faithful and broken people. God's Word was breaking through into my heart, and the lies that I believed were truth were coming to the surface. It was really hard, but it was sooo good! I cried that summer more than I think I ever have, and the burdens I was living with God was taking off my back. I was truly experiencing rest in the Lord. The enemy's foothold in my life was becoming weaker and weaker. I began to have a relationship with God, actually bringing my problems to Him, instead of always relying on people.
 
One of the main things I learned that summer was that emotions are fickle. If you rely on feelings to always guide you, than your thoughts and beliefs will be shaped by that. One should base everything on God's Word and His promises to us, not on fickle feelings. I also became aware of how important community is in my life. God's word became so alive to me, because I saw it alive in others. I was challenged by their faith and encouraged. I began to sing Psalms with my friend Erin. She showed me how God calls us to follow Him like children: “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-4). We were silly! We jumped around on the beach like crazy ladies singing Psalms, but it was so freeing. I felt like a child again, because I was reading God's Word with new eyes. I was humbled by God's sovereignty.

I began writing verses that dealt with my struggles on slips of paper. I would pull it out of my pocket and read it when I needed a reminder. A woman named, Lynn, showed me how easy it is to believe lies, but God has given us the truth in His Word. Today, I still struggle with believing lies and I think that just comes with being human. But I pray that I do not stop seeking out the Lord. I do not want to follow my voice. I want to follow God's voice. I hope my heart during the worst of times and the best of times, resonates with joy and thankfulness instead of pride. If anyone out there is reading this, please pray that I would thirst for the Lord everyday. We all struggle with sin, and I am no exception. I want to be beautiful in the sight of my King, and not in the sight of man. Through that, I hope that others will be able to see what joy I have in the Lord.

I am looking forward to this semester abroad, because it won't all be in a classroom. We will be sharing our lives with others and sharing the hope we have found in Christ. What a privilege to share my faith with the Russian people! Also, what a privilege I have to attend this university and be a part of this program.
 
I promise the rest of my posts will be more about life in Russia and my study abroad program, so keep checking in if you're curious about either one!