Resting in the joy of what Thou art: Love Without Borders

Dear friends near and far, I am so thankful for your prayers and for your support. The last two weeks Hilary, Allie, and I have been readjusting to life here in Tomsk. We have been teaching English classes in our apartment. We also have been just hanging out with our students.

Last Sunday, we attended a different church. Our Russian teacher and friend, Oksana, and our dear friends Emile and Jenny (who helped us get our apartment) attend this church. They have house churches, but the first Sunday of every month they have a gathered service. It worked out that their gathering was the second Sunday after we returned from Kolpashevo. I was just getting over being sick, and I felt like I needed some rest. We had two people during the service translate for us. It is such a blessing to worship God with the Russian people. Their love for following His statutes is evident in how they treat each other.

I was very encouraged by the pastor's message. He spoke about what is happening between Ukraine and Russia. He said that as Christians we must be aware of what is happening. We pray for our brothers and sisters around the world, because there is a mighty war going on in the world. A war that we cannot see, a war of souls, and so we pray. We pray, because God is our refuge. Prayer is powerful, because God is powerful.

He also said that many sanctions have been put on Russia. There has been much talk about who is guilty of certain attacks. The media in America likes to slant the story to make it look like Russia is horrible. It is very difficult to get accurate information, so the news will sell out and give people propaganda. Propaganda sells. But we should be sober-minded. We can't paint this situation with just black and white. Pastor said that watching the news can easily fill us with fear. Fear can lead to hate and hate blinds us from seeing the truth of the situation. I choose to pray for Russia and Ukraine. I choose to be sober-minded.

Here is a question I offer up to you and myself: How would we (Americans) react if we couldn't import something? The American people would not like that very much. We should not be happy about these blockades. There is no “good” side and “bad” side. The people suffer from these sanctions, not the leaders. Political talk can become so bitter so fast. I have been challenged to really try to have an open mind to all sides and to ask myself what kind of attitude is God-honoring. I pray for peace, and my mind and heart is seeking to see others through mercy and justice.

I know the pull between Russia and Ukraine is not new. It has for centuries functioned as the border between the west and the east. I am hoping Ukraine can attain stability. It needs decades of stability so that it can grow to have its own identity. This way it can have a healthy relationship with Russia and Europe, without being controlled by either. My heart is heavy for the Russian and the Ukrainian people. Even though I have only been in Russia for a little over two months, I have become attached to the Russian people in a way that is hard to explain. I know this is because God is helping me and giving me the strength to love without borders. I can love others, because God in Christ loves me. I try so hard to imagine being in a Ukrainian or Russian person's shoes who lives in the strife and confusion of this time. My heart is heavy.

I have come to love so many little things about my Russian friends. One thing I have noticed is that Russians cherish each other. Now you wouldn't know it from walking around the streets of the city and seeing cold faces everywhere, but Russians have big hearts. Once they get to know you, they are such loyal friends. They will never ever forget you. They know how to take care of one another, and they do. They will find any excuse to invite you over and share chai with you. And it is not just because we are American. Russians our the ultimate sharers. They share what they have, because they survive by looking out for each other. Tonight, our good friend Olga brought a huge bag of vegetables from her mother's garden to us. The bag was full of cucumbers, onions, garlic, squash, carrots, and a beet. She has given us vegetables from the garden before and flowers. She loves learning the English language, but she also just loves people. We love hanging out with her. I could give you so many stories of people being generous with us.

Russian hospitality might be a cliche, but it is so true. There is nothing like being a guest at a Russian home. Last week we visited our friend and student, Valentina. We visited her and her family at their home. We thought we were just meeting up to chat, but she had made a full meal for us. The next day she took us on a tour of her work. She is an assistant professor of automation and robotics. She teaches mechanical engineering. We visited the Institute of Cybernetics within the Tomsk Polytechnic University. In Tomsk, there are three studies that are very popular in university. The three major studies are programming, engineering, and medical studies. Most of the time when we ask a student what they are studying they will say one of these three studies. I really enjoyed visiting the school and seeing all the big machinery they use.

I also find Russians to be a lot more patient. Russians don't have the sense of impatient entitlement which Americans are almost born with. Russians are resilient, and I believe with all my heart that I can learn a lot from them. God is showing me how people can't be defined simply by what country they are from. I will never underestimate the influence of Russia's history on it's people, but I see more than that. As I make friends here I remember making friends in other foreign places. It is always such a special friendship. I think that God's unbounded love shines through so brightly when we can find true lasting friendship with people who are so different from ourselves. With people we never dreamed of understanding or trying to understand about. I thank God for each person that I have come to know here, and I am praying fervently for genuine friendship.

Last week, we had a meeting in our apartment with friends from church. We decided to hold a week long English session for the last week of August. We had some very encouraging discussion. We are excited to work closer with our Russian friends. Tomsk is about to get a lot BIGGER. School resumes in September. This last week of August a flood of new and old students will be coming to Tomsk for University. Tomsk is a University city, about eighty-five thousand students live and study in Tomsk. This past week we handed out flyers and spread the word about this week long session. This week long sessions starts tomorrow so please pray that we would be diligent and responsible teachers. The following are the topics we will be teaching on the next five days: Introductions: Meeting People, Internet Navigation: Surfing the Net and Shopping, Everyday Conversations: Surviving a day in an English Speaking Country, University and Travel: Programs and Semester Abroad, Television and Entertainment: T.V. Culture in the Past, Present, and the Future. I am looking forward to our first day and to meeting new people.

This past Friday we had our Russian class with Oksana. It was her birthday, so we gave her chocolate chip cookies. Surprisingly, they don't have chocolate chip cookies here. Oksana is the best teacher, because she is so full of joy. When I think of her, I think of a beaming light. As we were having conversation, something she said stuck with me. She said “Serve people, but allow others to serve you also.” I really needed to heart that. I really enjoy having our Russian language class with her. Later that day we decided to walk around Tomsk for fun and we ended up going to Travelers Coffee for dinner. As we were about to leave the cafe, Oksana and her husband came in. It was such a surprise! We laughed and wished her happy birthday again. Our waiter, Leesa, knew a little English. She had been so kind to us the entire night. We invited her to our English courses and I am really, really hoping she comes.

Yesterday we went horseback riding with our friends Anna and Olga. It was really fun! The last time I rode a horse was at Echo Ranch Bible Camp two years ago. I really liked my horse and was fantasizing about riding it in Alaska. Maybe one day I will have a Russian style garden and a Russian horse in Alaska. You never know....it could happen! After we rode the horses, one of the girls showed us around. She showed us more of their horses. I was in awe of how beautiful the horses were. I don't think I have ever seen such strong and robust looking horses.

Today, we sang a Russian song at church. We sang half of it in Russian and half of it in English. The song was “How Great is Our God.” Maybe later, I can record us singing it and share it with you all. The more I try to speak Russian, especially sing it, the more I fall in love with the language.

As I look ahead to our classes this week I think about how teaching English has challenged me. Sometimes God calls us to do something that really challenges us. Often, I find it so easy to say to God: “I'll do it God, as long as.....it doesn't make me uncomfortable, it doesn't put me at risk, it lines up with what I want, or it doesn't challenge me beyond what I believe I can handle.”

But, what sort of faith is that? That is me trying to control what God wants from me. Even though teaching English is hard, I remain grateful for this opportunity. I have faith. My joy rests in God, because He remains faithful in all circumstances. I delight in God through all my obedience, not just what I want to obey.

I lift up to God my concerns and my doubts. Being away from home has shown me that at the heart of trust is being satisfied with all that my Savior is for me. He is enough, forever and always. He is not a duty or an obligation in my life. He is my Sustainer. I come to Him to have my soul hunger satisfied. I choose to rest, even when my flesh wants anxiety and control. I am praying that I will choose to listen to the still, small voice of God each day this week.

Thank you again for your prayers and support.