I will begin by saying that we have arrived safely in Moscow, no thanks to Ukrainian customs that tried to keep us prisoners in their border, a Yak-42 passenger plane which I felt positive was going to fall apart in the sky (Especially since it started smoking on take-off...), and a lack of contact information for our friends in Moscow which left us wandering the metro dragging green and purple "Look I'm a stupid American" suitcases for the better part of our first day.
However, our safe arrival is due entirely to Great friends in Mariupol that saw us off with wonderful hugs and good wishes, Alan Burow, my long time companion and friend, who rode with us all the way to Donetsk and then waited for us to get through security even though we were so focused we forgot to wave goodbye (sorry Alan, we love you!), and a team of American friends that waited an hour and a half at the metro waiting to receive us like a fragile delicate baton, lifting our bags and taking us to the apartment we sleep in tonight. In all of this we can not go with out mentioning how obviousit is that God is at work in our trip. Our safety and strength is directly from Him and there is no doubt of that fact. We thank you all for your continued prayers.Today was Sunday. We made contact with the congregation Andrea used to work among. There were many smiling faces and hugs, and seriously our afternoon with them (12:00-4:00) really deserves it's own post. There were a lot of mixed emotions involved, but it was a wonderful time overall.
After this we were pulled into going to the apartment of one of Andrea's old acquaintances named Vika. We sat and talked with her for maybe two hours about her "illness" and how the government keeps trying to force her to stay in a "hospital" and how she doesn't want to take her medication because she's trying to write a novel and her "illness" helps her to write, and how she has a really cool friend who hears voices telling her to kill people. It was pleasant. I didn't take any pictures for fear that the flash might startle her.
Our feet are tired. If we had been walking in place this whole time we would be nearly buried by now. Our legs ache. Our backs are sore. Our poor brains are fried in every language. At this time Andrea and I communicate mostly by grunts and whistles. Our pockets are emptying quickly, and time is running out. But we are absolutely having the time of our lives, and loving every single second. It's beautiful.-James
I'm glad to hear that you both made it there. I was wondering if you did because no one wrote about your arrival on their blogs. Our goodbyes yesterday and today weren't easy, but that just makes me all the more thankful for having been blessed with such a wonderful mission field. By the way, I think you might have stolen my jeans. We have searched all over this house and can't find them and the only thing we can figure is that you accidentally put them in your suitcase. The inside tag of the Levi Strauss jeans say "low boot cut" or something like that. Anyway, let me know.
ReplyDeleteDear Ones,
ReplyDeleteLong difficult journeys that were watched over and blessed by God? You two and the Apostle Paul:
"I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches." 2 Cor 11:26-28
How exciting it is that in the end you call the whole thing wonderful and blessed! Keep the joy out in front and the heart light.
Not much in the way of big news at home. Most things going well... Lots of 'smaller' news. We'll fill you in later. Titus says "wraoff".
Love, dad & Mom K