|
Astrakhan 94 |
 I
was invited by a man in California to go to Astrakhan to hold children' s
meetings while he did the adult meetings. Since he had been a prisoner in
that location, it was a dream and prayer of his to return. I prayed
about it and decided I would go if God provided. One major obstacle was my
husbands attitude. He usually had been supportive at first but began to
have strong disagreements with me. I took it to God in prayer. The man who
invited me, wanted Ron to give me permission or he would not want me
along. My missionary nurse began immediately the huge task of gathering
supplies. |
 A friend from the Union office of Seventh Day Adventists even
went to Seattle to get the documents needed for me. I kept praying over
what seemed impossible.  Then just a couple weeks before our planned
departure, my husband wanted to take a vacation trip to where he grew up.
I made the camper very cozy and did all I could to make it a time full of
memories.  As we sat in the church where my husband had been baptized, a
flood of memories swept over him. The miracle happened that night. PRAISE
THE LORD. He came up with something completely unexpected. With a renewed
heart, my husband tenderly spoke to me.
Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I
set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
|
  The
brothers in Moscow were not real pleased with last minute details and
insisted they were confiscating all my supplies. They had no idea what had
happened in my own home to prevent the appropriate plans.
They would not help me get them onto the plane in the morning. They would send them by truck. Well, they charged a fee and we could not pay. The projector, and all my supplies were stuck in Moscow and I was challenged without any tools. I prayed to God to forgive them and to give me grace and wisdom to do my best anyway. We were able to get the items during our next trip into Russia. God did not allow us to suffer through two gospel meetings without them. We were so happy to get them all back. Moses went from Belarus to get them all. Nothing was missing. You can't blame people who didn't hear God's marching orders. It is not always easy to understand what God is doing. I have forgiven them. |
 We
stayed with a lovely gracious, and generous church family. They were so
loving and tenderly cared for us. In the court yard of the high rise where
they lived, my son made many friends as daily he played ball. These boys
learned of the meetings this way and came. There was no advertising done
any other way to attract children to our meetings. With God nothing is
impossible. I know so many times we limit Him by renting too small of a
place for meetings. We worked with the children in the neighborhood where
we stayed and they came to meetings. |
 Every
time I needed something, God would provide. When I was talking about horns
of prophecy, that very day a little boy brought me a horn as a gift not
even knowing what I was going to speak about.
I prayed for help throughout every minute of that trip. An old model slide projector was loaned to me which crushed and tore many of my slides. It had a very short focal length and needed to be very close to the screen but we were thankful to have it. It was a one by one manual slide advance system. It took extreme patience. The other challenge was the horrible odor from the restrooms which were three feet from the place in the hall where we were assigned to do children's meetings. |
 I
was thrilled that Dr. Perry agreed to help with the health talks for the
children. It gave me a chance to catch my breath at a distance from the
restrooms. Our meetings lasted
2 to 2 1/2 hours each evening. |
 We
also had help from Dr. Perry's son in law who helped with Bible stories.
Nancy played the piano and the meetings went along quite well in spite of
all our supplies and lessons being stuck in Moscow. (God made good come
out of this tragedy. These were later gathered and taken to Belarus by our
dear Pastor friend Moses. We had a double turn out of children and it was
great to have the extra supplies.) |
  The
translator was Nikita. He was very tall and was the son of a heart
surgeon. He had email before I even learned anything about email. He was very
knowledgeable and so helpful. He said the program I had brought was so
good, we should rent a hall for children and get a crowd. He was very
upset that we were just using a wide spot in the auditorium basement while
the adults had a good place upstairs. He urged the building next door be
rented. The budget did not allow such. He had a little son and a
very pleasant wife. He was attending college. As he translated each night, he came early to review.
Then just before I left, he said he wanted to be baptized. The message he
had heard was so precious. |
| One night a drunk man came lunging at us and yelling while I
was teaching the lessons. He was threatening some terrible things. My
heart began to beat really fast. I sent up an instant prayer. Instantly just as I realized what was happening, strong men came out of
what seemed like nowhere and had the man pinned so he could not hurt me.
They took the man out. God provided before I even cried for help that time.
"Before they call I will answer." Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." |
 We
showed the Russian video life of Jesus to the children of the neighborhood
every day. We used a portable hand held tiny video player. They gathered
around and packed in to see. All were interested. |
  The
children worked hard to learn all the Scripture songs before we left. We
had to help them learn them by singing in Russian. Every day we prayed for
God's help to do our best for Him. I believe He answered every prayer in a
bigger way than we ever dreamed. |
  During
the day we helped where we were staying plus prepared materials for the
evening meetings. We went to the Volga River and met many interesting
people, inviting them to meetings.
My oldest son Lloyd, found some frogs that had double pouches and alternated them as it croaked. |
| This
is another picture of the Volga River. |
 One
day we went to this very interesting cathedral as well as the Kremlin
walls and looked at some torture chambers .
Our Astrakhan experience was very short but we had so many answers to
prayer and feel God made a difference in the lives of young people. Some
of the children and my translator might not have heard the Bible stories if we had not been
willing to go in spite of opposition at home. My husband told me that
going on this trip was the sweetest and most impressive testimony to his
heart how important it is to obey God above all else. He was so impressed
how God came up with the funds in the last 24 hours so we could buy the
ticket to Russia as we got to the airport. |
  Did we waste the expensive perfume like Judas scolded
Mary for doing when she gave her alabaster gift to Jesus? No, absolutely
not! We gave all that we had. We gave till it hurt. It hurt my mother
heart to leave my dear Kyle, and Jenny at home. My heart ached to
hold them. I was so glad my husband was able to say I could go even if it
was the last week. But Jesus had asked me to go. He changed my husband's
heart over my obedience to God's obvious call to me.
We gave and it was confiscated but Jesus helped us do the program anyway. The perfume Mary Gave Jesus was her love. We take the seeds of gospel truth out and water these with the love of heaven. God always has kept His promise and never left us. He protected us from danger, temptations, and helped us forgive those who criticized us like Jesus forgave those who tried to stop His work. Jesus asked God to forgive because they did not know what they were doing. I want to be like Jesus. I am so glad I obeyed Jesus, trusting Him to provide for our needs. He did that in His royal way. |
  We
met the nicest people. Hopefully we can see the dear friends we made
in heaven. God leads and always provides. Sometimes He waits till the last
minute so we can learn to trust Him more.
I was so happy this year in 2002 to learn that Nickita is now doing gospel meetings full time. I praise God for this friend. |
Addendum
| It is the dream of my heart to return and do gospel meetings with Nickita for children using my graphics projector and computer this time. I hope God has it in His plans. I also want to have the privilege of meetings in China and returning to India. Wherever God sends me I am content to know He gives all my marching orders. I never venture out with out His directions. I never make up my own plans. He knows where I can help the most. He has to consider all things including now my 4 children who work with me. |
That night in the campground in the
moonlight, my husband said I could go to Russia if God would provide. He knew
it was impossible to get ready that fast. Yet he did not know my friends
were getting things together in faith. Even the funds for tickets came in the last
minute as I was delivering the three youngest children a dear friend to
care for in my absence. The phone rang while I was there and the money was
coming in. Tickets were purchased at the airport and arrangements for
lodging and pick up at the airport were being made while my seat number
was being called for boarding. I had no money to spare. God had sent me
again totally depending on HIM. What a FAITH GROWING opportunity! God
gave me my marching orders and I firmly set my face to obey and God
blessed.