teamrussia on Xanga

Weblog

Wednesday, 03 January 2007

Happy New Year, Team Russia!

Friday, 22 December 2006

Friday, December 22

Final Thoughts

“One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD….”
Psalm 27:4

Have you ever watched rain as it falls from the sky? Rain was something I never expected to see in Russia in December.

In a country that is overflowing with the weight of oppression and loneliness, filth and hopelessness, I have seen beauty. Beauty in wrinkled faces. Beauty in trash covered streets. Beauty in the trot of the school children. Beauty in the rain that spills like our laughter onto the cold streets.

As strong as the pulse of thunder, I felt the power of foreign voices singing praises to the Lord, and the earth as it trembled under the weight of the Metro cars.

On trains, in schools, at banquets and in stores we have greeted the eyes of nameless faces and prayed that love would reach their hearts. God’s love which makes the heavens ring.

Throughout all the earth the whispers of prayers can be heard. Prayers more powerful than the forces of a wind we also cannot see. And faith that can make the heavens move.

This December I have been in awe at the beauty the Lord brings to everything He touches—because He is beautiful. And how He uses the terrible things of the world for good—because He is good.

Only Eternity will tell of all that has gone on this season in Russia. And so, we leave this country in bigger hands than our own. For Love has come, carried across the distance of time. The love God has for His world remaining now the same as it was written in John 3:16. There is no language where His love cannot be heard.

As they would say in Russia: “Do you know the sunshine? That is the sun.” This year’s love is brighter than sunshine.

My unsuspecting heart has become attached to this country. As the weather turns colder here the rain is turning to snow, collecting on anything that will hold it. Even still, Russia does not look like the Russia I expected to see. It is far more beautiful.

-Laura DeMasie

Thursday, 21 December 2006

Thursday, December 21

Last day in Russia. It will be sad to leave everyone. Many good memories and incredible friends have been made! There is no greater joy than having a part in many coming to know the Lord as their personal Savior and that is what this trip is all about!

Today was spent sleeping in late (no banquets to prepare for and lots of rest to catch up on). Brunch was at 10:30. Then this afternoon was filled by getting ready for a staff Christmas banquet which the kitchen crew (headed by Melinda this time) did an awesome job of preparing. It was stuffed breaded chicken (sorry ladies, it was so good I didn’t take the time to notice what it was stuffed with), green beans, rolls with pumpkin butter, mashed potatoes and cheesecake for desert; all spread over a table that seated 75 people. It was a very special time. Afterward, we watched the Year In Review, Mr. Gothard shared some of his highlights for the past couple of days and then gifts were presented. Finaly, we all cleaned, did last minute shopping and packed to go home.

So, that was the day, no WAIT … DON’T LEAVE YET … I got a cool story to share, actually it was cold. Ok, so seeing as I had not actually stepped on Red Square before (it was closed on Saturday night), I had the opportunity to make a quick, and I must add, approved trip down with Joel and Micah last night!

It was awesome! We hopped on the subway, an experience in need of its own post and came up out of the ground right in front of the Square. There it was, the center of Moscow, the expansive Kremlin on the right – red brick towers, yellow building with white trim. On the left is the famous Goom shopping mall, its Gothic architecture brilliantly outlined in white lights. On the far end lies St. Basil’s Cathedral with its colorful domes lit up it instantly arrests your vision. It truly is a beautiful building.

Well, Joel, Micah and I were enjoying the sights. We walked down the square and up on a bridge to get a better view. Just a perfect night in Moscow.

Then it happened. On our walk back through the Square a couple of Militia decided to stop us and ask for our registration. Well now, no problem, we had this covered. Pulled out our passport copies and with a copy of our Visa (Joel had his real passport). Everything seemed to be going smoothly, they liked Joel (he speaks Russian) and were even joking with him.

BUT, they said my copy, although it should work, didn’t have a special little stamp on it! I had failed to copy the page with it on there!!! Then Micah was in even more trouble! He had torn the extra paper off of his copy and they said it was only good for the trash!

So there we stood in the freezing cold, enjoying the sights, now marred by the smoke from their cigarettes blowing in our faces, with these two Militia guys saying that Micah and I would have to go to jail for breaking Russian law!!! (Thankfully it was all in Russia so only Joel knew what they were really saying, but after about 15 minutes we began to realize that they were not just going to let us walk away. They told us that the fine was $2000 rubles each.

Joel, Praise God for Joel, told these friendly upholders of the law that it wouldn’t be necessary for us to go to jail. Told them that we had come to Russia on humanitarian work, helping their Pensioner Teachers (one of which could have been theirs) and taking care of their orphans and what’s more we were leaving Russia in just a few hours.

Upon hearing what outstanding and self-sacrificing young men were, our honest friends decided to give us a “discount” on the fine. Boy, were we grateful to hear this news. They said that they would accept whatever money we had, so Joel gave them the $500 rubles he had in his wallet and it was quickly stuffed into their pockets.

Away we briskly walked to McDonalds to grab a coffee with the money that was hidden upon our persons marveling at the graciousness of our newfound “comrades.” Actually, we were just grateful to be headed home and bed never felt so good that night.

It was really a good lesson in God’s faithfulness. It made me think about what it might have been like to live under the rule of Communism when true Christianity was persecuted. We were able to leave, but many of our brothers and sisters in the Lord gave their lives in very similar situations.

Although our experience pales in comparison, it was amazing how the peace of God rules our hearts in those types of situations when we live life with the complete confidence that He is in control of our lives. The peace of Christ truly does keep our hearts and minds in all situations if we are surrendered to Him.

So, that was my experience of Russian culture! Definitely worth it!

-Nathan Ritchie
Pensioners: Part II

Coming soon!
TeamRussia 2006 Song
By Tim Kruse

Good morning long day
I’m glad to see you
Soon I will fly to the other side
Everything’s new here
Even each other
But we will all come together

We have one mind
We have one love
We have mission from above
We will stay faithful
For only one smile
Could change a life of loneliness

Shop for a memory
Walk into history
Take a photograph to prove it all
Sleepy-eyed singing, dirty dish cleaning
Giving our joy to those who have none

We have one mind
We have one love
We have mission from above
We will stay faithful
For only one smile
Could change a life of loneliness

Good morning long day
I’m sad to leave you
Soon I’ll be home, but I won’t forget
Friends for a lifetime
Made in a short time
We’ll always believe

We have one mind
We have one love
We have mission from above
We will stay faithful
For only one smile
Could change a life
Could change a heart
Could change country of loneliness