Gorgeous irises in Natasha's garden

Flowers – Fellowship – Friends – Fun – Feasting –  my final days have been the usual whirlwind of saying delayed hellos and teary good-byes.  Today Alla hosted my “farewell party” and I sat with friends coming and going from 10:00 a.m. until well past four. One more is still expected. My bags are packed and under the weight limit (hooray!) All that’s left to do is get a bit of rest before my driver to the airport (and Tanya) arrive at 1:30 a.m.  Yes… it’s a red-eye flight from Samara to Los Angeles via Frankfurt. Oh well…

So I’m signing off my blog for a few days…but want to leave you with some photos of June-blooming flowers and tasty fresh Russian food to remind you that this is NOT the place of endless winter or cabbage and potato soup.

Julia's lemon cake

Rather, it’s a place where I’ve hung a piece of my heart…where friends come ’round often, speak warm words, laugh a lot, bring flowers that I love, and feed me well.  Think about joining me on my adventure. You won’t be sorry.

Fresh baked village bread

Bible studies with the rehabilitants in Byzemchyk

The Bible study series from 2 Corinthians that God asked me to share this year was well received.  I taught a total of 10 times, including the Sunday message at the First Assembly of God Church in Pestrovka. Yes, that  had not been on my itinerary, for sure. But the “reviews” from the day before at another unscheduled opportunity at a newly formed rehab center in the town of Byzemchyk (a hour drive from Pestravka) prompted Pastor Sasha to invite me to share the teaching at his church.  I recalled a “saying” I had heard somewhere in my past that as a believer, one should always “be ready to preach, pray, or die.”  So, yes, I was ready and said yes, and presented (for the umpteenth time) part 2 of my Bible study called “Strong or Weak, which are you?” based on the story of Mephibosheth, 1 Corinthians 1:27 and  2 Corinth 12:9.

I had purposed to make this year’s Bible study as interactive as possible. I so wanted to hear from the people– to draw them in as participants rather than just listeners.  Was God speaking through me? Or was I just babbling on in a foreign language and boring everyone to tears? Was anyone “getting it?” I wanted to know. Here’s what people said…

(a CrossRoads instructor): “I felt God’s rebuke (conviction) during this study, that I only go to Him when I feel unsuccessful and not when I feel life is going well for me.”

(a former addict in rehab): “I enjoyed knowing the background information about the letter to the Corinthians.  I didn’t know any of it.  And I also liked the comparison of the Beatitudes to one that our culture would compose. That made me realize many things about my perceptions.”

(an addict near the end of his rehab): “I felt that the story of Mephibosheth was like my own life story. God found me like David found Mephibosheth and wanted to restore everthing to him. But, like me, Mephibosheth had to choose to come to the palace. He could have run away. “

(another addict in rehab):  ”During the object lesson with the rocks and water, I realized that my vessel is still filled with stones. I know there is “some” God in me as I have repented. I know Him. But this example showed me that I need to empty out my stone of pride and be filled with the Living Water.”

(another addict in rehab): “I understand now that human wisdom is insufficient. God’s Word is the true source of strength.”

(Maxim–the one who stayed in rehab because of my encouragement): “this teaching (on praying for the unsaved) really touched me. I realized why it is hard to reach my close people with the gospel. I will be praying now that God will show his glory through the way I live.”

(a woman in rehab who had a breakthrough during our visit): “THANK YOU! Now I know I am just pretending to be strong and your lessons and the stories revealed my pride and disobedience. My heart is being opened by admitting my weakness.”

(a home-group member):  ”I felt we have been coworkers with God during this study. The lessons were successful.”

(another home-group member):  ”Jeanette, you always shake us up–keeping us from getting too comfortable in our day-to-day lives.  For a long time I haven’ t been reading the Bible, but since you came and taught us again, I am reading it. Thank you for coming.”

AND thank you all…dear friends, church family, blog readers…for praying for me as I brought the Word again to Russia. It did come with power…the treasure in my earthen vessel.

Proclaiming Isaiah 60:1-4 over the church in Pestravka.

Until now. Until Jesus. Until he realized that he could do all things through the strength of Christ.  And when did that light bulb turn on?

“When you and Kasey came to us,” he said, “and told us not to quit our rehab–that our character flaw was ‘giving in’ to the easy way out of our struggles–that we COULD and MUST finish,  and that you would be back to see who would, I understood that it was possible for me. “

Maxim (blue vest) shared his testimony at the Specialist Program on Sunday.

Now you know why I am in Russia. Why I keep returning. Why I love this mission. And why I know God loves me–and Maxim–and you.

For the Easter celebration - made by the orphans

Seventy years ago,  Natalia Antoninovna came into this world in a prisoner of war camp in Finland. Her pregnant mother and two siblings were captured in their city of St. Petersburg by the Fascists and put there for the duration of WWII.  What a hopeless beginning to life!   Only by the grace of God, the prayers of her mother and her “magic hands” that could sew anything were they able to survive the four years they spent there. The Finnish women guards’ cruelty remain fresh in Natalia’s memory.  When the war ended and the camp closed, they were put on a train and sent to a village outside of St. Petes. Stalin considered them “the enemy” because of their association in the camp. So they were not allowed to return to their home city.  They were considered outcasts of society. But, they had each other.

But Natalia’s mother suffered physically under the stress of this time in the camp. At the age of 54 she died of lung cancer. However, on the day before she died, she told her daughter that God did, in fact, exist. And that in spite of what the government dictated to the contrary, she was to go to the church. Natalia honored her mother’s dying request, and from that day when she entered the church, her life started over. She became a believer.

Natalia A. presented me with bookmarks decorated by the orphans

Her great love for children eventually brought her to Orphanage #3 in Samara where she worked for 30 years as the director. This is a special orphanage for young children with disabilities (ages 2 to 10).  Now she is 70 years old and long ago retired from her position as director. But she couldn’t stay away from the kids. And she had a dream.

Her dream was to bring church to the orphanage. To have a Sunday School so the children could have instruction in the Bible, in the Orthodox culture, and to learn about the lives of the saints.  She went to the priest of her local church and asked him how to go about it. She wanted it to be done properly. He said, “I’m not going to tell you what to do.  Ask God for direction.”

She did. And that night she had a vision–in which everything was revealed. The wallpaper, the draperies, which icons to display. Bit by bit she acquired all the elements. Now, she holds classes (as a volunteer) to instruct the children and add the much-needed spiritual element to their lives. The element missing in hers due to the atheist regime she grew up under. I attended one of her classes and marveled at the children arriving in their “Sunday best,” their devotion, their knowledge of the prayers and songs. Their eagerness to show me their notebooks. Kids whom most people cast aside as unteachable or unworthy of their time.

Natalia A.'s 4th grade Sunday School class.

Natalia Antoninova may have started her life as a prisoner…a victim with a hopeless future.  But she is now a testimony to God’s faithfulness to strengthen and enable someone who trusted Him to give her the desires of her heart and to restore “what the locust have eaten.”

It’s never to late to make a difference.

Grads of School 113 - Gena in the back row in blue

Last year I visited School 113 twice–once with my friend Kasey.  At this special facility for kids with physical disabilites I met an unforgettable young lady by the name of  “Gena.”  Her energy for life – her heart for writing poetry – her hope to learn English and travel to America touched my heart. We connected.   And I promised her that if I were able to return to Samara this year, I would attend her “Last Bell” ceremony to honor graduates.

So yesterday I kept my promise. Unexpectedly, I was given the opportunity saying a few words of congratulation to the graduates during the program.  I encouraged them to continue perservering and remined them that the strength of character that allowed them to get this far, would also carry them on to realize their dreams.

With Gena and her mom

It’s so much fun to be able to touch young lives. To be somewhere at the right time and place, and make a difference.

Our unexpected guest is on the right...

Her startling and direct questions were intended to challenge me…not my knowledge, but my truthfulness about my faith andtestimony.  At first, I thought she was on drugs (and may have been). Most of the other women in the room were former drug addicts. Her behavior didn’t seem to ruffle their feathers at all. But mine were itching to fluff.

We had a short time of worship singing before my study began. Since I didn’t know the songs, I took the time to pray for this girl…that the powers that held her captive would be broken.  It’s hard to be annoyed at someone for whom you have just prayed.

Soon thereafter it became quite clear to me that she was demon possessed. The further we went into the study, the more restless and disruptive she became. Often she left the room. Once two guys from the men’s group brought her back to us.  Eventually, she left and didn’t return. But our prayer time included her–a chance encounter with a lost soul. Her name is Tanya.  Her demon’s desire to ruin our meeting failed. And perhaps she heard enough life-giving words from the Word to entice her toward the love of  Jesus.

Here is our group after the study…without this strange visitor.

A  while later, I enjoyed a lively hour of questions and answers with a class of 7th graders in this same school. Alla teaches the CrossRoads curriculum in the class once a week. Their regular teacher, Elena Nicolaievna, was voted the best teacher in all of Samara last year (no pressure, eh?).  But I was able to entice the kids to speak by awarding them with pencils (thanks to my brother Jim and State Farm Ins!)  When they had become comfortable with me, one student asked, “Are these really from America?”  Ha! The skepticism of youth!  Like in the USA…so much of what appears in stores in Russia says “Made in China.”

I had a moment to pitch the benefits of the CrossRoads curriculum before the questioning began…citing several true stories of successful, intelligent young people who, not understanding the addictive power of drugs, lost everything when they turned down that destructive path.  I think kids such as these tend to think “it can’t happen to me”…but, without a foundation of knowing how to say no (not just to drugs), and a REASON to make choices toward a lifestyle of  good character, they are just as vulnerable the “average” kid on the street.

So then, why did I title this post “Mission Accomplished?”  Well,  at the end of my time, the teacher spoke some extremely kind and affirming words–citing my “young heart” despite the age difference between the kids and me, their shining eyes as they interacted with enthusiasm, and the joy of having “such an interesting person” in their class. She invited me back…encouraged me to continue fellowship with them…and said that “of course we will continue with the CrossRoads lessons, especially when we can have such delightful guests as part of it.”

I held back my tears until we got outside. This very thing is one of the reasons I keep returning to Samara. To encourage, validate, and promote this ministry in any way I possibly can. Yes, my presence here makes a difference. It seems crazy, I know. But it’s true.

Your presence can make a difference somewhere too.  Where will God send you?

When the sun comes out…so do the Russians…to the embankment of the Volga…to their dachas outside the city and to the hundreds of local parks where kids run and play, lovers stroll, and grannies push their grandbabies in strollers.  Cherry and apple trees are pushing out blooms by the millions. Sometimes their sweet fragrance overshadows the fumes from the traffic jams and transport buses. So…no snow.  Not cold (I wore capris and sandals yesterday) and ate a picnic lunch on Sunday fit for any red-blooded American who would be so wise as to visit Russia in the spring.

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that optimism is the mood for this Russian spring. I saw it in the smiles of the people enjoying an ice cream on the embankment, in the eyes of the kids running relay races, in the happy jump of a young boy with his soccer ball.  I feel  it in the warm embraces of greeting as I meet each friend again…the hugs last a little longer, the words of welcome sound a little sweeter.  Something special is happening. Hope you stay tuned!