Ten of us left my home church,
Sharon Woods Baptist Church, in Columbus, Ohio,
on June 24 and
flew to New York to meet 64 other Americans.
In New
York, we learned 14 of these
people would not be on the flight to Moscow, due to not having their required visas
verified with the Russian Embassy.
We arrived in Moscow,
went through customs, and
the long process of getting our luggage. We then drove two hours to get to our hotel and
get checked into our rooms.
We noticed that there were four hotels right next to each
other, and we soon found out that we were staying in the old Olympic Village. Our
bodies had to make an adjustment after we realized the sun did not start to set until after
1:00am.
The
next morning we ate breakfast and attended an
orientation meeting.
We
then went out and toured the Kremlin and Red Square, ate at McDonalds and then went to
the airport for an overnight flight to Omsk, Siberia.
We arrived in Omsk, and were transported to the home church for
breakfast, a little rest,
and then the Opening Rally Celebration. We received the great news that the 14
Americans, who were left behind in New York, had received their visas and would be on
the next flight to Russia.
After the celebration, we were
introduced to the pastors we
would be working with for the next week, and then we drove two hours to the village
where we would be staying. We had a wonderful visit with our interpreters, pastors and
their families.
Craig (a friend from my home church in Ohio) and I were to stay in the home of our pastor, and we
headed there
after dinner. There were three other Americans who stayed near us, so we had the
opportunity to work with them several days.
These villages were "primitive" by American
standards, but the families opened their hearts and homes to us and offered us everything
we needed.
The next morning, we arrived at our home church, and
Craig preached while I gave my
testimony. We visited with the members and we were able to communicate with each
other even with the help of our interpreter. It is amazing how the love of Jesus shines
through in any language. We went on some scheduled visits, known as ”Divine
Appointments”, and were able to share God's love with many people.
Everyday we went to one of three villages and shared our testimonies, the Gospel and
Plan
of Salvation. Our interpreter was a young college student and one day we asked her if she
had ever invited Jesus into her heart. She said no, but that she was willing to read her
Bible. Craig and I told her we would be praying for her throughout the week.
We also
visited the local hospital and I had the opportunity to visit
with the head Pediatrician. She
told me that they did not have the medicine to heal the patients. It broke my heart to see
these patients in their beds, with little hope, but then I realized we could provide hope
through the love of Jesus. We also visited a couple of schools and the local authorities.
We had many people tell us they were afraid of Americans, because is wasn’t long ago
that our countries were against each other. God worked through this and we saw many
people commit their lives to Jesus.
One afternoon we had to pull over because the car was making a funny noise. We realized
we needed to change the tire. What should have taken
about 15 minutes took over an
hour because of some unexpected problems. We finally stopped and asked God to
provide the help that we needed to finish this task. As soon as we finished praying a car
appeared over the horizon and provided the assistance.
If only we had stopped to seek
God first ... that was a well learned lesson for us.
I was so blessed on this trip. The people we worked with
have such a love for God and it
was an encouragement for me. Many times they thanked us
for coming.
But I was the one
who was thankful. At the end of the week we went back into Omsk for the closing rally.
The Americans sang “How Great Thou Art” and even though we were not singing in
Russian, they understood and worshiped.
We were getting ready to leave and our interpreter approached Craig and I and said she needed to
speak with us. She told us she
wanted to ask Jesus into her life. She prayed the most beautiful prayer and it was God’s
way of sending Craig and I back to America. To God be the Glory.
Back in Moscow we went sight-seeing and then headed
back to the USA on July 9.
On November
16, 1998 I received a letter from one of the men we had worked
with on a daily basis. He
told me that he and two other men, we worked with, were now attending classes in Omsk
to become pastors. Praise God for His wonderful love, guidance and wisdom.
Ten of us left my home church,
Sharon Woods Baptist Church, in Columbus, Ohio,
on June 24 and
flew to New York to meet 64 other Americans.
In New
York, we learned 14 of these
people would not be on the flight to Moscow, due to not having their required visas
verified with the Russian Embassy.
We noticed that there were four hotels right next to each
other, and we soon found out that we were staying in the old Olympic Village. Our
bodies had to make an adjustment after we realized the sun did not start to set until after
1:00am.
The
next morning we ate breakfast and attended an
orientation meeting. 
We
then went out and toured the Kremlin and Red Square, ate at McDonalds and then went to
the airport for an overnight flight to Omsk, Siberia.
We arrived in Omsk, and were transported to the home church for
breakfast, a little rest,
and then the Opening Rally Celebration. We received the great news that the 14
Americans, who were left behind in New York, had received their visas and would be on
the next flight to Russia. 
After the celebration, we were
introduced to the pastors we
would be working with for the next week, and then we drove two hours to the village
where we would be staying. We had a wonderful visit with our interpreters, pastors and
their families. 
Craig (a friend from my home church in Ohio) and I were to stay in the home of our pastor, and we
headed there
after dinner. There were three other Americans who stayed near us, so we had the
opportunity to work with them several days. 
These villages were "primitive" by American
standards, but the families opened their hearts and homes to us and offered us everything
we needed.
The next morning, we arrived at our home church, and
Craig preached while I gave my
testimony. We visited with the members and we were able to communicate with each
other even with the help of our interpreter. It is amazing how the love of Jesus shines
through in any language. We went on some scheduled visits, known as ”Divine
Appointments”, and were able to share God's love with many people.
Everyday we went to one of three villages and shared our testimonies, the Gospel and
Plan
of Salvation. Our interpreter was a young college student and one day we asked her if she
had ever invited Jesus into her heart. She said no, but that she was willing to read her
Bible. Craig and I told her we would be praying for her throughout the week. 
We also
visited the local hospital and I had the opportunity to visit
with the head Pediatrician. She
told me that they did not have the medicine to heal the patients. It broke my heart to see
these patients in their beds, with little hope, but then I realized we could provide hope
through the love of Jesus. We also visited a couple of schools and the local authorities.
We had many people tell us they were afraid of Americans, because is wasn’t long ago
that our countries were against each other. God worked through this and we saw many
people commit their lives to Jesus.
One afternoon we had to pull over because the car was making a funny noise. We realized
we needed to change the tire. What should have taken
about 15 minutes took over an
hour because of some unexpected problems. We finally stopped and asked God to
provide the help that we needed to finish this task. As soon as we finished praying a car
appeared over the horizon and provided the assistance.
If only we had stopped to seek
God first ... that was a well learned lesson for us.
I was so blessed on this trip. The people we worked with
have such a love for God and it
was an encouragement for me. Many times they thanked us
for coming. 
But I was the one
who was thankful. At the end of the week we went back into Omsk for the closing rally.
The Americans sang “How Great Thou Art” and even though we were not singing in
Russian, they understood and worshiped. 
We were getting ready to leave and our interpreter approached Craig and I and said she needed to
speak with us. She told us she
wanted to ask Jesus into her life. She prayed the most beautiful prayer and it was God’s
way of sending Craig and I back to America. To God be the Glory.
Back in Moscow we went sight-seeing and then headed
back to the USA on July 9. 
On November
16, 1998 I received a letter from one of the men we had worked
with on a daily basis. He
told me that he and two other men, we worked with, were now attending classes in Omsk
to become pastors. Praise God for His wonderful love, guidance and wisdom.