|
January
2003
|
||
1/23/03 This may be my last journal entry for a while. I don't know how well I'll be able to update it in Russia. I fly out tomorrow morning at 8:20am. It's a very exciting time, but also exhausting. I've only had about 8 1/2 hours of sleep in the past two nights. I can't believe how many clothes I had. It was hard to pick my favorites items to take with me. Space is limited and there was a lot that I had to leave out. I still haven't figured out how to pack my picture and CDs. It's weird to think that I won't have a car anymore or a lot of the other conveniences that I enjoy now. This will probably be a big adjustment process. Thankfully, God goes with me and He is faithful. I am in good hands. It has also been strange to say goodbye to so many loved ones; not knowing when I will return and see them again. It has been such a blessing to see and hear how much I am cared for. I am very thankful. Anyway, I don't have much else to write at this time. I'm just excited, nervous, tired, and ready to go. Thanks Jesus for this new adventure. 1/15/03 I had something burning on my heart this morning that I should have written down immediately because I completely forgot what it was. So, I'm not exactly sure what to write now. I am re-reading Brennan Manning's "Abba's Child" right now and I suppose that I've been thinking a lot about the content. I know that I had wanted to talk about the book a few weeks ago, but sometimes it's so hard to retell. Even on the second reading, I am still mulling over thoughts, ideas, feelings, and questions in my head. I suppose one of the main ideas of the book is that the life of a Christian should be lived out of a deep-rooted sense of our identity as ones loved unconditionally by God. And, as we start to lay hold of that truth more and more, it totally changes our lives because we no longer live out of selfishness and fear, but we live in confidence and unselfishness, free to love God and free to love others. That's a pretty crude summary (and maybe not completely accurate), but hopefully I will be able to describe it better some other day. Of course, the best thing is to read the book yourself and think about it. Anyway, more now than ever, I am praying for myself and others that we would be able to see and experience, in increasing measure, the vast love of the Almighty God, lived out in Christ Jesus and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. Yep. That's it for today. God bless you. Shalom. 1/13/03 I got the visa today! Praise God! I didn't even have the original invitation. Basically, my friend Gary told me that he used an email copy of an invitation to get his visa to Russia a few weeks ago. So, I thought "What the heck. I'll go to the Consulate and see if they will accept my application with a fax copy of the invitation." And they accepted it! Cool. They actually had my visa ready for me in 40 minutes. It was an awesome day. 1/10/03 Yesterday morning I received a fax copy of the invitation. It's a pretty simple document really, yet it took a miracle from God to have one issued to me. Amazing. Anyway, I had fun last night getting my visa application papers together so that I would be ready to apply when the original invitation arrives by mail sometime next week (keep praying that it arrives safely and quickly). The other big event yesterday was that I went in to the department of health services here and received my immunization shots. One in the upper left arm, two in the upper right and, praise the Lord, none in the kiester. My arms were sore yesterday, but not too bad today. Still, it is a little hard to lift my left arm above my head today. The typhoid fever shot hurt the most. Fun times. Anyway, that's it for now. Have a great weekend. 1/8/03 So, I was reading around on the internet today and found a couple of good websites that summed up the history of Abraham and his first few generations of descendents. They said that most of what we would consider as Arab nations came from Ishmael's line. What I have yet to find is what happened to the descendents of Ham. Oh! I just realized that I haven't talked about this subject before. Basically, I was reading about the descendents of Ham (Noah's second son) the other day and wondering who the present day nations of his line are. In Genesis we read that those ancient peoples like the Philistines, Canaanites, Jebusites, Hittites, and Amorites that we read about later in the Bible when the Israelites finally arrive in the "Promised Land." Apparently, there is a lot of debate about that. One common thought is that one line, the Cushites, are what we know as present day Ethiopians. Anyway, I have been getting lost among all the different people groups that were formed early on and wondering about what happened to all of them. It's just something that is very interesting to me. Cool stuff. Well, the official invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is supposed to be mailed out tonight while we sleep (they are 11 hours ahead of those of us on the West Coast). One of the ladies from Olya's church is going to send me a fax copy to hang on to. I am anxious to see this document that has been so difficult to get. Also, I am going into the Deptartment of Public Health tomorrow to get my immunization boosters and any additional shots I will need for living in Eastern Europe. That should be fun! Anyway, stay tuned.... 1/6/03 I am happy to report that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs completed and approved my invitation this past Sunday. Now the invitation has to be sent to the local OVIR office (I'm sorry, but I don't know what it stands for) in Vladimir and then it will be mailed to me on the 8th. When the invitation arrives 4 days after that (by God's grace) I can go to the Russian Consulate and apply for the visa. It was very exciting news and I am so thankful that God has kept me sane and provided this opportunity. Today, at the end of the work day, I handed in my letter of resignation for an effective date of January 20th. I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left here. When the new year began I started my 3rd reading of the 1 year chronological Bible. I have really been enjoying reading the Creation story as well as the beginings of Israel's history. One thing that struck me today as I was reading, was how disfunctional Israel's anscestors were. Just think about these examples: 1) Sarah (Sarai at the time) asks Abraham (then Abram) to sleep with her servant Hagar so that they may have a son and then gets upset with him later because Hagar despises her for it. 2) Abraham is afraid for his life and convinces Sarah to call herself his sister to avoid being killed, not once but twice, and brings a curse on the people he is afraid of. 3) Lot offers his daughters to the men of Sodom to protect some guests and later ends up impregnating them when they get him drunk. There are more examples too, but wow! I am just encouraged that God still chose to love Abraham and his family despite their sin and failure. Even more than that, God declares Abraham righteous because of his belief. So for all of us who have failed at one point or another and who will probably stumble at other points along the way, let's realize God's power and love and believe that we are accepted in Jesus Christ. Then, let us live in joy and freedom, loving and worshiping Him as best as we can. To God be the glory forever and ever. 1/2/03 Hey! Happy New Year everyone! Well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Olya's hometown is taking the full month to process my invitation. So, I'm not going to know if it's approved until Saturday or Sunday morning. (The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are holidays there and Saturday and Sunday are working days. Strange, I know!) Since they are mailing the original to me, I probably won't receive it until Thursday or Friday. Olya told me that the missions training course is going to start on the 13th now instead of the 6th. That will be helpful. The less time that I have to miss, the better. Olya also told me that the pastors had the idea of having Olya be my private interpreter for the program on days where there would be discussions over the course material. We both thought that would be really cool. Anyway, I talked to my manager today about the possibility of turning in a letter of resignation this Monday for a finishing day of the 17th with the option of recinding the letter if for some reason the invitation is delayed or my visa is denied. He thought I should be able to do it, but he will check on Monday. I figured that since I will know by Monday whether or not the invitation was granted, it would be a good time to turn in my letter and get to Russia a little earlier than if I waited until I had a visa in hand. We'll see how it goes. God is in control. Let His will be done. |