September 29, 2009
CCWC
Mission, September 14-26,2009
Russia/ Ukraine

Lion of Judah. Each field mission I go on is a new experience for me. On this Mission the people stood out because we were in countries that we see and hear little about. On television we can watch documentaries about Africa, Asia, Europe, South America but little information is presented about Russia. The Russian people are our mirror image. In the towns and what we saw, the people do the same things and the same stuff that we do; only on a smaller scale. I also realize that there is much poverty and poor people. The homes aren’t as big, their cars are simpler, the grocery stores are as big as ours and the food is plenty. The young adults dress the same as we do with the latest of fashion. People excessively smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol.

In the residence where we stayed in Russia, the Pastor, his wife Nina and four children were some of the best people I have met. It was the hospitality, the kindness, the joy, the love and the expressiveness and sincerity that they showed to each us that made the family special. It would be hard pressed to find as devoted family here in the States. We attended church where 3 different churches met at the same place on Sunday for the sermon. We spent time with the youth group, 15 to 23 year old and saw the enthusiasm and the reaching to the Lord. This is the age group that enabled us to communicate freely. A few of the youth translated for us, making interesting conversation. Only 1% of the Russians are Christians. Russia today is still an open county, but one of our pastors, Pastor Antonio Carlos who had been there for the last three  years stated on different occasions, that he didn’t know how much longer we would be able to go into the county. What we can do, we must do now in ordwer to change our world.