Tim's Ministry Trip to St. Petersburg and Minsk, April 15th-May 6th, 1999 

April 15th  -16th Left home about 10 AM...so many things to get ready!  Bad 
weather in Chicago, so took a earlier flight...met and talked to a young man 
named Eric and got to minister to him some. The flight from Chicago to Frankfurt 
was long but uneventful.  Had a seat to myself on the flight which was 
nice...read the book on coaching by Shula and Blanchard.  Good book!  Lord, I 
want to be a great coach for Your players...to help bring out the best in them.  
I don't want to just do well myself...I want to make others better and so 
multiply my effectiveness and the Kingdom.   Also read some great verses form I 
Chronicles about David's mighty men...
Gadites-"mighty men of valor, trained for war..."
"Issachar"-men who understood the times and knew what to do
"Zebulun"-men who knew all kinds of weapons and helped David with an undivided 
heart.

Then this verse summed things up very well...
"For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, 
like the army of God."  
(I Chron. 12:22) I prayed, "Lord send me men like these...bring a mighty army 
together to do Your work!"

As I wrote in my daytime, I saw Shirley and Elise had written me little love 
notes on different days...made me homesick already.

Met my flight to St. Petersburg in good order after a three-hour layover...man, 
am I tired!  Started the book "The Training of the Twelve"-written in the 
cadence of the 1800's, hope I can relate to it all right.  This will be my study 
book for the trip.  An airport is an airport is an airport.  When we arrived in 
St. Petersburg, I got through the passport booth fine, but the customs agent 
charged me an extra $52 for the extra weight of the books.  The airline helper 
said this was very unusual...hope I don't have to go through this again.  At any 
rate, all my luggage arrived fine, and I was grateful for that.  Immediately I'm 
aware of the difference of the country...things here are functional, but older.  
For a city of 5 1/2 million, the airport is small.

After customs, Andrei met me with a sign carrying my name.  What a welcome 
sight!  He spoke English very well.  We drove back to his flat about an hour 
away.  The roads are very bad...there are many cars...small ones...Andrei guides 
us skillfully and quickly through the traffic.  The city is old...the cars, 
buses and trams are old...things are springtime dirty.  There are a number of 
canals and rivers...reminds me of Venice.

Andrei lives in a fifth floor flat in a building of about 9 stories.  There are 
dozens of tall apartment buildings...most of the people live in these buildings.  
Reminds me of Cabrini Green in Chicago.  He and his wife Olga have six 
children...Yulia, Alexei, Andrei, Jan, Ilia, and Antone, ranging from 11 to 
about 3.  Their flat is small, clean and nice.  I notice many appliances and 
brands are similar to ours.  Andrei's father was one imprisoned for his faith.  
A picture on the wall shows their family...his parents, his four brothers and 
sisters and spouses, and 25 children...35 all together!  Their Christmas family 
picture is just like one we would take.

Andrei tells me there is prayer meeting at 7 pm.  I slept little on the 
plane...the time jump is nine hours.  By the time I get to sleep that night, I 
had only slept about 5 hours of the last 36 and was up for almost 28 hours.  We 
drive to the church (about an hour and a quarter) in heavy traffic...the church 
is on the outskirts of the city in the country, but among a number of small 
homes.   We would call them shacks, because they are old and run down.  There is 
no grass or lawns.

At last I see the church we are helping to build!  It is a beautiful brick 
structure, not yet finished.  Inside they still have a dirt floor and we all sit 
on wooden benches.  I marvel at the thought that I am actually in St. 
Petersburg, Russia in a church I've been prayer for and a trip I've been 
dreaming about for a long time.  The miracle is visible at last!  I meet Miriam, 
who will be my translator.  I also meet Gennady, the senior pastor.  He looks 
like a pastor and I like him right away.   I also find I am to preach that 
night.  The prayer meeting has three messages, several choir numbers, some 
congregational songs, with prayers after each message.  Russians always stand or 
kneel to pray.  The service is simple but moving. There were about 250 people 
there...old women, children, young men and old.  Some stand through the two-hour 
service.  The choir has about 30 people...the music is simple, the singing 
beautiful.  The messages are Christ centered, both from the gospels about the 
passion of Jesus.  Miriam and I sit along a wall and she quietly translates the 
messages for me...they are very good.  I preach the third message...spoke on 
James 5:13-17 about praying with power.  If we have unity, humility and purity, 
we will pray with energy and authority.  Pastor Gennady said it was a timely 
word.  The Lord gave me a good message while we were driving to church.  I think 
that's how it will have to be all during this trip...listen to the Holy Spirit, 
let Him select the passage and then preach as simply as I can.   As Wesley said, 
be ready to preach or pray at a moment's notice.

When we get home, about 10:30, Andrei invites me for tea.  Russians steep their 
tea, pour it into a cup, then add water to fill.  We add lots of sugar...thick 
and granular.  We eat some good white bread with a little butter and applesauce 
for jam.  The food is plain, simple, and tasty.

I call home from Andrei's phone...dialed straight through to Shirley at the 
office about 2 pm their time and after 11 here...and suddenly I'm talking to her 
a half a world away...clear as a bell.  Its good to hear her voice, and she's 
glad I've arrived safely.  At last, I get to sleep.  Andrei gives me a chair 
that rolls out into a bed in his living room, so I have a room all to myself.  
One interesting note is how they put the blanket into a slip sheet, no 
comforter.  Sleep is a welcome experience.

April 17th   We leave for church about 9 am.  Today there is a Sunday School 
Teacher's seminar and men are working on the church.  Their old Sunday School 
and church building, both small buildings, burned several months ago, so now 
they have only four small rooms upstairs from a garage next to the church.  They 
have over 150 children for Sunday School in those four small rooms! On one way 
are drawings by the children of their "dream Sunday School"...Lord, may their 
dreams come true.

There are about 20 teachers for the seminar.  Some have come from a long 
distance, traveling overnight to come.  Paval, Andrei's brother-in-law, is the 
area Christian Ed coordinator.  Pastor Gennady brings a message about David and 
the trials he went through and how he encouraged himself in the Lord.  I am 
asked to speak again.  Speak on "Jesus the Master Teacher" from Matthew 6:25-34.  
He was the best teacher because He loved the children.  He was understandable, 
approachable and used natural things to teach spiritual truths.  Again the Lord 
gave me the message while we drove to the church.  Miriam translated for me 
again.  She told me to preach a sentence or thought all at once, because it is 
easier to translate into Russian that way.  We had hot tea with cookies for 
break, then on to more sessions.  I went around to take lots of pictures of the 
church.  Then I asked how I could help.  Then took me to Nick, who spoke a 
little English.  He had me come way up to the attic of the church where they 
were working to nail some cleats for floorboards to rest on.  I cut up a bunch 
of small blocks with a power circular saw and helped Nick nail some in....worked 
for a couple hours with him.  I enjoyed being able to work on the building we 
gave money to help build, even if for a little while.  At two we had lunch.  
They have a small kitchen in a little building near where the old church and 
Sunday School burned down.  We sat at tables outside...a nice, cool, sunny day.  
For lunch we had borsh (my first time...they gave it to me and said, "welcome to 
Russia!"), a good vegetable soup with beets and a little meat.  We had cucumbers 
with sour cream for salad, bread, "sala" (strips of fat), a chicken leg with 
mashed potatoes, a cream puff for dessert and again hot tea.  They told me that 
chicken legs began to be imported about 10 years before when Bush was president, 
so in Russia they call them "Bush legs"!  It was a tasty meal with lots of 
visiting among the folks.  Church dinners are the same the world over, I think.

After lunch I sat through a couple more seminars...the day is catching up to me.  
It was 3 PM their time, but 3 AM MN time.  We went home about 6 PM.  The 
seminars included church history, children's evangelism, missions...much like 
ours would be.  

At home we have tea and bread...Andrei tells me of the changes his country has 
gone through in the past ten years.  The collapse of communism brought more 
freedom, western clothes & music (I saw graffiti on buildings about rap, Kurt 
Cobain, and other rock groups) and unfortunately our sins, too.  The economy is 
gone through a crisis.  Not long ago, the rate was about 6 rubles to the dollar.  
Now the rate is about 25 to the dollar.  The cost of building has increased 10-
20 times, so it makes their church building project much harder.  Because of the 
economy, people will do almost anything to make money.  There is now a lot of 
pornography and prostitution.  Criminals make a lot of money from the misery of 
others. They routinely pay off police to get away with their crimes.  He tells 
me there have been some children sexually assaulted and murdered right in their 
building by someone they haven't caught.  He tells me how they play rock music 
in the schools and some schools are teaching visualization and channeling.  Too 
familiar!

He says that his family lives in a small village about 200 miles away during the 
summer in a house.  He preaches to a small church and carries on his ministry 
working as a translator for a Christian literature ministry.  They like the 
village much better...Andrei says they would live there if they could, but he 
has to live in St. Petersburg for his work.  He also says that the area where 
his father is originally from, far to the south, is where they grow their 
vegetables.  He goes to plant and harvest, and some of his relatives take care 
of things during the growing season.  They would rent a truck to bring the 
potatoes and carrots back, but the cost of things has risen dramatically.  I can 
tell his heart is heavy for his country.  Our countries are much more alike than 
we realize.

Sunday, April 18th  Sunday comes...a day of worship.  We had a "big" breakfast.  
A barley type cereal, break, cheese, tea, "sausages" (American hot dogs) and a 
relish of some kind.  We leave before nine in their van.  Andrei uses the van in 
his ministry.  He has a trip to help some people from Finland deliver some 
printed materials to central Russia coming up, but the van is needs some work.

We arrive at church about ten.  Many people take the train to the church, so the 
service begins about 10 AM.  I meet with the elders in a small room off the 
sanctuary...about 10 men.  It is a privilege to greet them and give them the 
gift of $900 from the men of our Conference.  They receive the money with much 
gratitude.

Church begins...again much singing.  Andrei's father Michel preaches the first 
sermon.  He sits with the elders of the church off to the left of the pulpit in 
front.  The choir sits to the right.  Michel is one of the oldest men of the 
church.  He glows as he preaches...it occurs to me that the intense suffering he 
went through for his faith has given him a depth and sweetness that is anointed.  
He calls people to experience the joy of the Risen Christ.  At one point, Pastor 
Gennady speaks, and all the people speak with him in a thunderous unison.  
Suddenly I realize what they are saying, and I join in...He is risen!  He is 
risen!  Miriam looks at me and asks, "how did you know?"  All I can tell her is 
that my heart knew.  

Again, I stand so full of joy in the midst of these 400 people.  A standing room 
only crowd...I'm in the middle of the miracle!  The youth sing (they all sit 
together, about 40 strong) twice as their part of the service.  Several small 
children recite poems and sing a little song.  I preach the second message.  
This time the Lord impresses on me to preach "God's Best for Our Life" from I 
Thess 4:3; 5:23,24.  They are familiar with sanctification and they seems to 
relate to the message.  Miriam again does a wonderful job.  I introduce myself 
before I speak and bring greetings from my family, our church, our Conference 
pastors and wives.  I tell them of how Vladimir Okhotin spoke at our church and 
how I felt the Lord speak to me about their church...how ChristLife had given 
them money for their building...it was so humbling and powerful to actually 
bring greetings to these precious believers!

Pastor Gennady preaches about the Emmaus Road...almost the same message I had 
preached on Easter!  At the end of the service, I again bring some greetings and 
give the pewter communion plates to the church as a gift from our church to 
their church.  Each time they take communion, I tell them, it will remind them 
that our two churches are one in heart...to pray for us as we pray for them. 

After the service, I speak with Pastor Gennady for the last time.  He has to 
take a trip so I won't see him again.  I give him a gift of my pastor's card 
with $40 in it.  That's about 1000 rubles...I think about a month's salary for 
him.  It was a special moment as pastor to pastor.  He gave me a big hug and 
thanks.

After church two men spoke to me who wanted to speak some English.  One named 
Sergei was a teacher.  The other was Nick, who I worked with yesterday.  One old 
man came up and asked about how I felt about the bombing in Yugoslavia.  I told 
him many people were not in support of the bombing since there were problems 
like this in other parts of the world, too.  He seemed to be satisfied by my 
answer, especially when I told him how much I admired Russian believers for the 
strength of their faith even in times of great suffering.

We had lunch...potatoes, cucumbers, a chicken leg, bread and some tea.  They had 
fixed it especially for Miriam, Andrew, Irena and me.  Many people bring their 
own sandwiches to church.  After the worship service they had a membership 
meeting followed by choir practice for the children.  Andrei and his family 
usually get home from church about 5 in the afternoon...a full day.  Some go 
back for the evening service.

Miriam arranged to take me sightseeing in the afternoon.  Andrew (Andrei), a 
young man of 21, drove us.  Irena, a nurse in a hospital and friend of Miriam, 
came along.  They took me to the heart of St. Petersburg.  We went to St. 
Isaac's cathedral, a place of incredible beauty that took 40 years to build.  It 
cost me 160 rubles (about 6 dollars) to get in...and because I was a foreigner, 
the other three got in free.  The normal rate for a native is 15 rubles.  
Afterward we went and I exchanged some money (my first rubles) and then to a 
bookstore.  I bought a nice book about St. Petersburg for 260 rubles and a 
phrase book for 8 rubles.  I had lost my English-Russian phrase book at the St. 
Petersburg airport.  Then we walked to the Palace Square, saw the outside of the 
Hermitage (the former winter palace of the Czar) and we walked over the Neva 
River...a main water "street" for the city.  Across the river I got some 
pictures of St. Peter-Paul...the place where St. Petersburg began.  It has a 
cathedral and is the burial place of the czars.  

We went back to the car and I gave Miriam a copy of my book.  I asked her to 
read some of the stories in church if she could.  She seemed very pleased to 
receive the book.  I also gave her $20 with my pastor's card.  She was a great 
help to me.  It began to rain and the wind blew hard just as we pulled away...we 
saw our sights just in time.

Andrew dropped Irena off at her building and took me back to Andrei's.  We drank 
tea and visited for awhile.  The two men had to go get some car parts.  I 
rested, weary from a long day.  When Andrei returned, he told me he would be 
leaving in the morning to take the people from Finland to central Russia.  

Because he was leaving, I asked to give the gifts to his family.  I gave the 
book of stickers to the children...what delight they took in them!  Then gave 
them the 16 colored stamp markers, and again they were a huge hit.  It was a joy 
to see their happiness at the gifts from my children to them.  Olga quietly 
thanked me for the five bowls we bought...wanted something practical for someone 
who probably had guests often in the type of ministry Andrei has.  Gave Andrei 
$40 and a copy of "Christmas Hearts."  The family all enjoyed the beauty of the 
book.  Hope they will enjoy the stories, too.  It was a wonderful time to give 
the gifts to this precious family.

We made some calls...to the airline to try to confirm my flight (couldn't get it 
done), to Daniel Okhotin in Moscow (he said he would meet me at the airport), to 
Minsk where I talked to Jeff Laughlin and he said someone would be there to pick 
me up, and tried calling home.  The girls weren't there (at Tara's shower).  It 
was after midnight when I went to sleep.

Monday, April 19th -Andrei left this morning about 7:30.  Shirley and the girls 
called about 7:45, just before 11 the night before there.  We talked for awhile 
(hope it wasn't too expensive) and caught up.  Later, Andrei called to tell me 
his brother would take me to the ticket place so I could confirm my flight.  

I'm in a place where no one speaks English.  I have nothing to "do" today, so it 
is a day to rest, read and pray before heading to Minsk tomorrow.  Had a good 
time in the Word including this good promise...
"Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord 
God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you until all the 
work ...is finished...and every willing man of any skill will be with you in all 
the work...for all kinds of service..." (I Chron. 28:20,21)

There were also some interesting things from Chambers for the April 18th 
reading...
"Readiness for God means that we are ready to do the tiniest little thing or the 
great big thing, it makes no difference.  We have no choice in what we want to 
do, whatever God's program may be we are there, ready...
Be ready for the sudden surprise visits of God...a ready person never needs to 
get ready...The burning bush is a symbol of everything that surrounds the ready 
soul, it is ablaze with the presence of God.

I sang from my little songbook and enjoyed a sweet time of worship.  The song 
that's been running through my heart since I got here is "Make Me a Blessing."  
Lord, that is my constant prayer for this trip!

I read a book by Wayne Schmidt, a Wesleyan pastor of a large church in Michigan, 
called "Leading When God is Moving," a type of leadership study from Joshua.  It 
was good, but I was tired, so didn't retain as much as I wanted.  As I rested 
for a little while and tried to listen to the Lord, all I "heard" was "be 
ready."  Don't know what that means, but it fits Chambers' words.  

Whatever You want, I'm available, Lord.

Andrei's brother took me downtown to get my ticket confirmed.  Thank the Lord, 
that looks all right.  

The kids got home from school...full of energy and chattering to each other. 
They did their homework at the kitchen table with music playing...so familiar.  
Its interesting to see them wearing clothes with Disney logos on them...no 
different from America.  

We had potato soup with a little chicken in it for supper.  I think they gave me 
the most chicken.  We had bread (two kinds...the brown seems to be the "meal" 
bread and the white the "good" bread) and cookies, jam with tea.  It was a 
simple meal, but filling.  It was fun to sit at the family table with Olga and 
the six children and listen to their supper conversation. They have no TV and 
only listen to Christian music.  Not a bad example.  

I've been able to find a few stations on the short wave radio that have some 
English.  The news is all about Kosovo.  Have no idea what's going on back 
home...but it doesn't seem to matter much.  I do miss being able to talk to 
people easily.  It is a new experience to be somewhere where few can understand 
you.

About 8 we had another meal!  This time white rice, fried sausage links, cabbage 
salad.  They drink yogurt for their dairy product, adding sugar or jelly to 
taste.  After that, more tea and some cookies.  

I started to work on the Russian language CD.  Called Alexei in to look, and 
soon all six kids were around me, helping me learn some phrases in Russian.  
These children are the best teachers!  We had so much fun, lots of laughter as 
the kids taught me.  At last it was time for bed.  I tenderly said good bye to 
each of them.  They were sure a lot of fun to be around.  Got to bed about 10.

Tuesday, April 20, 1999

Andrei's brother Alexander (another one from the one who helped me the day 
before) took me to the airport.  Up at 4, on the road by 5.  Olga, of course had 
some bread, cheese and tea for me.  Driving through the early morning city, much 
less crowded and quieter, was again a beautiful sight.

At the airport, a measure of frustration.  They charged me 1,200 rubles (about 
$48) for the extra weight.  Took a long time and I'm sure they overcharged me, 
but nothing I could do.  Finally got on the flight, a full, old 737 for the hour 
flight to Moscow.  It was uneventful, and stayed quiet, worshipping.  "Make Me a 
Blessing,"  Lord.

Met Daniel Okhotin at the airport, a real relief.  He had come about 2 hours by 
public transportation just to help me.  I was so grateful for his help.  He is a 
quiet young man in his late 20's, very much like his brothers.  He's studying 
economics at Moscow State University, the second best university on the 
continent.  He goes to Moscow Central Church, singing in the choir, preaching at 
a small satellite church every other Tuesday.  He works hard on a shoe string 
budget, but is right where the Lord wants him.  I enjoy his spirit.  We visited, 
I exchanged some money with the thought I'd have to pay again for the extra 
weight.  When we went through the check-in, Daniel talked the agent into letting 
me carry my luggage on board with no extra charge...he said it was a miracle, 
and I agreed.  As we get ready to board the plane, a group of athletes were on 
the same flight.  They helped me carry my baggage, which I appreciated (sure 
will be glad to be done with it).  We flew on a little Lear jet...very cramped 
with all the luggage stored on the plane.  

On the plane, the Lord put me next to the only other person who spoke English.  
Turned out to be a man named Stefan from Romania, who is the IBM head of support 
services for 11 countries, mostly the former USSR.  Had a fascinating 
conversation with him and got to share the gospel "bridge" with him on a napkin.  
He had taught in a university, but took the IBM job because of the good pay.  I 
thanked the Lord for the chance to minister to him.  As I left, the Lord said to 
leave the napkin on the tray, that someone else needed to read it.  I wonder 
who?  He knows.

At the airport, there was Julia (Yulia) and a driver.  What a welcome sight!  It 
was a 50-minute drive from the airport.  Found out it was a national holiday in 
Belarus, much like our Memorial Day.  All schools, businesses, gov't operations 
are closed as people drive to a cemetery to visit the graves of loved ones.  
They bring food, drink and remember.  We passed about four such cemeteries on 
the way, all full of people.

We are staying at the Hotel Yubileinaya ("Jubilee").  I'm on the 9th floor with 
a beautiful view of the city. The city appears newer and cleaner than St. 
Petersburg, but then most of it was destroyed in WWII and has been rebuilt.  The 
room is small but very comfortable.  I met Anatoly and Paval (Paul), who is the 
Belarussian Director. They gave us each $20 worth of Belarusian money....the 
rate is 370,000 rubles to the dollar, so they gave me $7,400,000 rubles...I'm a 
millionaire! They are very helpful.  They set up the email computer in my room!  
Its an old 386 with a 1200 baud modem, but its communication with the outside 
world.  Sent a message to Shirley, the folks and Aub to see if it works.

Met Winston from near Cincinnati (where Miami of Ohio U is) and Bill, from a 
church NW of Phoenix.  They are staying across the hall.  My roomie arrives 
tomorrow.  Both are pleasant men, tired from the long trip.  After a short 
meeting with Paval, we unpack and head down for supper.  There is a 
restaurant/bar and a Chinese place right here in the hotel.  We had a nice 
Chinese dinner, sharing several dishes and spending about $7 each.  After 
dinner, we visited some more.  These are going to be good men to be with.  
Winston has taught here before, so he is a veteran.  Got to read a USA Today 
paper...nice to catch up on some news.

So...here I am in Minsk at last.  Read II Chron 1-5.  Two passages stood out: 
God's invitation to Solomon:
"Ask what I shall give you..."  and Solomon's reply "...give me wisdom and 
knowledge..." so he could lead his nation.

Then the details of the building of the temple, with the ark returning, the 
priests praising, and the Shekinah glory filling the place!  

Lord, please give me Your wisdom during these two weeks.  I've prepared the best 
I know...I'm praising you and claiming the capacity of what is accomplished will 
be according to Your promises, not my abilities...O Lord, fill our lives and our 
time together with Your glory!

Wednesday, April 21st

Today was our first day to go to the Academy.  We got picked up and taken to the 
Academy...brought the two suitcases full of clothes and medicines to the office.  
The Academy rents space in a dormitory building that a construction company uses 
to house its workers.  The men students also live there, and the women live in 
different apartments.  

At the Academy I met all the translators, including Victor, who will be my 
translator.  We went over to the 1st Baptist Church, also called Golgatha, about 
a block away and met the pastor there.  He's a man in his fifties who greeted us 
warmly.  The church is beautiful...a stone building covered by white plaster.  
The sanctuary is beautiful.  Behind the pulpit is the saying, "Bog ves lubov"-
God is love.  There is a brick courtyard and a nice two story CE building a few 
steps away, and the entire complex is enclosed by a fence.  They keep it neat 
and clean.

After meeting the pastor, we went over to the HQ of the Baptist Union, the 
national leaders for the Baptist churches in Belarus.  There we met another man 
named Victor, who had studied in the US at Moody and was the Sr. VP of the 
union.  We visited for about an hour.  He thanked us warmly for coming when 
others had cancelled their trips because of the situation in Yugoslavia, invited 
to come teach again in the future, asked us to consider giving financial aid 
through our churches to help students, and we talked politics some.  It was 
interesting to hear a Belarusian Christian perspective on things...although not 
all that different from us.  

I gave the money for Yulia from Larry Orth to her along with the peanut butter.  
She said she had just given her last two jars to her parents and nephew a few 
days ago, and here we Americans had brought her three!  It was a lesson in faith 
for both of us.  Also gave the $200 from the woman in Wisconsin to the student 
named Andrei to Paul and he said he'd get it for us.  All the people on staff 
were extremely helpful and glad we were there.  They are making this a pleasant 
experience.

After our time at the Academy, we got our first experience riding an electric 
trolley.  They gave us a transportation pass, a phone card for public phones, 
and a list of numbers in case we got lost.  It can get crowded on those 
trolleys!  We got back to the hotel.  I'm a bit nervous, but eager to begin 
teaching.

When we got back to the hotel, we decided to walk to McD's for supper, probably 
a mile away, but we could see the sign in the distance from our hotel room.  The 
walk is along a busy avenue, along shops, two super markets, a book store, a 
movie theater, other places to eat, and an outdoor open air art market.  McD's 
is a two-story place right on a main corner downtown.  I had a Big Mac value 
meal for about $3.  Food prices are good.

Sent and received my first emails...what a joy to be able to communicate with 
people back home!  

Thursday, April 22nd

Our first day of teaching!  We went by cab...cost about 185,000 rubles...less 
than $1.  We started with chapel.  When the students (about 50 first and second 
year in what we would call a Bible College) applauded.  We introduced ourselves 
briefly.  I told how seven years ago I had begun to pray for the Lord to allow 
me to go somewhere in the world to serve Him and how this was an answer to this 
prayer.  All the staff seemed to be genuinely excited about my manual...it 
really is a miracle!

I'm teaching in the CE building near the church.  After chapel, we went to our 
room and I got to meet my students.  They are all young, in their 20's and 
sharp.  They remind me of students at Vennard.  I asked them each to tell me 
about their ministry, where they think God might be leading them, and what they 
wanted from my class.  Their answers were interesting and inspiring.

Valery--  He's working with Max in Slonim, about 200 km away, starting a church.  
They have a home to meet in and are visiting and having Bible study.  They show 
the Jesus film.  He wants to learn more about practical things of planting 
churches and my own personal stories.

Irina-She's working with Sergei with a team to start a new church in Begoml, 
about 110 km to the north.  They have about 20 kids in SS.  She plays piano.  
She wants to learn more about what God has for her in the future.

Sergei-he's working with Irina.  He helps with SS, music and preaches.  He will 
be going to seminary following the academy.  He also wants to hear my story and 
learn practical methods.

Vladimir-he's learning about ministry, visiting different churches.  He's 
preached in his home church and works with youth.

Irina-(there's two)  She's working in a new church NE of Minsk.  She also works 
with Sergei in youth and SS ministries.  They have about 60 teens in their youth 
group.  She hopes to go on to further studies and perhaps be a missionary.  She 
also wants to hear about my experiences.

Lena-She leads Bible studies in public school.  She will return to her home 
church after school and help there in any way she can.

Shasha (Alexander)-He works in Berzinskoye with two others.  He preaches there, 
but they are not seeing a lot of outreach.  He may be drafted by the army.  He 
hopes to go into missions.  He wants to put this class into practical use in his 
ministry.

Vitaly-He has been involved in various ministries-preaching, SS, Jesus film, and 
especially music.  He wants to know the best way to use his gifts.

Andrei-He works in Drujsk in a new church 270 km away.  He helps with preaching, 
SS and music.  He hopes the class will encourage him to do more work for the 
Lord.

Max-He works with Valery in church planting.  He wants to hear my experience.

Julia (Yulia)-She works in the Golgatha church in SS.  She loves to work with 
kids.

One member, Luda, was not there.  She's expecting, and wasn't feeling well.  
She's the only married student in the class. 

After our introduction, I pass the manuals around and again tell the story.  
They clap when they hear me tell the story, and it makes all that work 
worthwhile.  Max volunteers to help edit the manual as we go along, as does 
Victor.  Then I teach two more periods...one before lunch and one after.  The 
first is the overview from Joshua and the second is how to discern God's will.  
I find working with Victor pretty easy...he's very good.  I'm not sure how well 
I'm doing, but Victor says I did very well.  I can tell already that these will 
be sharp young men and women to teach.  My first day of teaching is 
done...Tuesdays and Thursdays are shorter by one class period.  The teaching 
adventure has begun.  

We head back by trolley...actually more like a rolling sardine can on 
wheels...it was crowded!  We got back to the hotel tired but pleased.  We walked 
to a pizza place near McD's for supper.  Had a good calzone and coke for less 
than $3.  

Shirley and Elise both had notes from me in my DayTimer...a welcome reminder of 
home.  Dave and I shared teaching concepts...we're coming with the same passion 
for church planting, but from a slightly different perspective.  He just 
finished a ten-day student ministry in London with Neil Cole...a guy who writes 
for CRM.

Friday, April 22nd

My second day of teaching, and first day of four sessions.  Today we talked 
about vision, discovering how God made you to lead,  mentors, and the importance 
of a clean heart.  I felt like we made more progress, but I can tell that some 
of these issues are not connecting to their hearts yet.  Still, Victor says we 
did all right, and I gave my first quiz to them.  They all did fine, but I made 
it pretty easy.  

In the evening we ate dinner in the hotel restaurant...got a nice chicken dinner 
with potatoes salad for about  $1.50.
Then Alexander, a student from school, took us to the Belarusian circus.  What 
an event!  We had great seats.  Jugglers, talented animals (a dancing bear, 
camels, cats, dogs, an emu, even chickens!), aerialists...the works.  The two 
clowns were probably the best of all.  Ice cream sandwiches were a dime...we 
walked all the way back, about
2 miles on a beautiful night.  We thanked Alexander and headed for bed.

Saturday, April 23rd
Today we didn't rush to get up. Anatoly met us at 11 and took us to a war museum 
downtown.  It was a powerful reminder of the price the people of Minsk paid 
during the Nazi invasion and occupation.  The countries, names, faces and places 
can all change, but the characters stay the same...war is hell.

Then Anatoly took us shopping.  I found Shirley's tablecloth at one store for a 
great price ($15 for a white one with embroidery and 12 napkins).  I price 
Matruska dolls and found they were much more affordable than I realized.  I can 
get a whole bunch.  Also bought a hat made in Minsk for $1.50 and found a 
beautiful eagle hand carved from wood for only $15!  The man who made it was 
Demitri, a well-known wood carver who has shown his work in the US.  Both items 
were a treat to find...small gifts from my Father who knew I would like them.

We came back, rested, worked on our lessons a little.  I began to read Bruce 
Wilkenson's "Seven Laws of the Learner"-very helpful.  Got to get it when I get 
home.  We ate Chinese...the most expensive place we've eaten so far, but the 
food was good.  I'm enjoying having Dave as my roomie.  He's a good musician, 
and we connect well on the heart level.  We took a good long walk around the 
canal across the street from the hotel...very pretty setting and a nice 
conversation.

Sunday, April 25th
 
Today we spread out to different churches.  Winston went to a small village 
church about 2 hours away by train.  Bill went to church on the outskirts of 
Minsk pastored by the brother of the president of the Baptist Union.  Dave 
preached at Bethlehem, a church in Minsk, a church of about 120.  They assigned 
me to preach at Golgatha, the largest Baptist church in the country!  It has 
about 1,300 members.  It is also the church where I teach in the CE wing.  I was 
a little nervous about that, but went where I was sent.  Victor met me at the 
hotel with a friend named Igor, who was attending an evangelical church for the 
first time in his life!  I visited with Igor, who spoke a fair amount of 
English.  I asked him about his spiritual search and gave him one of the "Real 
Purpose of Life" booklets.

The church was very much like the church in St. Petersburg, only it was very 
obvious that this was "first church."  It had been there since 1905, endured my 
persecution and pressure, and was now thriving.  It had planted 11 daughter 
churches as well.  The pastor has been there 22 years and said I as an American 
could not even begin to 
understand what they've been through.  He's right.

I preached first, and spoke on what the Lord laid on my heart, but what seemed 
strange for this church... "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good 
pleasure to give you the Kingdom."  Still, biblical Christians make up only 1% 
of the population of Belarus, so it made sense.  I think they had me go first 
because if I as the American messed up, they would still have two more preachers 
to make up for me!  Victor and I did well together, and I preached with great 
liberty.  The congregational singing was awesome!  There were about 500 people 
in the church, and hardly any seats open at all.  The choir was 
tremendous...they are very proud of their choir.  During one choir number, 
however, a woman in the balcony (where the choir was, too) began shaking and 
shrieking.  Victor leaned over and said she was demon-possessed.  Some ushers 
quickly led her out...I don't know if they prayed for her or just removed her.  
The speaker, an elder of the church and a Gideon, handled the situation well.  
He and another speaker from TWR of Belarus spoke...and at the end of the service 
a man came forward to repent and give his life to Christ!  It was 
wonderful..."slava Bog!" (Praise God!)  It was a great service.  At the end of 
the service one sweet old lady came to me, shook my hand, and said, first in 
Russian and then in English, "I love you."  I said I loved her back...what a 
precious lady!  Then another old woman spoke to Victor and told me she had 
thought much of the Kingdom.  She said, "get ready for the 2nd coming...and 
preached an encouraging word to me.  All I could say was, thank you, 
sister...she was right on.  She said "zBogm"-Go with God.  I'm going to remember 
that.

On the way home, Victor took us by "metro"-subway.  It was clean, neat and fast 
transportation.  I got to visit more with Igor...he's seeking the Lord.  Hope I 
get to talk with him further.

Got home about 1, Dave and I both got in a good naps and read for awhile. 
Wilkenson's book really made me hunger to be more effective for the Lord...had a 
good season of prayer about that. The other guys got back about 5...we went out 
to the pizza place and told our stories...each of us was in a different place, 3 
of the 4 places had someone come to Christ, and we enjoyed our days of ministry.

I'm reflecting on the fact that the Lord had me preach in the largest church in 
St. Petersburg and now the largest church in the country of Belarus...why?  He 
whispered to me..."I'm getting you ready to preach to more people."  I receive 
that, Lord.  Whatever You want, wherever You want, to whoever You want.

Talked to the girls and Shirley about 9 PM sure-was good to hear their voices.  
We talked way too long, but it was worth it.  I'm also getting lots of email, so 
that is keeping us close to home, too.  Having the email computer in our room is 
a gift from the Lord.  Both Dave and I are using it a lot.


Monday, April 26th

Today was a four-session day.  I began by asking them about their weekend of 
ministry and if any of what we talked about applied to them.  We spent our whole 
first hour just talking about those things.  They asked about what a service was 
like in our church, so told them about that.  They really enjoyed that.  We 
talked about prayer, servant leadership, goals and overcoming obstacles.  It was 
a good day of teaching...just felt like I was connecting to their hearts and 
minds.  I sensed the Lord really helping us.  

After school Yulia took Winston and I shopping.  We went first to a kiosk she 
said had great prices...and it did.  Got a really nice metal serving tray 
painted beautifully for our family for about $8...  Got a couple of pretty wool 
scarves for Mom and Shirley's mom for about $3 each.  We headed to "Art Square"-
a place for tourists to get things.  I bought over 40 Matruska dolls for $1 and 
$1.50 each...great prices!  I can give something small but meaningful to each 
person who helped me make this trip.  Also got 2 small straw dolls for about 
$1...a unique thing to Belarus.  I've got almost all the souvenirs purchased 
now...I think.

We went to McD's for supper, I answered my email from Elise and Shirley, and I 
get my quiz ready for tomorrow.  It's been a good day.
 
Tuesday, April 27th

Today was not as good.  I woke up feeling sick...that bronchial thing trying to 
come back...sore throat, feverish, weak.  I made it through the day all right.  
Had a coughing spell at one point and Victor had a coughing spell at 
another...seemed like the enemy was trying to mess with us, too.

We talked about Dealing with Conflict, domestic considerations, and the 
characteristics of a church planter.  During the domestic considerations 
section, I told them the story of our family. They really seemed to enjoy that, 
and retelling it made me reflect on the goodness of the Lord to bring Shirley 
and I together and keep us together and bless us so much.  Over lunch Valery 
told me how he and Irina came to be engaged...sounded so familiar!  Here a man 
often will be interested in a girl but not court her (at least the old way of 
things) and then ask her to marry him!  This was his signal he was serious.  
Then the woman had time to think and pray before she would respond.
Valery said he had not told anyone else, so I felt honored.

When we got home, I slept for a couple hours and took the antibiotics again.  
Think I stopped too soon.  We ate supper in the hotel and were first flirted 
with and then insulted by two women...we tried to ignore them, because we didn't 
know if they were among the ones who have been calling the rooms.  One had 
probably been drinking, and she began to curse us (I think) about Yugoslavia.

After supper Andrei the student took us to the theater...an amazing display of 
Russian folk music and dancing.  I felt weak, but sure enjoyed the evening.  
They are sure treating us good!  Read a little and headed for bed.

Wednesday, April 28th 

Felt better this morning, thank the Lord.  Had more strength and felt like my 
throat was much better.  The teaching day went really well, too.  Talked about 
the different methods of planting churches, the four stages of planting a 
reproducing church, developing a prayer team, spiritual mapping and strategic 
intercession.  We decided to "plant" a church in Slonim, a city of about 50,000 
about 200 km away where Max, Valery and a seminary guy are trying to plant a 
church on the weekends.  I felt like the Lord gave me some creative ideas to 
describe how to identify the strongholds/strongmen and prayer.  I taught on 
Lighthouses and ended the day on a prayer walk blessing the huge apartment 
buildings right across the street from the church.  I appointed Max to be the 
leader of the church planting team...he's got the makings of a great church 
planter.  He said to me on a break... "This class is helping me so much...now I 
have a plan."  Yippee!

Got home and read about Wesley's class meetings...about 2/3 through...this book 
is wonderful!  It was good to rest a little...felt a little weak.  Found some 
news on VOA...seems to be the same news I heard last time.  Bill and Dave went 
shopping, and a dog bit Dave.  Thankfully it wasn't more serious than it 
was...torn pants and a bite on his arm.  Sure hope there is no disease.  We ate 
at McD's again...the Spanish place we want to try has been closed.  Came back to 
the room, checked the email, and am getting caught up on journaling.  I think I 
can get 100 Matruska pens for $18...have to pick them up tomorrow.

Only a week until we are done now...only about four days of teaching and then 
the final...I think I can get through all the material in the right amount of 
time.

Again, its been a good day...warm and sunny, a beautiful walk along the canal 
after supper, these good pastor brothers to spend this time with...the staff at 
the Academy treating us so well...You are so good, Lord.  Thank You for the 
privilege of being Your servant in this place.  Thank You for taking care of my 
family and church back home.  I rest in grateful confidence in You.

Thursday, April 29th

A short teaching day today.  It was another good day.  We covered core values 
(difficult for them to grasp, just like in America), determining our Ministry 
Focus Group (we decided we would target young adults, single and married, in 
Slonim), clarifying our mission statement (again a little difficult to discern 
just like in the states) and building shared vision.  We did the shared vision 
piece outside with them acting out the "train to Moscow" illustration and 
another, and they really got them.  

When we got back I did laundry quick.  Yulia has Winston and I going to a church 
outside the city tonight.  Dave and Bill are going to an organ concert.  We left 
about 3:30 with Vitaly from our class driving...tight fit in a small car.  We 
stopped at Art Square where I got 112 Matruska pens for $18...so have about 120 
for $20...about 17 cents apiece.  Also got two painted eggs for 200,000 
rubles...about 50 cents each.

We drove out over bumpy roads about 30 minutes to a complex of apartment 
buildings that formed a community of people called Godova.  We met Vladimir, the 
pastor and his wife Luda.  They have a daughter, Yulia, the same age as Elise.  
We had a wonderful home cooked meal...again simple food but very tasty.  We had 
boiled potatoes with a couple meat patties on top, cucumber and tomato salad in 
sour cream, and bundt cake and tea for dessert.  The most interesting thing was 
"Herring in a Fur Coat"-a multi-layered dish of beets, onions, mayo, carrots, 
potatoes and herring.  It was not too bad...

The story of their church was interesting.  A single "praying Grandma" had asked 
the Lord for Him to bring other believers for fellowship.  She found another 
woman and they began to pray.  Luda became very ill, and in her illness the Lord 
touched her and she became a believer.  Then the Lord led her to the other three 
women, and there were three.  Vladimir was a "hopeless alcoholic" in his words.  
They prayed for him, and he came to the Lord, Who set him free from alcohol.  He 
wound up going to the Bible College and became the pastor of that church.  

After supper people began to come, starting with that precious "babushka"-the 
praying grandma.  She's well over 80 and immediately reminded me of Grandma 
Kendall from Milwaukee.  By the end of the night we had about 25 people crowded 
into their small living/dining room. This is where the church normally meets on 
Sundays, too.  I know enough Russian now to say, "Greetings...my name is 
Tim...pleased to meet you..." Vitaly is impressed by my Russian.

They wanted Winston to teach on demons, because they had a man whom had been 
tormented by demons and they wanted to understand what was going on and how to 
deal with it.  Winston asked if anyone had any experiences with demons and a man 
named Nicholae said his 9-year-old daughter was tormented in her sleep.  He and 
his wife didn't know what to do...took her to the hospital, even consulted 
witches, but nothing helped.  Winston did a great job teaching on the authority 
of Jesus and His victory over Satan and his demons.  We asked Nicholae some 
questions, and we came to realize he was not a believer.  He said he believed, 
but was just taking his first steps.

The word the Lord gave me for them was the same "little flock...your Father's 
good pleasure to give the Kingdom" message I had preached at Golgatha.  It was 
obvious this was just the right word for this little church.  Yulia did such a 
wonderful job...I felt great liberty and joy as I preached and I could tell the 
people received the Word gladly and were encouraged by it.  I felt the Lord 
giving me words of encouragement to give them from His heart...what a joy to be 
the messenger of these encouraging words!  I dialoged with Nicholae during the 
message, telling him he must have Jesus as the King of his heart if he was to be 
the spiritual protector for his daughter.  Some of got through, some did not.

When I finished we sang...on of the songs was "How Great Thou Art"---what a joy 
to sing along in English as they sang in Russian!

After the service (they called it "Bible Study") I spoke more with Nicholae, 
asking him if he would like to repent and receive Christ that night.  He said he 
did, but didn't know how.  I shared more with him, but he was evasive and I 
could tell he was not ready...or being hindered from believing.  I prayed for 
him and told him to speak to Vladimir when he was ready to receive Christ.

I hugged the Babuska (they all smiled and laughed when I called her that)...what 
a glow on her face as she talked about Jesus!  How much she reminds me of 
Grandma Kendall!  I could not speak much to her, but our hearts spoke clearly to 
each other..."I love you."  I had my picture taken with her....I'll take one 
praying babuska over 10 pastors any day!  Also got a picture of the church and 
Vladimir and his family.  They will pray for ChristLife to get a church building 
and we will pray for them to get their church building.

We came home in the glow of knowing we had been God's men and messengers for 
that night...Winston said we had been in a holy moment.  Dave and Bill enjoyed 
the organ concert, but we definitely got the better deal.  This night was one of 
the highlights of my trip.

Friday, April 30th

The last day of teaching for the week...we're all feeling the physical effects 
of pouring our lives out for our students this week.  We're tired, but happy.  I 
can tell Victor is tired, too.  We teach on finances, qualities of a healthy 
church, problems to avoid, an overview of a cell church, and the life stages of 
a cell church.  I taught the "trio" concept Dave brought with him and had them 
become a trio for most of one class...they really liked that!
Once again we came home tired but happy to be used of the Lord.  Sasha said 
today, "We have a clear picture of what to do now..."  Slava Bog!

Came home, had a cup of expresso at Sabrina's (the hotel bar) and came back to 
rest.  Bill and I looked at a store at tea sets and crystal vases...so 
inexpensive!  

We leave for Moscow tonight at 9...my class told me to look Russian...serious 
and somber.  I scowled and said "Da...pa Ruski"...they all laughed.

Two more teaching days and then our final day...we're on track to finish our 
material just right.  "Make Me a Blessing..."

On to Moscow...we left at 8:45 with Timothy, Anatoly's brother.  He works at the 
Baptist Union as an administrative assistant and spoke English well.  We went to 
the train station and boarded an electric train that must have been at least 
twenty cars long.  We were in a sleeping berth with four beds, two bunkbeds.  
The compartment was about 5 by 7 and was surprisingly comfortable.  We had an 11 
hour train ride...slept some on and off.  The ride was smooth at some points and 
herky-jerky at others. 

Saturday, May 1st

May 1st in Moscow...what a time to be there!  We arrived about 9 AM, since 
Moscow is an hour ahead of Belarus.  At the train station, twin busts of Marx 
and Lenin were at the entrance to greet us.  We exchanged some money (I still 
had $80 in rubles from St. Petersburg) and went out for breakfast.  We went by 
Metro (subway) all day... the trains running quickly, the stations far below the 
street and very clean.  It costs less than $1 to ride all day.  
We at breakfast at the "Starlight Diner," an American restaurant that looked 
like it was made from a railroad car... like a throwback to "Mickey's Diner."  
They had CNN in English on the TV, an English copy of "The Moscow Times" (very 
liberal), good but expensive food.  I had a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee 
for $4.

As we left the diner, it began to rain...it was a cold wet rain.  We saw two 
demonstrations for their version of "Labor Day"...both pretty small 
demonstrations considering we were in the capital of communism.  We bought 
tickets to the Kremlin and the Armory...cost $20.  The "Goom" (their large 
department store) and Red Square were closed because of the holiday, but we were 
able to see many places.  It was cold, wet and miserable for most of the 
morning, but we did get into the Kremlin about noon....the center of communism.  
Kremlin means "fortress."  It is a complex of buildings surrounded by a wall.  
The most interesting thing was the fact that we visited 5 cathedrals inside the 
Kremlin!  They were all Orthodox, very old.  They were all covered with 
paintings and icons and statues.  Some were over 500 years old and one had many 
caskets with "saints" that were 400-500 years old.  Here in the center of 
communism were 5 churches...yet they did not have the power and life of God.  
They were all from the times of czars.  Still, it was a powerful reminder that 
man's worst forms of government can never erase the life of God's truth and His 
people.  We saw a museum of Orthodox relics.  The Armory was the most 
incredible...a museum full of riches from the times of czars.  There were silver 
and gold plates, statues and things of all kinds.  The sign said it was the 
largest collection of silver objects anywhere in the world.  One floor had 
incredible jewelry, crowns, thrones, armor, guns, carriages...it boggled my mind 
to see all the riches in those rooms!  I bought a book in English about the 
Kremlin and a tape of Russian folk music for about $3...but it's hard to begin 
to describe all I saw.

After the Armory the rain had let up, so Timothy took us to "Arbot Street"...a 
pedestrian street full of shops and kiosks.  Found a cool "Hard Rock Café 
Moscow" hat in Russian, a t-shirt with a Russian eagle on it and some other 
things, but the prices on a lot of things had been better in Minsk.  Timothy 
said Moscow was an expensive city to live in.  We found a French deli and had a 
"lunch"-pastries and soup.  I had a bowl of veal soup...no meat, but very good.  
Afterwards we were waiting outside a shop when a street artist (one of many 
along the street) came up to me and said, "You look very photogenic" and started 
to sketch in me charcoal.  He said he had gone to art college for four years, 
and it was obvious he knew his craft.  I knew I was being set up, but it was 
fun, and sure enough in a few minutes he had done a good likeness of me (even 
made me look younger) and I paid him 150 rubles (about $6) for it.  It will make 
a nice gift.

It had started to rain again, and it was about 6 PM...Timothy took us to see one 
more place, a new rebuilt Russian Orthodox Church.  It had been completely 
destroyed in the 30's and rebuilt at considerable expense by the government and 
other donations starting in 1993.  Timothy was not pleased...a waste of money in 
such a poor nation.  By then it was raining a cold wet rain, so we just wanted 
to get someplace warm.  Timothy took us again by subway to a "chicken place"-
their version of KFC.  I had a three-piece chicken dinner (all drumsticks) with 
fries and a large Coke for less than $3.  We sat and visited quite a bit and 
then went to the Starlight Diner for coffee and dessert.  I watched more news on 
CNN there and even found a day old copy of USA Today!  Such a treasure...they 
let me take it along.

We headed back to the station, did a little more shopping, and boarded the train 
back to Minsk about 10 PM.  This time we all slept better, arriving in Minsk 
about 8 AM.  It had been a tiring but rewarding experience to see Moscow, but we 
were all glad to get back to the hotel for a hot shower and a change of clothes.

Sunday, May 2nd

Oh, did a hot shower and change of clothes feel good!  We ate breakfast.  I 
decided to visit an Orthodox Church to experience their kind of worship.  Some 
of the others went to Golgatha to worship there.

The Orthodox Church was an experience.  Got there about 9:30 and people were 
milling around, burning candles and genuflecting before icons.  I decided to 
look around at the icons, asking the Lord to help me worship Him in spirit and 
in truth in a place where I was completely out of my element and language.  I 
found two pictures that really led me to worship...one a painting of the Risen 
Christ, His hands and feet pierced.  He was holding a staff with a flag 
symbolizing His victory.  An angel knelt before Him, waving a palm branch in 
praise, and a woman (who I don't know) also knelt in worship.  Jesus is the 
Risen King of Kings!  Another had Jesus holding an open Bible...He is the One 
who has the Word of life.  Those two led me to worship, "Lord, You are the Kings 
of Kings and have the Word of Life." The only other thing I understood was the 
head priest saying "He is Risen!" three times while the congregation responded 
back to him.  The rest of the service made little sense...elaborate ritual, 
ornate robes of different kinds, about 20 different priests and deacons, no 
seats, everyone standing, the chanting of prayers and responses of the 
choir...not even sure if the people even understood it all.  Some looked very 
devoted, but I didn't sense much life there.

I stayed for about an hour, then went to Art Square and bought a few more 
things.  Came back and rested for awhile.

This afternoon I read "Powers of Darkness" by Clinton Arnold.  It was Winston's 
book and a very helpful study of spiritual forces, especially in Paul's letters.

We went out to eat about five and found the Spanish restaurant finally open.  
Our waiter was Hispanic...a Cuban named Fidel who had married a Belarussian 
woman!  We had a good time with him...gave him a "4 Spiritual Laws" booklet in 
Russian.  We had a very good Mexican dinner for about $7 each.

Got back and Dave and I are both working on our final exams.  Mine is 30 
questions covering the most important things we've had during the class.  Sure 
hope my students will understand what I've taught and be able to implement the 
principles in their lives.  We'll see.

Well, time to send out some email...I'm trying this as an "open letter" I can 
send to several people.

Only three more days to go...my how the time has gone!  This has been very hard 
work, but immensely satisfying.  Dave and I think we'll volunteer to do this 
again sometime if the Lord allows...next time maybe in Central America.  
Again...we'll see.  I would sure like to do this more in the future...the 
opportunity to influence the spiritual pioneers of other countries is thrilling 
to me.  It's up to You, Lord.

Monday, May 3rd

Our last week in Minsk begins...that odd balance between "how times flies" and 
"seems like I've been here forever"...sure have enjoyed being here.  Dave and I 
have really enjoyed being roomies.  I tell Shirley in a note that if we lived 
close we'd be great friends.  He has the same heartbeat and sense of humor.

Today we talked about leadership qualifications, leading cell meetings and I 
gave them lots of pages of resources.  It looks like we will be done right on 
time, and again we had a good day in class.  They are sharp...very Biblically 
literate and spiritually mature for their ages.  I've really come to love them.  
Vitaly walked with me to take a gift to Timothy (we each gave him $10 for being 
our guide) and said, "When you go home, there will be many tears."  I said, 
"We've become good friends..."  How can you come to love people so quickly?  
That is the miracle of the unifying grace of Jesus...anywhere in the world we 
are one in Him.

After classes Victor to Dave and I shopping...we went to the sports center 
across the street from the hotel...lots of small booths of clothes and other 
things.  I looked for leather coats...they started at $280!  Ouch!  Did find a 
really nice "Columbia" style jacket for $35.  Would be 2-4 times that much at 
home.   Then Dave and I walked up to the "Goom" (department store) and some 
other stores.  I got a beautiful cut glass vase for 1 million rubles ($2.50) and 
a couple of nice black boxes for the girls.  Dave bought some things for his 
boys...three wool blankets for snuggling on the couch for $12.  We had a nice 
meal at the hotel (again only $1.50) and we chilled out in the room.  Watched a 
little hockey on TV and got to sleep early.  The other folks were out shopping 
and ate out at the pizza joint.  

Again, a very satisfying day...Dave and I shared some dreams and experiences 
over supper.  Our journeys have been so similar!  When I said I felt the Lord 
calling me to be a part of a small high performance team that ministered 
transdenominationally for Kingdom purposes, he said that was just what he was 
sensing, only had not been able to describe it before.  It was a wonderful heart 
sharing time.
Tuesday, May 4th

I was up early...5:30...to call home.  It was sure good to hear the girl's 
voices.  Aubrey was a girl of few words as usual and Elise a girl of many.  
Shirley told me Wes' brother Troy had died (felt the Lord whisper to me when I 
prayed "he will not die, but live" so I'm believing he was able to respond to 
Jesus for salvation before he went into eternity) and Eric Sellner's dad had 
died in a tractor accident in Sleepy Eye.  His funeral is Friday, so we may be 
making a trip to SE on Friday morning.  Shirley wept at one point and said, "I 
just want you to come home."  I want to come home, too.  The homesickness is 
really bad now.

Our last day of teaching.  Dave and I went early to go to chapel and Yulia from 
my class spoke.  She did a good job.  The students found out they had to go to 
the city of Beresov to hand out invitations to the Jesus film they were showing 
over the weekend.  They were not happy campers, because the final is tomorrow.  
Dave and I decided to finish our materials by lunch.  We finished the morning 
talking about evangelism, leading a good discussion, training leaders, and how 
to multiply a cell or church.  I felt like we covered everything we needed to in 
just the right amount of time...and the students really seemed to catch the 
vision!  I said, "Let's go plant a church in Slonim together!"  I'm ready to go 
with them.

After lunch the women of our class went with the other women and listened to 
Nancy talk about inner and outer beauty.  I especially encouraged Luda to talk 
to her because Nancy's a nurse and had worked delivery/obgyn.  Victor and I met 
with the guys for the class and studied for the final.  Max asked more 
questions...he's going to be a great church planter.

After class we were invited to go to Beresov with the students, but I was really 
tired and decided to head home.  Victor translated the final into Russian, so we 
are ready to go for tomorrow.  

At the hotel I had lots of email...:)  Bill and Win and I visited for awhile, 
then they went shopping.  Nancy got to go to a hospital.  She says doctors make 
$40 a month, the hospital had very few supplies, no charts, no med cabinets, no 
refrigerators...not a good place to be sick.

Got my outline for my sermon done for Sunday...I'll type it on the place so I 
have something to do I spent some time listening to VOA news, and then just 
spent some quiet time with the Lord..  I looked out the window over the 
city...what a trip this has been.  I thanked the Lord for letting me come...the 
answer to a dream of my heart...and told Him I'd go anywhere in the world to do 
things like this for Him.  Its up to Him, but I am sure willing to go again.  It 
was a good quiet time in Him. 

Waited until 8 for Dave (he went to Beresov) and went to the hotel restaurant 
for supper.  Read my little Gideon
NT/Psalms and read Psalm 16-21.  The verses were so sweet to my heart...
* "the lines have fallen in pleasant places..."
* "the Lord has brought me into a roomy place...He is my strength, my song and 
my salvation"
* "the Lord has given me the desires of my heart...."

All true!  Thank You, Lord!  

Dave got back and had a good story to tell about their trip.  He and I both 
agreed we had fallen in love with our students and would miss them very much.  

We are grateful men.







Wednesday, May 5th

Our last day at the Academy.  We got there about 9:30 and started our final 
right away.  I had 30 questions worth 5 points each...75% of their total grade.  
All my students were there and they completed the final in about 75 minutes.  
They said it was harder than they thought it would be...

After the test was done I asked if I could pray for them each individually.  I 
went around the room, laying my hand on their heads and the Lord gave me a word 
for every one of them...it was a sacred time.  I wept over most of them...the 
Lord loves them so much and has such good plans for them!  Some of them were 
weeping, too.  I gave Victor a copy of my book with much praise for his good 
work.  He seemed genuinely touched at my gift.  I also gave $20 in the book as 
an extra gift.  What a wonderful group of young leaders the Lord gave me!  
Afterward, we went outside and I took a picture of my class all holding their 
"miracles"-their manuals in Russian.  How little did I know how important this 
might be!  Then they gathered around me and prayed for me...their love for the 
Lord and for me was such a gift to my heart.  Irina Chichintz prayed thanking 
the Lord...saying I was unlike any teacher they had before.  Several of them 
thanked the Lord for my heart...it was a humbling and encouraging time.

After lunch we all went back to the chapel for a final farewell service.  Each 
class gave a "thank you" for their teacher.  My class was first...Sasha talked 
about how our time together reminded him of the apostle Paul talking to the 
Ephesians...how he had taught them with tears.  Sasha spoke of my heart and my 
tears in teaching them...I had not just given them my material, but shared my 
life with them.  That was an answer to my prayers.  Then Sasha said he was going 
to do something that he had never done before that symbolized the way the class 
felt about me...and he washed my feet!  The students giggled some, but I knew 
this was a very sacred moment.  When Sasha was done, I washed his feet.

Each of the teacher was praised and thanked...some with humor (Bill had used 
hand signs a lot with his teaching, so they did a whole section with hand 
motions) and all with respect.  Pavel gave each of us a certificate and a 
beautiful book about Belarus.  Then each of us gave a last word of thanks...I 
talked about how the Lord had given me the desire of my heart to be with them 
just as it talked about in Psalm 20:4,5.  I gave the Academy a copy of my book 
and the English copy of the Manual and wept as I told them again what a miracle 
it was to have church planting materials in Russian now.  I closed our thank you 
ceremony in prayer.

Afterwards, I gave Valery and Irina the extra suitcase I brought along...a 
wedding gift.  I also gave Boris from Dave's class the suit I brought 
along...the coat fit him perfectly!  Dave says he is a natural leader and will 
be a good church planter.  I was thrilled to be able to give it to him.

The award ceremony all done, we went back to the office.  Victor and I corrected 
the tests and added up the final percentages.  All my class were over 80% and 
half over 90%!  That meant they all got A's and B's.  That was rewarding for 
me...hopefully because the material was good and my teaching had communicated 
well.

We went to Jeff and Carol Laughlin's for supper.  They've been here in Belarus 
for 7 years on staff with Crusade.  Jeff had started the Bible College and as he 
talked about all they had accomplished I was overwhelmed.  They have six kids, 
so life is full enough anyway, but the Lord has been using Jeff in amazing ways.  
They really need help there with another full time family.  He does almost all 
their ministry through short term staff like we had been.  At one point someone 
called and Jeff began speaking Russian with them...very natural, but it was the 
first time I'd heard Russian with an Okie accent!  (They're from Oklahoma)  It 
was a rich evening, but all of us were beginning to unwind and were tired.  When 
we got home, it was a short time before I was out.  Dave packed, but I decided 
to wait until morning.

What an awesome adventure this has been.





Thursday, May 6th

I'm typing this on the flight from Frankfort to Chicago...on the way home at 
last.

I was awake at 6 and ready to go home...and so was Dave.  I was all packed by 
8...everything got in the suitcases, thank the Lord.  We had a nice breakfast 
together...all five of us.  What a wonderful team we turned out to be.  I have 
grown to deeply appreciate each person the Lord put me with.

Pavel came about 11 with a few final words...I got back $160 of the $700 I 
brought.  I gave Pavel $100 (per Nicholae's request before I came) to give to 
needy people there.  He said he would take care of it.  When I checked out of 
the hotel, I found that my 99 minutes of calls home had resulted in a $113 phone 
bill....cheap at any price to be able to talk to my family.  Next time, though, 
I need to find a cheaper way to call.  Dave had found a way to do so, and I'll 
do more homework on this in the future.

We got through customs all right in Minsk, but there were a few moments (nervous 
for me, but Jeff said not to worry) as they didn't know what to do about my CD 
roms.  Finally they said "no problem" and we got through.

Dave and I sat on the plane together to Frankfort and talked the whole way.  
Jeff had talked about the need for these young pastors, especially the church 
planters, to be mentored and coached.  Dave brainstormed about how we could 
support the planting of 100 churches (only about $125 a month each) and develop 
a system to mentor, coach and train the planters.  Could it be the Lord might be 
wanting us to work to impact an entire nation for Him through planting new 
churches and raising up more catalytic leaders?  His vision excited me...we seem 
to be such a good fit together...we agreed to take a month to pray about this 
and see what the Lord might be saying.  Could it be the Lord wants us to have 
more international influence than in the US?  We talked about many things...need 
to let these things soak in my heart and listen...

Lord, I want to use the gifts and experience You've given me to maximum Kingdom 
advantage.  Teaching here in Minsk with Dave was very obviously by Your design.  
Where next?  How do you want me to use this experience at ChristLife...for our 
conference...for our denomination....most importantly, for the Kingdom?  I'm 
open to whatever You want...just make it clear, and I'll follow.

Got to Chicago on time...got my bags right away, and was able to get an earlier 
flight home!  The 7:30 flight was delayed just enough to get me on the 
plane...so I got home 1 1/2  hours sooner.  I think the Lord was holding it just 
for me...at least its nice to think that.  

Can't wait to be home...can't thank You, Lord, enough for all the experiences of 
this trip.  I can't begin to describe all that You've done in me and for me and 
hopefully through me these past three weeks.

Following You is the greatest adventure of all.

Prologue: Called Mom and Dad on Saturday to tell them a little about the trip.  
I mentioned I still didn't know why the Lord sent me to Russia when I'd had two 
years of Spanish in high school.   Mom said, "Why, don't you remember?  You 
didn't want to take Spanish in high school...you wanted to take Russian."  I 
said, "I did?!"  "Yes, she said, "you wanted to take Russian because you said 
you'd be going there someday."

I had completely forgotten...but the Lord didn't.  He'd planted the seeds of 
this trip in my heart over 20 years ago.  I'm amazed and humbled again.   

What new adventures do you have in store, Lord?  I can't wait to see what You 
have next.
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