Russia Mission Team Update 6/18 & 19

Greetings from Russia! 6/19   Today's one-word summary is FRUSTRATION.   Usually, in every camp experience in Russia, there comes a point where you wonder if you are actually connecting with the children and making a difference.   I arrived at that point today.   Now, I know better, but I cannot help my feelings and emotions. The Lord is indeed at work and accomplishing his purposes.  He loves the children we are serving in His name, more than we ever could.  Our Lord, also, is famous for taking what few resources we offer him (e.g., our talents, skills, and abilities) and feedings multitudes.   The point is being willing to offer him what you do have and to trust that He will use our offering to accomplish his purposes.   My frustration lies with the language barrier.  As a pastor and teacher, I desire to impart knowledge about Christ' love and grace.  I tend to forget, however, that such impartation is not only through words, but also through actions.    Many of us can recall how a person made us feel by the way they greeted us or interacted with us.  Sometimes it was only a glance, a tone of voice, or a gesture, but we knew they were glad to be with us, and we were glad to be with them.  One experience or one interaction can change profoundly the course of a person's life.   The opportunity before us is to build relationships, not just to complete an assigned curriculum, regardless of how well it is written.   It helps to be able to communicate with words, but I am not limited to words alone.  I have other resources: my eyes, hands, body posture, and tone of voice to communicate Christ's love.   Cognitive knowledge, albeit significant, is not as important as the experience of that knowledge.   So, envision my class.  I have 11 students (5 boys and 6 girls) who range from ages 13 to 15 (our grades 7 - 9).  Their hormones are raging.  We are in a small classroom, so space is confining.  The students sit very close to each other.  They are touching.  There is a hierarchy: alpha males and alpha females who dominate the attention of the class, and others who remain relatively silent.  The language ability of the students is varied.  The potential for interesting conversation is high, relative to whether the students are willing.   Were it not for my translator, Diana (a retired English Professor), I would be lost.  I have a deep abiding respect for master teachers everywhere.  Thank you for your patient service of love.  I KNOW it is not easy.   On another note, the weather was clear in the morning and has now turned overcast, threatening rain.  Mim and I went swimming again in the Koltushe lake this morning at 6:00a.  The water was cold, but we did not encounter any inebriated fishermen.  PTL!    Breakfast was porridge and rye bread.  Lunch was soup (carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and dill) and rice salad (mayonnaise, corn, cucumber bits, and dill).  For snack we had bliny (like a crepe) with jam and sour cream.   The main food staples seem to be noodles, porridge, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and dill.  Very Russian.  "Soup and cabbage is our food" is the Russian slogan.   Miss you,   Love, P. Jeff   Greetings from Russia! 6/20   Today's one-word summary is SURRENDER.   It was a great day today.  The students were attentive, respectful, and seemed to enjoy themselves and are learning.  We have changed, too.   I realized that there are situations and circumstances in life, in which we find ourselves, that overwhelm us.   We are simply not up to the task or challenge.  Either we lack the necessary skills or abilities to command the situation, or, we are unable through strength of will or force of character and personality to win the day.  In these moments it is best to rely upon God and call upon his name.   The story of the feeding of the 5000 reminds me very keenly that God's grace is truly sufficient for our daily lives.  In this story, the disciples were asked by Jesus to feed 5000 people, who had been with Jesus three days and were tired.  It was an impossible request.  They did not have the resources in food, money, or strategy to make such provision.   Jesus asked them to take inventory of what they possessed.  They found a young boy, who had 5 loaves and 2 fish, which he was willing to give to the Lord.   Such meagre resources, when offered willingly to the Lord, can be more than enough.  The Lord took these offerings, gave thanks, and then gave them back to the disciples to distribute among the people.  Everyone received something, and there was more than enough left over to fill 12 large baskets.   So, we resolved, as a team, to offer what talents, skills, abilities, and materials that we had prepared willingly to the Lord to bless and return to us, and, that we would then see what the Lord would do among us.  It was amazing.  All team members reported joyful successes.  Of course, there were minor discipline issues or glitches, but on the whole, it went extraordinarily smoothly.    There is a lesson here for our family.  When we offer our lives to the Lord, our time, talents, and possessions, asking the Lord to bless them for his will and purposes, his grace and provision will prove more than adequate.  We will be fruitful, because the Lord is the source of all joy and blessings.  Our lives and efforts will accomplish the Lord's purposes, because we are surrendered to his will.  Truly, his grace is sufficient for us.   At the team meeting, we talked also about our translators.  All of them are volunteers.  They possess different abilities.  Some are natural teachers, not just translators.   Learning to work together, translator and teacher, is truly an art form.  The teacher must speak in concise and short sentences that communicate one principle idea.  The teacher must also avoid idiomatic expressions, enunciate syllables clearly, and select appropriate, age-specific vocabulary.  Americans, evidently, are notorious for their poor diction, often swallowing or slurring their consonants and fading their sentences.  By completing a thought, the teacher provides the translator the opportunity to understand and select the appropriate vocabulary and expression by which to communicate the thought or idea.   Consequently, teaching and translating is like a well-choreographed dance, both partners gliding fluidly across the dance floor.   There is a rhythm and cadence to teaching, interpreting, and checking for understanding.  The interpreter is a foundational piece upon which the strength of a mission is built, and, they are invaluable team members.    The best ones, like Diana (former English professor in Russian University), who is also a confirmed Lutheran, are priceless.   Thank you, to Good Shepherd's missions' committee for covering her travel expenses to participate in this camp.  She is more than worth the investment.   Well, mom and I (Mim and P. Jeff) miss you all.  At the end of the day, we are exhausted from the camp, but we are grateful for the experience and your prayers and support, without which, none of this would be possible.   Love,   Dad and Mom (P. Jeff and Mim)