Daily Life

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.”  Frederick W Faber

I don't know who Frederick Faber is but we like this quote, especially since we have no eloquence right now!  We are starting to get more opportunities to relate to people and try out our limited Russian, which has been encouraging.  When we're idiots hopefully we can at least be kind, smiling idiots!

        A typical day for us starts with language school that lasts 3 hours. We study at the seminary which is about 1 ½ miles away. Sometimes we are able to take the bus and other times it breaks down and we walk. We live on the extreme northern edge of the city, so on our walk to language school we leave the city and enter a village. You always know when you're leaving a city because there is a sign of the city's name with a big X through it.  It's quite subtle.  Odessa is a city of about 1 million people, so there are many people from these nearby villages who come to sell their items at the renok (which is like a flea market).

After language school one of us goes to the store. We have to go to the store more often because you can only take back what you can carry and sometimes you are walking up to a mile with your groceries. I learned that one the hard way! Then we come home and unwind a little because your mind can only handle so much Russian. Because you walk more you are able to observe interesting aspects of the culture. Most people don’t have dryers so you either hang up your clothes on a rack or on a line in your balcony. Well, sometimes you end up finding pants, shirts etc. in the trees because the wind blew them off the line. The other day I actually saw a rug up in a tree!! 

     

Helplessly Trying to Help Others

We have been here for nearly 3 months now, and we are learning that missions is not all ministry and activity, sometimes it is waiting and prayer.  We expected this to a certain degree as it takes time to study Russian and form relationships, but this process has been more challenging than we anticipated.  For 2 years we prayed about being here, dreamed about being here, and shared that dream and vision with others.  It takes so much effort to get here and so many people give in order to send us that as a missionary you want to repay that investment.  You get to the mission field excited to serve and help others, and then you realize you are the one who needs help.  Help to communicate, help to figure out how to live here, patience and kindness from Ukrainians to help with loneliness, and help to even get an opportunity to minister to orphans.  It is a humbling process.
         
          While we know this phase will not last forever, the most difficult apsect of life here so far is the overpowering sense of uselessness we feel.  Being away from friends, family, & what is comfortably familiar can be difficult, but we would be much more willing to make those sacrifices if it immediately led to lives being changed and the Gospel advancing.  When that is not the case, the impatience and discontent that often lies just beneath the surface in our lives quickly surfaces.  Scarcely a week goes by that we don't ask ourselves, "Why are we here again?"  Then we remember that the purpose of this move was never going to be seen in 3 months, or 6 months, and it might not be seen by us at all.  Our job is to obey our Heavenly Father, and usually that obedience includes a time of waiting.  In my mind I was prepared to do great things for the Lord but not prepared to simply wait on Him.  However, as we were reminded recently by a pastor and good friend, waiting starves the heart of its idols, and teaches us Who is running the universe and Who is running our lives.  We pray this period of waiting and perceived helplessness will lead to a life and ministry where the excellence of the power will be of God, and not of us.