Day at Sweet Home

I had a wonderful day at Sweet Home Baptist Church with Buck's parents today. Here are some memories:

Why doubt?

Path Light: Read Matthew 14:22-32

Key Passage: And when Peter got out of the boat, he walked on water to get to Jesus. But when he felt the wild winds, he was scared… Matthew 14:29b-30a

When first preparing to come to the field, volunteers and new missionary personnel seem to excessively worry. Missionaries in Russia have learned over the years to come expecting nothing, anticipating nothing, and just enjoying life with what God provides. God will amply provide all your needs. In our family’s case, God has truly provided above what we need. Life in Russia can be difficult if we look at it through our own eyes, but through God’s eyes it is very simple.

Sometimes the language barrier worries us. No matter what country we live in, including the various regions of the United States, we can learn the language of the people's heart as well as their words. Most people in Russia will respect you and gain from your experiences, because they can really tell when a person has come to serve. Especially while a missionary or volunteer is in the beginning stages of his missionary service, he needs to build on this foundation. When a missionary is in the middle of transition and times are tough, she seems to notice the storms around her. The waves and wind seem so huge, strong, and impassable. At this point we think that we cannot make it through the storm alone, and we almost seem to drown. The uncertainties overwhelm us; however, when our eyes are focused on Jesus and remember that He is always with us, we walk through the storm in peace.

Peter was walking toward Jesus with no problems until he became afraid. He began to sink. Then he cried, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and held him. “O thou of little faith,” He responded. Then Jesus asked, “Wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:30-31 KJV) Notice the word the Lord uses. Not only did Jesus want Peter to know why he doubted, but also He wanted Peter to recognize at what point he doubted. At the moment we doubt we begin to fall or lose balance. Think back to the times when you have doubted. Did you notice a change in your life for the worse? Did you notice that you did not care to accomplish much or thought that you could not make it anymore? How was your relationship with the Lord? Are you doubting today or are your eyes on the Lord as you go? Do you daily desire to read His Word or just read the Word at your convenience?

Path Application:
As you pick up the Bible, do so with desiring anticipation to discover the Lord. Desire to know Him. Keep Jesus in close sight. Do not allow the circumstances around you to depict your state of being or cause your faith to diminish. Situations or events are not the rulers of your life. Jesus is. He is your Savior.

Walk Father:

1. When have you found yourself facing the most doubt?

2. Think of a time when God’s Word has helped you through a time of doubt. How did it come about?

3. Who has been the person who has encouraged you the most when you face periods of doubt?
-A Winter's Path, path 43, L.Burch

When it all began...

I have to travel home (USA) this week for visa renewal. I will be spending the month with my parents and Buck's. Please pray for our family as we will be separated for this time period and that all my documents get in order. Thankfully we are almost finished with the home school year. So, Buck will not have too many papers to grade while I am away in addition to his other mission responsibilities.

Also, this month is a special one as it is our anniversary of 19 years together--April 21, 1991. I thank the Lord for my wonderful husband. Here is a pic when it all began.

In His Love,
Les
P.S. Women partnering cross culturally topics will have to be posted when I return. I had hoped to start this discussion this month; however, due to travels, I will postpone. Thanks for your continued interest.

Christ is Risen! Христос Воскрес!

Here are a few photos from Easter Sunday in Moscow at Golgotha:


One of my favorite ladies at church! She brought us a baked Easter treat and Easter eggs yesterday. She is actually a family member to our closet friends from Bryansk, Russia.


Kcenya and Luke
Luke presented her with a handmade art project--carnation flower--for Easter.


Luke's Sunday School group


Sunday School choir


Golgotha children's S.S. choir
Christ is Risen! Христос Воскрес!

Daily pray for others

God answers our prayers, sometimes even doubling our request. Sunday was a day of encouragement. A young guy repented after the morning worship time. He is very dear to me; I have been praying for him daily. The most wonderful thing happened though. After he prayed, his best friend did, too. You know, sometimes all people need is a little affirmation. Today is the day to start telling others how much you care and think of them. A few words of encouragement may be just what is needed for someone to take that next step. God bless you!
In His Love,
Les

Somebody’s watching you.

As we walk the streets and ride the metro in urban Moscow, we move along at a normal pace and sometimes do not focus on what is happening around us. Let me tell a story about what took place as we ventured to church one day. For this kind of event, I should have been paying more attention. As our family traveled the subway with millions of other passengers and blended in with our dark colored coats, we stepped into the wagon and settled into our seats as usual. Or, so I thought.

That morning I had a heavy heart. I was worrying about some things and feeling rather guilty about some mistakes that I had made. The family was spread out. I was sitting by myself. One child was across from me, another to the right and Buck and the other child were across from the door. Since we had about a 45 minute ride, I began contemplating. Eventually I lowered my head, prayed and asked the Lord’s forgiveness for where I had failed Him. I started to repeat my prayer over and over again. “Lord, please forgive me. I love you.” But then a still, small, not audible voice, said, “Move on and just feed My sheep.”

Wow! With tears forming in my eyes and a light heart now, I was not expecting the mission that was about to be handed to me. I was not paying attention to the somebody that was watching us. Buck was aware of what was taking place this time, but I was not. A lady was sitting near our family and crying. We arrived at our stop, the last on the north train line, and exited onto the platform. I generally make sure the kids make it off first for fear of separation, so I was behind the family. A lady with a large, weaved bag of goods stopped me. I just knew that she was ready to sell me something. She forced a pair of tights in front me and said take these. I shook my head and firmly said, “No.” She insisted that I take them for my older daughter. She replied that they were a gift. I was caught off guard. I took the hose and said, “Thank you.”

As she was walking away with the flow, I remembered what the Lord told me: “Feed My sheep.” My thoughts were: How am I going to catch up with her? Yet, I knew that I had to. I turned to Buck and asked if he had a tract. He did. He was prepared. I looked at Buck and without saying a word he knew that I was going to chase after her. As he watched the kids and waited on me, I ran and stopped the lady. I said to her, “You do not know how much you have blessed me today. I just wanted to let you know how much this gift has meant, especially right now.”

She began to cry and share with me about personal matters. Coming from a recently broken home, she listened as I tried to consult her and share about God’s love. She told me that she was watching our family and noticed the love between father and children—between us. She wanted to reward us with a gift, because we appeared to be a family that stays together. After sharing the Gospel with her, I handed her a tract. We parted and went our separate ways. I will never see her again or know of her true relationship with the Lord. But I learned a lesson: Somebody is always watching you, so be ready at all times to bring the lost to Him and feed His sheep. Even when I least expect an opportunity, I must be watching.
-The Chosen Path, L.Burch

Last great snow

I think that we have had our last great snow of the year. Here is a pic of Amielle and me right outside our apartment door in the courtyard.



And soon our snow will be melting away. It has actually been above freezing this week. And this morning we heard the men knocking the snow and ice off the tops of the buildings. We live in a building with only seven floors now. We have lived on the 20th floor before. However, this job has to be done regularly on these not so tall and older complexes. Here are a few pics taken from our apartment window. How would you like this job? Unfortunately they do not use ropes for protection. They are not aware, but I pray for their safety.