As I think back on all the years I have gone to Russia, I stand amazed at my Savior and Lord...that He would allowed me the privilege of being a small part of what He is doing in this tiny region of Russia. Over the years, I have seen many come to Christ, be healed and restored. I have seen the body of Christ in Russia expand their hearts to the Russian orphans and begin to work together for God's purposes and plans. I have seen American churches adopt certain orphanages and give them the help they so desperately needed. I have seen orphanage directors lives touched and changed by God's love, and, as a result, allowed the truth of the gospel to be shared in their orphanages. I have seen orphanage facilities improve to where there is no longer a great need for humanitarian aid. I have seen the birth of Change30 and its ministries...Project 1 and the Graduate Program. And I have seen orphans become productive and successful people who love the Lord. I am so thankful and blessed!
Yet I have also felt much heartache over the years for I have seen the orphan statistics come true in every way. Children I have prayed for and know have committed suicide, given themselves over to prostitution, drugs and alcohol. Several have gone to jail. And teenage girls have become mothers when they can't even take care of themselves.
I thank God for Change30 and for their passion to raise the life expectancy of the Russian orphans. As Change30 continues to minister through the Project 1 Camps and the Graduate Program, the orphan statistics will continue to change. So they need your prayers! Please pray for those who have answered God's call and gone to this area to live and serve: Matt and Jackie Hall (and their children), Jarrod and Katie Zurcher, Amy Harwood, and the Harrington family from Arkansas who are moving to Kaliningrad this month. And pray for the Change30 staff and volunteers: Pasha, Varia, Anya, Roma and Sasha and Ksoosha.
As my season in orphanage outreach may be coming to an end (with Kolosok closing), I do see God opening up another opportunity to serve in Russia through ASK Network. ASK Network is an international movement of people from all nations and all generations who long to see God's kingdom come and who have heard and felt the call to pray - to ASK. God's particular call to ASK Network is to worship Him, listen to Him through Biblical meditation, ASK or pray with God's Word and to obey and thank Him.
The Lord gave Anita, the ASK Network Continental Director of Europe, great connections and new friendships while she was there. She has the desire to return and build upon what God has begun with ASK in this region of Russia. When she does, she has asked me to go with her again. I know that ASK Network will not take yearly trips to Russia, yet, I am thankful for this new and different season of ministry. I will still be involved in orphanage outreach but just not to the degree I have been in the past. The Russian orphans are in my heart and will always be.
Several years ago, God gave Angela a song to sing over Russia. This particular song kept coming to my mind all throughout this trip and I found myself singing it over Russia again. Maybe you will too. Here are the words:
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Lord the Light of Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus Light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.
Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit blaze,
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your Word
Lord and let there be light.
I want to thank Ksoosha Joy and Venera. If not for them, we would have not been able to do what God called us to do. They were our voices. Thank you, wonderful women of God, for allowing God to use you in very powerful ways! Anita, Matthew, Angela and I appreciate you!
It is through you, my partners, that the ministry God has called me to do in Russia is possible. With a heart filled with gratitude, I thank each one of you for your trust, love, support and powerful prayers. And "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:16-19
In His love,
Lucy
P.S. A few picture highlights of my trip that I have not mentioned in other posts:
Learning that Max (from Kolosok) completed the Change30 Graduate Program.
Max entered the program one year ago, and worked hard to finish his
education, find a job in his field of study, and become financially stable.
Congratulations Max!
The opportunity to give Viktoria a flute lesson
A wonderful surprise visit from Tanya. Definitely made my day! :)
Great visits with Pasha and Olga, especially the one at their home.
Olga cooked a very delicious dinner. :)
My visits with Venera.
My time with this wonderful family. They hosted me for almost three weeks!
Thank you so much for your love and care, Sasha and Ksoosha!
Such special times with you and your boys. Forever grateful.
Serving with Anita and Matthew
