It's Always Consequential

Well I've been back in Saint Petersburg for about three days now. I can't say that I have concrete answers to the questions in my mind but I still feel right about being here. Igor came and picked me up on Tuesday night and brought me to Elena's flat. I was so relieved when I got here. Wednesday was a day of rest and recovery. I was able to just sleep and then listen to worship for the day. So refreshing and I felt like myself again. The life was breathed back into me. Afterwards I was able to go to Dima's for a home study. It's cool to know that despite the language differences and cultural differences, you can always have a bond with others in the body. It was also a lot of fun to shock Daniel. He thought I was back in America and yet he stepped out of his bedroom and there I was. It was a great study time and I was reminded of a lot of truths. I walked back with one of the girls and enjoyed spending some time with Elena in her flat. Yesterday was also really nice. I was able to spend some time with Anya and we walked around downtown. I finally saw the church of spilled blood, the park, rabbit island, and back to the hermitage. It was a really pleasant walk and there was so much good discussion. She actually knew my church in Moscow, I couldn't believe it! After Anya I met with Angelina. We went searching for the mysterious carls jr and finally gave up and went to some soviet cafe. I can't say that on the surface we did anything special but it was time well spent. She is a brand new Christian and it was so cool to be able to answer some of her questions and share with her. I hope to be able to develop this relationship further. Who knows, maybe I came back to St Pete just for last night. Just to create a bond with a young russian girl. Sometimes our callings are incredibly exciting and sometimes they seem inconsequential. However, if it's Gods calling and He ordained it, it's always consequential. The human world doesn't always show the magnitude of our decisions in the spiritual world. I may never know for sure if she is why I came back or not but I'm glad for the opportunity either way. Tonight I will go to an Easter play with some of the students. Most of them don't know I'm here which will be fun. I'm excited to see how the kids respond to the play, it's another opportunity to open up with them and have them do the same. Prayers for tonight and tomorrow will be appreciated. It's another opportunity for movement and growth but with that comes warfare. Pray for protection for us but also openness and a willing heart in the kids.

God of This City

The city continues to amaze me. I can't even wrap my mind around it. There is so much beauty in the architecture and the people are much more kind. Sometimes I wonder if the people who live here see it too. I assume it's something like the ocean for us. The beach is beautiful and fun but it's average and everyday for me. The Russians come out and are amazed by it. They can't peel their eyes away and yet I find it commonplace. It's probably the same for the Russians here. I see the Italian style architecture and am amazed. I see incredible cathedrals and can't image having a church that was that beautiful. We become accustomed to whatever is right around us. But for now, Saint Petersburg is anything but commonplace for me.  The same applies to the spiritual world. The fight is strong in this place. We become immune to the battles around us sometimes.  I know that often we don't feel anything in our hometown. We are used to our own specific battles. However, to walk into someone else's is always eye opening. Saint Pete is an incredibly dark city. I'm not sure of what the specific reason is but it's palpable. I've experienced some of the strongest warfare here. There is a part of me that hates that fact but I know that there is only warfare when there is a fight. If you've already surrendered, the enemy won't bother trying to destroy you. You send your strongest and sneakiest men to your weakest points. You fight the most fiercely when you fear demise. I believe that is the case in this city. There is movement and growth that is happening and gaining strength and it's rippling through the forces. There is no amount of ambush, terrorizing, and demoralizing that can possibly stop the strength and desires of God. He is the God of this city and will continue to be even in the midst of the darkness.  "Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city. "

A Life Devoted

     Well I arrived in Saint Petersburg last night. Today is my first full day back. I can't even express the level of relief I feel. I feel like I can finally breathe again. That I was in a constant state of drowning and struggling while I was in Moscow. I suppose it's the price of not being where you are supposed to be. I am so grateful to have been able to see my friends again but am relieved to be out of there. This trip has been the most dramatic for me in many respects. Some of my highest highs and lowest lows. Moscow literally made me feel like I was losing my mind. My emotions and thoughts were so out of control, I couldn't grasp reality. At camp I felt the sting of the loss of a friend so much stronger than I've ever experienced. To be at camp and know I can never tell her about it. To never be able to share the successes and changes in students lives literally knocks the wind out of me. There's still many days here that I try to hold back the tears as that reality strikes me again. I'm reminded of what an amazing mentor and leader she was though and it inspires me to strive to be that for these kids. She was always there, always ready to be a shoulder, always ready to bring you into her home regardless of the time. So excited to pray, read and praise with you at a moments notice. I want to be that for others. I want to be the next Denise. So I wear her necklace as a reminder of what a life devoted to others looked like.

Great Expectations

Well I have officially been in Moscow 3 days. I came with high expectations to see all my friends again and just be able to hangout. Have a carefree break after the missions trip if you will. However that isn't what I have experienced. There is something so deep within me that has just completely snapped. Moscow is no longer my home, it isn't the place I left. I am happy to see some of my friends again but I know this is no longer my place. Something so strong within me continually pulls at me while I'm here. There is a tether on my spirit and my heart that is consistently being pulled harder and harder. I can no longer stand it. I have to go back. Saint Petersburg is now my place for the next week. I will return to the call that both terrifies and thrills me. I don't know when I will fly, I don't know where I'll stay, I don't know what I'll do; but I know I need to do it. To walk into the unknown and just travel in faith is difficult for me but I'm ready to take that step. God will travel with me and He'll be waiting for me on the other side when I land.  There is so much of this whole experience and decision I don't understand. Why not Mosccow? Why can't I return to my old home and old life? Because I am not the old me. The old me is dead and gone, lost somewhere in the sea. The new me is alive and thriving  and ready to jump into the violent warfare that will most likely surround me.