Mission Trip Blues

I met two guys on campus Tuesday. The first said that pretty much all Russians were Christians, and the second guy believed in God but said that he believed in money more for now. Note to self: "Are you a Christian?" isn't a very useful question to ask a Russian...(or anyone else outside of maybe Western Europe).  It's also been frustrating, because I don't have the Russian to make delicate spiritual distinctions, and my Russian means that I get into conversations with people who speak very little if any English.  (although my best connections speak quite a bit)

Wednesday I separated from the team and went to an orphanage. The highlight of this by far was seeing the faith of the Russian brother who put together the trip:  He brought a guitar and Photoshop as gifts, practical but very cool things.  As he taught guitar and computer games and Photoshop, he quietly would bring God into the conversation.  So I didn't feel very useful (I played mood music?), but it was worth the trip.  

Some general observations:  This particular Moscow suburb orphanage was known for its athletes...the front entryway was lined with trophies, so I think that and the proximity to Moscow account for a fairly high standard of living.  Russian living standards however, vary greatly as soon as you get away from Moscow...while CIA factbook tells me the average Russian makes about the same as a Mexican (which is wealthier than the average world citizen and myself), the average Muscovite lives fairly close to an American standard. Fashions are similar and I've seen IPhones and Kindle-type book readers on the Metro. 

Thursday was mostly group time. I think it was this day I got into a religious debate with some of our team members that was really kinda distracting, especially since the girls I got into a debate with had just led someone to Christ.  We reconciled, but it wasn't a bright and shiny James moment.  We went on campus again Friday, but I didn't meet a single student in the café...met some very kind Russians, but none of the conversations went very far, everyone there was on their short lunch break.

So all in all, most of the week was kind of a letdown...it seemed like the most productive thing I did was get pictures up. But God has defnitely been in work in me, and I know it's only a matter of time before he shows up again. I've been reading KP Yohannan's book Godliness through submission...it goes totally against my independent spirit, but it's been really good and challenging.  Also I've been in 2nd Corinthians, which I would highly recommend:  His power is made perfect in our weakness, and just cuz things doesn't go how we want, we get up again and wait for him to move. And He will (I know because it's a few days later already :P ) More later...