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Staff Reports
Reports of recent Trips and Work by Godspeed Missionary Care
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Staff Missionary Reports
Reports and Experiences of the Godspeed Staff
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And
there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord..."
1 Cor 12:4
June 2003, Part Two
"...and He gave some as evangelists"
My ride to the airport in Moscow for my flight to Budapest
commences at 5:30 a.m. The English-speaking driver stops the
car after thirty seconds, turns to me and says, "Let's pray!,
asking God's blessing on our 45 minute journey. He then takes
off (literally, or so it seems; in the center of the dashboard
is a cluster of the types of gauges found in airplanes. It
seems his father had been a jet pilot for the Soviet air force
and had acquired them throughout the years. For those of us who
have some flying background, seeing an angle-of-attack indicator
and a turn coordinator connected to a car is thought provoking).
As the car accelerates, the questions also begin to come more
rapidly: "Do you believe all illness is caused by evil spirits?
How does God bring healing? What do you think the role of the
Holy Spirit is?" Theology is not my strong suit, specifically
not before breakfast, but he wants answers, as he is meeting
someone later in the day and wants to be prepared to present
the gospel and answer questions. When I say something he thinks
might be useful, he asks me to write it on a piece of scrap
paper, and once even stops to pull off the side of the road so
he can draw a picture to better understand a concept. We
arrive at the airport, he gives me a huge hug, and drives
off to tell someone about Jesus. His hunger to know more about
Him and his eagerness to tell others is humbling. It isn't even
7:00 a.m. yet.
...and some as pastors."
Sunday morning, Budapest, off to church with a missionary
family. They have graciously taken me into their home, but I
missing my own family and home, feeling a bit lonely. The
interim pastor's text is Psalm 91, "under His wings you can
seek refuge"; he tells his own story of escaping his
Estonian motherland as a young child, being held in a refugee
camp in Germany until his mother bribed their way to freedom.
He eventually came to the U.S., was called to the pastorate,
and is now a senior trainer in the AWANA program, currently
visiting Hungary to mentor that program in local churches.
He looks directly at me as he says, "We must remember that
wherever or however far we may go, we can always take shelter
under His wings..." I am not alone.
and some...as teachers
And now, back in Kiev where my hosts will provide a room at
their flat before we leave for the sanatorium conference
center Wednesday, as soon as the couple who have been here
teaching English at a summer camp depart. (Basic lessons in
English are highly sought after in many parts of the world,
and offering such classes brings people in who then can
be introduced to Bible study groups). This couple's work
here has been complemented by their own particular type of
instruction: he is a recently retired violinist, the
concertmaster with a major symphony in the U.S., she his
accompanist and a trained professional in her own right.
Their ministry will now take them to Romania; they go
from country to country giving instruction to young
musicians and then accompanying them in concert. At each
concert, the gospel is presented. In their mid-60's, they are
still seeking how God will further use their music and teaching
ministry worldwide.
...it is by grace you have been saved...it is the gift of God"
Tonight I briefly met another physician, an obstetrician; as
had been common in so many parts of the world, she had performed
countless abortions, and after the birth of her first child
thirteen years prior, she herself had undergone so many that she
had lost count. But then she began finding that her thinking was
changing; she was telling others that abortion was a sin. Having
no religious involvement of her own, such thinking was foreign
to her training and tradition. Yet when she became pregnant once
again, against much external opposition she decided to continue
the pregnancy. Her son, now almost three, is named Bogdan...
"given by God". Still not a Christian, her experience has
nevertheless led her into a closer relationship with a
missionary family here, as God appears to be drawing her closer
still.
God is good, isn't He? It has been a week where scripture has
again become so very real: "Every good thing given and every
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
lights..."
Your prayers and notes of encouragement are His gifts to me,
too. I hope to write more as I see Him working among the young
missionaries in training here these next days...
Godspeed,
Barney, for Karen and the Godspeed team
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