My feet, especially my right heel is hurting me something awful and both ankles are slightly swollen. I don't know what's wrong with them. Thinking I might be calling the doctor soon. I usually wake up in the morning barely able to walk, can't imagine how I make it down the stairs to the kitchen. By mid morning the pain subsides somewhat and is at least bearable. Foot pain is not exactly what I wanted to write about.
On Sunday I checked out a Christian fiction book from our Church's library called
The Midwife of Saint Petersburg ( it takes place during the times of the Bolshevik Revolution). Having been to Russia twice before on missions trips the book caught my attention immediately. I finished the book in two days. The book was OK, pretty typical for its genre. Though I think the author did a fairly good job describing the turbulent and dangerous times in pre world war I Russia.
Reading the book got me to thinking about my time in Russia-Vyborg and St. Petersburg and the surrounding areas visiting orphanages, group homes, summer camps and community centers, Christian centers. So much had happened during those two trips that would affect the rest of my life forever. Though these two trips God revealed his plans for me. I went in 2003, first in the winter then again that same summer. It seems so far away now but yet memories are crowding back becoming clearer and clearer. Some were happy memories and some were sad.
The first trip was exciting and new, experiencing a Russian winter for the first time. It was amazing how we got that huge tour bus through tiny snow covered back roads and countryside to visit various orphanages. It was overwhelming at times all the need that I saw around me. There was work to be done in this country. Our schedule was busy often visiting several sites in one day but yet this wonderfully beautiful place called Russia felt like home. I felt an over whelming sense of belonging, I was in the right place at the right time. I always felt for some reason more at home in other countries than in my own, the USA. Before I knew I knew and fully understood it, this is when the Lord will have me do his work- among the poor and orphans. The Lord revealed a greater sense of his plan for not only me but this plan for the people he calls unto himself. I had only to step out in faith and obedience. It might not be Russia that I am destined to go but go I will wherever it might be.
It's funny how God works sometime, truly. He can use anything or anybody to reveal to people what he wants them to do. Even a game of field hockey. During my second trip I remember visiting one particular site (I believe it was some sort of community center) we had some outdoor games, Olympic style, to play with the kids. One of the games was a a game of field hockey. For some reason or another not many of the Americans joined in-only 2 or 3 out of 25 or so. But I did. I don't know what possessed me to do so since I absolutely hate running of any sort, and field hockey is just that, a lot of running. I wasn't much of a help to the team but here I was in a ankle length khaki skirt running around in most dry and dusty field I have ever seen. I was so hot and sweaty and dirty and laughing by the time the game was finished but I couldn't be any happier. I even had a small cut on my leg where I fell in the course of the game. The blood stain never came out of my skirt and I eventually had to throw the skirt away. Though looking back I should have kept a piece of it to serve as remembrance of that day where I knew that the Lord's will and my head and heart were all in the same place.
Eventually those two trips would on and lead me to Moody Bible Institute to continue my education and to prepare for a life of ministry. I know it won't pay much and I won't have much but by all means that is OK with me. God will provide. Perhaps that is why I never been interested much in money or "making it big" as they say or advancing my career. I am a fairly simple person.
