Bochuchany, Krasnoyarsk Krai (Russia)
It is New Years Day. Our fuel tank is filled to the lid; two spare tires, a gas can and a small
selection of shop tools fill the tiny trunk, while all the seats in the car are taken by us and by our tightly-packed things that we'll need for the next few days.
It had been the intention of the Krasnoyarsk congregation to goto Boguchany for quite some time, and at first we decided to go as a “train” - with two cars. Then we could have brought more people and things with us; besides, if something happens to one of your vehicles at -37 degrees Celcius, a second will sure come in handy.
But only one of the vehicles made it to the starting line, so we had to go just with the Lada Largus; it has never let us down, so the 7 us took the risk and relied on our faith and set off.
We arrived with no problem, having been kept “sober” by the fresh air and the night sky. They were waiting for us. And they were waiting for the Word. They were waiting for songs and for answers to their questions – serious questions! Stevlana Medvedeva, who at one time was baptized in our church, prepared everything that was necessary for the service – a place to stay, a place to worship (the “cultural house” of the town),. She invited people who would find it interesting. It was particularly heartening to see young people ready to listen, to argue and to show us the beauty of the Angara, to pull us out of the snow bank in which we had gotten stuck. They really were waiting for us! And during the evenings people came to have tea and we could just have fellowship – argue, preach and pray. What is necessary for there to be a living Church? Desire and “two or three” gathered in the name of Jesus.
Here there were both. And now more than ever it is important to pray for these people, for this place and for the people who are ready to serve and preach in this severe but so blessed place! Angara. Boguchany. This small world with a big sky, with snow banks and with very kind and open-hearted people. While is it necessary for us to speak about this now? Remember the idea with summer camps? With forgotten villages and nature? That's over there, further. Beyond the Angara. Join us! At the very end of July!
And for now we returned home with dreams and plans to go back in the spring to meet again with this still very small congregation which knows how to love and where the doors are never locked.
It is New Years Day. Our fuel tank is filled to the lid; two spare tires, a gas can and a small selection of shop tools fill the tiny trunk, while all the seats in the car are taken by us and by our tightly-packed things that we'll need for the next few days.
It had been the intention of the Krasnoyarsk congregation to goto Boguchany for quite some time, and at first we decided to go as a “train” - with two cars. Then we could have brought more people and things with us; besides, if something happens to one of your vehicles at -37 degrees Celcius, a second will sure come in handy.
But only one of the vehicles made it to the starting line, so we had to go just with the Lada Largus; it has never let us down, so the 7 us took the risk and relied on our faith and set off.
We arrived with no problem, having been kept “sober” by the fresh air and the night sky. They were waiting for us. And they were waiting for the Word. They were waiting for songs and for answers to their questions – serious questions! Stevlana Medvedeva, who at one time was baptized in our church, prepared everything that was necessary for the service – a place to stay, a place to worship (the “cultural house” of the town),. She invited people who would find it interesting. It was particularly heartening to see young people ready to listen, to argue and to show us the beauty of the Angara, to pull us out of the snow bank in which we had gotten stuck. They really were waiting for us! And during the evenings people came to have tea and we could just have fellowship – argue, preach and pray. What is necessary for there to be a living Church? Desire and “two or three” gathered in the name of Jesus.Here there were both. And now more than ever it is important to pray for these people, for this place and for the people who are ready to serve and preach in this severe but so blessed place! Angara. Boguchany. This small world with a big sky, with snow banks and with very kind and open-hearted people. While is it necessary for us to speak about this now? Remember the idea with summer camps? With forgotten villages and nature? That's over there, further. Beyond the Angara. Join us! At the very end of July!
And for now we returned home with dreams and plans to go back in the spring to meet again with this still very small congregation which knows how to love and where the doors are never locked.
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