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- TeamUfa
- We are a team of people trying to reach people in Ufa and Bashkortostan in Russia. It is no small task and we want your support!
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Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Doing Nothing And Doing Too Much
8:22 PM | Posted by
TeamUfa
I am sitting at the breakfast table in my apartment while
I write this blog, on this beautiful morning here in the city of Ufa. By this
time over 9 months have passed since my arrival into the country of Russia.
During my time here, the journey has been very interesting and it is good to
sit back and contemplate a bit on these past summer months. So if you would
like to, dive in with me, into my thoughts on all that has happened this
summer.
Doing nothing and doing too much can have the same
consequences. I needed to take the time to slow down from so much that had
happened throughout the summer. To be refilled with a new energy, heart, and
passion for everything I was being a part of. Yet, I also saw how every time I
was busy with something, that at the same time I was being taught as well. It
is a beautiful exchange that takes place when we allow God to pour into us a
knowledge, which we find from being out and about in the world around us.
Whether I was still or moving, I realized that I must always be “still” and
allow God to act through me, seeing that He truly is in control.
The last few days of June and the beginning of July I found
myself staying very busy. For example:
I was out in the middle of the
Southern Urals with a group of 50 kids who all wanted to learn English. I
learned about different plants and different customs. Also, I ate raw cloves of
garlic before several different meals.
The next 7 days of July were spent
with a group of tourists from Virginia. I learned more about the differences in
interactions with the public. Also, I learned about the deeper heart for
friendship with locals who invited the group over for “banya”(Russian sauna)
and “shashlik”(Russian cookout).
Then, for approximately 11 days, I traveled
back to the Southern Urals, a small village called Aigir, for more time with
kids, from all over Bashkortostan, who all wanted to know the English language.
We shot off fireworks, wrote our own fairytales, and went on hikes to the top
of peaks!
Finally, every weekend, until this very moment
of writing all of this down, was spent either in cities, such as Neftekamsk or
Moscow, or floating/camping along the Inzer River with friends.
Wow…of all that time spent this summer, there was little
time for growing and learning for myself , right? Actually, quite the opposite
happened. Through every moment that was spent with new people and/or old
friends, I was also being taught, especially when it came to new vocabulary. “To
be Still” was to let go of everything I thought I needed to control and allow
God to “show me ropes” of life. And “To Love” is not something I could just
read about in a book and then live like nothing changed in me. But love then compelled me to act, react,
learn, teach, speak, and listen. When I
am filled by this love, which truly only comes from God, I long to experience
its power and see the different capabilities it displays at work around me. I
was able to learn so much about culture, custom, and even different
personalities from every person I spent my time with this summer. This new
knowledge then enabled me to approach differently in certain situations or even
adapt to the conversation to allow better understanding for everyone.
Every moment I spend out on the streets, in cafes, at the
university, at parks, and even simply in my apartment, I knew that God was with
me through it all. He is always teaching me and showing me what it looks like
to love people. Love, nothing I initially thought of on my own, is what compels
me forward into this different culture and lifestyle. I look forward to
continually learning and understanding more about this culture and language.
Kevin S.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
The Good Confession of Faith
Last month we witnessed eight new believers being baptized
by pastors of a local church.
A pool in a public sauna was rented for the event. Those of
us there to witness the baptism crowded around the pool on a narrow walkway
between the wall and the edge of the water.
Those who were baptized entered the pool two at a time. They
were asked to reaffirm their confession of faith before being immersed by one
of the pastors.
As each newly-baptized believer was raised out of the water
we sang a song of praise around them.
It wasn’t but a few weeks later that one of the recently-baptized
believers shared a testimony of how she had taken the opportunity to share her
faith. We praised God that her obedience in baptism was quickly followed by her
obedience in evangelism.
These newly-baptized believers already serve with the
church. Give thanks with us for the conviction of the Holy Spirit in their
lives and for the obedience of other believers to be disciple-makers.
We’re praying, too, that these eight new believers will be
the start of a movement of God across the city, a chain-reaction of evangelism
and discipleship.
“Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with
God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy
temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built
together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Colossians
3:19-22)
Shawn B.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Truth In The Light
Truth about the
Light
Ufa has
become a completely different world ever since the last of the snow melted and
was carried off, by the cascading streams from the rains of springtime. Not
only does the land
itself look completely different and inviting, but, also, the
people themselves have become
more pleasant and inviting to the world around
them. Children are no longer burdened by
heavy winter clothing,
unless you are 5 years old, and have begun their adventures in the
streets,
parks, and the rest
of the city. Even the adults have somewhat of a jubilant
perspective towards
life, as the nature around them begins to blossom and accept the
warmth from the sun.
What is it
about sunlight, or light in general, that is so appealing to the general
population?
Since the
beginning of time, people groups' lives have revolved around light. Whether it
was
celebrations,
jobs, or even lifestyles, these all seem to revolve around light as their key
factor. Especially, in a country where the lack of light outweighs the presence
of light, there
seems tobe a large difference in how people live and function
on a daily basis.
One such
event that drew the people out of the shadows into the light was Sabantui.
Sabantui is a Bashkir holiday that celebrates the season of growth and life.
After the winter
season, the time for
starting gardens, crops, and life outside begins. The Bashkirs like to
celebrate this change in
seasons by having a festival after the first crop has been planted.
The word "Sabantui"
is directly translated as, "Saban" being "plow" and
"tui" being "wedding celebration". This holiday is
traditionally celebrated to usher in the time for planting, growing, and
harvesting crops.
On June 12,
2015, a few friends and I went out to a park to observe and even take part in
some of the
festivities. We watched as men wrestled with colored belts to receive bragging
rights, men
climbed telephone poles to receive a prize, women and children danced and
sang, "Russian
barbecue" was served, and people of all ages took part in carnival rides
and horse rides.
I am looking
forward to more moments, such as this holiday, to take part in with my friends
here. Just to
know that the warmth brings the people out of their homes into the light, gives
me encouragement to not take this time lightly. With how much more open people
are to
ideas, conversations,
and activities, should give us all initiative to make connections with the
people around
us.
Light gives
meaning to what we do. Light gives direction to our lives. Light reveals truth
to
the unanswerable
questions. Jesus is the Light. He is the Light of man, the Light in the
darkness, the Light that reflects the very glory of God. Nature reflects the
power and presence of God.
Therefore,
sharing this information with people should shed light on the fact that what
they
worship (the
sun, the trees, the rain, or the earth...etc.) is not who they should worship.
The
Creator
desires for us to realize His presence and longs for us to worship Him. Truth in the
Light.
Monday, June 15, 2015
It’s A Story to Be Shared
There are more than 50,000 university students here in Ufa.
I’ve gotten the impression from spending time with students that they’re more
willing to craft their own worldview rather than accept one inherited from
their parents or grandparents. Even students who claim one of the two major
religions, Islam or Orthodox Christianity, only loosely follow the associated
teachings. Most students seem to have developed their own ideas regarding who
God is, if He exists, and how that should influence the way we live.
I
like interacting with people and hearing their ideas and thoughts, learning how
they came to arrive at this or that answer to an important question. I recently
ate lunch with a few friends. We began talking about our beliefs, how they were
similar and how they were different. We shared different arguments and proofs
that had led us to our beliefs. I don’t like debate for its own sake; I like
entering into these conversations because I want to know what people believe,
what ideas guide their lives. These discussions are times when I’ve been able
to share the truths of the gospel and how they guide my own life.
Late
in the conversation, my friend Ruslan asked a different kind of question. He
said, “You know, these ideas are very good to hear, but what is your personal
experience with religion?” It was my favorite question to answer that day. I
shared with him my testimony of how God found me and how he continued to speak
to me and work in my life in the years following my salvation. And I think God
has given each of us a testimony of his work in our lives. It’s a story to be
shared. It’s a story about an encounter, an experience with love and
forgiveness. It’s a story that transcends an argument or proof because it’s an
encounter with a person, with God. I’m praying that I’ll value the story God
has given me and that He’ll use it to change and redeem the stories of students
who need to hear it.
Shawn B.
Shawn B.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Practice
I was recently asked to be a part of an ethnic festival with
the university I attend here in Ufa. When they asked me to be the host, I had
thought to myself that there was no way I would be able to speak Russian in
front of an audience. So it was to my relief when they assured me that my part
would be solely in English. They wanted me to announce for each performance
that would take place on the stage and then thank each participant as they
finished their performance. I was excited to have such a role in their
festival!
However, what if they had needed me to announce in Russian?
What if they needed me to be at a certain level of knowing the language, so as
to aid them in speaking in the language I am learning? Would I have volunteered
to do such a daunting task? I honestly
am not at a level of knowing the language that would be fully prepared or even
capable to deliver whatever speech I would need to. But would this inquiry
actually push me to strive harder to know the language better? I think it would
have.
Even the apostles Paul and Peter both talked about being
prepared and ready with a defense for the faith of believing in Jesus Christ as
Lord. In the book of Ephesians, Paul
talks about putting on the armor of God and becoming bold and full of courage
to join Christ in the fight against the Enemy, by having faith that it is God
who truly provides. But even here there
is still the level of actually doing and allowing God to provide and how this
idea must join the reality and belief that He will provide. Also, in the Old Testament, there are several
times when God asks someone specific, or even an entire nation, to join Him,
stand still, watch, and rejoice in the victory that would all take place, just
as He said it would. The people simply needed to believe and obey.
Should I be so different from any of these stories? What if
it is God Himself that is asking for me to step out and be a part of something
so much bigger than what I could imagine? What is it that stops us from leading
forth in obedience and ultimately puts in our minds that there could be no way
for us to accomplish the task at hand? Because, honestly, we cannot do anything
apart from Him, whom orchestrates the very fabric of space into His will. This is not about who we are, but who God is
and how He works through us to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.
Therefore, come, be still, watch, and rejoice in the victory at hand.
Kevin S.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
I’m Not The Same As Before
After spending four months in Russia, I have three practical
“takeaways” that I will always carry around in my back pocket and use as a
resource whenever I can. I got these from rereading my journal entries this
semester and I feel like these particular topics came up multiple times:
1.
God cares about the details. Principle numero
uno. I cannot tell you how many times I repeated this phrase to myself while
being here. Things that normally shouldn't be hard were so emotionally taxing.
For example, in America going to the store is second nature and normally takes
only one trip. In Russia, it’s stressful because everything is foreign. You
almost can never find what you want when you want it and when you do find it
you have to decipher the Russian to make sure it is exactly what you want. Or
walking. Walking is a hard task here, too. Every step is a risk of falling on
the slippery, cold ice (in the winter). I was even fearful of the airport
security upon my arrival. But through it all, the Lord reminded me that He
cares about the small things. The things that are out of my own control are
perfectly controlled by Him and in the palms of His hands. All he wants me to
do is come to Him. He delights in my helpless prayers of “help me get to the
store” or “help me walk to class” or even “help me to finish this Russian
homework.” The point is my dependence on Him is growing and He wants that for all
of our lives! In the Beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt 5:3). Being dependent, or “poor in
Spirit,” was the first thing on Jesus’ list as He was talking to the disciples.
So it should be first on ours, too.
2.
Nothing is ever meaningless. Part of the
experience of living on the field is doing the day-to-day mundane things:
getting up, going grocery shopping, doing homework, using public
transportation. Getting through the “normal” tasks of life has been the hardest
part of the trip for me. Because in those things, I wasn't doing anything that
would make an outward difference in someone’s life like sharing the gospel or
hanging out with friends would. The result wasn't tangible. But looking back
now, I can see that doing those things had an effect on me. I learned
perseverance through difficult situations. I also learned that the seeming
small things, if done in obedience to the call of God, were never meaningless.
“This light, momentary affliction is producing for us a weight of glory far
beyond comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:16). The pain has a purpose and through the
providence of pain God perfects His plan in us.
3.
At the times I felt like God wasn't around or
doing anything, He was always was. I would say this was my struggle for most of
March and April. There was a long stretch of time that nothing was happening. I
wasn't hanging out with my friends, there wasn't any bible groups going on, I
wasn't doing anything, or so it felt like. Many times things here get slow:
people cancel, team members go out of town, life happens. So I'd just go to
class, go to the grocery, maybe get some coffee at a café, and go home and hang
out with my roommate Jennifer. It’s pretty much exactly what I'd do in America
on any normal given day and that bothered me. Many times I'd think “why do I
even need to be here if I can do this all in America?” Jesus has been gracious
to me through the process of questioning. I had vacation time to take this semester
and my roomie and I went to London for a week at the end of April/beginning of
May. In London, the Lord answered my question. I realized that although I felt
like He didn’t hear me, or wasn't doing anything, He was there the whole time
preparing and changing people’s hearts in the matter of a few months. It’s like
I had new eyes and I could see so many changes in my friends here through the gospel
related conversations we have had. It was such a peaceful realization. Through
this revelation, this passage of Scripture came alive to me:
“Blessed
by the Lord, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged
city. As for me, I said in my alarm, ‘I am cut off from before Your eyes’;
nevertheless, You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried to you.”
Psalm 31:21-2
My semester ends in two weeks; 14
days. It’s overwhelming to think that I'll be coming home. I've been to Amsterdam,
Russia, and England on my trip and every place feels so different, so foreign.
It’s been a blessing to see all the places and people I have. God has given me
a new perspective for cultures, countries, and people in these 4 months that I'll never forget. I’m not the same as I was in January. And once I get back to
America, I'll still be progressing and reshaping my worldview. Just because the
semester is ending doesn't mean my understanding for the commission of God is.
It never will. Looking back on my
semester, there were things I’ve done right, others I've done wrong,
opportunities I took, and others I wish I would have. But regardless of it all,
Jesus has been faithful to reveal to me exactly what He intended to.
Toni F.
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