The end is here and with that I can look back and reflect on these past two years. This past year has been amazing and the Lord opened some unexpected doors that I am oh so thankful for. One door that He opened was for me to be able to start a long term discipleship time with Olga. Our time together studying the Word and praying for each other has become one of the highlights of my week. I had tried to start discipleship with two other girls while I was here, but eventually after meeting three or four weeks it would fade away and they would stop showing up. Like we are instructed in Acts, I shook the dust off of my sandals and moved on to the next person. One thing that the Lord has shown me during this time is knowing when to continue investing in someone and when it is time to either move on or readjust your time focus with them. I will admit this has been something that has taken time for me to understand and recognize.
This past year the Lord opened up a door that I never thought would even be available. I was able to join a small group of other believers, a mixture of non nationals and nationals, and help bring awareness to the Global injustice that is human trafficking and how it needs to be stopped. If you would have asked me at the beginning of 2012 if I would go to Russia and be part of a group that is focused on stopping human trafficking I would have told you no. We as a group have been blown away by the opportunities that the Lord has given us to share with the community about this injustice and with each presentation we are able to share the Good News. The Lord not only provided me with another ministry focus that I have a passion for but He also provided me with other sisters and brothers in Christ who have become good friends. Through this the Lord has blessed me with a group of friends that I have been able to pray with, share with, learn from, and celebrate with. He has shown me that while we may be from different parts of the world, sent by different organizations or churches, that we all have the same goal and that is for His name to be glorified throughout the nations and that we need to help each other to do this.
I can look back and say that through it all God is good and that He provides and takes care of his sheep. These past two years I have been in the valley and asking God where he was and I have been at the top of the mountain walking closely with the Lord. Through all those seasons of life that I have experienced, I can say that God remains the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. He never changes and I can put my hope in Him.
In April 2012 I landed in Russia with little to no expectations and with other passengers on my flight telling me I was crazy and stupid for choosing to live here. In a short time I will be leaving Russia with a love and respect for the people and the church here and with a thankful and full heart.
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