Moscow

I arrived in Moscow on Monday night to see our dear friend Yessa waiting to pick me up!  I met her over 25 years ago when she was a non-English speaking babysitter for some friends of mine and now she is a top translater and an executive of a large company here in Russia!  She was taking me to my home stay here in Moscow with our dear friends Vlad and  Irina who own the company Yessa works for.  But it took almost three hours to get there because of the busy airport and traffic.  It was getting late and I hadn't eaten since early morning.  I kept thinking I should ask Yessa to make a quick stop at McDonald's or something but the Holy Spirit said wait, so I did.  When we arrived at the apartment they had a big dinner waiting with their best China! God's goodness and His saints serving in love has been a theme since I arrived- they won't let me pay for anything- taxi's, food, gym, gas- they carry my books, open the door for me and one leader here in the City even offered me his car and driver for whatever I wanted to do!  I am usually treated far better than I deserve but God just keeps pouring on the undeserved kindness and grace!  

My first morning here I was up about 4am to pray and work on the blog.  Then I was asked to join a group of business leaders who meet every Tuesday morning at 8 am to talk about their faith.  It was a stunning time for all of us!  The Holy Sporit showed up with power and clarity on every issue that was addressed!  One of the business/political leaders arrived late to the meeting but had been listening on-line while his driver was moving him through the City. He wanted to go to breakfast and we talked for two hours about the National Prayer Breakfast here and a paper I had written on the pandemic that he has been using with members of the Duma (Parliment) here and their American counterparts in Wash. D.C. Some of these leaders are trying to find areas of common ground that they can work on together!  

We have had a number of individual and small group meetings the past two days that have been very moving- I don't think any of them have been without tears...people are so ripe and hungry for God's Spirit and His faithful Word!     

Tomorrow morning I leave for a City called Krasnodar that is on the Russian side of the fighting with Ukraine- it is such a tragedy!  We have many friends there who are passionate followers of Jesus!  I am scheduled to be there for two weeks, to be involved in home meetings, church and a leaders conference November 4-7, with Doug Burleigh (who is just finishing cancer treatment) and our dear brother Todd Gibson.  

I know that God has been preparing all of these venues and meetings with the prayer and fasting going on here and at home but I still am undone by the Spirit's amazing power and faithfulness!    

During the past couple days I have learned of both trouble and tragedy here and at home, but Jesus has promised victory and new life through it all- John 16:33.   So no matter what the issues, we have learned to put our hope in Him because our God is Always trustworthy and loving...