CEE Story From The Mission Field
Awesome Moments!
January 13, 2004
Missionary life -- filled with awe! Sometimes it is in the form of things 'awe'ful like drinking instant coffee mixed with Fanta. At other times, things 'awe'some come through such experiences as seeing the face of someone who is understanding the good news about Jesus for the first time!
Strategy Associate for CEE’s European Russian Field, Ed Tarleton, has experienced both kinds of moments. One night recently he was simply filled with awe at what he refers to as “normal miracles”—amazing situations or events that God has orchestrated that are so much a part of our lives they seem common instead of miraculous. Here is his story.
Wednesday night, January 7th, was one of those great "quiet" moments to be alive. Our family went to an evangelistic service in the Southern part of Moscow, Russia, in a region called Butovo. The service was held in the same local high school where the small church start is meeting every Sunday and I was overcome by the great sensation of being able to live in these days of "normal" miracles.
I'm 43 years old, so I always knew that America was in a "Cold War" with the Soviet Union, but I never felt the "Evil Empire" emotions of older generations. During the past 10 years, I've learned much about the 70 years of persecution in Russia and I've often thanked God for His bountiful blessings in my life. I've been repeatedly humbled to hear testimonies of men and women [and rarely, but sometimes children] who paid heavy prices to be true Christians in a communist society.
And suddenly!
- I'm sitting in a Russian school auditorium.
- I'm listening to one of the top students I ever had at the Moscow Baptist Theological Seminary give a wonderful explanation of the simple truths of Christmas: Who was born on Christmas? ... Where did the birth take place? ... What hope is there for all of us because of God's gift?
- I'm singing along as a group of young people from 2nd Baptist Church led the auditorium in singing Christmas hymns!
- I'm watching Teri on stage as she and 4 other adults sing a distinctly Christmas Hymn.
- I'm worshipping with my 4 children in a place that only 15 years ago would have been categorically forbidden for any of us--Russians or Americans--to use.
I'm living a dream as the Lord blesses me with events that have become "normal" miracles. I've never felt the emotion of the "miracle of cars." I simply sit in a car and drive from one place to another. The car is so commonplace that it is hard to imagine life in America in the early 1900s. Likewise, my children have no emotional "awe" at the miracle of worshipping in Russia in a typical, secular Russian school. I do and for that I am eternally grateful.
I hope the Lord lets you have some of these wonderful moments of "awe" this week!