Last year I gave the Sunday morning message in the Pestravka First Assembly of God church, where Pastor Sasha (a former drug dealer, gang boss, and addict) and his wife, Sveta (also a former addict) lead a growing congregation of villagers. They met in a rented room and lived in a teeny-weeny one-room flat along with their 4 year old daughter. While there, I stood on the foundation of their church building where once a run-down shack (barely) stood. This year, we stayed in their new home on the first floor of the two-story structure that now houses not only…
“Pure and undefiled religion … is this:
… to visit orphans and widows ….” (James 1:27). I wrote previously about my visit with the orphans. Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending time with a dear widow, Galina Sergeiovna, who also happens to be Alla’s mama. She is a lively 84 year old, a rarity in Samara where life is hard and health fragile for so many. I can count on one hand (with fingers remaining) the number of my friends here who still have living mothers. So being able to spend time with Alla’s mom is also a privilege. She insisted (like mother like daughter) on…
It’s not about me
Last Friday I left the house just before 7 a.m. and returned at 3:30. At least 5 of those 8. 5 hours were spent sitting on the hard seats of transport buses with strangers, bumping along potholed streets, and wishing I had brought my Kindle. But, the day wasn’t about me. It was about 7 kids who “graduated” from the 9th grade in a boarding school in Chapayevk. These 7 kids used to live in the boarding school near the CrossRoads office in Samara. (See my previous post, “There’s something about their eyes” here. ) When the school closed, they…
Fun (and work) with English
Most young Russians who are serious about learning English seek the help of private tutors.
Assumptions and why they often backfire
What’s wrong with this carton of eggs I bought today?