marshrutkas and ministry
Q: How many people can you fit in a marshrutka?
A: One more!
This is not an exaggeration! On a typical 22-seater marshrutka (i.e. cross between taxi and little bus), it is not uncommon for 45 souls to be jammed in . . . couple that with the fascinating Russian belief that moving air makes you sick (i.e. all the windows are tightly shut), and you get the picture. I am thankful I’m not prone to anxiety attacks, but came as close as I’ve ever come when in the most stiflingly crowded marshrutka imaginable this week. Thankfully I had a seat, with C on my lap, so knew if I fainted at least I wouldn’t fall and hit my head, but then the guy next to me fell asleep and jammed his leg up against me, and another guy hovering nearby started coughing on us. He refused my offer of some “Halls” but I thought it was worth a try 🙂
The thing with riding marshrutkas is you never know quite what to expect . . . although they’re almost always fast and full! Our days have been like this week . . . here are some ministry highlights . . .
• C & I visited a friend in hospital on the extreme other side of town. A huge blessing for us is that we had the opportunity to pray for her and her four roommates while we were there. The Kingdom of God came in that room! I suddenly understood why Nancy P and others have a huge passion for hospital ministry. We were so tickled at our friend’s total shock that we found the hospital and made it there unaccompanied. It was quite an adventure – praise God for google maps, wall maps, cell phones, and my darling navigator Paul who is always helping me find my way around whenever I get lost anywhere in the world.
• Paul & I had the opportunity to speak with a Russian Orthodox acquaintance about Jesus, the Bible, hearing from God, and God’s provision. She was very interested in the idea that a non-priest can pray (we didn’t feel she was ready for an explanation of 1 Peter 2:9 yet . . .)
• I was invited last-minute to speak to a group of 16 Christian college students from all over the U.S. who are taking a Russian studies program this semester at the same university as Peter (one of them is our new friend Rebecca from Covenant College, the close friend of two of our closest family friends in Atlanta!) It’s a wonderful program lead by a humble gentle American Christian man who is employed by the university. I shared about missions and giving your whole life to God . . . it so blessed me to see tears on the faces of several of the students as God worked in their hearts! We’re looking forward to connecting more with this gang while they’re here (until early December) – several expressed a desire to spend time with our family and / or join us at the Vineyard.
