No Stopping

There's no stopping. These words have a double meaning. First of all, just when I think I've come to the end of the 2005 summer mission stories, I remember more that just have to be told! Several months have passed, and the events of those two weeks are still vivid in our minds.

Also I'm convinced that the work begun in Kemerovo cannot come to an end. Seeds have been planted, foundations have been laid, and we can't stop now! This story, recorded by Hannah, is one of the reasons I say this.

The governor's office asked for a small group from the bus to come as representatives of the whole group to receive awards for the work done through the years. Our family got to go along with our bus captain, Joey, co-captain Bran, and the head interpreter, Ksenia.

We decided to walk from the hotel to the government building-- only about 10 minutes away. When we were in sight of the building, it started to sprinkle, and by the time Ksenia had called on her cell phone to find out which door to enter, it had begun to pour! This was not any nice little summer rain, but as Maren says, "An Ecuadorian jungle rain"!

Since we were all dressed up, we slunk along right next to the wall to stay dry. We felt silly, and it didn't seem the best building in Russia by which to act suspicious! To enter the building, we had to make a dash for the door across a courtyard-turned-lake and up a stairway that looked more like a waterfall-- all with guards watching us out of the window and door. They must have laughed at the undignified visitors!

Boris V. (a friend of ours from the government) met us and led the way through amazing hallways, up grand carpeted staircases, and past the offices of high government officials-- while our wet feet went "squish, squish"! Seated in the office of the first assistant to the governor of the region, we were treated to tea and each presented with gifts - flowers, books about the region, a box of chocolates each, and even more special, silver medals that say "For Faith and Kindness."

It was an amazing experience! When Russians saw our medals, they said, "Wow! That's special! Not many people get those!" We realized their worth even more as we later traveled home. Russian airport security personnel were surprised to find our medals in their routine luggage searches. They read them, smiled, and quickly closed our bags!

When I look at my medal, I think of the favor that was shown to us that day by the government of the Kemerovo region. They recognized who we were and what we were doing, and they welcomed us.

I ask myself the questions, "Where do we go from here?" "When can we do more?" "How should it be done?" I don't have the answers, but I know One who does. We've seen His "footsteps" in the past and look to Him to lead into the future... one step at a time.