Answered Prayer

On this beautiful and quiet Saturday evening, I stepped outside to go for about a 30-minute walk. You see, I had been working this afternoon on preparations for next weekend's middle school retreat, and it had been an amazing afternoon of connecting with God already. Before continuing further, I realized that I needed a break, to just get out and enjoy the fresh fall air. While out I purchased a new "Hello Mama" phone card and then went to my favorite shaurma stand to buy one of my favorite Russian street foods.

While I was waiting for my food to be made, I noticed a dear Russian friend, Sasha, a devoted attendee of the English Cafe. She was walking toward the metro. I called out her name and struck up a conversation with her immediately; it was so good to see each other!

She informed me that over the summer she had the great opportunity to take a trip to the Middle East, specifically Israel. She said that she's still trying to understand how amazing it was for her to have been in the same places where Jesus walked. Sasha further told me that she's been reading the book of Acts and that during the summer she made it through chapter 14, reading both in English and Russian. She then inquired about the English Cafe: would we have a Bible study again on the off-Saturdays of Cafe, like we had done last semester? So elated that she asked, I told her about the Alpha Course that we're starting on Thursdays (beginning October 1) for those who are interested in learning more about Christianity and who God and Jesus are. She really liked the sound of this, but unfortunately she won't be able to attend.

My heart was so encouraged by this conversation! I told Sasha that I have been praying for her and a number of my other Russian friends, especially over the summer. I told her that my prayer for her has been that she would come to know Christ and how much He loves her. To have bumped into her tonight, on the night of the Cafe (I'm not going to the Cafe tonight...I'm spending time with the Lord to prepare for next weekend's retreat), and to have heard the report of how God is working in her was most definitely answered prayer!

During the course of the next couple minutes after seeing Sasha, I bumped into two other Russian friends as well, all of whom were waiting near the metro to meet other friends who were all going to tonight's Cafe. My heart was so encouraged to see them, to see the faces of those whom I've been praying for for months!

Please join with me in continuing to pray for the hearts of Russian people...that they would come "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead" (Philippians 3:10).