God's Continuing Grace

Amazing! Already five and a half weeks have passed since I arrived here in Moscow for my fourth year of teaching fifth graders at Hinkson Christian Academy, and we're nearing the end of the fifth week of school! The common thread through it all has been God's continuing grace to me, as I am being confronted daily with the depth of my sinfulness, the infinite height of His holiness, and my desperate need for His sufficient grace that bridges the gap between the two. It has been a very busy first five weeks, but while they have been challenging, they have been filled with joy and punctuated with rest and fun.

Here are just five pictures, giving a quick glimpse into my life this past month:

Examining guinea pig babies during our "Animal Growth and Reproduction" unit in science. Oh, they were so cute! I really love my new class. I only have 12 students this year (11 right now), which is the smallest class I've ever had. I feel like I'm really getting to connect with the students, and teaching has never been so enjoyable (yet challenging at the same time).

Having dinner after church with Diana, Mitya, and Yura. Yura is a dear friend and brother from St. Petersburg, who came to visit me for about five days over the course of my birthday weekend (September 7...I'm 26 now!)

This is one of my favorite pictures of my girlfriend, Lindsey, and me. (The picture was taken in an apple tree during a recent date for our birthday weekend...her 25th birthday was September 6).

"Girlfriend?" you might ask. For over six months now, Lindsey and I have been dating but have kept it a secret from most of the general public, as we didn't want extra pressures and liked the simplicity of just getting to know each other. We met through the English Cafe ministry last year, and during the Spring the Lord used a number of factors to show me that I should pursue her. I'm so glad I did! During the past six and a half months, I've gotten to know her very well through time in Moscow and in Austin, Texas, which is her home town in the States. Lindsey is an incredible woman of God, who has a heart of grace, service, and encouragement. She has a tremendous desire to serve God and share His love and truth with those who don't know Him. This is her third year in Moscow.

The past two years Lindsey served as a STINTer (Short Team International) for Campus Crusade for Christ, doing mainly evangelistic ministry with college students in Moscow. This year she is continuing with Campus Crusade, but in a part-time role. She's also teaching part-time at Hinkson in the mornings! She is the 6th grade science teacher and 8th grade math teacher, both classes that are former students of mine! The story gets even better when one considers that Lindsey graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Middle School Math and Science Education! She's getting a chance to teach for the first time, and she's doing a great job!

I'm just in awe of how God's brought the two of us together and how well the relationship has gone so far. It's only by God's grace that the relationship is sustained, and it's only by His grace that it will continue. We are enjoying the journey of daily life here in Moscow, of walking to school together in the mornings, of doing ministry together. Please pray for us as we continue to keep God at the center of our relationship and seek His face and will for next year. If you'd like to see more pictures of us, check out the album on my Picasa Web page (see link at bottom).

Praying with the class on a Friday morning, one of my favorite times of the week. This flock of 12 fifth graders sure has a heart for God!

Yet another class has fallen in love with the adorable, furry little Baxter bunny!

Praises and prayer requests:

• Love, wisdom, grace, and patience for teaching my precious fifth graders
• Praise God that He has provided our needs for the English Cafe for this semester and that we're already off to a good start! Our first meeting was on Sunday night, September 13, and we almost filled the cafeteria with people, many of them new faces!
• For God to continue working in the hearts of many Russians as they attend our English Cafe, encounter His truth in discussions, and have the opportunity to dive deeper into questions about Christianity and who God is through an Alpha Course that we are starting this year. Join us in praying for the salvation of many of our Russian friends and that they would be able to plug into local churches and be discipled by Christians who can share with them how to walk with Christ.
  
• Pray for comfort, peace, and direction for the Kretov family. They lost a wife and mother (Shari) in August due to a brain tumor. The two kids are in fourth and second grade.
  
• Two other Hinkson staff members have had scares recently with cancer, but we can praise God, for He has come through and brought about healing and health!
  
• Hinkson is still in need of a computer coordinator. All other positions have been filled.
  
• I had a wonderful conversation with a very nice couple on the flight over to Moscow in August. She is a Unitarian Universalist and is leaning toward Buddhism, while he is an agnostic. Join me in praying that they would find the way and the truth and the life that are found only in Jesus Christ.
• God has recently laid it on my heart to be the speaker for the middle school retreat (sixth through eighth grades...all former students now!), which will take place on October 2-4. The Lord has already been working deep in my heart about what to share with the kids during the four sessions. I'll be talking about knowing Christ, and we'll be studying from the book of Philippians. Because I know God has called me to do this, I am not fearful; rather, I'm very excited! However, there is much to accomplish in terms of prayer and preparation these next couple weeks. Pray for me as I seek God's will for this retreat weekend! Pray for the kids' hearts to be softened and receptive to God's truth!
  

More frequent updates will be coming! Be sure to look for our English Cafe schedule so you can join in prayer with us, updates on my students, thoughts on Moscow, etc. Thanks for following my adventure of walking with God here in Moscow!

To check out over 50 pictures with captions of my first month back here in Moscow, click on the link below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lukedanielhays/August9September12200902?authkey=Gv1sRgCKu8iJHDyOn94wE#