Some Encouraging Anecdotes

On this quiet, sunny Saturday afternoon in Moscow, I've decided to take a few minutes before writing lesson plans for next week to write down three quick, encouraging anecdotes from my life this past week.

Just a half hour ago, I returned from visiting a local orphanage with two boys from my middle school Care and Community Group. For a variety of reasons, we hadn't been there for about eight months, and it was so good to be back! We brought along five women as well (three leaders and two guests from our Alpha Course), and the entire morning/afternoon was a blast. The ladies played cards with the girls, while the guys played basketball in the newly refurbished gym (it's definitely too cold outside to play out there). Afterwards, we gathered together for tea and snacks. While seated together around tables, we all said our names and shared something we're excited about for the year 2010 (this was all in Russian, of course). When it came time to go, many of the orphans didn't want us to leave, and that was hard for me. However, we did say that we'd return soon. I think the highlight of the morning was being greeted by some of the kids as we entered the orphanage; they saw us walk through the gate and shouted from the the third floor of the main building, "Luke Skywalker!"

Just yesterday I was talking with the boy in my class who accepted Christ in November. I asked him if he senses that he's changing and transforming from the inside. He said yes! I proceeded to explain to him how I've seen his heart and disposition change so much from the beginning of the year. When I was home in the States at Christmas, I had purchased a camouflage Bible for him so he could really start to cherish God's word. His mom said in an e-mail that he takes it to bed with him! When I asked him about when he reads his Bible, he shared that he reads it whenever he gets the chance! I rejoice with the angels in heaven over the victory that is being won in this boy's heart!

One final encouraging moment came last Saturday night at our first English Cafe at the school. On that night we had about 30 Russians come, which is a little less than normal, but not bad considering that many students aren't in the city right now because it's the end of one university semester and the beginning of another. At one point in the night, I was talking with a young university student who has been coming regularly all year. He shared with me how exhausted he was from his exams and how Moscow is such a difficult city in which to live. "It's so fast-paced, it can almost kill you! There's just so much pressure." What he said about the Cafe, though, really warmed my heart: "When I come here, though, I feel like I'm at home. I was born outside the city in a small village that was so peaceful and quiet. When I come to the cafe, the people are always so kind, and I feel like I can just relax, like I'm at home." Wow! That is exactly what we pray for, that those who come to the Cafe would leave encouraged after having been in the presence of those who love God and want to share His love with others. I pray that the Cafe would continue to be a place of rest and solace for many who come! It reminds me of Jesus's words in Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

In just over an hour, I'll head out to the church to help lead our first ever English Cafe there. We have no idea who will come, but we are anticipating God to work in and through it. We are aware that faith like a mustard seed can grow into a great plant - we are trusting Christ with this event!

Lindsey and I are getting married!

I’m an engaged man!! I have a fiance, and she’s going to be my wife in less than six months! I still have a hard time believing that it’s really true! By the amazing grace of God, I have found the love of my life, my bride, the one with whom I get to spend the rest of my life, the one whom I have the honor of loving, serving, and being faithful to! Lindsey, more than anyone else I’ve ever met, embodies God’s grace to me. In addition to her tremendous grace, she’s a humble servant, thoughtful and faithful friend, fun sojourner and companion, good cook (thank You, Lord!), peaceful daughter of the King, and a beautiful woman! One scripture verse that comes to mind about Lindsey is Proverbs 18:22: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” I really do sense that God is smiling on us and is so happy that we’ve found each other! I praise Him for His faithfulness!

Since I’ve been dating Lindsey, I’ve realized more and more how true are the words in Genesis 2:18: “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Lindsey has helped me so much in learning how to live a more balanced life, how to cut back on details and the amount of ministry I’m involved in, how to relax, and how to just enjoy life! I love journeying with her, spending quality time with her, enjoying her presence, and growing in our faith in Christ together. By His grace, we’ll continue throughout this life together!

Lindsey told me a couple months ago that she wanted to get engaged in Moscow, so I patiently waited all through the Christmas break and worked on my engagement day plan. (I had the ring with me for about two weeks before I was able to give it to her…it joined me on my trip to Texas to be with her family, it was on my necklace when flying over the Atlantic – I had to make sure it was safe at all times.) Being the romantic that I am, I didn’t want her to just remember a moment; I wanted her to remember an entire engagement day! So here’s the story:

I told Lindsey to set aside the whole day on Saturday (January 9), and it was so magical! I picked her up at her apartment at noon, took her by metro to the Starbucks on Arbat Street where our first date on March 1 had been, and that's where we sat together and read through the photo story book that I had made for her while I was home. It includes pictures and parts of letters, text messages, journal entries, and other thoughts from the past ten months together. Before getting to the last page (the page with "Will You Marry Me?" on it), I walked with her through the downtown region, through a garden, right to Red Square where I proposed to her, and she said yes! We shared the words "I love you" and kissed for the first time. Then after warming up a little bit, her two roommates joined us and helped us take about 500 pictures around Red Square and inside the Goom mall. I think we got some really good pictures together, and it was a gorgeous day, which was an answer to my prayers! After the picture session, I took Lindsey to one of our favorite delis for dinner, where we reminisced a bit and just expressed how thankful and happy we are for all God's done! Then we took the metro home (while listening to three of my favorite love songs). Once home a red rose was waiting for on her bed, and I kissed her under the mistletoe, which was still there from Christmas :) We watched It's a Wonderful Life, which is one of our favorites, and I once again cried, realizing how blessed I am to get to marry this amazing woman of God! Before she fell asleep, she discovered a letter on her pillow that I had written, in which I explained what I meant by saying "I love you" and how much we must depend on God's perfect love and faithfulness as we journey toward marriage.

If you’d like to see more pictures of our engagement day, click on the link to view an album on my Picasa web page: http://picasaweb.google.com/lukedanielhays/EngagementDay#

It was so fun sharing the news with my class on the first day back to school (January 11). I shared the news with them one phrase at a time, and as I did, their volume of noise and excitement only grew with each phrase: “On Saturday…..on Red Square….I….asked….her….to marry me!....And she said yes!” Many of my former fifth graders were also so excited for the two of us – what a fun thing to share with them! Lindsey and I pray that our relationship will be a good example to our students. One student, who earlier this year had written funny sentences about Lindsey and me on his grammar tests, told me in class this week, “Mr. Hays, you’re smiling all the time. You’re like a kid going to bed on Christmas Eve!” I just love kids and what they say!

After getting married in Lindsey’s hometown of Austin, TX, on July 17, we plan to have our honeymoon somewhere in North America; celebrate with another wedding reception at my home church, Flint Central Church of the Nazarene, in Flint, Michigan a couple weeks later; and then return to Moscow for another year of ministry at Hinkson, in the English Café, and at Moscow First Church of the Nazarene. We’re definitely pumped!

Ways to Pray

I praise the Lord for all He’s doing in the world and in my life. Here are some of the highlights:

• The boy who accepted Christ in October is growing tremendously! His attitude and demeanor have changed so much, and I can see his hunger for God growing! He cherishes the camouflage Bible that I bought him while I was home in the States, and he’s starting to really see God at work in his life. Last Friday during God Sightings, he explained how he prayed persistently to God to help his car’s heater to start working, and a few seconds after praying, the heater started up! He shouted, “Hallelujah!” I echo the same word!
• God continues to refine my character. So much has come to light this year, especially in the context of my relationship with Lindsey, and God is faithfully correcting me and healing me of deep things that only He can touch. He has granted me the faith to believe that He is faithful to care for me, His child.
• A number of my students are really progressing in their academics and in their faith in God. In about three students, I have seen marked improvement from where they were in December. Praise God!

How can you be praying for me/us in the days and months ahead?

• For the school to receive its quota book, which is essential for issuing visas to the teachers, by early March. The more we find out, the more it looks like it will have to be a miracle for that to happen by March, but we still hold onto faith in Christ – He is the miracle worker. Without the card, it would cause a lot of logistical problems, as many teachers would have to leave the country all at once to obtain visas through other means than the school. We leave this in the hands of our great big God!
• One of my Korean students is in a very difficult situation. His mother is having great pain in her body and is receiving medical treatment in Korea. Her son, my student, is with her and is caring for her, but this creates quite a problem with his education, as he is missing tons of school, all of which he is responsible for completing, and we are not sure of the details of his situation – whether or not he is receiving any education or instruction in Korea at this time. Please lift this family up in prayer.
• Lindsey and I have many important decisions to make and details to work through as we plan for the wedding – pray for wisdom and great joy as we do this! Pray also for God to be glorified in our relationship and in our own individual hearts as we prepare for marriage. We want our relationship to always be all about Him.
• For upcoming visits to a local orphanage with my middle school boys group – that God would open the door for the gospel to be shared through our love, interest, and time with the kids there.
• For the English Café that we are launching at Moscow First next Saturday, January 30 – for just the right people to come, for us to develop good relationships with them, and for direction as we see where God wants this ministry to go.
• For God’s hand to be on the English Café as we kick it off again this year. Pray for our relationships to be strong and for us to have discernment in knowing which of our friends are interested in going deeper into the things of God through the Alpha Course, which will start in February. See my previous post for this semester’s Café schedule, so you can join us in prayer each time.

English Cafe Schedule

Below is the schedule for the English Cafe for this semester. Please join in prayer for us - Moscow is 8 hours ahead of Washington :)

January 23 - The 5 Love Languages: Words of affirmation & Quality time

February 6 - The 5 Love Languages: Touch & Acts of service

February 20 - Word Game Night

March 6 - Karaoke Night/Open Mic Night

April 10 - Easter Fair

April 24 - Movie night – Dead Poets’ Society

May 8 - Freedom

May 22 - Destinations: Where are you headed?