Lauren's Report

Privet! (Hello) Russia is a difficult place to explain, and is best experienced through taste, smell, sight, touch, sound, but most of all through the Spirit. I experienced things and engraved images in my mind that I will never forget, and that quite frankly should never be forgotten. Through the Holy Spirit, I was able to experience Russia properly, seeing that although they are a separate nation and culture, the Russian people need Christ just as desperately as I do. In Russia, Glowing Heart had the incredible opportunity to work in a Christian youth camp. We lead worship and worked in groups teaching the students about how to have Christ as your ultimate satisfaction. I worked with two other glowing heart members, Kyle and Liz, and our group consisted of about seven 19-20 year olds, and one translator named Luba (which means love in Russian). One thing that overcame me was how deeply I loved these students after only three days of working with them. There was a deeply significant bond between us that can only be attributed to Christ. With such a different culture, language and other things that could be considered barriers or hindrances, God in His steadfast love for us, allowed us all to see past surface level ways of communication, and allowed us to speak and love one another with our hearts. Together we saw the ways in which God “works all things together for the good of those who have been called according to His purpose.” You see, Russia is a darkened world. Only 3% of the population consider themselves Christians, and the chance that the students at the camp have to impact the world around them is monumental. One of the most memorable moments for me was a lesson over John 4, also known as the woman at the well. At the end of the lesson it says in verse 39 “Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’” The way in which the students latched onto that was astonishing! They all talked about ways in which they could be a light in their community and tell just a neighbor, and then tell more and more people. Knowing that some would believe just as the Samaritans had. One student named André said through our translator, “The way that Jesus could use a woman who was a prostitute, and have others believe through her, gives me hope that he can use me to tell others about Him.” To see true passion in their eyes about how they desired to spread the name of Christ was SO amazing to me, and it was a discussion that I will never be able to forget! Mainly because in Russia these kids have a deep responsibility to share the word of God. The city in which the camp is closest to is called Bryansk and there is a heavy population of college-age students. In preparation for a concert that would take place in a room in a university there, we went to various parks and passed out flyers. Out of the 50 students we invited to attend the concert, I could count on one hand the number of students that were not drunk. This was broad daylight, and incredibly disheartening to see. However I was so proud of our students who did pass out flyers and who did it so willingly and openly. Because we offered live music the concert was a hit. The room was supposed to hold 70 people and the total end count was close to 190 people from the city of Bryansk. All of this to say, that slowly but surely God is working in the hearts of the people of Bryansk…and it is spreading to the whole country of Russia, and to see just a glimpse of that was overwhelming. The people of Russia are desperate for something more life sustaining then what they have been offered thus far, and soon a nation that is so dark will see the light. A generation is rising up to take their place as children and co-heirs with Christ, and a revival is coming in the country of Russia. God is making his name famous, and to be a part of that even if it is minute makes me praise God even more for the ways in which He works. I don’t fully understand it, but I love Him and glorify Him for the work He is doing there.

“My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make a melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your steadfast love is GREAT above the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God , above the Heavens! Let Your Glory be over ALL the earth! That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!” Psalm 108:1-6