Prayer Vision Tour update - Part Four (Final)

["bobbismisko" <bobbismisko@erols.com>]

Have Prayer; Will Travel!

Part Four:
Yoni, Chloe, and I settled into our train compartment feeling more
experienced than during our previous overnight trip from St. Petersburg to
Moscow, which we had taken eight days before.  We already knew that Chloe
and I were bottom-bunk people and Yoni (the youngest of our little prayer
team) would clamber up to the top bunk.  We had figured out how to settle in
for the night on a train and proper bathroom protocol (such as only using
the rest room when the train was in motion!)  Little did we know what
excitement was ahead in the wee hours of the morning during this journey.
After chatting, bustling about preparing for bed, and having a final prayer
together, we settled in at about 10:00 PM.

Though rest is difficult on a moving train, we moved in and out of sleep,
sometimes awakening to make sure that no one had entered the unlocked
compartment.  At three o'clock in the morning, at a point when we had all
dozed off at the same time, the door slid open with a bang and a man in a
uniform stepped quickly and with great authority into our presence.  I sat
up immediately, and as the only one still in street clothes, became the
spokesperson for our group.  (It is hard to act confident when you are
half-clothed speaking to a man standing erect and unsmiling in a uniform.)
He immediately demanded our passports, and we quickly produced them and
handed them over.  As he studied them carefully, a woman entered the
compartment and sat on my bunk and began showing me some official-looking
papers.

Eventually, we came to understand that she wanted money and it seemed to be
for some kind of insurance. I kept insisting that we did not want insurance,
and she kept insisting that we had to purchase it.  I remained so adamant
that she became frustrated and left only to return shortly thereafter with
another uniformed guard whose demeanor was more intimidating than the first.
He also began speaking in a demanding and somewhat threatening tone.  I am
not sure what had come over me, but I think my sense of justice was
overriding my fear . . .and perhaps my common sense!  They could, of course,
have whisked us off the train into a Ukrainian prison, and, in that case,
you might not be hearing from me today.

To this day, I am not certain what happened that morning, but suddenly, the
intimidating man with the mustache handed me back the three passports, the
woman hopped off my bed, and the three of them departed.  We waited, looking
into each other's eyes, practically holding our breaths and listening
intently.  Then . . . the train began slowly moving . . .and we burst into
laughter.  We had faced the "enemy" . . .and won!  It was a crowning moment
in our time together . . .a time of unity, a time of sharing common
experience, common threat, and a common enemy.  We were truly bonded in the
moment!

As we pulled into the train station in Kiev, we peered out the window to see
Cliff Wright waiting amidst the crowd of people on the platform.  We lowered
the pane and waved our arms frantically until he saw us and waved back.
After helping us off the train with our heavy baggage, he walked us to yet
another missionary van and drove us to the apartment where we would spend
our final days in the Commonwealth of Independent States.  A lovely
Ukrainian woman had prepared a light meal for us, and a couple of hours
later we were off again to visit and pray and experience life in yet another
Eastern European country.  Yes, we did this on barely a few hours sleep . .
. and no shower!  No matter!  There were people, places, and things for
which to pray!

As in the other cities, we were greeted with unbounded love and gracious
hospitality.  Cliff and Heike are faithfully continuing the work of Bob and
Colleen Skinner until they return from furlough in the States.  They shared
their vision, their love for the Ukrainian people, and their hearts while we
visited with them.  A special delight was meeting Vova, whose given name (I
think) is Vladimir.  He gave sacrificially of himself and his time over and
over again.  He represents to me all that is good about the work we are
doing in that part of the world.  He received the Lord and now is giving
back to his own people through spiritual and practical means.  As I lift up
Vova, all the other nationals, and all the missionaries, I ask that God will
give them courage and strength to fulfill His calling on their lives.  I
pray this promise for them from Joshua 1: 9: "Be strong and courageous.  Do
not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with
you wherever you go."  I also thank God for my partners in prayer,
especially Chloe and Yoni, who answered the call to go to a foreign land
with me  - simply to pray!  May your numbers increase!


The End