Russia on my mind

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the trip I took to Russia in February. Maybe it is because at this time last year I was preparing to go. Or maybe it's because winter is setting in and it is reminding me of Siberia.

(Side note: Siberia was so beautiful! I absolutely loved the country--I was in my element (weather wise, that is...In Siberia the world is in shades of gray. Snow blankets every corner of EVERYTHING. You basically walk and drive on several inches of packed snow. There are forests upon forest of silver birch trees. Everyone there wears full length fur coats (REAL fur coats).  It was cold, but there was hardly any wind...at least while I was there. That made the cold much more bearable! It was so beautiful!)


I went to Tomsk, Siberia on a 'Dental Missions Trip.' Our "make do" free dental clinic was set up in a Sunday school room of the church that hosted us.  While people came to wait for their turn to have dental work done, the pastor of the church preached the gospel to them. Every person who came to get work done heard the gospel. It was so neat to be a part of that! 

We were in a part of Siberia where English speakers are few and far between. Unless we had our 2 translators with us, it was impossible to communicate with people. I have never in my life felt like such a foreigner. EVERYTHING was different from what I knew: language, clothing, food, people, toilets. DENTISTRY. Everything.



On that trip, I felt so foreign, so alienated from the Russians because we had hardly anything in common.  Because of that,  I loved  the States more, I was more thankful, and I was comforted to know it was temporary. I felt foreign because I was not HOME.  I was ok with that feeling. I knew I would be home soon.

During our long flight back to the States I was convicted that I should feel like a foreigner...ALL THE TIME! Even when I am in the States.  The States are not my home. Philippians 3:20 tells me my "citizenship is in heaven" --this world is not my home. People who love this world and the things in this world...I should not bond with them over that. I should not be surprised when in my own country, state, town, job, etc, that I feel different, separated...maybe even rejected. In fact, I often times want to be accepted, I don't want to be awkard around people. I want to be able to comfortably fit in. And this should concern me!

I hope that the more I live in this world, the more alienated I feel and the more unattached I become. I really do mean that. Easy to say of course, harder to live out. But it is not worth feeling comfortable in this world yet being extremely uncomfortable for an eternity in hell. I found myself praying the other day, "Lord, whatever it takes, draw me near to You. Please show me that their is nothing in this world worth having, compared to spending eternity with you." How comforting to know that in Christ I am not a stranger or alien, but a fellow citizen with the saints and members of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:18-19).

Going to Russia was such a fun, neat experience. There were moments, though, when I did not feel like a stranger.  Thankfully I was with 4 American believers like me.  Also, our 2 translators were amazing, faithful, regenerate Christian believers.  Knowing that we all shared this common faith made it easy and comfortable to be with them. We were all strangers together. Praise the Lord for the blessing of fellow believers to make this short stay in this foreign land more joyful!

So I hope (if you are a believerr) the next time you feel left out, not accepted, like a foreigner...you will be ok with that. And may it cause you to look forward with joy to your heavenly home! Cause we're not home!