We arrived early on the train to Moscow. We had breakfast at Sbarro's - and yes, I had pizza. How could I pass up pizza for breakfast!? We enjoyed visits to some of Moscow's most noted locations.
Christ the King Cathedral, the main church in all of Holy Russia, is absolutely beautiful. I also very much enjoy visiting the smaller, village churches. The Spirit of God is there as well. But the overwhelming beauty and artistry at Christ the King will capture you. It is one of the distinctives of the Orthodox expression of our shared Christian faith that keeps beauty and mystery at the center of our relationship with the Holy Trinity. I lit some candles and prayed for friends and family and for all children living without. My dear friend Yana bought some gifts for me and my family - an Orthodox cross that is hanging in my office, and a small icon of Jesus Christ and his Mother for each of my children. I treasure these.
One cannot visit Russia without a stroll through Red Square. The Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb, St. Basil's. Again, just some really beautiful things to see and experience. I was in middle school and high school when the East opened up, so I didn't grow up with the Cold War in the same way that many did, though my dad is a veteran of the Viet Nam Conflict. It's amazing to me every time I'm there (seven times now) that those who were once enemies, whether nations or people, can indeed be reconciled. Of course there are many differences and there is still political, cultural, economic, and religious tension, but here I was with 10 of my new friends standing in Red Square!
We finished our day on the town by shopping at Arbat Street, a pedestrian section of the city with a lot of souvenir shops and the like.
One of my favorite parts about this day - our last day together as a team - is to see the growth that has taken place in all of us and to dream about where these new friendships will take us. If you remember - many of us were strangers when we met in the E concourse of the Atlanta airport. Now we have become lifelong friends - comrades, even. We all gathered in my hotel room. Jerry shared a short devotional thought. We all shared our impressions and how we see ourselves, our families, and our churches connecting in this ministry after our return home. Then Dr. Bob from First Church in St. Joseph, MI led us in a time of communion - taking the cup and breaking the bread. It was a really special time.
I was interrupted, however. My phone began to ring while Jerry was sharing. I quickly exited the room and answered. A voice on the other line said in Russian (I knew enough of the language to understand) - 'Hello Daniel. This is your sister from Kostroma, Nadya.' I was overcome with emotion. Our schedules didn't line up to visit when I was in her city, but she had called to say goodbye. I knew enough of the language to tell her that I was going back to America on Sunday and that I loved her very much.
It is these connections - the eye-to-eye, hand-in-hand connections - with a child in need that fills my soul with so much purpose and joy. It is these connections that feeds my faith. It is in these connections that I see God reconciling, redeeming, healing, and giving hope. And it is these connections that inspires and energizes me to continue in this work. When churches and orphanages partner (a mysterious and beautiful reconciliation indeed), people on both sides of the Atlantic find their lives changed forever.
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