I am typing this while changing flights at JFK International Airport and still adding more events to my travel calendar. I should have probably stopped accepting invitations a long time ago, but how can I say no to the Lord opening the door for His truth to be proclaimed in yet another school, university, church, or (just half an hour ago!) a prison?! At least, I will not be traveling that much – only three big cities are on my map: Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Murmansk.

That last one is new territory for our ministry and needs some special prayers – not only for its location way above the Arctic Circle but also for being one of Russia’s Navy bases which is rarely visited by a foreigner, especially, in this rather cold political climate between our two countries. I hope, however, to be able to build on the memories of the WWII when Murmansk was the Russian seaport receiving most of the allies’ convoys of food, arms, and ammunition for the front lines.

May the Lord provide me with all of that: physical energy, spiritual weapons, and intellectual ammunition to fight my battle. Please pray for my ear infection to heal quickly, and for my lower back not to give me any trouble on the road. May He sharpen the minds and soften the hearts of those teachers, students, clergy, and lay-leaders who will come to my presentations and lectures to receive and to accept His message of love and the evidence for His truth. Pray also for my family back in MN, TX, and UT while I am away.

…I continued praying as I ran between the terminals and made it to the registration desk in forty-five minutes—only to hear that they cannot allow me on board because the luggage latch has already been closed and my suitcase was too heavy to qualify for a carry-on. My plane was still at the gate and still boarding but apparently I did not look like somebody they would be willing to bend their rules for. One last prayer and… I am re-booked to the flight that leaves twenty-four hours later. There is no agreement between carriers and once you bought a ticket you are stuck with that one company’s flight schedule. Oh, my dear teachers in Sargatka, I am so sorry but I cannot make it to your conference and the Omsk diocese will have to find somebody in Omsk early in the morning to travel 100 kilometers north to cover for me! [Read more…]

Six days all over the Southern Urals have been busy and truly blessed. Each day either started or ended with a two-to-three-hour bus trip to another city or small town where I usually presented two times—one in a church and one in a secular setting.

Geographically the Ural Mountains serve as a border between Asia and Europe and I crossed that line multiple times. I wish their buses would make at least a short stop at the border mark for travelers to make a photo with one foot in one continent and the other in another. It seemed like I was the only one on board who really cared. [Read more…]

In and around Moscow – clear skies, lots of sunshine, and not one drop of rain. Even in my cell in the St. Nicholas Convent where I stayed for the first week there was plenty of light and warmth. They fed me with pirozhki from their own bakery: with potato, lentil, fish, and—my favorite—pumpkin with lemons. I paid them back with my presentations in the seminary. What a deal! I cannot thank them enough for their hospitality and for caring for me, especially after a thirteen-hours-long travel plus eight hours of time zone difference. [Read more…]

This upcoming teaching trip to Russia in May should be just that – a trip to Russia. No multiple border crossings, no major adjustmets to different cultures, and staying within only three (!) time zones: Moscow, Southern Urals, and Eastern Siberia.

The most challenging part was to squeeze my events between two national holidays and the week of finals in most schools and universities. That’s where years of experience and an extensive partnership network came in handy. Well, it also took some rather intensive praying and trusting the Lord to fill my schedule in a much shorter time than usual – I returned home just in time for Easter, only to turn around and leave again on May Day.

As always, I will be presenting (every day!) to three of my target audiences: to teachers and university students (future teachers); to clergy and lay leaders; and to the general public. Two out of these three groups will be mostly non-believers and nominally “pravoslavnye” people. Your prayers for softening their hearts to receive the seed of the Gospel will be greatly appreciated. Please also pray for my air and ground travel across the globe.