God is great and His angels are amazing! During the week of ministry in Sakhalin, I felt very encouraged by the interest and enthusiasm of teachers and students. I also felt very sick from the cold and the winds of their shores and sea ports. One presentation per day was just enough for me and my hosts graciously allowed me to spend the rest of the time in my cell (rooms are called cells in the diocese dorm) taking in bottles of medicines, gallons of herb beverages and piles of pills. Planning this trip I was so much hoping to ski at least once on their beautiful resort that runs straight into one of the city parks. Alas! I was still too sick and the temps outside went even further down on my last day there. Seeing how exhausted I was after the lecture and probably feeling how much I needed a bit of encouragement at the moment, one of the students at the Pedagogical University offered her help in packing my projector and cables while saying: “You gave us so much today! Great food for the mind and for the soul!” Thank you, the Angel of Sakhalin!

I must still have been not quite 100% that same evening upon arrival to Khabarovsk airport and was, therefore, very thankful to hosts for picking me up there and driving me to my seminary dorm for the night. The driver was also willing to take me to my presentation location on the next morning and just needed directions so I put him on the speaker-phone with my contact at the university. Now, imagine me hearing the following conversation:

Driver: Oleg is saying that you are on Timiryazyeva Street, right?

Professor: Yes, in the city center. Where will you be coming from?

Driver: From Turgeneva Street?

Professor: Hm, where is it?

Driver: Right in the center. Next to the diocese office and to the seminary.

Professor: We do not have a seminary in Ussuriysk…

Driver: That’s what I was thinking: Khabarovsk University is not on Timiryazyeva Street…

Apparently, while talking through every little detail (date and time, street address and even room number) of my presentation at the University in our many e-mails, neither the professor nor I have ever mentioned what city their campus is in. To make the story short: I found myself 574 km off the mark. While I was still gradually recovering from the shocking news, my driver has already called a couple of friends and asked them to look up bus and railroad routs and schedules on their computers. In two minutes the report came back: Oleg should catch the train to Ussuriysk that leaves in about 45 minutes (and arrives there 2 hours before the lecture), deliver his lecture and hop on a return train that same evening for Khabarovsk where they will meet him on the next morning at the train station and drive him to the bus terminal just in time for the bus to Komsomolsk-na-Amure (arrives 30 min before the lecture there). It sounded a little complicated but I did exactly what they said and didn’t miss (and was not even late to) any of my events. Thank you, dear Angels of Khabarovsk!

I am now finishing my presentations in Komsomolsk – a typical soviet-times city with not much look at accept for the river of Amur all covered with ice and not much to hear accept for the deafening roar of fighter jets taking off maybe 500 yards away from my dorm several times a day (including nights). My teachers and my university students here were absolutely wonderful – curious and engaged in the process and very grateful at the end of the presentation. This provincial city with its rather harsh climate gives them very little in terms of recreation and entertainment, so they work hard and study hard. At least, my classes were not too difficult and many of them were expressing interest in using FSDiscovery material in their classrooms because it is, according to one of them: 1) absolutely unique, 2) fun and 3) absolutely essential in forming their students’ mindset and world outlook. Thank you, dear Angels of Komsomolsk!

On Saturday the 23rd September I helped man the FaithSearch booth at the 2017 Minnesota Church Expo. I worked with Kristi, whose responsibilities-among many more-include managing the evangelists’ speaking engagements at churches and events such as this, as well as partnering with churches in the area and across the USA and Canada.

The event was held at a local church called Revive. There were around twelve booths in a small hall. All booths gave non-profit charities the opportunity to advertise what they do. These ranged from marriage courses to children’s neighborhood outreach, to a mission in Puerto Rico, which of course at the moment is overwhelmed with providing relief after hurricane Maria. It was fantastic to see Church groups make the journey from all across the country. The Coach Bus NYC churchgoers brought redefined my impression of luxury travel. I’ve never seen so many people look so refreshed after such a long journey.

I enjoyed the day, and it gave me the opportunity, on a small one-on-one scale, to get used to talking to people about what it is we do at FaithSearch, and how I will be involved going forward. It was also nice to talk to people about Operation Armor and why I am called to follow this ministry. It was also a real boost to my confidence to see how natural I found it talking to people about it. Some were familiar with FaithSearch and these conversations gave me a opportunity to discuss with them what my role is and where I see God leading me. Those who are new to hearing about FaithSearch of course are the ones we are most keen to engage. These conversations seemed to go very well, so we trust God for those planted seeds.

Throughout the morning and afternoon there were choices of seminars you could attend depending on what path you want to take at the Expo. There were talks aimed at reaching adults, children, youth, and evangelicalism. In the morning session, Don and Joe lead a panel discussion which I had a chance to pop in and out of.

All in all it was a fun day.