Tuesday, July 26th, 2011 – To bed at Midnight and up at 2am. Our van was at the Hostel at 2:30am. After saying goodbye and thanking Drew we were off. I was really impressed with the team. I asked them to be up and have all things totally ready to go and all bags downstairs by 2:20am. They were perfect!! Great group, especially being so young. I was replying to some texts from home and I realized it was 3pm on Monday in Seattle and we wouldn’t be home until 11am on Tuesday. 10pm Moscow time. It was going to be a long July 26th. We all checked in and then said our goodbye’s to Marina and Bab’s. We are all so fortunate to have them in our lives. They are wonderful young Christian people. They have traveled with us most of the time the last 3 years. Our friendship has grown immensely. We will miss them so much. They are great examples of how God wants us to show His love to others. May God always bless them! Were just about to board our flight to Frankfurt. We scored 6 choice bulkhead seats all the way across. Thank you Lord! Logan and I had a nice breakfast as all the rest slept the entire 3 hour flight. Logan went to bed last night and had 3 hours sleep and I had two while the rest decided to say awake until we departed. It really shows today! We arrived in Germany early so we made our connection just fine. For being in a secure facility its strange that they make you go through all of security again. We checked for our gates and Another thank you God was when Emily’s flight to Newark was at gate A60 and Seattle’s was A61. Very cool! We said our goodbye’s to Emily who was so wonderful to have served with. A very awesome and spiritual young women. She went with me on at least two evangelistic events of just meeting, greeting, visiting, and inviting. It was fun talking with her and it was also really awesome to get to know her better. With great love and affection we all called her “Knoxville” We will miss Her dearly. We need to get Her out to Seattle very soon for a visit. I already miss her as does the rest of the team. We took our parting photo, hugged with a few tears and then boarded our flight. I’m writing about 5 hours into our 10 hour flight on Lufthansa #490. Were over Greenland as I type this last blog post on my Blackberry . All is well as we were just served lunch and everyone is happy and watching movies on their own personal entertainment system. What a great way to end a trip. We look forward to seeing our Families in a few hours. Thank you Lord for another wonderful time of serving you. AMEN
*Epiloge – First I want to thank my Wife Peggy for Her dedication to many years of service in Russia. And taking care of things at home when I’m going it alone without Her. Which is very tough for me. Without Her love for God, Russia, and me it wouldn’t be possible.
* I would also like to mention a few first time people who I worked along side of this year;
Drew Campbell – A fellow Elder and friend who served in a wonderful way. I just love being around Him and his spirit. A great person to have around kids as he builds true relationships with them. A hard worker and loves to show the love of Christ to others. I’m proud and honored to call him my friend.
Logan DeVries – Chaise’s little brother. One of the few Americans I’ve ever seen in their first year not seeking security in being around other Americans. And he’s only 14. I would watch him chasing and sometimes being chased by Russian children all over the camp non stop. A great sense of humor and pulled no punches in trying every Russian food in front of him. He readily admits he needs american food, soon. He just told me that he couldn’t have ever been prepared for how different life is in Russia compared to the USA.
Joy Lintelmann – I’ve known Joy since she was 7. Now 17 she still has the bright smile and infectious laugh she always has. She’s always a pleasure to be around. She served well, adapted to the new culture, and rolled with the punches as good as anyone. She is a huge asset to have on a trip like this.
Maddy Colson – Of everyone on the trip, I have known her the shortest period of time. I wondered how it would work. She’s a very flexible, front of the line type of person. I loved having her with us. She would jump right in and help without me saying anything to her most of the time. A very hard worker and a great but very different sense of humor. I for one Loved it. When I would be up front leading the group she would always be right there next to me. I will totally miss her saying “REALLY?” Like only a 14 year old teen age girl can! What a wonderful servant to have on this trip.
*For some of the others and or veterans on this trip, some of them I didn’t see or work with much. The ones I did, I wrote about most of them in last years blog and still feel the same way about them after this trip. The 2010 blog address is: richlongblog.wordpress.com
I praise God for using us in His perfect plan again this year, 2011, our 12th year serving in SW Russia. I pray for the Russian people young and old that they can learn from each other. And always to follow Jesus and his way’s in all things. God bless you the reader! I pray my writings have motivated and inspired you to keep your relationship with God almighty strong and growing in you and showing it to others. Also in finding your God given gift and using it to serve! Well 22 days have now passed. Its been fun having you along for the ride. Until next time, Das Va Danya!
Richard Long
Rlong@lifewayconnect.com
