If Tuesday was crazy, Wednesday was insane. Steph took a day off and I trekked all over Moscow. The day started at HCA where I led worship and spoke for High School Chapel. 10 minute break then I led worship and spoke in Middle School Chapel. It is spiritual emphasis week this week, marked by multiple chapels.
As soon as the last chapel was over at HCA, Andrew took me to the metro and handed me off to an Albanian Student. In the metro (subway) we met this man previously unknown to us. This man, (my previously arranged contact) was to take me to RACU for the remainder of the mission for the day. He was to guide me through the maze of metro stops and silent people.
OK, maybe a bit dramatic, but facts are facts. I was in a metro in Moscow, with a young man who was to hand me off to an Albanian man that I had never met. This man would get me to my destination, should I accept the mission.
One and a half hours on the metro and we ended up at RACU where (at their chapel time) I led worship with their worship team and taught on worship. The teaching was with the use of an interpreter named Mia (my-ahh). Mia did a fantastic job. Working with an interpreter changes the whole communication process. My biggest challenges were speaking one sentence at a time. Stopping and letting Mia interpret, and then saying another sentence. So much for fast talking, hand motions, body language, and voice inflection. I was out of my element. However, the chapel service turned out well. We explored the way we are to worship in a worship gathering and the way we are to worship as we serve others (the overlooked and forgotten). Worship inside and outside.
In the afternoon we had tea and cake with some students. Tea is a big deal here. Kind of like coffee, except that instead of sitting around starbucks, they have tea and sit around wherever they are and have some conversation.
Pat and I ended the day with a late 90 minute commute back to the apartment. Another day in Moscow.
Above: Teaching at HCA. You know, sometimes you just have to yell and scream at students to get them to understand the tender and loving arms of Jesus.
Above: Leading worship at RACU. Not pictured is my good friend and exceptional musician Pat Black. Or, as we say here in Russia, Patrick Edwardviech (Patrick, son of Edward).
Above: Teaching at RACU with Mia (the world’s greatest interpreter).
Above: Pat, in awe of my teaching. Stunned at the depth of insight. Speechless at the content. Frozen by the truth that is gripping his soul.
Above: Patrick somewhat confused by what I was saying. His intellect struggling to comprehend the speed by which wisdom was pouring out of my teaching. It’s OK, Patrick. I sometimes feel the same way when I hear brilliant people talk.
Above: I decide to go all in. Taking the international speaking to a “ho-nutha-lebel.” I’m pouring out wisdom like a freight train out of control. I know that Patrick is about to be blown away. I am pretty sure that revival is about to rain down at any moment. I am confident that we gonna have us an old fashioned USA tent revival meeting and we are comin’ to Jesus.. In preparation, I raise my hands. Yee-haw. Things are about to get all Jesus-ie.
Above: Pat’s reaction. Not exactly what I was looking for.
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OK, seriously. It was a great chapel time and I was somehow able to make a good connection with the students. A few students even invited me to have tea and cake with them. The tea was actually in honor of Patrick. These guys just wanted to do something nice for him since he has been such a good friend to them.
Above: Makeshift table makes for a time of tea.