The up-sides of 40...

So, I woke up this morning another year older.  No big deal.  Just another day, right?  Yeah, sure...until you say it out loud..."I'm 40!"  Wow!  That kind of stings a little.  However, I am determined to make my 40th year a banner year and to do and see things that I have never done before.  Pretty easy considering that I live in Russia, but none the less...

Now by nature I am a pretty optimistic guy, so I thought I would try to take an optimistic view as I enter my fourth decade.  One of the best things about turning 40 is that I am the last one in the club.  Among our friends I have always been the youngest.  I am younger than Kellye, Cathy, Kay, Mike, Teressa, Neil, Robert, and Larry (ok, only by a couple of weeks, but it still counts).  So, while this worked to my disadvantage (and I took quite a bit of teasing about it) 20 years ago, I can spend the rest of my life knowing they reach the great landmarks of time before me!  

It is tradition for Russian men not to celebrate their 40th birthdays.  When I asked why, I got a vague explanation about something about Moses and him being 40 but they were not really sure of the reason.  I have chosen to embrace the day, but I also decided this morning that I would do a Biblical search for the phrase 40 years.  I mean, 40 is one of "God's numbers", right?  That would imply that there was some pretty good stuff happening when you turn 40.  Here is what I found:

- Isaac married Rebekah at the age of 40 (Gen 25:20) and Esau married Judith when he was 40 (Gen 26:34)  Those are both pretty good.  I am glad that I found my wonderful bride 20 years earlier and didn't have to wait until I was 40.  But getting a good wife is certainly worth waiting 40 years.

- The books of Exodus and Numbers provide no comfort.  They are filled with references to the Children of Israel suffering for 40 years.  I think I will pass on that one if God doesn't mind.

- Deuteronmy 2:7 is a good one.  It says, "These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything."  That is certainly true.  My family is a living testament that God has been with me and has blessed me.  Of course, this verse refers to the 40 years of suffering in the desert, but it is good to know that even in the midst of suffering that God is with us and provides for our needs.  In other verses the Old Testament talks about the children of Israel not even needing new clothes or shoes.  Considering I have already gone through one pair of shoes since we moved here that would not be too bad either.

- Joshua was 40 years old when Moses sent him out to explore the promised land.  (Joshua 14:7) Like Joshua  I feel like the important part of my life is just beginning.  Everything I have done before now has just been training for the mission God has given me in Russia.  Sure, I get homesick and there are days I would rather do anything but speak Russian.  However, I can tell you that most days I feel more comfortable here and with what God has called us to do than anything I ever did in the States.  He has gifted me with a wonderful and Godly wife who stands by my side and encourages me every step along the way.  It is exciting to look back over the past 40 years and see how God has used my different experiences (both good and bad) to shape me into the man I am today and to prepare me for what lies ahead.  I am sure that Joshua felt excited as he crossed that first ridge into the promised land.  I can relate to that and am glad that he did not send me when I was younger.

- Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, was 40 when he became king of Israel.  (2 Samuel 2:10) Now that is a pretty good gig.  He only reigned two years though and kings usually lost their thrones by winding up dead, so there might be a few drawbacks there.

- In Acts 4:22 we read of a man who was 40 years old when he was healed by Peter and John.  Not a bad birthday present.

- It was at age 40 when Moses left the palace of Pharaoh to visit his fellow Israelites and witnessed their suffering.  (Acts 7)  Just before I left for training I found that part of my family immigrated to America from Ufa, Russia.  While I would certainly not presume to compare myself with Moses, I think I understand a little bit how he felt when he left his place of privilege at age 40 to see his kinsmen.  I am inexplicably drawn to Russia and her people.  Even on the worst of days I love them.  Perhaps because in some way their history is my history.  Regardless of the reason, I am always a little awed that God would wait until Moses was 40 to start using him for His purposes.  I hope that in God's timeline I am coming to an age where I can be used by him more and more.

So, on my 40th birthday I choose to celebrate.  I choose to celebrate that God has redeemed a worthless life and allowed me to live this long.  I choose to celebrate the wife with whom He as gifted me.  I choose to celebrate the family He has surrounded me with.  And I choose to celebrate that no matter how old I am, I am still younger than my friends!!

Recovering from RamCorps

We have had a great week ministering with the students from the University of Mobile. Their group, RamCorps, spent last week in Moscow playing one or two concerts each day in various locations around the city. While the concerts were certainly great, the students quickly came to understand that their purpose was less about the music and more about making connections with the Russian people they got to meet along the way. As a result, we already have seen three new people join our English club this week and have deepened relationships with people who were already familiar with our cultural exchange work.

As you can imagine, we are exhausted. So today our schedule is clear and although there are many things to be done, not the least of which is housework, we have dedicated the day to resting and getting our bodies back on schedule. I plan to write more about the RamCorps visit in the days to come, but in the meantime here is a brief video from their week in Moscow.

Blessings,
Marc

PHOTO ESSAY - Victory Day 2008

On Friday, May 9, Russians celebrated their victory over Hitler (or Gitler, as they pronounce it) and the Nazis in World War II. That afternoon I went to Парк Победа (Victory Park) where millions gathered for concerts and to celebrate and honor veterans of WWII. Here are some images...

This is a victory gate located just outside of the park. It commemorates the Russia's victory over Napoleon.

The park entrance. The sign says "Victory!"

This emblem was at the top of a long column near the entrance to the park. Notice the letters CCCP (or USSR). Russians continue to use these initials on Victory Day because it was the Soviet Army that defeated the Germans, and not just soldiers from Russia.


One of the many veterans that donned their old uniforms and medals so that they could be honored.


Notice the flowers in this soldier's hand. It is customary to present the veterans with a long-stemmed carnation.


Their were flags everywhere. The wind was blowing this one backwards, but if you put it up to a mirror it spells "Russia"


To me, this is what a Russian WWII veteran should look like.

Many of the millions of people were carrying Russian and Soviet flags.



I was surprised at how many female WWII veterans were at the park proudly displaying their medals.


Veterans and babies...could you stage better photo-ops?


I love this monument. It is to memorialize the cooperation Russia received from other countries in fighting the Nazis. The two soldiers on the left are Soviet, the right-center soldier is an American and the soldier on the right is British. On Monday in Red Square we met a Veteran Soviet General who told us we should remind our folks back home that "Americans and Russians fought shoulder-to-shoulder to save the world."

And finally, this is me with my Russian Federation flag (that is now in my bedroom) in front of one of the monuments.

I almost ran away from home this morning...

After struggling with, and then giving up on, my homework this morning I wanted to run away from home.  After all, how easy would it be to go to out to the store and then disappear into the sea of millions that inhabit Moscow.  But then I remembered that I hadn't brought my Russian Language notebooks to the store with me and without them I would not be able to tell people to put things down, to lie things down, or to hang things up.  And, to make matters worse, I haven't yet learned how to pick things up.

So...

I came home.