Back in the U.S.A.
Chapel Roswell Russia Mission returns home safely…
While we are all home safely from Russia, I think I speak for the entire group in saying that we miss our new Russian family terribly.
As someone who’d never participated in a mission before, the experience was truly life altering. I believe we all left Russia with a completely different perspective than perhaps we were expecting when we left Roswell on the 14th. So many of our expectations and assumptions turned out to just be patently false…but because of God’s mercy and grace and his hand in this experience, we all learned a ton.
What Was Different?
On our way back to Roswell from Moscow, the mission group members were challenged to answer the question, “what was totally different about this mission and about Russia than you expected”. Here are some examples of the responses:
- ”The people were so genuine and un-jaded…you could tell that what they said, they meant. There was no pretense or holding back about spiritual things…maybe we’ve lost a bit of that in America.”
- “They’re really good at Monopoly…I thought only capitalists played Monopoly”.
- “I didn’t expect Russia to be so beautiful…both the places and the people.”
- “I expected the people to be less friendly toward Americans…I was so wrong. They were genuine, kind, loving, and welcoming.”
- “I expected more political tension…there was none. The people we met couldn’t care less about politics.”
- “We were told that the Russian’s don’t smile as much as American’s…maybe not at first…but by the end, they smiled and laughed with us non-stop.”
- “I didn’t expect them to be as open to talk about their faith. We were people they’d just met asking them to join us on this adventure we call religion and they were pouring their hearts out to us…they are regular people looking for answers just like the rest of us.”
- “The exponential amount of miraculous provision was way beyond my expectations.”
- “They don’t mind hugs…I didn’t expect that…we’re Southerners, we hug.”
- “A Russian child’s laughter touches me exactly the same way as an American child.”
Would I Go Back?
What was truly amazing for me is that these people are just trying to get through life just like we are. Many of them having come from lives of being orphaned at an early age, some of them with physical limitations…many of them just want a better life for their own children than they had. Sound familiar?
I would go back in a heartbeat. I left Roswell convinced that I would go to Ryazan to “perform for God”…that I would return having made a difference in these peoples’ lives. And, while I think we left many with a new perspective…what a blessing that it worked in reverse…they had a profound effect on us. God revealed himself in multiple ways for all of us during this trip…and we’re just so grateful for all of the support (prayer, financial and otherwise) that was offered by so many to make this trip a reality.
In concert with our Anniversary Sunday, we will be sharing much more about the trip and its outcomes…so stay tuned.
We serve an awesome God…and serving these people for the furtherance of His kingdom was truly a privilege and a blessing for us all. There’s what you hear about Russia in our news media outlets, and then there’s the reality of a one to one connection with a seeker…these people aren’t jaded by Fake News…they heard and embraced “The Good News”. ..and we were honored to serve them!
Now, on to Chick-fil-a for a chicken biscuit. We earned it!
The Roswell Mission to Russia Team!


