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In some ways doing missional work in KM is a lot like doing missional work in Fort St. John. Let me spell it out for you:
1. 1. Most people have heard about Jesus - albeit through a very religious system (Russian Orthodox). So they think they understand religion, but they don't know the real person of Jesus.
2. 2. Aggressive pushing of religious ideas is a good way to push people away.
3. 3. Bringing the life of God to the community really has to start (and I'd make a case that it ends as well) with relationship and a new approach to "evangelizing" - what we call Acts of Kindness.
So most of our "work" here has been simply loving the community through acts of kindness.
Today was a day off for us, so we decided to take in the bustling sea-side city of Sevastopol. The highlight was definitely swimming in the Black Sea. We chose a quiet spot right near the Crimea War Monument, swimming out to it and climbing on it. It was awesome, until someone told us later that the Crimeans considered it sacred ground. Suddenly we understood why no one was swimming there (all the other swimming places were jammed with people). Ignorance is bliss, eh?
On our return after a day of site-seeing and busy markets, we find that Maxim has set up (air toy and all) a mini PITP! And it's obvious he has really caught the spirit of this kind of ministry. We marvel that he pulled it off with no help from us! With the small exception that the sound wasn't working, so we helped him with that. It's kinda funny - he plugs in the cords but with a complete random pattern and it never works. We'll have to work on that before we go, maybe draw a diagram.
I had a great conversation with a key young person tonight and we are working on the idea of starting a youth group. She is keen and it looks like we will try to pull a few kids around a campfire tomorrow night to talk more about it. I think these kind of conversations will be super key to the remainder of our time here, leaving them with something they can carry on with. I have opened an account with the Ukrainian version of Facebook as well (Contakt) so we will be able to dialogue with the youth here.
Sara just finished a 45 min conversation with our hostess. Zeena doesn't speak a lick of English, and I marvel at Sara's ability to navigate the language using only her little dictionary. I come in on the conversation for a bit, and after a few moments tell Zeena (in Russian) that she is a great "Ooleesta" of the Russian language. She gives me an uncomprehending face. I realize I just called her a great STREET, not a great TEACHER, which is "oocheetilneetsa". Close, but no cigar. We all have a good laugh once we figure out where we went wrong!
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