I love Christmas decorations, but each year put up less and less. Sadly, I live by the cliché, What goes up must come down. I do have one new ornament to store, thanks to my friend, Cathy.
Cathy and I met almost 28 years ago. We were poles apart – she was an urbanite from the largest metro area of Arizona. and I had lived most of my life in rural Oklahoma. We spent about three weeks together on a teaching trip to two cities north of the Arctic Circle in Russia near its border with Finland.
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| Cathy lugging her gift from her first interpreter. Her interpreter called the antlers "deer ankles" This was cropped from our group photo before we headed to the airport in Moscow to depart from Russia. for London. |
Ironically, we served in different
sections of the educational convocation. Cathy taught in the secondary school
track while I instructed elementary Russian teachers. Cathy and I, along with our American team
members, did our presentations through Russian interpreters fluent in English.
We got acquainted over meals, on
bus trips, during in-country flights, and while waiting for those flights.
Cathy and her husband planned to go as international missionaries soon after our
return to the United States. However, when the mission organization perused
their resumes, the best fit for Cathy and Rick’s skills and talents found them assigned
stateside to prepare perspective missionaries, conduct in-country training in
Europe, facilitate counseling sessions, and caregiving to the many missionaries
in their organization, Greater Europe Mission.
Cathy’s handcrafted ornament
arrived in mid-December with a meaningful note. This wreath ornament had been
created especially by Anna at Cathy’s request. Most of 2022, Anna and her
daughter and son had been displaced from their home in Ukraine while her
husband, Sergiy, remained in Ukraine fighting with the country’s valiant forces.
Cathy met Anna while in the Czech
Republic in Prague during an outreach to Ukrainian women. Anna and her children
had been invited to live in a home provided by GEM missionaries who had served
previously in Ukraine. God providentially had afforded the missionary couple a
keen understanding of the life in Ukraine and good Ukrainian language skills.
Upon their meeting, Anna showed a sampling of her handcrafts. Cathy liked the wreath and requested Anna make more wreaths for her. Anna worked “night and day” making Cathy’s order. The order equaled a three months’ salary. Anna was pleased she could contribute to living expenses since she had been the only member of the household in Prague who did not have a job.
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| Anna's Little Wreath Now Reminds Me of God's Abiding Presence in My Own Life. |
Sergiy expressed his thanks with
these words written to Cathy and her GEM fellow missionaries, “…Our Ukrainian
money has depreciated more than 60%. As a father, it is very pleasant to see my
children happy and now it is possible only thanks to those who are helping us
and the love of our Lord Jesus Christ… May our Almighty Father bless you…” He
seemed to recognize even though he was separated from his beloved wife and
children, all four of them remained in the presence of the Lord they trusted.
Almost 3,000 years ago, David
prayed, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your
presence?” In his Psalm 139 prayer, David recognized the ever-abiding presence
of the Lord with those who belong to the Lord, no matter where they found themselves.
As
Moses led the Jewish contingency to freedom from the slavery in Egypt over
4,500 years ago, he prayed in Exodus 33:12-13. God responded in verse 14 with My
Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
As I touched the little wreath created by Anna, I thought of all the hardships and separations she and her family have experienced along with their fellow Ukrainians. I hope we Americans can hold their country and its precious citizens close to our hearts and pray for them. May we pray that these brave Ukrainians continue to recognize the presence of the Lord, the One whom so many of them trust.
What a surprise to read your blog and see the picture of us from decades ago! So thankful God has allowed our lives to stay connected. Hope to see you when we come through OK in February!
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