Wednesday, June 22, 2005
From the Field -- 2 - from Ken
From: pochta
To: Kenneth Briden
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 8:59 AM
Subject: From the Field -- 2
Greetings from where the sun shines while you sleep,
I had a few minutes with Shushanna at the sanitorium yesterday. She tries to smile, but it is a weak effort. All the life has gone from her eyes and from her posture. It has been two years since her daughter Inna was killed in that senseless terrorist train explosion. I am afraid Shushanna will never recover. Her whole life was wrapped up in Inna, and it's as if there is no hope for her;. She still rejects God. I will have a chance to visit with her in her home later when the rest of the team gets here.
Art and I visited in Maxim's home too. For those of you who don't know Maxim, he is a man of 49 who went into surgery a few years back to correct a problem with his back. When he came out of the hospital, he was a total invalid. He can sit up in the bed with support, but getting to a sitting position is pure agony. He just wanted to visit and talk about America and God, not necessarily in that order. He is holding on to his faith through extremely difficult circumstances. I hope that we were able to answer some of his questions and that he was comforted by our visit. He always looks forward to the Americans coming. The screen saver on his computer is a picture of the American flag waving above the White House. I told him I felt like standing a saluting his computer. Not necessarily good humor, but Maxim enjoyed the thought.
We also visited with Tanya today. Again, for those of you who are new to the Russian ministry, Tanya has had many problems in her life. She is unable to walk or move. She loves to talk, though, although she is extremely hard to understand. Luba is exhausted by the time we leave her place. She lost her adopted mother and caretaker two years ago. Tanya is extrememly blessed to have two former classmates look after her. Both of their names happen to be Tanya. So that household is known as Tanya Bolshoye (Big Tanya), Tanya Malinki (Little Tanya) and Nasha Tanya (Our Tanya). Those ladies, all in their late 40's, are quite a sight. We talked and had a little time in the Word. We laughed some. We cried some. We prayed some. I think they all felt comforted when we left, although Our Tanya is somewhat distressed that this is going to be my last time in Kislovodsk. More tears.
Much more has happened, but there is not enough time or energy left to relay it all. As for myself: Health and spirits are high. Energy is low. In other words, not much different from being in the States.
I send my love from old Mother Russia,
Ken Garlandovich
To: Kenneth Briden
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 8:59 AM
Subject: From the Field -- 2
Greetings from where the sun shines while you sleep,
I had a few minutes with Shushanna at the sanitorium yesterday. She tries to smile, but it is a weak effort. All the life has gone from her eyes and from her posture. It has been two years since her daughter Inna was killed in that senseless terrorist train explosion. I am afraid Shushanna will never recover. Her whole life was wrapped up in Inna, and it's as if there is no hope for her;. She still rejects God. I will have a chance to visit with her in her home later when the rest of the team gets here.
Art and I visited in Maxim's home too. For those of you who don't know Maxim, he is a man of 49 who went into surgery a few years back to correct a problem with his back. When he came out of the hospital, he was a total invalid. He can sit up in the bed with support, but getting to a sitting position is pure agony. He just wanted to visit and talk about America and God, not necessarily in that order. He is holding on to his faith through extremely difficult circumstances. I hope that we were able to answer some of his questions and that he was comforted by our visit. He always looks forward to the Americans coming. The screen saver on his computer is a picture of the American flag waving above the White House. I told him I felt like standing a saluting his computer. Not necessarily good humor, but Maxim enjoyed the thought.
We also visited with Tanya today. Again, for those of you who are new to the Russian ministry, Tanya has had many problems in her life. She is unable to walk or move. She loves to talk, though, although she is extremely hard to understand. Luba is exhausted by the time we leave her place. She lost her adopted mother and caretaker two years ago. Tanya is extrememly blessed to have two former classmates look after her. Both of their names happen to be Tanya. So that household is known as Tanya Bolshoye (Big Tanya), Tanya Malinki (Little Tanya) and Nasha Tanya (Our Tanya). Those ladies, all in their late 40's, are quite a sight. We talked and had a little time in the Word. We laughed some. We cried some. We prayed some. I think they all felt comforted when we left, although Our Tanya is somewhat distressed that this is going to be my last time in Kislovodsk. More tears.
Much more has happened, but there is not enough time or energy left to relay it all. As for myself: Health and spirits are high. Energy is low. In other words, not much different from being in the States.
I send my love from old Mother Russia,
Ken Garlandovich
