Well, we’re back. The Summer Camp Team has been away at the remote campsite on Sim River since July 4th and returned yesterday July 17th. I’ve been gone a week on my trip seeing as many pastors and churches as possible with Pastor Zhuck. We’ve been away from our home base for a while and needed some relaxation.
We have spent this Saturday catching up on sleep, junk food or ice cream, and relationships. The Usmanovas, Emiliya and Indira’s parents, invited us over for brunch. Stephen was right with his comment; Momma Usmanova could open up a gourmet restaurant. Then after a lot of discussion we went shopping at Kenny’s Mall. It’s not really his, but he had been there and wanted to return. We made a few purchases and decided to go home for the pizza party tonight. Yes, Natalia from Moldova has invited the team over for pizza. We met her at camp. She was another English speaker who was here for the summer on a Missions trip like us. They are looking forward to getting together with everyone. I have to stay back to study for tomorrow. Pastor Zhuck gave me some direction about what he would like for tomorrow. He’s learning that Americans don’t do well at the last minute. They may have other plans for their messages. I have the privilege to take part in the blessing of those who will be baptized tomorrow. This will require some preparation, and frankly I’ve had enough parties and being a guest for now.
I would like to finish this edition of this report by summarizing what we have done this past week. I am going to let the young people tell you about their time at camp. I would like to tell you about one event that they will report in more detail later. Every year government officials visually inspect the camp to check on the safety and welfare of the children. They are to search for violations of the law. (I saw no violations when I was visiting camp on two occasions for a total of three days.) This year the inspectors came twice. The first day, they found nothing wrong. They were sent back the second day and were told to stay until they found evidence against the Camp. Ken was interviewed as the Team leader about our involvement in the camp program. (He did a great job by the way.) The team got together to pray about this. They saw God answer prayer. As the evening worship time began the inspectors were there, and then they were gone. God is mighty and powerful. We are all praising the Lord or in Russian slava boga! I was traveling in southern Bashkortostan during all of this. Nataliya Slobodyan kept Pastor Zhuck informed during the whole process. He would keep telling me what was happening. Once during all of this Pastor Zhuck allowed me to speak with Ken about the team’s attitude during all of this. He kept praising God over the phone about their answered prayers. It was comforting to me to watch spiritual growth in the Team’s faith. It was a faith building experience.
It was great for me to visit pastors and their churches. I took pictures of them and their buildings for our Prayer Partner Booklet which is out of date. I was entertained and fed so much. Pastor Zhuck and I couldn’t eat everything they put in front of us. It was hot this week, and we traveled in a car that lacked air conditioning. The humidity was quite high for the temperature. We finally asked them not to serve hot tea and hot soup. I hope we didn’t offend the cooks. I think Pastor Piotr smoothed the way concerning this. I traveled 2500 kilometers or 1553 miles visiting over 20 pastors and missionaries. I saw a beautiful countryside. Small and large farm operations are in full swing. Villages have small animal operations of cows, horses, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, geese, etc. There were also large herds of cows for dairies. I saw many fields of grain—wheat, corn, barley, rye, oats, and buckwheat. Sugar beets and sunflowers round out the crops. We drove through rolling hills, over rivers, and through beautiful forests. Pastor Zhuck and I along with Ivan our translator who pastors the church in Octabrysyia encouraged the pastors and their wives. We saw how they lived, heard their aspirations for their congregations, and empathized with their setbacks in ministry. It is a great privilege to be allowed to join the head of the Baptist Union of Bashkortostan as he visits his churches. I trust that we were successful in our encouragement and exhortation. May God use it as we evaluate what is next for the Coalition as we partner with our brothers here.
I must close for now. My dinner is waiting and I must prepare my heart for ministry tomorrow. Keep praying for us. We are thankful for our time to serve God here but are looking forward to coming home.
Submitted by Bud Haskell
Northern California Coalition Leader
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