Russell Media - Laurie

There is one more story I’d like to share as I end the series on life lessons learned while living overseas. It’s another one from Russia but it’s a special one engrained in my heart.

The Russian town I lived in was small by Russian standards, only about 100,000 people. There was one small and very old hospital. The previous year I had an emergency appendectomy there and soon realized there is not much to do during the day. No televisions, no food service, nothing – just some radios that didn’t work that well. Visitors were greatly treasured.

A teammate and I began weekly visits with the patients in the women’s ward. The women on this ward were in the hospital for 4 weeks. Needless to say they were eager to talk with anyone who walked through the door.

At this time, the majority of Bibles available were written in an old Russian translation that was hard for many to understand. Our organization sent us with copies of a version of the New Testament written in modern Russian. My teammate and I brought these Bibles with us as we visited the women and gave them out. Most were desperate for something new to read and they eagerly took one.

The hospital rooms usually housed 8 to 10 people.  The first week we’d mainly introduce ourselves, get to know the women, talk for a bit and then move to the next room. The second and following weeks most had read the New Testament and would load us with questions. As the weeks progressed some talked about God and others were more interested in learning about America. The women knew we always came on Wednesday and would wait for us.

One week as we entered a room and a woman began talking away frantically. We had met her the previous week. Our interpreter told us she was concerned because a fellow patient had been moved to another ward. This friend of hers had questions for us. She asked if we’d go with her to look for her friend.

We only had permission to work on the women’s ward but she was persistent so we followed her. Up and down the floors we went, peaking our heads into each room. They were all filled with men. “Maybe she went home,” she told us.

There was one room we had yet to try. We knocked lightly and walked inside. Only two beds were in this room. A woman in one of the beds looks at our hands, “What’s that? What do you have?”

“It’s part of the Bible, the New Testament. We are here visiting patients and giving them to anyone who’d like one.”

The woman began sobbing and speaking dramatically. Was she angry? Was she happy? It was hard to tell. Our interpreter and the woman were deep in conversation. Have we done something wrong or offensive to her?

A few minutes later our interpreter walked back over to us. “This is Oksana. For many years she was part of the underground church. She prayed and prayed to God for many years that He would send her someone - someone to answer her questions. More than that – she asked for a Bible she could own. Today she says God has answered her prayers.”

We were speechless. I felt inadequate. Before me was a woman of God who had endured hardship and persecution. She risked everything to meet with others to learn, know and worship God.

What impressed me even more about her was the persistence in her prayers and belief. Would I have been as faithful as her? Many times when my prayers seem to go unanswered I throw a pity party and I’m filled with doubt. “God has forgotten me. Does He really hear all of our prayers?”

Not this Oksana. She prayed, believed and waited upon the Lord. Fifty years later God hand-delivered her a Bible and she immediately credited Him. She didn’t question the wait – only celebrated the answered prayer. It was a beautiful thing to see.

The Bible tells us to pray continually (I Thes. 5:17). By doing so we’re given wisdom and endurance. When God’s answer to our prayer walks through the door, we know immediately it is from Him and are able to celebrate freely.

So my friends, life is short and so why waste it in pity and doubt. Pray continually, listen to God wholeheartedly and wait patiently. It’s only a matter of time before you receive His gift.

Do you ever weary when your prayers seem to go unanswered?

Any verses or promises you lean on to help you endure?