By Ed Hembree
(Ed, Assistant European Director, and his wife Carole are veteran BIMI missionaries in Romania)

When I received an invitation from the Holladays to join them for a mission trip to Russia, I was thrilled to accept. As I prepared for the trip (obtaining the visa from the Russian Embassy in Bucharest, etc.), I reviewed my memories as a youth during the “cold war” days. I thought of the distrust, mutual hostility, and even threat of nuclear annihilation that was so much a part of my history with the Soviet Union. I remember as a young boy being terrified at the prospect of all-out war with Russia.

Now I would be going there on a mission trip to visit American missionaries who are planting churches, evangelizing the lost, and discipling the converts. What an opportunity! I really didn’t know what to expect. My experience in other East European countries had given me an idea of what to expect; however, I knew that even sixteen years in Romania would not really prepare me for the reality of Russia.

When my plane landed in Moscow on March 28th, it was almost surreal. I couldn’t believe that I was actually there! Missionary Don Ossewaarde met me at the airport and was so very gracious through our time with him and his dear family. While waiting for the rest of the team to arrive, Don took me into the center of Moscow to Red Square, St. Basils and the Kremlin. I stood on the very spot I used to watch on TV as the missile launchers and columns of goose-stepping Soviet soldiers passed in review before Soviet leaders.

And I saw PEOPLE. Thousands and thousands of PEOPLE. Over 8 million people in Moscow alone. As we traveled on bus then train then subway, I watched the masses of Muscovites coming and going. I saw in their faces what I have seen in so many other places: worry, sadness, tiredness, but so little happiness. As we ended our first excursion, I was already moved. My eye had affected my heart.

When the rest of our group arrived, we traveled by train to Oryol, about six hours south of Moscow. It was refreshing to be with the Ossewaarde family and the people in their church. Their smiles and happiness reminded me of what a difference knowing the Lord makes! After spending the weekend with the Ossewaarde family, we toured Moscow the next day and caught our flight for the next stage of our journey – Siberia!

Now, if I thought I would never visit Moscow, then you can imagine my thoughts about actually going to Siberia. The very name “Siberia” conjures up images of gulags, work camps, Dr. Zhivago and COLD!

Thankfully, we have our BIMI missionary families Sterling, Winkler and Hearron in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, who met us and cared for us. All their ministries are quite small, with two just getting started. It seems a particularly difficult place but if God called missionaries there, then there must be those who will respond to the gospel.

As we listened to the missionaries tell of their work and challenges, it again occurred to me how blessed I am to BE a missionary. There are few other jobs where you can daily see the Lord show Himself strong on your behalf. In my opinion, for success on the mission field, one must know the specific call of God, determine to do God’s will no matter what, and then realize that through faith, hard work and prayer, no place is fruitless.

We enjoyed seeing the city of Krasnoyarsk (almost a million people), the surrounding villages (surprisingly even poorer than those in Romania), and the beautiful birch forests of the region. It was a blessing to visit with each family, see their children, and listen to their burden for the Russian people. I came away with a profound burden to be more faithful in prayer for those in difficult places.

As my plane took off from Moscow, my mind was almost overwhelmed with what I had experienced. Russia is such a vast country with a multitude of people, the vast majority of whom have never read a Bible, much less heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached. I thought of the unbelievable miracle of the door that is now open, and our little number of faithful missionaries doing their best for their Savior. And then I thought – Who will love these Russian people enough to give their lives so that they might be saved? Perhaps you?