The woods are lovely, dark and deep

I cannot describe to you the pull on my heart that Russia has. I barely understand it myself--I've never dreamed of traveling to another country (except for maybe Ireland or Eygpt in my daydreams of perfect anniversary trips with my equally perfect and imaginary husband).

But somehow, I read about Russia in Operation World, and I sense this deeply beautiful, yet deeply wounded and despairing country. The abuse of political power, the prevalence of alcoholism and addiction show my heart a picture of a people crying out in despair, searching for something, anything to make the darkness stop its invasion. It is a country in agony and frustration. It is a cry that my heart longs to give ear to, to come alongside, to comfort. I know that my own fear of leaving my safe world of chemicals and textbooks, of immersing myself in a another culture, of being found lacking prevents my whole body and mind from understanding this pull; I know I'm digging my heels into the ground, but the swelling of my heart that registers just below an ache is undeniable.

One Heart is Enough

The One I know, who sought solace on mountaintops, who healed lepers and looked into the eyes of a Samaritan woman, who was betrayed by his best friends to death on a cross, doesn't just care about the unreached people groups in Indonesia or the aids orphans in Africa. He also desperately cares for the hearts left damaged by infrastructures our fellow human beings have made, and they exist here in America, but they also exist in Russia. For this reason, I want to teach in Russia, to see that damage, and to do what I can to bring a little hope to that country. I may only impact one student, but that is still one student, one heart impacted. My G*d became flesh and dwelled among us and died a criminal’s death on tree to win my heart. One heart was enough for him. One heart is enough for me.