"and weep with them that weep." Romans 12:15

Please forgive such a lengthy post but it is a story of  a special opportunity the Lord recently gave us in our ministry here. We pray it is a blessing for you to read.

David and I moved our family out to the village almost six years ago now. Almost immediately everyone began talking about the new Americans who had "moved in". We were so excited to be able to live in a house with next door neighbors with whom we could build relationships. One elderly lady, "Baba (Russian for Grandma) Vara" who lived two houses away from us on our street came right away to meet our family. Right away she wanted to take the kids to her house for a visit. She wanted to give them treats or fruit to be kind. She even left some fresh baked sweet rolls and candy tied to our door on our first New Year's morning in the village. Over the years we have lived in the village, we have developed great relationships with our neighbors. We look out for each other's children and help each other in any way we can. It wasn't long before our daughter Rebekah became a frequent guest at Baba Vara's house. 

Baba Vara walking hand in hand with Ryan while Beka runs along to her house.

Rebekah soon learned that Baba Vara had never learned to read. In an effort to try to witness to her, Beka would come over for a visit to share the Bible story we had learned in Sunday school each week.

Rebekah with Baba Vara

Ryan watching "Grandpa Gleb" cut grass in our lower field to feed his animals.

We invited Baba Vara and her husband to church services many times. Beka continued to witness to both of them even though the Grandpa was practically deaf. She gave them a Bible and tracts and prayed for their salvation faithfully. It always concerned Beka that with the Grandpa being so hard of hearing if he was truly hearing her as she retold the Bible story each week. We continued to pray for the both of them and visit them often. One time when Baba Vara had been sick, Rebekah and I both went over to try to share the Gospel with her again and show her from the Bible how to be saved. Baba Vara listened intently to every verse. However, she simply stated that she would pray "that way" and since she was already very religious, it was obvious that she didn't fully understand her need for salvation. 

Approximately one month ago, as Baba Vara and I met outside to chat a bit, she shared with me that her husband was sick and in the hospital. She fought back tears as she described how the doctors could not lower his blood pressure which had risen even higher since his admission. Within a few weeks, the doctors told the family there was nothing they could do for him and that they would just release him to home.  They were able to find out that he had a stroke and although he had lived past the critical point, he was paralyzed on one side and now bedridden. Baba Vara let me know when the family planned on bringing him home. One of the many things I often thank the Lord for is my Nursing degree. I can't tell you how many times it has allowed me to help people here on the mission field. This time was no exception. Baba Vara knows I am a nurse and she wanted me to come and visit after he was brought home for her to care for him.  There is Hospice available here but people out in the villages don't know about it or even consider it as an option. Baba Vara just wanted to care for him as best she could for what she knew would more than likely be his last days. 

The first day he was at home, I went over for a visit to check on his condition. As I began talking to Baba Vara and her daughter who had stayed with him in the hospital for nearly three weeks, they began to weep. They shared how helpless they now felt with no one to call for in case he needed something. They told me that the doctor released him and told them she would call them, in a week, to check on him. It was sad to feel their anxiety in now feeling fully responsible for his care. I promised to return two times a day to check on them and offer any help I could in caring for him. So, I did just that. I had to go home and gently explain to our daughter, Rebekah, that "Grandpa" was not doing well at all and may not be with us much longer. She cried as she so prayed for years that he would be saved. I promised her that if I had another chance to witness to him that I would. 

A few days later, Baba Vara's daughter had left to run some errands for the day. I made sure to visit even more frequently since Baba Vara would be alone to care for her husband. During my visit she told me how he had opened his eyes a little that day but his arm that he had been moving a bit, he had not moved it at all since morning. As we went into the kitchen to talk a bit after making sure he was comfortable, she began to tell me that since his eyes were open she tried to talk to him a bit. She said she asked him if he was going to leave her all alone, as she began to weep. We cried a bit together and then she mentioned that it must be written in the Bible that only God knows when each person's life on earth is over. I reminded her again of our conversation about how we must all be ready to meet God because she was right, we don't know when our last day on earth will be. As I was talking to her she said, "I need to talk to 'Grandpa' that way." I offered to do it for her if she would allow me to. She agreed! So, while she worked in the kitchen, I went back into the room he was in and leaned over his bedside. I explained to him that it was me again and that I wanted to talk to him about something very important. I was amazed as he turned his head every so slightly towards my face. I hadn't seen him move his head on his own since he had been at home. I continued witnessing to him and told him God loved him and wanted to take him to Heaven when it was time if he would only believe in his heart in Jesus who died for his sins and rose again. "Grandpa" then opened his eyes as big as he had ever opened them since lying there in that bed, started moving his jaw like he wanted to say something, and moved the hand that hadn't moved at all that morning out of the covers! I took his hand and held it thanking God for such an amazing moment! I shared the news with Baba Vara and she said, "See, he knows you are talking about God." 

For the next two days, he slept only opening his eyes once a tiny bit. He passed away peacefully on that next Saturday, September 10th, which was also his 80th birthday (also my Dad's birthday). David and I were able to attend the funeral and we were even able to use our vehicle (a truck) to carry all of the flower arrangements from the house to the cemetery. During the meal which was after the funeral, Baba Vara especially thanked her neighbors for all their help and care, assuring everyone in the room (including her family) that she would make it alone just fine because she has such great neighbors. She even mentioned how our children, Beka and Ryan,  came over last winter to shovel snow off her driveway. Thank the Lord for the testimony we have been able to have with this family. We pray this dear man heard, understood, and truly received Christ as his personal Savior and someday we will see him again in Heaven!