Kaluga (update from Dave's Mom)
I am glad to be the one to write this update to all of you. Dave has been tremendously busy and when not busy his head is too full to stop and think things through enough to write it all out. Dave, Rayma and Sarah are moving at a fast pace this summer – I’m sure it is at times flying by for them, and at other times they’re so eager to get to Perm that the days seem to drag by.
As I think of Dave at these concerts, I can see him in my mind’s eye. Take a break and think with me … he’s in Kaluga and all is ready. He’s been running around getting the sound set up, answering questions, giving instructions, all in a mad race against the clock. But now, just before the concert starts, he’s standing on stage off to one side, guitar in hand. He watches the Russian young people come through the door of the large auditorium, gather with friends to chat and laugh, and find their seats. There are at least 200, probably 50 more. It’s the last night of the concerts.
As he stands there watching the place fill up fast … his mind is racing even faster. Will the sound system hold? He wonders. Will it sound good? Will it carry their message well? I can see him glance down at his guitar. It looks so comfortable and familiar in his hands and my own mind takes off down a rabbit trail of its own. How many years has he held a guitar in front of a group of people? I remember when he taught himself how to play. It’s got to be a decade.
But then I see him begin to strum with one hand and move his fingers easily across the frets with the other. I can’t help wondering, will the strings hold? Will he have to quickly change guitars in the middle of a song? He looks up again at the crowd. He told me they’d passed out hundreds of flyer invitations and were always ready to follow-up with those who came with questions. There would be no altar call, but they’d use a questionnaire to get a dialogue started and pose questions that cried out for answers. Then they’d get them introduced to the Calvary Church there in Kaluga.
In this image of mine, I can see Dave bow his head to pray.
The other musicians take their places. The room though filled with noise and confusion, in just a few moments would erupt with the clash of symbols and the beat of their drums. The speakers would shout, “Come … come and listen … come and laugh … come to hear what we have to say!”
Watching Dave in my mind, I imagine the noisy crowd and wonder, How many would be interested in what the team had to say? How many would listen? How many would seek answers. How many lives would be changed? But it’s time. Dave lifts his head, puts that smile on his face and grabs hold of the mike … and for us; it’s back to reality and out of imaginings.
Wow, what an experience Kaluga must have been!!! According to Dave, the 1st night was meager and a bit disappointing. The 2nd night a dissenter threw a flare in among about 20-30 of the team after the security people had left. It was startling and caused great confusion. They thought it would explode and needed to get it out of the building. Dave tried to kick it, but that didn’t work. There wasn’t time, so he picked it up and ran it outside. His fingers got a little burned but it was not bad and they are now healed.
The 3rd night was thick with fear and concern, but nothing happened. Then, the 4th night there were about 250 excited people. It was a powerful night and is why my mind went to trying to imagine Dave up on stage. About 50 people responded but for a dozen or so, that night would change their lives forever. For Dave and Rayma, it doesn’t get better than that! Be praying for Pastor Dema and the Calvary Chapel in Kaluga as they disciple those who showed interest.
When I talked with Dave, they were back in Moscow for a “rest,” which meant they’d go out on short outreach bursts into the surrounding city; they’d do prayer walks; they’d play some music in the park and talk with those who gathered. As you know, from Dave’s note he was on his way out again. This time Rayma, Elias and Sarah will stay at the Bible College to practice Russian. (Sarah has not been feeling quite 100%, so will enjoy the rest, I’m sure.)
Meanwhile, Dave was on an 18-hour train ride to the city of Volgograd. By now, he’s arrived with the team, has passed out flyer invitations, and has gotten through two concerts. There are two more – Monday and Tuesday (that’s Mon. & Tues. morning for us). I understand that Volgograd is known to really enjoy rock and roll, so they’re expecting a big turn-out to the “free” concerts.
As Dave’s Mom I sincerely appreciate your prayers for Dave, Rayma, Elias and Sarah. No matter what they’re doing, it’s a pretty intense time. By the way, Elias is well and, as usual, happy. They got to go “touristing” to Red Square (Dave said he’d send pictures or get them up on some website) with a new friend who was there from Perm, Veronica. Veronica was on the outreach to Kaluga and sang with Dave at one of the concerts. They have all enjoyed getting to know each other, forming a friendship that could last a lifetime.
That’s it for now. Dave will be back in another week or so with more to say about Volgograd. As I’ve told some of you, I find myself gazing at the globe wondering just where they are but knowing just the same that they are in God’s hands … a most pleasant place to be.
Char Barnhart
I am glad to be the one to write this update to all of you. Dave has been tremendously busy and when not busy his head is too full to stop and think things through enough to write it all out. Dave, Rayma and Sarah are moving at a fast pace this summer – I’m sure it is at times flying by for them, and at other times they’re so eager to get to Perm that the days seem to drag by.
As I think of Dave at these concerts, I can see him in my mind’s eye. Take a break and think with me … he’s in Kaluga and all is ready. He’s been running around getting the sound set up, answering questions, giving instructions, all in a mad race against the clock. But now, just before the concert starts, he’s standing on stage off to one side, guitar in hand. He watches the Russian young people come through the door of the large auditorium, gather with friends to chat and laugh, and find their seats. There are at least 200, probably 50 more. It’s the last night of the concerts.
As he stands there watching the place fill up fast … his mind is racing even faster. Will the sound system hold? He wonders. Will it sound good? Will it carry their message well? I can see him glance down at his guitar. It looks so comfortable and familiar in his hands and my own mind takes off down a rabbit trail of its own. How many years has he held a guitar in front of a group of people? I remember when he taught himself how to play. It’s got to be a decade.
But then I see him begin to strum with one hand and move his fingers easily across the frets with the other. I can’t help wondering, will the strings hold? Will he have to quickly change guitars in the middle of a song? He looks up again at the crowd. He told me they’d passed out hundreds of flyer invitations and were always ready to follow-up with those who came with questions. There would be no altar call, but they’d use a questionnaire to get a dialogue started and pose questions that cried out for answers. Then they’d get them introduced to the Calvary Church there in Kaluga.
In this image of mine, I can see Dave bow his head to pray.
The other musicians take their places. The room though filled with noise and confusion, in just a few moments would erupt with the clash of symbols and the beat of their drums. The speakers would shout, “Come … come and listen … come and laugh … come to hear what we have to say!”
Watching Dave in my mind, I imagine the noisy crowd and wonder, How many would be interested in what the team had to say? How many would listen? How many would seek answers. How many lives would be changed? But it’s time. Dave lifts his head, puts that smile on his face and grabs hold of the mike … and for us; it’s back to reality and out of imaginings.
Wow, what an experience Kaluga must have been!!! According to Dave, the 1st night was meager and a bit disappointing. The 2nd night a dissenter threw a flare in among about 20-30 of the team after the security people had left. It was startling and caused great confusion. They thought it would explode and needed to get it out of the building. Dave tried to kick it, but that didn’t work. There wasn’t time, so he picked it up and ran it outside. His fingers got a little burned but it was not bad and they are now healed.
The 3rd night was thick with fear and concern, but nothing happened. Then, the 4th night there were about 250 excited people. It was a powerful night and is why my mind went to trying to imagine Dave up on stage. About 50 people responded but for a dozen or so, that night would change their lives forever. For Dave and Rayma, it doesn’t get better than that! Be praying for Pastor Dema and the Calvary Chapel in Kaluga as they disciple those who showed interest.
When I talked with Dave, they were back in Moscow for a “rest,” which meant they’d go out on short outreach bursts into the surrounding city; they’d do prayer walks; they’d play some music in the park and talk with those who gathered. As you know, from Dave’s note he was on his way out again. This time Rayma, Elias and Sarah will stay at the Bible College to practice Russian. (Sarah has not been feeling quite 100%, so will enjoy the rest, I’m sure.)
Meanwhile, Dave was on an 18-hour train ride to the city of Volgograd. By now, he’s arrived with the team, has passed out flyer invitations, and has gotten through two concerts. There are two more – Monday and Tuesday (that’s Mon. & Tues. morning for us). I understand that Volgograd is known to really enjoy rock and roll, so they’re expecting a big turn-out to the “free” concerts.
As Dave’s Mom I sincerely appreciate your prayers for Dave, Rayma, Elias and Sarah. No matter what they’re doing, it’s a pretty intense time. By the way, Elias is well and, as usual, happy. They got to go “touristing” to Red Square (Dave said he’d send pictures or get them up on some website) with a new friend who was there from Perm, Veronica. Veronica was on the outreach to Kaluga and sang with Dave at one of the concerts. They have all enjoyed getting to know each other, forming a friendship that could last a lifetime.
That’s it for now. Dave will be back in another week or so with more to say about Volgograd. As I’ve told some of you, I find myself gazing at the globe wondering just where they are but knowing just the same that they are in God’s hands … a most pleasant place to be.
Char Barnhart
posted by Mark Armstrong | 12:57 PM
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