This summer in Siberia was one of pain and blessing, like a weightlifting routine which tears muscle fibers in your body so they can be made stronger and more durable. That’s what Russia was like for me.

We left the U.S. in June for a life-changing experience. When we landed in Yakutsk, Siberia, I was awestruck and more than a little scared. But over the summer I learned how to allow God to control every facet of my life. You see, in Russia, even the best plans are often laid to waste, and what is never planned often happens.

Plans to go to a village, leave a village, or stay in a village were often changed at the last minute – once because of a fire along the river! The resulting van trip from Khandiga to Yakutsk was a real adventure!

But God’s plans for a young man we met in Namtsi where unchangeable!

Gabe and I stayed with Slava’s family for a week but had little opportunity to build a relationship with him because of the language barrier, or so we thought. Little did we know that Slava was fairly fluent in English and understood most of what we said.

A week after we left Namtsi, Slava joined us in our travels and gave his life to Jesus Christ soon afterward. We saw a change come over this young man like none I had ever seen before. Two days after choosing to follow Christ, Slava was sharing his testimony with young Sakha unbelievers in their mother tongue. I thank God for Slava and the work he is doing in Yakutia today.

This summer was more than anything I could have ever imagined. The Lord is truly working in Yakutia, and I look forward to future opportunites to work there with my new brother, Slava.