Our final week of ministry in Bishkek had us running all over the place meeting with people. But one day I was free until the late afternoon so Jenna B and I ran to grab some Indian for lunch. Only problem was, it was an Indian buffet and we’d already been having weird stomach issues so we voted to not have that. So off we went to grab some trusty Lagman from our favorite noodle head man just a few blocks away. After ordering our food we grabbed a table outside because it was a nice day in the mid 70s which we hadn’t had one of those in a little bit.
After about ten minutes of us talking about our time here ending, month 11 starting soon, going home, and a whole lot more, a elderly woman walks up to us. She says something really quickly in Russian and after my confused nod she drops her bag in a chair and goes inside for food. We kinda chuckled saying “well I don’t speak Russian, but okay!” After a few minutes she walks back out and sits in the seat between us, then starts asking me something in Russian. Jenna and I start to explain to her that we don’t speak Russian when I stop. Because, hold on, she just asked where we are from. So I stop Jenna and pull out my phone to translate that we’re from America. Half thinking I am just imagining things, half thinking “God are you seriously giving me the gift of translating Russian right now!?” It’s not so crazy, I mean he did it in Costa Rica when I definitely didn’t know enough Spanish to understand a full deliverance that was only in Spanish. So we continue like this for a bit, she’ll ask a question, I use google translate to respond.
We talk about a little of everything, why she’s in Bishkek, her family trips, why we’re in Kyrgyzstan, where all we’ve been, where we’ll go next, and a lot more. And I just continued to talk to her in the same way and translate to Jenna across the table. After about 40 minutes of us talking and eating I tell her I’m thankful God brought her to us and that’s when I learned she’s a Christian! So we set out on our way walking to a Korean shop right across the street and guess who is going the same direction! Jenna and I slow down to cross the street with her and she tells me one last thing in Russian I’m able to understand “you two go on ahead, I’m slow and you’ve got places to be. I’ll be fine on my own” and so I pat her hand and walked away towards the shop we had planned to run into. There’s a lot of things I wouldn’t have thought could happen before I left on the Race that I’ve seen happen, but I think probably the craziest is when God let’s me understand a language I don’t speak.
Sarah,
That is one of the coolest stories I’ve heard in a long time having to do with language especially. It means so much to me because I’ve often prayed for the literal gift of tongues from Acts chapter 2.
Where is 16 different people group/languages are spoken at the same time at 9 AM in the morning. I don’t think Russian is mentioned but I’m sure a few of them must have some Slavic roots ha ha. But the last two that are mentioned are both Asians and Arabs, The two most unreached groupings in the world for the gospel of Jesus Christ. So what I loved about your blog was the fact that more times than not, God has quickened my mind and brain to remember like 50% more Mandarin Chinese, only in the moment, when I need it the most in a real life conversation with someone who needs to hear about Yesu(Jesus) from Gods word( Shende hua Yu).
these are the kinds of miracles we need and that I love hearing about.
So proud of you Sarah! I well done, you’re about to finish strong this season of your journey. Much affection and appreciation in Christ 🙂
Amazing time the Lord gave us. I’m so happy you were there to translate for me!