Andrei

On the plane to Russia, I sensed the Lord gave me a list of people and corresponding "identities" to be looking for and praying for, specifically. One was going to be an older teen boy. He would stand out like Alexander the Great, except that he would not be building his own kingdom, but God's.


Here he is. His name is Andrei.

From the time I walked into the facility where he was, he caught my attention. First, he started speaking broken English with Sacha. Then he sat at the end of the same row as the missionaries, not with the other teens. When our large group presentation was over, we were ushered into separate rooms down the hall for small group time. Andrei approached me and said, "May I carry your chair?" Of course I am always enthused to see gentlemen in action, and wholeheartedly said, "Da! Spaceeba balshoy!"

During small group time, he was only one of a couple of teens in our classroom. He was sweet with the younger kids, not the least bit arrogant or show-offy. When it came time for us to play "Pass the Globe" (an inflatable one) he knew geography. "Have you been to Canada?" he asked Sacha?" "Have you been to Mexico?" he asked me. "Where else have you been?" In Pass the Globe, we ask kids to tell us where they would like to go someday. Most say Moscow.

Andrei wanted to go back to America someday. (He attended an American camp where the gospel was shared and he received Christ.) He also wanted to go to India and Egypt. Easily he spotted these countries on the globe.

After small group time, the Russians always showed us wonderful hospitality in a room reserved for us missionaries, set up with tea and cookies. The boy in the picture all the way to left (with Down's) wanted to escort me to the tea room, but I was in a packing-up daze, so Andrei nicely leaned close to me and said, "I think he wants to hold your hand." Aww, silly me! Of course! Here's my hand! Let's go! They made this boy let go at the tea room. He didn't want to, bless his heart.

Somehow--it's still a mystery to me--Andrei sneaked in with us. The only kid in the whole place and he sat down next to--who else?--Sacha. I was catty corner across the room--and jealous. Jealous for a chance to talk more with this eager beaver.

God kept tapping me. "Bless him," He said. "Don't leave without blessing him for future missions."

So I excused myself from my corner of the big table, and stood politely behind Andrei, waiting for him and Sacha and Andrew to break their conversation before we had to leave.

"Excuse me, Andrei, may I talk with you?" I asked.
His eyes lit up.
"Me?"
"Yes. I need to tell you something. The Lord wants me to tell you this." I put my hand over his heart and looked him in the face.
"You have the makings of a missionary. From the time I walked in here, I could see that.

First you were willing to work; you carried my chair. You were practicing your English. You sat with us missionaries and asked us about ourselves and our culture. You're gentle with children. You love geography. You love the Lord. Andrei, one day you are going to build the Lord's kingdom in a great way, like Alexander the Great built his earthly kingdom. I believe you will be a missionary."

Sacha saw his cheek quiver and a tear trickle down.

"I, too, believe this!" he said, tapping his chest with both hands. "Thank you!"
And then I prayed for him, with Andrew translating for me. It was a holy moment.

When he escorted us to the bus, he was asking for emails and snail mail addresses. Not wanting to be the last one to the bus AGAIN, I let Sacha bring up the rear while writing down the information he wanted. I hope he gets in touch with us somehow, but if not, I look forward to hearing about Andrei the Great someday. Andrei the Great Missionary, that is!