A trip to "Rock City"

In the Buryat village where the church is reaching out

     I have tried to make a trip to "Rock City" at least once a year for a while now.  Some years I have even made it a couple of times, but it isn't easy as it is a 7-8 hour bus ride including long stretches of windy, rough gravel and patchy paved roads, and I have to get special government permission to travel there because it is on the boarder with Mongolia.  But the trip is always worth it in the end to visit this remote area where a small church has been gathering for a number of years now.  One of the exciting things I always like to check up on is the ministry in a small Buryat village not far from the town of "Rock City".

Raising animals is a big part of Buryat village life

     It was great to see how the church is supporting the work out in this village, and to have the chance to go out to talk with and encourage the young Buryat family that is living there.  They are very comfortable with living in the village and are able to build relationships with their neighbors in ways that foreigners and Russians can't because Buryat is their first language and they understand naturally all the cultural rules.

In the house in the village

     It is encouraging to hear and see how this family is growing in their faith too.  The wife "S" shared her testimony at the church service on Sunday, sharing how God has brought her to Himself through many different relationships and trials in her life.  It was a reminder again that usually people need to hear from a number of different sources about Jesus before they decide to follow Him.  After the service we had lunch together at the pastors house and talked about Christian resources in Buryat.  There is unfortunately not much available, and what is available is not always understandable because it is written in the literary dialect.  I hope and pray that more resources will become available for people like "S" and "D" so that they can hear and think about God in their heart language.  Maybe God will even use this young family in making things available in their dialect.

Dave and I at the pastor's house with his family

     People living in more remote places like "Rock City" are often encouraged when people visit because they can often feel isolated and even forgotten about.  This young family has four fun, active children, and Dave and I enjoyed some "uncle" time playing with them as well as having good conversations with their parents.  Please pray for this family as they are working through some questions related to their ministry in the church.

Our hosts for the weekend

     A little over a year ago when we visited we drove down and back with "S".  He was praying about moving to "Rock City" with his family and wanted to check things out at that time.  This time we got to stay with he and his family for our weekend there.  It is cool to hear about the step of faith they took in moving and to see how they are pouring into the church.  Every Saturday he spends time walking through the city and praying, then goes with another young man in the church to visit a retirement home and help bring some encouragement to those in the later years of life.

Sunday church service

     I'm glad we were able to go and be an encouragement and that we were able to see this small, remote church following God and growing.  We are praying that they will continue to grow in being a witness for Jesus in "Rock City" and in all the Buryat villages throughout that region!