7/31/2019 Don't Fail to Pray
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Dont Fail to Pray - 2 pages
Dont Fail to Pray
FROM: Charles W. (Chuck) AresonTO: Beloved brethrenMonday, July
2, 2000
RE: My "trip" to St. Petersburg, Russia.
To relate this in an understandable manner I need to start from
the beginning.It was at the Pentecostal Church Christmas dinner in
Visaginas in 1996 that I firstmet this family. It was Mama and two
daughters, Valia and Natasha. According toMama, Valia, 12, was her
"good" little daughter who was just like Mama, andNatasha, 11, was
her "problem" daughter, who was, she said, just like her papa. Tome
both children seemed to be very nice and normal children. Both
cameoccasionally to my youth Bible studies and I got to know and
love both of them verymuch. Both had their good points and their
not-so-good points as well. Mama,however, was having many problems,
and like many single mothers in Visaginas,was looking for a new
husband via the Internet in the West.
Mama already found one man in Norway and last year went to
Norway withthe two girls to start a family there. Problems arose,
however, which were attributedto the presence of the girls, and the
relationship did not work out and they all cameback to Visaginas.
Mama determined, then and there it seemed, that if she were tohave
a "chance" at a new life she would have to do it without the
daughters. She isnow corresponding with a man from the U.S. who
says he will come some time soon(this summer) to meet Mama or if
possible, Mama will go to the U.S. to meet him.They are already
talking of marriage but without talking about the girls.
Mamadecided to send Natasha to her father for the summer, and if
possible, permanently.
Now Papa lives in Russia somewhere east of St. Petersburg. It
was on Saturday,June 10, that I found out about the plans. Mama had
come to ask about sending ane-mail letter to her friend in America
but my computer was already disconnected andbeing moved to my new
office. Mama had asked me to pray for her about theupcoming trip,
and I did. Sunday morning I felt a burden to go see
Natashapersonally before they left, and so Sunday afternoon I went
to try and find her. Inever could. So I just stopped for a moment
and said a short prayer asking God'sprotection over Natasha, the
14-year-old girl who desperately wants somebody tolove her and care
for her, but it seems that nobody wants.
Now Papa in Russia has a new young wife only in her 20's and
they areexpecting a new baby any time. They are living in the
wife's apartment and Papa's
apartment is empty. He really doesn't want Natasha either. It is
feared that Papamay just send Natasha to live by herself there in
the empty apartment if there are anyconflicts in the family.
Natasha is only 14 but looks more like 18 or 19. She is
fullydeveloped and has already run away from home for several weeks
and was livingwith a 24 year old man until Mama "accidentally"
found out where she was andthreatened to turn the man in to the
police. It seems as if Natasha had lied to himabout her age, or so
he said. It is with this background that Mama left early
Mondaymorning, June 12, to go with Natasha on the first leg of
their trip to Papa, stopping inSt. Petersburg at a friend's house
overnight, a trip that Natasha did not want to make.
The following was related by Natashas mama to Irina, my former
landlady and
Russian translator in Visaginas upon her return to Visaginas.
Irina related it to me.
It was Monday evening, June 12, and Mama and Natasha were in
the
7/31/2019 Don't Fail to Pray
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Dont Fail to Pray - 2 pages
apartment of friends in St. Petersburg. They were sitting around
talking and drinkingbeer. Natasha decided to take her beer and go
outside on the street "to smoke acigarette". Mama let her go. (Now
exactly why she went outside in a city the size ofSt. Petersburg
late in the evening we may never know - they have "white
nights"there and it never gets dark this time of year, but it still
is not a safe thing to do...Also remember Natasha does not want to
make the trip to Papa and she knows
Mama wants to get rid of her.)It was about five minutes later
that Natasha rushed quickly back into the
apartment, her eyes as big as saucers. "You'll never guess who I
just saw and talkedto!" Natasha exclaimed. "You'll never believe
it! It was Chuck in his little redVolkswagen! He stopped and talked
to me!"
Mama asked, "What did he say?"Natasha answered, "He stopped and
said, 'Hi, how are you doing?' I told him
'Okay.' Then he asked, 'Where is Mama?' and I said, 'Inside.'
Then he said, 'I musthurry and go. I love you. I'll see you later'.
Then he drove off."
Mama was very surprised because I had not mentioned to her that
I was goingto be traveling to St. Petersburg, and even if I did,
how I would come across Natasha
in such a big city. When she returned to Visaginas and related
the events to Irina,my former landlady / translator, there was
great wonder for several reasons:
First, my car was broken down there in Visaginas and was not
running wellenough to drive out of town.
Second, To get a visa for Russia for an American citizen is
time-consuming andexpensive, and Irina didn't know how I could have
gotten one without herknowing.
Third, Irina knew I had left that Monday morning by microbus
(van) to go toDaugavpils, Latvia, to catch a train for Riga,
Latvia, where I had a meeting withthe leadership of the Catholic
charismatic group EFFATA that Monday evening.
A meeting which in reality, I did attend.How, then, did "I" get
to St. Petersburg to stop and talk with Natasha. Whatmight have
happened if "I" had not been there to give those few words
ofencouragement to her? Only God knows. Because, you see, it was
not "I" who wasthere in person, but my angel sent by God with a
copy of my car, a car that is easilyidentified by several
"imperfections" that it has. I had prayed both Saturday andSunday
and asked God to take care of her. God answered in a way I could
havenever dreamed. At this writing Natasha still does not know that
who she encounteredwas not "Chuck" but an angel sent by God to
re-assure her that she is loved.
When God prompts you to pray for somebody, do not fail to pray.
Only God
knows what the needs are, will be, and what is needed to answer
them. He maysend an angel to someone because of your prayers,
too.
Don't fail to pray, don't give up, and just don't quit...
In the love of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Chuck Areson
[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
