This month, my team was in the country of Transnistria. This small country is not officially recognized by most of the world as an actual country. Actually, Russia is really the only country that officially recognizes it as a country – and that is because they oversee it. Transnistria is about the size of Connecticut and is located inside of Moldova, along the Ukrainian Border. Being in a country that isn’t recognized as a country poses some interesting challenges. We were told early in the month by our host: ‘This is Transnistria. Nothing is normal.’ Those words proved themselves true more times than I can count this month. But, as I found myself locked in a room, not allowed to speak English as the KGB inspected the property, I began to think about why this month was difficult.
I’ve discovered that the months that are difficult for me are the months where we are not allowed to speak about Jesus. It is so hard for me to be told at the beginning of a month that we aren’t allowed to pray in public, say why we are in the country, or talk about Jesus. I struggle when we are not allowed to be fully truthful. I am absolutely, 100% in agreement with protecting our hosts in areas that are hostile towards Christians, but I hate lying and telling people ‘I’m a tourist, travelling around the world’. There has to be a better way to maintain our integrity as missionaries and not put our local contacts in danger!! As believers, we are called to go into dark places and bring the light of Jesus… but what is the point if we are not going to share His Name and who He is? Since when are we called to keep silent if speaking would put us in ‘danger’?!?
My heart has been broken over and over this year for the millions and millions of people who are – right now – on their way to hell. I have sat before the Lord and wept and questioned how to ‘honor authority’ when they are telling you that you can’t share Jesus with people. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is did a person know Jesus. What is the point of travelling the world if I’m not sharing Him with people? Everything we do must be about Him and for Him…or it is wasted. He is supremely important…above all other things.
My prayer for Transnistria has come out of Colossians 4… ‘that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ”
“People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives … and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.” — Nate Saint, missionary martyr
