News & Stories

From Russia with Love

September 8, 2009

By Donnie Mason, serving in Russia

Excerpts here from Blythe and Donnie Mason’s September 2009 prayer letter describe frustrating cultural challenges similar to what many Alliance overseas workers daily face. However, the Masons report, ministry partners who “pray that we’ll stay inspired and focused and close to our God” are key to sustained, loving service among the lost. 

For anyone who knows us well, what I’m about to say will not come as a shock. For others of you, it may be surprising. Here it is: Missionaries are imperfect people with normal weaknesses, frustrations, and failures.

Before I became a missionary, I think I really believed that somehow there was something inherently different about missionaries that made them never yell at their spouses, never worry over trivial matters, never resent the inconveniences of life, never get disappointed with God. Well, I was wrong. 

Everyday Struggles

Missionaries struggle with the same big and little shortcomings you have. In fact, some days we may struggle more.

We deal with life frustrations accentuated by being in a different culture and language context. Additionally, missionaries live in cultures where individual rights are not catered to or protected like they are in the United States. Basic services/conveniences we take for granted in the U.S. are inefficient or non-existent, which ups the stress level.

This past week was “one of those weeks” for us. A simple fender bender (not our fault) led to literally days of running around the city to maneuver our way through a confusing insurance system. A mistake made by a drugstore employee (who then refused to correct it) left us out $100. A run-in with local traffic police left us feeling violated and controlled. 

Daily Ministry Choices

In each situation, we are faced with choices:  

• Judge and resent this culture, or recognize it as sinful and fallen, just like every other, but has points of beauty there for those who choose to see them 
• Respond to unfair treatment with resentment and anger, or return it with kindness and mercy
• Cultivate a negative attitude toward Russians, or gain empathy for the things Russians have to deal with daily
• End the day feeling beaten down and discouraged, or allow God to fill us with renewed strength and inspiration
• Long for the good ‘ole familiar U.S., or embrace even more strongly the calling God has given us to reach the lost.

I would LOVE to say that we always choose the second options, but it’s just not true. Because, remember, we’re imperfect people. We’re not super-Christians! 

Secret to Faithful Service

But there is something that makes us different. It’s you! It’s the fact that we, unlike many Christians in the United States and across the world, have a large group of people praying regularly for us, praying that we’ll choose those second options, praying that we won’t lose heart, praying that we’ll stay inspired and focused and close to our God.

You and your prayers help to keep us faithful in serving Russia with love!  (By the way, even if you’re not in full-time ministry, there’s no reason why you can’t raise up your own group of prayer supporters!)  Thank you for your part in our ministry-keep it coming!

Learn More

Learn more about why prayer is central to The Alliance in all we do.

Watch a video of Blythe Mason describing what it means to be The Alliance in her community. (Produced in 2006)