Our Russian Friend

Have you ever wanted to visit another country? Maybe you cannot really go, but you can pretend. When you visit another country it is more fun if you have a friend there. Let's meet a friend who lives in Russia.

Meet Nadia

Nadia is 6 years old. She loves to make friends. Nadia lives in a typical Russian village called Zaoksky (zah-OHK-skee). It is about two hours south of Moscow, the nation's capital. People live in houses made of wood. They raise vegetables in their yards and sometimes keep a few chickens or a goat.

Nadia greets us at the gate and invites us in. Her mother and a friend are in the kitchen fixing dinner. Mmmm, it smells so good! In the living room we find a long table filling up with food. Nadia's sister, Tonya, who is 8, is setting the table while Mother brings out dishes filled with salads, cabbage, potatoes, noodles, and rye bread.

Soon it is time to eat, and we bow our heads while Nadia's father asks God to bless the food. The food is simple, Mother says, but it always tastes better when shared with friends.

Nadia's friend, Sasha, fills her plate with food. Sasha is 11 years old. She is not from a Christian family, but she comes to play with Nadia whenever she can. Sasha's family is very poor, and Sasha has never been to school. Nadia's mother hopes to find someone to pay Sasha's school fees so she can attend school this year.

Vacation Story

It is summer vacation, and we ask Nadia if her family will go to the seashore this year. Nadia tells us that ever since she almost drowned when she was 4 years old, she has not been eager to go to the seashore. She tells us what happened.

"It was a hot day, and Tonya and I were playing in the water in a safe area near the beach. Mommy was lying on the beach, and Daddy and my brothers went water skiing.

"I was sitting on the wall that divides the shallow water from the sea, and a big wave knocked me into the sea! I sank in the deep water. I prayed, 'Jesus, help me!' But I could not get out of the water.

"The next thing I knew, I was lying on the beach coughing and crying. A man had seen me fall and grabbed my hand and pulled me to the beach. When I opened my eyes, I did not know any of the people who were standing over me. I started crying. Then my brother ran to me. I was sure glad to see him! After that I did not want to go near the sea for the rest of our vacation!" Nadia rolls her eyes as she says this, and we all laugh.

Nadia may not like the sea, but she enjoys doing other things. She is learning to play the violin and the piano. Though she does not attend school yet, she makes up poems and stories, which her mother writes down for her. After dinner she and Tonya play the violin and piano together. What a nice way to end our visit!

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Below is one of Nadia's favorite Bible verses written in code. The symbols are letters of the Russian alphabet. Can you crack the code and read the Bible promise? Check your answer by looking up Philippians 4:13 in the New King James Version.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13, NKJV).

This story originally appeared in the children's edition of Mission, 3rd quarter 2001, edited by Charlotte Ishkanian. Used by permission.