Fireplace Of Hope: + MILKOWO

The things we need for our trip are already packed. After the Eucharist, Father Christopher and I are going to Milkowa to search for the Christians. The distance from Pietropavlovsk to Milkowa is around 300 kilometers (186.34 miles) and it is paved road. On our way we can see the mountains covered with snow and Tayga, but no people. From time to time we pass some cars. The temperature is between -19to – 30 C (-2.20 to -22.00 Fahrenheit). We are praying the rosary for the intention of the Milkowa inhabitants. Recently one family has called us from Milkowa and asked that Mass be celebrated there. So we are going with the hope that we will meet them and pray together with them. We do not know this family. We reached the city in the evening. The very next morning we walked through the city, like the Apostles, displaying the posters with the invitation for the Eucharist on noticeboards and in the stores. We are looking for Christians and we are not afraid of the freezing weather. There is no chapel here in Milkowa. We will have the Mass in an apartment that is undergoing some repairs. It is a very simple place. While praying in this empty, unpainted room a thought came into my mind – without God our hearts are like this room – gray, shapeless, vague, and empty. Only when we let God do something will He be able to perform a miracle. It is better to give Him the paintbrush…

Unfortunately no one came for the Eucharist. Fr. Christopher tried to call the family who invited us a few times but no one answered the phone. On that day the Gospel was about the call of the first Apostles from the Gospel of John. At first, two disciples heard what John the Baptist said and followed Jesus. One of them was Andrew and he brought his own brother Simon to Jesus. They were not looking for something but for someone. And they found SOMEONE. How many times will we have to walk through the streets of Milkowa in order to bring someone to Jesus? We sow but the harvest is in God’s hand.

After celebrating the Eucharist we went to see Igor, the pastor of Pentecostal Church. He invited us for supper. We met his wife Olga, his daughter Glafira, and his sister Walentyna. Our bodies as well as our spirits were strengthened during this visit. After supper Igor pulled out a “bajana” and we started singing. Then Fr. Christopher played the guitar and we sang carols in Polish and in Russian. It was a real concert for Jesus.

We concluded our stay in Milkowa with the celebration of Morning Prayer and the Eucharist. We arrived back home in the evening. Then Mrs. Nadieżna called us from Milkowa. She read about the Eucharist on one of the posters. She was confused about the time for Eucharist and came in the evening when we were already in Pietropavlovsk. It was not in vain; even though we have not meet…. this time.