Curtis and I have been looking forward the winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia for several months. Our visas are tucked nicely into our passports, ready for the trip. At Christmas our excitement grew when Omega Watch Company sent the itinerary of the events we would be attending along with a miniature, traditional, Russian felt boot. They explained that a custom pair of boots would be made for us in Russia. We could hardly wait!
The past few weeks several people have asked us if we were worried about going to Sochi. We were a bit nervous, but mostly blissfully looking forward to the experience. However, last week another jeweler that we met at the London Olympics sent us an email asking if we were still planning on attending in February since there were so many safety concerns.
I've read every article that's been printed on the subject in the past week.
I've read the Department of State's warnings.
I've registered with the Travel Advisory of the Department of State so they know who and where we are, and so that while there,
I can get emails of any warnings coming out of the US Embassy in Moscow. (STEP)
I've read the Bible.
I've talked with close friends in my Bible Study Group.
I have been going back and forth about it up until 2 weeks ago. It was then that we decided that we were still going to go. Since then, more has come up about "real threats" and US politicians have been stating that they would not bring their families there.
My friend’s faith inspired me to think perhaps I needed to remove my head from the sand and pray about this upcoming trip. So I knelt down and prayed, telling Heavenly Father we were planning on attending the Olympics and if that was not His will to let us know that we should not go. Ten minutes later, Curtis called me to tell me that corporate did not want us to go to Russia. It was interesting, before praying, I would have been so disappointed, but instead I felt peace and knew this was the answer to my prayer.
I sent a quick email to our friend, “It looks like we are not going to Sochi, Corporate is concerned and does not want us to attend. However, Omega Watch Company, the Official timekeeper at all the Olympics, said they are making every precaution for safety. I am disappointed most of all to not see you!”
Later that night, Curtis and I were talking about the turn of events and how the Lord was so kind to answer our prayer. We talked of how we hope nothing will happen and everyone will be safe, but recognized the peace we felt by staying home. Then I realized I had watered down the experience for my friend. She was willing to share her journey of faith with me and I kept mine private. I quickly sent her another email: “So I have to thank you for sending your email and sharing how you were reading and studying and taking the decision to God about the Olympics. I had not thought enough about the concerns until then. I decided to pray about it and ten minutes later Curtis called and told me that corporate did not want us going. I felt peace even though we will miss seeing you. I thank you again for your inspiration and faith. I know that if you feel good about going, it will be the right decision for you.”
The next morning she emailed and told me that, Whenever she attempted to sit and pray about Sochi and whether to go or not, she could not focus. She was all over the place (near panic attack) and now she realized that was the first sign that they need to not go to Sochi. Then she listed eight concerns she had about the trip
1. Terrorists HATE Putin and hate the fact that the Olympics are on their land.
2. The Olympics were projected to cost 12 billion dollars and instead they are costing 59 billion due to all the bribery... What would stop "them" from bribing someone to plant a bomb?
3. If something was to happen to us and we are hospitalized, what type of care would we receive? Would I have to pay a bribe or get neglected in an inferior medical facility?
4. I registered with STEP at the Department of State. Do I really want to go on a trip that I have to check my emails for warnings of life altering threats every hour on the hour?
5. The 3 Black Widows are still out there.
6. I would be a wreck from the moment we landed in Sochi till the moment we were out of there.
7. On the news they showed a map of Sochi and then highlighted in red all the terrorist camps or communities surrounding Sochi - Oh my goodness, 90% of the territory around Sochi is occupied by terrorists!
8. One politician at Homeland Security spoke on TV and said - "knowing what I know, I would not let my family go to Sochi."
She explained how these things were bouncing around in her head as she attempted to pray ...then she told me: “AND THEN I THOUGHT OF YOU AND CURTIS, YOUR FAITH, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY!” That made me feel good, when we met in London, she told me she had never met a Mormon before (when we don't drink, people ask why and we explain it is because of our religion) and asked me to tell her all about our beliefs. We had long conversations about our beliefs, she is Catholic, and truly became dear friends.
She then went on to explain how the Bible study she did while pondering her decision whether or not to go to Sochi was this:
Psalm 23...The Lord Is my Shepherd. As part of the lesson, She was asked the following:
DAY 4 Question: Even in the most distressing circumstance, we are assured in Psalm 23:4 that we don't need to be afraid. God never said that we wouldn't face danger. But He promised that He would always be with us. This was His message to His people from the beginning of Scripture to the end. Read the following verses, recording your thoughts below regarding the difference it makes to face what we fear with our Shepherd by our side.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrorized because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said "Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Well after reading those verses, she told herself, “Just go - nothing will happen, God will be at my side....don't let evil win, He will not leave me, etc...and then she heard from me and I said WE WERE NOT GOING.”
She discussed all of these things and decided not to go and take the chance. Then the next morning she put the TV on to hear the weather and immediately an ALERT came through with a picture of the Hotel that was just blown up in Cairo (Islamic terrorists) and She knew they had made the right decision. She shared this with me:
"God gives us free choice, and He gives us a brain to think with, as well as a heart to feel with,
and as disheartened as I am about not going, I know it is best we stay home.
So disappointed - it all would have been an amazing experience...and then I think of these athletes who worked so hard for so many years, and now have to worry about their families going and are encouraging them to stay home.
Interesting how after receiving my email, you were able to sit and pray about Sochi and almost
immediately Curtis called you with Corporate's decision. I am sure God had me write you
because he saw how nuts I was and how I wasn't able to focus in my prayer. He let you do it for me:) What a guy!!!!
Anyway - as you can tell, this has consumed me for the past 5 days and I am very relieved the
decision has been made and we are not going.
Now we just pray pray pray that nothing happens, everyone in Sochi is safe - and our Athletes WIN! GO USA!!!!!
After reading her e-mail, I felt so much joy as I saw so clearly the hand of God in both of our lives. It was sweet to share this journey of faith with my dear Catholic friend. I was reminded how we need to work together to make the world a better place. I had to share my joy that God is watching out for us with her so I sent her another email:
God is amazing!!! I felt that your e-mail prepared me for the news from corporate that they
did not want us to go. If you had not written and made me think this was something I needed to pray about, I would have been soooooo disappointed. However, because of your e-mail, I felt it was an answer to prayer and felt such peace. Heavenly Father sent a tender mercy through your e-mail to prepare me for the news. Then HE used us to help you decide.
My son Mason says that God is the great orchestrator. He sets up situations for us in our lives to guide us and invite us to draw closer to Him. We are the musicians who decide whether or not to play the music.
Interesting how joyful it is to see the hand of God in our lives. I believe He is always there to help us each day. Often we don’t even notice the miracles, but other times they are so clear it is easy to see them. Either way I am so grateful that we don’t have to walk this journey of life alone. The pennies I find on the ground remind me to look for the miracles. By the way, I found a dime the day this happened. This was a 10 penny miracle!
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