We made it! (October 2025)

Hello everyone! I've been sick the past few weeks, but am just now coming out of it with some energy for an update (by the way, thank you for your continued prayer).

There are so many terrific classes, volunteer opportunities and many wonderful people to meet. I feel in the same sense that Hollywood is to the movie industry, or Nashville to music, Kona seems to be the pacific missionary hub. I have met with all kinds of experienced people from over 15 nations so far!

I have loved my training classes and a whole world of needs that I can service! In my first 3 weeks so far, I would summarize my classwork understanding as: We are God's beloved - rest in Him and walk in your identity.

We've been learning about the Father Heart of God in our lecture phase and sat under the teachings of Chris Dupre, the former Cofounder of IHOP Kansas (international house of prayer).

Coming into the start of my missionary training, I felt so much pressure on my shoulders to be something I thought I should be, or that my supporters might expect. I thought, "I'm here to train to be a missionary and do a mission." But God has replaced the weight of my own presuppositions with the lightness and freedom of His plan.

While I am technically here to train for mission work and be a missionary, that is only part of the truth. I began my time here physically incapacitated to do all of this striving that I'm used to: I was literally forced to just enjoy the Hawaiian atmosphere, the good people, and the love of God displayed through both.

I've met some wonderful men and women of God, experienced great worship sessions, and focused on resting. Both in Him and literally. When I see the palm trees swaying and all these colorful birds tweeting, my heart gets so full thinking of how all creation is awaiting Jesus' arrival. And I'm right there with those birds and trees, worshiping and coughing, in anticipation for our Lord's coming. It's like I am living in the awe of Psalm 96:

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

12 let the field exult, and everything in it!

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

13 before the LORD, for he comes,

for he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness,

and the peoples in his faithfulness."

Chris shared a very touching story of his own father. His words were profound and humbling, helping me realize just how limited my mental image of unconditional love, and how I am only scratching the surface of understanding of how God loves us in a different light.

Because God first loved us, we are able to love others more wholly - and the more deeply we understand His love for us, the more powerfully and effectively we can love and serve others. I have a whole new appreciation for 2 Corinthians 3:16-18:

16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And when we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

So these past 3 weeks have been driving home that God truly, unabashedly, and wildly loves me - regardless of a missionary calling or not. That's the fundamental core of my identity. And I'm simply willing to go/do wherever he sends me, because I love and trust Him. I can never be strong enough or smart enough to earn this - I can only be grateful to receive it. So there's not pressure, just a lot of fun to be had in the work He has for me!

But speaking of "strong", I got to do volunteer work at the Ironman Triathlon in Kona. It's one of the most grueling races in the world, consisting of a 2.4m swim, a 112m bicycle ride, and a 26.22m marathon run! We cheered the competitors on at the last leg of the race, chanting, "Here comes the fun part! The swim's over, here comes the fun part! The riding's over, here comes the fun part!" There was something symbolic about how this physical trek mirrors our spiritual trek, and how a little positivity encouragement can go a long way. This idea is at the heart of 1 Corinthians 9:25:

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

So, to that point, I chant again, "Here comes the fun part!"

Volunteering at the Ironman Triathlon

Anyway, thank you for joining me on my own journey. My contact info remains the same, though it'd be a good time to start connecting via WhatsApp rather than text. Email works too! Oh, and I have a new address for the time being:

George Vasilyev

75-5851 Kuakini Hwy, #253

Kailua Kona, HI 96740

Thank you again for loving me along this journey.

Your brother in Christ,

George