{"id":5269,"date":"2018-07-15T19:01:00","date_gmt":"2018-07-15T19:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/2018\/07\/15\/world-class-experience-at-the-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2023-08-23T19:56:53","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T17:56:53","slug":"world-class-experience-at-the-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/world-class-experience-at-the-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"World Class Experience at the World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/peru_world_cup_in_russia_2018.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Introducing or bringing people together that may not have otherwise met gives me great joy. Witnessing others exchange encouragement and become better individuals simply because they shared a moment with a new friend, lights me up.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I recently had the opportunity to connect two sisters who have become dear to me over the past few years as well as  Come &amp; Stay friends. Fiorela Thibodeaux from Austin, Texas, and Patricia Zito from New York didn&#8217;t know each other a few months ago. However, they were both set on a similar mission&#8230;traveling to Russia for the 2018 World Cup, marking an item off their bucket list, and cheering their beloved Peruvian team to victory!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although Peru didn&#8217;t make it far in the premier soccer tournament of the world, Fiorela and Patti&#8217;s lives were enriched not only by meeting each other but also by connecting and sharing with disciples and locals in Russia as well as other spectators from around the globe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b> Take a look at what Fiorela had to share about her experience: <\/b> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The World Cup is one big party that celebrates the most popular sport in the globe. The atmosphere of an event like this has no equal. We went to Russia in 2018 to see our Peruvian National Soccer team in the World Cup after 36 years of absence. It was such a wonderful experience to sing our national anthem and root alongside tens of thousands of other Peruvians as our players displayed beautiful talent. Despite being eliminated from the competition after the second match, Russians and fellow soccer fans from different nationalities showered compliments about the magic of Peruvian football: \u201cyou did not deserve to leave so soon\u2026\u201d was often heard. It was also common to hear locals chanting &#8220;Pe-ru! Pe-ru!&#8221; when fans were spotted.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Russians are often perceived as cold and unwelcoming. However, as a world traveler, I believe in my humble opinion that they are one of the best, if not the best, hosts in the world. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome\u2026 at home. If you add to the innate Russian way the Christian hospitality spirit, you end up with the warmest of stays and the most beautiful memories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/D0BFD0B5D180D183D0B0D0BDD186D18BD0B2D0A0D0BED181D181D0B8D0B82.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Starting by being met at train stations and endless walks all over town, they proudly showed us Mother Russia. Our delightful hosts: Julia, Aliya, Igor (thank you for the awesome professional photos, bro!) and Irina and all the brothers and sisters from the  Moscow and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uralcoc.ru\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ekaterinburg church<\/a>, and even our hostel hosts: Julia and Oleg in Sochi, made our days most memorable. I wish to come back one day\u2026 to stay!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Train rides were my favorite! The long journeys were extremely pleasant and surprisingly amusing due to the high comfort level on board that Russians have mastered gracefully. Conversations and meals with other soccer fans were shared. God put us in a place to not only talk about football but to share our faith with other Christians and travelers alike. It&#8217;s all glory to Him that we live and have the privilege to travel and appreciate the wonders of His creation\u2026everywhere we go, we have a spiritual family that awaits with open arms and cheerful hearts to display God\u2019s love on earth.&#8221; <i> <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Editor&#8217;s note: This story was also shared on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.icocnews.ru\/duhovnaya-zhizn\/otdyx-dosug-turizm\/prikljuchenija-peruancev-v-rossii-chm-po-futbolu.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ICOC Russia<\/a> <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>And Patti created a special video with her husband Jimmy about the stellar hospitality of Russians. Check it out here: <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"750\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CJurPItho64\" title=\"The Power of Hospitality - World Cup Russia 2018\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sporting events and cultural alliances always have a tendency to bond us. However, the supernatural exists in our connection as disciples of Christ. As Paul states in Galatians 3:23-29: <i> &#8220;Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.  <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God\u2019s promise to Abraham belongs to you.&#8221; <\/i> Praise be to God for his amazing gift! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disciples share about their amazing experience traveling to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":5270,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-5269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/peru_world_cup_in_russia_2018.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-1mZ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4547,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/russian-disciple-sets-new-powerlifting-record-in-championship\/","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":0},"title":"Russian Disciple Sets New Powerlifting Record in\u00a0\u041f\u043e\u0434\u0430 Championship","author":"dtadmin","date":"March 29, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"At the last Russian Championship in sports for disabled people, \u041f\u041e\u0414\u0410 (PODA), Vera won first place in powerlifting on bench press, setting a new record for Russia in this sport. Recently, Vera was baptized, becoming part of the church in Vladimir, Russia. We asked her to tell us her incredible\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Testimonials&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Testimonials","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/testimonials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vera-muratova_wyuPBgbBQfyKdflhR78C-1200x575-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vera-muratova_wyuPBgbBQfyKdflhR78C-1200x575-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C575&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vera-muratova_wyuPBgbBQfyKdflhR78C-1200x575-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C575&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vera-muratova_wyuPBgbBQfyKdflhR78C-1200x575-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C575&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/vera-muratova_wyuPBgbBQfyKdflhR78C-1200x575-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C575&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3902,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/from-russia-with-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":1},"title":"From Russia with Love: Rentons Teach on &quot;Healing of a Wounded Idealist&quot;","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"My wife and I had the privilege to travel to Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia. We had been invited to speak on our book, \u201cHealing of a Wounded idealist.\u201d We were asked to present a two day seminar on the essence of the book and the way forward for wounded\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/rentonsspeakingrussiaicoc.jpg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/rentonsspeakingrussiaicoc.jpg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/rentonsspeakingrussiaicoc.jpg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/rentonsspeakingrussiaicoc.jpg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/rentonsspeakingrussiaicoc.jpg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5163,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/john-oakes-reports-on-teaching-trip-to-vladivostok-osaka-tokyo-ulan-bataar-and-bishkek\/","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":2},"title":"John Oakes Reports on Teaching Trip to Vladivostok, Osaka, Tokyo, Ulan Bataar and Bishkek\u00a0","author":"dtadmin","date":"August 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"John Oakes recaps inspiring teaching trip to Vladivostok, Osaka, Tokyo, Ulan Bataar and Bishkek in July and August 2018.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/john_oakes_july_aug_trip-286x216-1.png?fit=286%2C216&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5763,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/are-we-learning-from-the-mission-field\/","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":3},"title":"Are We Learning from the Mission Field?","author":"dtadmin","date":"October 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Are we missing opportunities to learn from churches on the mission field as we are supporting them? As an evangelist, I have been involved with Eurasian Missions for a couple of decades. I became a Christian in Moscow, Russia in 1995 and have led churches in Russia and Ukraine before\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/257christian_ray1.jpg?fit=599%2C369&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/257christian_ray1.jpg?fit=599%2C369&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/257christian_ray1.jpg?fit=599%2C369&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2068,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/pray-for-peace-in-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":4},"title":"Pray for Peace in Ukraine, Russia","author":"dtadmin","date":"February 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter, as the Ukraine has been invaded and our fellowship of 7 churches and over 2000 disciples are in grave danger.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/274242293_102268792405654_6732320465364449120_n.jpeg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/274242293_102268792405654_6732320465364449120_n.jpeg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/274242293_102268792405654_6732320465364449120_n.jpeg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/274242293_102268792405654_6732320465364449120_n.jpeg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/274242293_102268792405654_6732320465364449120_n.jpeg?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5621,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/missions-item-8825-the-future-is-bright-for-eurasian-missions\/","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":5},"title":"The Future is Bright for Eurasian Missions","author":"dtadmin","date":"December 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the weekend of November 4, 2017, in Moscow, during the national holiday weekend for Unification of Russia Day, and the 100th anniversary of the Communist Bolshevik Revolution, 36 very inspiring, aspiring-ministers from seven cities across Eurasia, gathered to study an overview of the New Testament, at the second session\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/dd964113-c293-402b-ac0f-acb8e680f56d.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/peru_world_cup_in_russia_2018.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5269"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=5269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}