tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66872306286919711302024-03-06T03:28:26.714+02:00The Engage Russia JournalsMarc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-55856550711491762182011-07-05T20:02:00.003+03:002011-07-05T20:05:26.330+03:00Two New Mari Believers“I thought you said it never happens like this,” said one of the volunteers from First Baptist Church of Middleburg, Florida.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had just come from a small, unnamed village in the Mari-El Republic – the home of one of Russia’s unreached/unengaged people groups -- a group whose native religion is still quite pagan.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Earlier that day we had visited several locations in the Republic where the locals still make sacrifices and prayers to the gods of nature and water.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Our day ended with an invitation to visit the home of one of less than 40 Mari believers in the Republic; an area the size of Vermont. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvQ_71MnfvvwWPXpV28deAULhbxD-QDXVksCXIc6cMiuoEtz27i4JIUh98_wHPFDo46us_zPweTzFg0CRd-dtYcmYb4CiK6L-tocFgKz2TgQmGrzQAwv6mvduBbpH52sQQ92u12iOwnKZ/s320/IMG_4107.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625915002848664178" /><p class="MsoNormal">As we sat down to a meal of Russian black tea, pancakes, honey, and some unidentified local cuisine we began talking with the visitors from the village who had come to meet the visiting Americans.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Of the seven or eight that wandered in and out of the small one-room cabin, three women sat down at the table to talk.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>None of them had ever met an American before.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Two were much older, but all three were drawn to a conversation about how the world had changed over the past few years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The circumstances in this village were not different than they are in any number of Russian villages.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>People who live outside of Russia’s big cities have never enjoyed the economic benefits of those who live i</p><p class="MsoNormal">n the cities, and the years following the fall of Communism have made life for villagers harder.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The women shared that the nearby factories had been shut down, that they had trouble getting their fields plowed and the crops in the ground, and most of their community’s young people were moving to the cities rather than choosing to stay on the family farms.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Our children are out of control.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Their lives are a mess and I just don’t know what to do about it,” said Nina, the youngest of the three.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“They are a mess because I never taught them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I didn’t know what to teach them because nobody ever taught me.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And there it was…a simple invitation.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Like a running back who has just had a path cleared all the way to the end zone, the Holy Spirit had just opened the door for me to share the Gospel with them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Would you like for me to teach you,” I asked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Right now, I can teach you what you need to know and what the most important thing is to teach your children.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next 40 minutes or so were mostly a blur.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The volunteer team watched and prayed silently as I taught and explained the Gospel to the women using analogies from the countryside and from their pagan rituals I had seen earlier that day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As I was teaching, one of the three women got up, hugged me and left.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But the other two wanted to hear more of what I had to say.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As </p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILitSr0N2NC0GTkKbNNGVcyRa7oEdniGoEBiLFrNw6ER9pRMhRro1DHf1Zmb6KWbaXoCS7RWOK3lEOq868WbCA5KJh4nO6OD21BQk8-2q5pu7tJpprfvY5dOl74L3FkKRDp-6Ff9NWOUL/s320/IMG_4102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625915268093232626" /><p class="MsoNormal">I finished, I asked if they understood all I had been saying to them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I probed a little deeper and asked if they wanted to repent of their sins, and to have Jesus living in their hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So, right there at the kitchen table we bowed our heads and prayed as I lead Nina and Magda in a prayer of confession and invitation for Jesus to cleanse them of their sins.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, only God knows the condition of a person’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, as I was leaving the house Nina caught me, gave me a hug and said, “I hope that you will visit our village again soon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, if you never do, I know that I will see you again in heaven because I am your sister now.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">“I thought you said it never happens like this,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And, he was right.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That is what I had said.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Maybe I should have used the word “rarely” instead of never. <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-13158270743347385862011-06-03T00:03:00.005+03:002011-06-04T00:56:29.687+03:00Engage Russia is on the road!Yes, these posts are in a bit of backwards order but we didn't want you to miss the excitement in getting here! First, our group! Marc Hooks is our fearless (but might should be fearful!) leader. Then there is Paul Schmittling, Alan Grimsley, David Albritton, Valerie Craven and your tour guide for today, Janet Wells.<br />We met at the airport at about 10am Monday morning with excitement and more excitement. Not only were we leaving the country for 10 days, but we were going on misson for Jesus! Some might say our "suffering for Jesus" trip was going to be a walk in the park (after all, we're not staying the the jungle, fighting fierce bugs, or crossing mountains or desserts on foot) but we found out otherwise!<br /><br />Our first encounter was at "special services" in the airport. We had researched and planned for everyone to be able to take two bags up to 70 lbs each. Yes, a bit much for today's general standards but our fearless leader has traveled so much he has special perks and we were going to take advantage of them so we could bring LOTS of goodies to our new friends we were to meet in Russia! The "special services" counter was quite special and Marc had to pull up on the website the "special" arrangements so we could get our bags free. After much convincing, we were allowed the bags and all was good. Time to get through security and find our airplane. Security wasn't too much of a deal-only two pat downs and the airplane was to be on time!<br /><br />We loaded on the airplane and headed for Atlanta. No problems there-we got lunch quickly and then off for our airplane to Moscow! Again the plane was to be on time! We loaded up and found we were traveling with fellow Southern Baptists from Johnny Hunt's church who were headed to Moscow to work in an orphanage. We also had a native Russian (who now lives in Minneapolis) in front of Marc on the plane who was so happy to have someone to speak to in Russian. Now, Marc has been away for awhile but after 1 1/2 hours of conversation in the middle of the night, I think he thought maybe he was ready again for Russia! The lady was quite nice and very interested in why Marc studies the Russian people and wanted to know more!<br /><br />Did you know when you travel to Russia this time of year that the sun never really sets? We were heading east and about the time we lost the sun from the west, it was rising in the east where we were heading! A very neat experience. Of course, other passengers trying to sleep were less than impressed when the positioning of the sun was checked during the flight!<br /><br />There was also the issue of the flashlight! I am sure the man ahead of us thought a flashlight was a good idea on a night flight. I might have thought so, too before the flight. But, when one is trying to sleep (we really needed to sleep between our hours of 7-midnight so when we arrived we could be awake in our new time zone EIGHT HOURS ahead of Middleburg) and the one with the flashlight looses something and begins to look all over for it with the brighest flashlight I have ever seen, the flashlight idea is not so good! In fact, I might think that a good idea for the next thing added to the TSA no fly list! But after way to long in a little tiny seat with questionable dinner and items far too odd to actually try to eat for breakfast (thus why our fearless leader mentioned bringing granola bars on the trip!) we arrived in Moscow early in the morning. We were off to get documents processed, pick up luggage and then sneak through customs (don't look at the guards, don't smile, don't talk to each other, just be invisible so you don't get stopped was the direction!).<br /><br />Time to tour Moscow but we have a problem. The car reserved to take all 6 of us, the missionary friend and all 14 of our suitcases to the train station has room only for people and one suitcase. So, we must wait 1.5 hours for new transportation. Welcome to mission tripping! The motto is "so flexible you are fluid" and this was our first test! We had to wait at a small coffee shop in the airport (had to take all luggage back through xray scans!) and had our first experience with Pepsi "light", no sweet ice tea and new coffee flavors! Oh, my not so fav-no ice! Like I said, fluid so we drank with a smile and thought of home and that great ice that Sonic has!<br /><br />The new bus arrived, we stuffed and stuffed in suitcases and then got in with those of us who get a bit of motion sickness making sure to face forward. In Russian transportaion you face all kinds of way in cars and buses! And, no air conditioning except windows even on the hottest days! I should mention here that Russian people are somewhat superstitious about having air blowing on them so they would rather roll up the windows than have air making them cool with windows down. If you have ever been stuck in Blanding traffic in Orange Park, you haven't really seen traffic like here in Russia. Don't forget to add the heat with no air conditioning and all cars are standard transmission! Now, there's a stomach ache and head ache just ready to happen! Our short trip to train station was about 1 hour! Once there we dragged all the cases down the stairs (no escalators here!) and checked them with security (kind of a sketchy place in the bottom of the train station with a very odd odor-but they did keep our stuff safe while were were gone) and headed off to see Moscow!<br /><br />We really couldn't have arrived with nicer weather! Beautiful sunny day about the mid-80's and not much smog. Summer holiday was just about to begin the next day and we had a quick tour of some of the most notable buildings in Moscow! We can't wait to go back for more before we come home!<br /><br />Now off to catch our train and get settled in our little (I do mean little) compartments for the evening! Believe it or not, these are co-ed (you wear "train clothes" not pajamas to sleep) and if you don't have enough folks in your party for four people, you get what you get (the reason Marc and Allan got two young Russian girls in their compartment!) We got settled in and the sleeping and snoring began! The next morning was here before you know it and it was time to get off the train, meet Marc's favorite Russian pastor and see Chuboksary!<br /><br />Choksary is a beautiful city and we had a great time touring the city with Pastor Sasha and missionary Chet from Texas (where everything is bigger!) We were so excited to see McDonalds for lunch and since it was Children's Day and the first day of summer break so there was a festival taking place with lots of boths with crafts and native items and children dancing and singing! What fun! After a walking tour around town and the electric plant on the lake that was created, we headed for our transportation with "Fast Eddie" to Mari-El, our mission trip destination spot!<br /><br />Wondering how Fast Eddie got his name? Let's just say that passing slower cars is his forte and joy and there isn't a pothole in Moscow that he is afraid of or misses! Oh, I should also mention that two lane roads have three lanes created when Fast Eddie drives and he has no idea was shocks or struts are! :) We made it safely (yes, after that trip we know God was already having a hand in this trip) and were so happy to see our hotel (which we did have to stop about five people to ask directions to). It is a nice hotel (no air conditioning but clean) but its best attribute yesterday was the hot showers! You should know that many Russian families don't have hot water in the summer (I figure the hot water heaters probably run 24/7 all winter so they turn them off to give them a rest for two months!) so we were thankful to find not only hot water but a clean towel for everyone. It is amazing how wonderful a shower can feel after two days of traveling without one! At nightfall, eating once again at McDonalds (yes, that is Russian food-we ate it in Russia!) we couldn't believe we had done some much and seen so much in so short a time!<br /><br />Granted this mission trip isn't for whimps! Our mantra is sleep is for the weak and food must be carried at all times cuz we just don't always have time to stop! We have seen so many ways that God has been at work ahead of us and with us and we can't wait to see what the rest of the week has in store!<br /><br />So, hope you enjoyed heading out on this journey with us and will stay tuned to see more of what God has in store for us this week!<br /><br />Your blogger for today,<br />Janet WellsMarc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-64706924563139910842011-06-02T23:12:00.002+03:002011-06-02T23:44:16.093+03:00Yoshkar-Ola BelieversThis is Valerie blogging. We are all taking turns trying to catch up on blogging so please forgive me for going out of order. It's Thursday evening here in Yoshkar-Ola and we are finally getting back to the hotel after a whirlwind day learning about the Mari culture and visiting with Mari believers. The day started with a Russian breakfast in the hotel. Afterwards we started a walking tour of the city. We had the 6 of us, our two translators Natasha and Zhenya and our guide Pastor Anatoly. We were a sight walking down Victory Park! Marc was able to get some great video for Engage Russia and the pedestrians seemed to enjoy the bloopers. Marc even had a very small co-host for one segment. After lunch we visited a museum dedicated to the Mari people. Natasha did a wonderful job translating for us!<br /><br /><br />Pastor Anatoly has been helping us connect with believers in the city and guiding us around town. This evening he arranged for us to meet some Mari believers about 30 minutes outside of the city. We were invited to their apartment and had the chance to talk and interview them. Afterwards they served us dinner and Janet has pictures of Marc enjoying his. We started talking about Mari music and before we knew what had happened, we were listening to them perform music, sing, dance and see the traditional Mari clothing. We enjoyed our visit with our Brothers & Sisters in Christ even with the language barrier!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Your Sister in Christ,<br /><br /><br />ValerieMarc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-46905929398231066202011-05-30T14:51:00.001+03:002011-05-30T14:53:06.996+03:00What is Engage Russia (Part 1)<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>What Is Engage Russia All About?</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In its simplest form, the <i>Engage Russia</i> project is about connecting Southern Baptist churches with the unreached and unengaged people groups of Russia. It is our prayer that as Southern Baptists are on mission in Russia the Gospel would be more widely spread and that new believers would then begin to share their faith and create new communities of disciples. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>What does it mean to be Unreached or Unengaged?</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><i>Unreached People Groups</i></b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">An unreached people group is “an identifiable group of people distinguished by a distinct culture, language, or social class who lack a community of Christians able to evangelize the rest of the people group without outside help. The only opportunity for the people group to hear about salvation is through an ‘external witness.’ Most missiologists consider two-percent of the population as the ‘tipping point’ at which the group is generally considered ‘reached’ with the Gospel.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">According to the latest statistics from <a href="http://www.joshuaproject.net"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #1b00a8"><i>The Joshua Project</i></span></a> there are nearly 200 unreached people groups in the Russian Federation.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><i>Unengaged People Groups</i></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">According to <a href="http://www.finishingthetask.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #1b00a8"><i>Finishing the Task</i></span></a>, there are 10 people groups in Russia that are classified as both “Unreached” and “Unengaged.” These people groups have populations over 50,000 and are “perhaps the neediest of the needy as they are unengaged, which means that no church, no mission agency...no one has yet taken responsibility to tell them about Jesus Christ.”</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Where Are Our Career Missionaries?</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Around the world, people are moving away from rural life and are concentrating themselves in large city centers. In Russia, half of the country’s population is currently living in cities of a million or more people. Currently there are around a dozen of these large million-plus cities in Russia. Therefore, the majority of our career IMB missionaries are located in these large urban centers. While God continues to call some to serve in the rural areas of Russia, it is strategically important for the IMB to place career missionaries in the large cities with the prayer of impacting as many people with the Gospel as possible.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>How Does <i>Engage Russia</i> Work?</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In the same way that Lewis & Clark explored the American western frontier so settlers could come behind to plant fields, build farms, and establish towns; <i>Engage Russia</i> provides Southern Baptist Churches with a ‘map’ for engaging the different people groups of Russia with the Gospel. But Engage Russia is about more than just guiding people to find the unreached people groups of Russia. We want to also provide “soil samples” or guides to help the church to really know the people whom they are going to serve. To this end, the <i>Engage Russia</i> team strives to provide mission teams with complete ethnographic profiles about Russia’s people groups.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Of course, this concept of scouting out what is ahead of us and preparing for others to follow with the intent of inhabiting the new land is not a modern one. There is also a Biblical model for the work of the <i>Engage Russia</i> team. In the book of Numbers, Moses gives instructions to 12 men who are to be the first into the land that God promised the Children of Israel. <i>“See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. Is the land they live in good or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications? Is the land fertile or unproductive? Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land."</i> </span><span style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px"> </span><span style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px">Numbers 13:18-20 (HCSB)</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> In verse 26 we find that it was not enough for the men just to go and scout, it was important that they shared what they learned. <i>“They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.”</i> </span><span style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0.0px">Numbers 13:20b (HCSB)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">But <i>Engage Russia</i> is more than just research. Like Lewis & Clark, the <i>Engage Russia</i> team visits the cities and villages where these unreached people can be found in order to establish and build relationships with the people in those communities. Before a church mission team comes to Russia to work with a people group, the <i>Engage Russia</i> team has already spent time in those areas. In addition, they are constantly documenting those experiences with various forms of media such as photographs & video to supplement the research provided to the churches.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In addition to researching the culture, language, religious beliefs, and customs of a people group, the <i>Engage Russia</i> team also tries to seek out local believers in each of the areas they visit. In doing so, they can help to paint a more accurate picture of the current status of the Evangelical church and can help churches focus on strategies that may be used to meet the needs of the people.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Native Americans -- An Analogy</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">While there is not an analogy that completely helps an American understand the concept of people groups in Russia, we can easily draw a comparison between the American Indian and a people group of Russia. In many parts of the country Native Americans still maintain a separate identity, language, religious beliefs and culture. And, some of these different American Indian tribes can still be found gathered together in different towns and cities across the heartland.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Are They Christians Or Not?</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">As you encounter research about Russia, and about Russia’s people groups one of the things you may find is that they are listed as being Christian. Therefore, this confuses many when you begin talking about the “unreached” or “unengaged.” In this context, the designation of “Christian” can mean a variety of things. Usually, this definition in this context, indicates the presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">However, as you examine Russia’s history and how the ethnic Russian people conquered the land and the people in what is now known as the Russian Federation, you find that as the people groups submitted to the authority of ethnic Russians, the new rule of law and government also established the Russians’ official religion, Russian Orthodoxy. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So, what does that mean today? Almost everybody in Russia, when you ask them on the street, will identify themselves with the Russian Orthodox Church. And, most every city or village will have some kind of Russian Orthodox church building. However, most are marginal practitioners, if at all, and a majority of those who ever visit an Orthodox chapel or cathedral only do so on Christmas or Easter holidays or for the baptism of a child or burial rites for themselves or a loved one.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>Russian Baptists - An Overview</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Most people are surprised to learn that Baptists have existed in Russia for over 140 years. Southern Baptist missionaries and the <i>Engage Russia </i>team cooperate and work alongside the <i>Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Russia --</i> part of the large family of Evangelical Christian Baptists, a Protestant evangelical movement which began in the Russian Empire in the midst of the Orthodox establishment. It originally attracted peasants, urban artisans, lower military, and ethnic minorities. While in some areas of the country the number of Russian Baptists seems to be growing, it is clear that across Russia for a person to be identified as a Baptist is to be identified as a member of a sect or cult. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In many of the areas where the unreached/unengaged people groups live it is possible to find small to medium-sized congregations of Russian Baptist believers. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>If the Russian Baptists are there, why should we go?</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">To answer this question, let’s go back to our analogy comparing Russian people groups to the Native Americans. In doing so, let us also draw this <i>fictional</i> anecdote:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b><i>Reaching the Creek of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma</i></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>As the American west was being settled in the early 1800s, thousands of Native Americans were moved from their tribal homelands to reservations. The Creek Indians, native to Alabama, resettled in what is now northwest Oklahoma. The present day town of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma was founded in the process and today many Creek Indians continue to live in this area. For the sake of example, let us say that the Creek Indians in and around Broken Arrow represent one of the unreached people groups of Russia.</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i></i></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><i>A basic Google search will yield dozens of listings for Southern Baptist churches in and around the city of Broken Arrow. And, this count does not begin to include the number of other Evangelical Christian churches in the area. Based solely on this research it would be easy for us to conclude that the Creek Indians of Broken Arrow have adequate access to the Gospel. However, if one were to take a research team to Broken Arrow and begin to do an in-depth study of the people who are attending the churches in this area, they may quickly find that the vast majority of the attendees are not ethnic Creek Indians. And, if this team were to take a survey of the language and style of the worship songs being sung, it would be likely that well over 90-percent of those songs would be in English and of a style that can be found in any number of Baptist churches throughout the country. Finally, if this research team were to count how many of the sermons on any one given Sunday were being preached in the Creek language they would also find that only a small percentage were being preached in Creek. Therefore, although there are dozens of Southern Baptist churches with the potential to reach the Creek of Broken Arrow, very few, if any, are actually doing the things that it would take to connect the Gospel message with a person who has their own distinct language and culture.</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">While this is a fictional anecdote, it does paint an accurate correlation to describe what we often find when we visit an unreached people group in Russia and find existing Russian Baptist or other Evangelical Christian congregations. Typically, when we encounter this scenario, we find ethnic Russians reaching ethnic Russians with the Gospel. As a result, these congregations usually have a very small minority of ethnic people group members. And, while the pastors may have a heart for reaching the members of the people group in the area, the churches have not made great strides to reach out to them in a culturally or linguistically appropriate way.</span></p>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-11154569075129378322010-04-19T14:47:00.001+03:002010-04-19T14:47:51.036+03:00clifton: Russia Trip-Day Seven<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; "><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from <a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(170, 119, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Michael's personal blog</a>.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 21px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Date: 3 April 2010</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Departure day!! No one to meet, no where to go, except home. Our flights home weren’t until evening, so more tourist-y events would fill the relaxed day.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I missed my wife’s birthday this week, so I had some shopping to do. After some morning chat, our host, Ed, convinced us that we should go up to “Sparrow Hills” where Moscow State University (МГУ) is located, because it is the highest elevation point in Moscow. From this point you can see all of Moscow on a clear day. This day wasn’t completely clear, but we could see almost everything.<br /><span id="more-218" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><a title="Russia's Harvard by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4517405698/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4517405698_c33f372c5c.jpg" alt="Russia's Harvard" width="500" height="334" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Moscow State University is called the “Harvard of Russia”, because it is the premiere university of Russia. I was excited to see the campus myself as there was a picture of МГУ in my Russian language textbook. I thought that this main building was one-of-a-kind, but shortly after arriving and mistakingly pointing out every similar skyscraper as “hey, that’s МГУ”, I found out that there was a series of seven buildings with similar architecture built in Moscow. These are called the “Seven Sisters.”</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="View from Sparrow Hills by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4516771663/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4516771663_72a9884b31_m.jpg" alt="View from Sparrow Hills" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">From an “observation point” in front of the university campus, we could see the majority of Moscow. The elevation drops off quickly into the rest of the city. Right in front of us was the Olympic Stadium (pictured at the top of this post) which was the main stadium for the 1980 olympics.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Marc and I still had shopping and packing to do before our flight, so we travelled across town to the Izmailovo Souvenir Market via Metro.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Above Ground Metro Station by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4516774589/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4516774589_a0b870d3b9_m.jpg" alt="Above Ground Metro Station" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The two main Metro stations we used were intriguing. The Metro at Sparrow Hills (Воробьёвы горы) is located below one of the main highways going into Moscow, yet is still above ground at that point (coming down from the hill). Instead of tiled walls, the sides of this metro were glassed-in for a panoramic view of the area.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Statue of Partisan in Metro Station by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4528386092/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4528386092_fc6bbb64b8_m.jpg" alt="Statue of Partisan in Metro Station" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The Metro for our exit into the market is called Partisanskaya (Partisan) Metro that serves as a memorial for the Russian partisans who helped defeat the Nazis in Russia. It used to be named Izmalovskaya Park Metro station. There are statues “hiding” behind columns appearing ready to “ambush” intruders. Another unique feature of this station is the fact that it has three tracks running through it. Instead of a middle platform with tracks running on either side of the station, there is a third one running down the middle of the station as well. At one point, this particular metro line splits into two. Getting on the correct line here would ensure that you get where you intend to go.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Shashlik Chefs (Say it 5x fast) by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4517410872/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4517410872_a3aa379dda_m.jpg" alt="Shashlik Chefs (Say it 5x fast)" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The market was buzzing. A bright, warm Saturday saw all sorts of tourists and locals alike. I heard more English spoken than I had the entire week. There were fur hats, Russian toys, matryoshka dolls (Russian nesting dolls), soviet era pins, antique cameras, and most importantly to our stomachs at the time, “shashlik.” The shashlik chef recognized Marc at a distance of about 20 feet with smoke in between. His English was great. We ordered our food and looked for a place to sit. In the process, other people walked up and the chef switched easily into Korean and French. A-mazing! The universal language chef was cooking up the universal food of “shashlik” or shish-ka-bob.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Entering the Bazaar by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4516776993/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4516776993_1a9074738c_m.jpg" alt="Entering the Bazaar" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We filled our stomachs and then walked around to fill our bags of trinkets to bring home to our families. I found a few pins of Kiev Dynamo soccer team for Nathan, a wooden snake for JoJo (that he named his “Ding Ding Snake”), and a traditional Russian doll for Abigail. Those were difficult to decide. What was easy was what I got for Angela. Marc had told me about Uzbek pottery before the trip, and I knew that would be the perfect gift. Many of the folks in this part of the world (particularly the women) rave about Polish pottery, but Marc preferred Uzbek pottery to Polish. I would agree with his assessment. As a returning customer, Marc garnered a 10% discount for himself and his friend, me. I picked out a tea set which included a pot, four cups and saucers, and a large platter/plate. The salesman wrapped everything up securely and we went back to the apartment to pack and get to the airport.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4516778507/" title="Ismaiolovo Bazaar by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4516778507_9a4ebf0349_m.jpg" width="240" height="161" alt="Ismaiolovo Bazaar" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">My check-thru luggage was full on the way over here, but it was going to be stuffed on the way back. I had to figure a way to get all that I had just bought safely back to Ukraine. I could not get the pottery in my carry-on bag, so it had to go into my (handle-less) suitcase. Amazingly, everything fit in snugly.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We got things packed quickly and headed to the airport shuttle train. We arrived at the station and bought tickets within two minutes of its departure. Talk about close!! We had a comfortable ride back to the airport. Marc and I had to depart each other at this point, because my flight left two hours later and our flights departed from different sides of the airport terminal.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I feared a little that my check-thru luggage might have been overweight. I didn’t even check it on the way here. I was relieved to see that the scale read 19.5Kg (the limit is 20Kg). Breathing a sigh of relief, I got my boarding pass, went through passport control, and waited for my flight home.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Upon arrival at the Kiev airport, I saw something that I never knew would be allowed in an airport. People were carrying oil lanterns from a separate flight. Most of these appeared to be Orthodox priests. Apparently, I witnessed the Eastern Orthodox tradition where candles and lanterns are lit at a central Orthodox church in Jerusalem on the night before Easter and spread through a crowd who transport the flames to various locations around the globe.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">My friend and colleague, Brad, was there to pick me up out front, and I arrived home safe and sound. My wife was glad to see me, and even more delighted to see the gift I brought back (that had no damage from the flight or packing). It was good to travel but better to be home.</p></span></i></span></span></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-4900437388486049822010-04-19T14:22:00.001+03:002010-04-19T14:47:00.391+03:00Clifton: Russia Trip-Day Six<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 21px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-style: italic; "><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from<a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(170, 119, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Michael's personal blog</a></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-style: italic; "><a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(170, 119, 170); text-decoration: none; "></a>.</span>Date: 2 April 2010</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I’m almost tired just thinking about all we did this day. For me it started early. For Marc Hooks it started early (just a couple hours later).</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We got up to meet someone for breakfast at … you can guess it … go ahead … yes, you were right, McDonald’s. That does remind me of the t-shirts for sale here with the face of Lenin and the “golden arches” just beside. I’m not sure he would have appreciated the irony of his face (the icon of Communism) being placed by McDonald’s (the icon of Capitalism), nor would he have enjoyed the idea of McD’s in locations all over Russia.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Anyway, our day was full of work, and Marc’s ankle this morning looked like a swollen rainbow. He was a real trooper and kept a supply of Tylenol nearby.<br /><span id="more-219" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><a title="Cathedral of Christ our Savior by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4494208683/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4494208683_6c31b88eca.jpg" alt="Cathedral of Christ our Savior" width="500" height="334" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Continuing with the theme of Russian Orthodoxy, we visited the largest symbol in Moscow of the Russian Orthodox Church, The Cathedral of Christ our Savior. It’s large golden dome with four surrounding smaller golden domes can usually be spotted from any picture of the Moscow skyline near the center of town. It is the tallest cathedral in Eastern Orthodoxy. I had taken a picture of this cathedral on Monday and didn’t realize what it was.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Cross on top of Cathedral of Christ our Savior by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4494195833/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4494195833_3f79707514_m.jpg" alt="Cross on top of Cathedral of Christ our Savior" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We were requested to put away cameras, and turn off cell phones upon entry (and our bags were checked by security). The inside of this cathedral was even more amazing than the outside. There were mosaics, murals, and icons all over the place. It was both breathtaking and eerie. People were lighting candles, crossing themselves, and even placing their head on and kissing some of the icons.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Just under the main hall was another in the basement. And there was a museum that told the history of this cathedral wrapped in a series of hallways around that. The museum was most interesting (well if you had a good grasp of the Russian language). It told the story of the site. You can read more on<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Christ_the_Saviour" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">Wikipedia</a>, and don’t even have to know Russian.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Moscow River with the Kremlin in background by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4494198835/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4494198835_55e7944cc8_m.jpg" alt="Moscow River with the Kremlin in background" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We shot some of the segments for Engage Russia on the footbridge over the Moscva River. We departed from there and followed the river over to the Kremlin/Red Square area. One funny thing was watch as chucks of ice from the recently thawed river were floating downstream.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: left; ">We walked around the back wall of the Kremlin to the backside of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square. Marc insisted that this was the best angle to get pictures of St. Basil’s rather than the front side facing Red Square. I have to admit that I think he was right. See:<br /><a title="OK, so I took a few pics of St. Basil's by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4494216457/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4494216457_7cff023bf7.jpg" alt="OK, so I took a few pics of St. Basil's" width="334" height="500" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We got some more segments of the various Engage Russia videos done along the way from St. Basil’s Cathedral, to Red Square, to the gates at the end of Red Square. We grabbed a lunch at, guess … McDonald’s. You must be psychic. This was the first time in a while that I had a Quarter Pounder with cheese (called a Royale w/cheese). Ok, so it was delicious!</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Calling out the Changing of the Guard by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4500820226/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4500820226_4b6696c810_m.jpg" alt="Calling out the Changing of the Guard" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We went out just in time to watch the guards change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Three guys stand guard. One of them only moves when people begin crossing the barrier, and that is usually only placing a whistle to his lips to alert of the infraction. The other two stand motionless for the hour on either side of a flame and monument. On the hour, three guys come “goose-stepping” into the scene. Only the two guards are replaced and the leader takes the two replaced out of the scene the same way. I can’t imagine standing still for an hour and then be expected to throw my legs to shoulder height in a march back.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><a title="Pushkin's House on Arbat by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4500824672/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4500824672_2b9d56c6f9_m.jpg" alt="Pushkin's House on Arbat" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We wrapped up all the work for Engage Russia and did a few more tourist-y things around town. Our next stop was Arbat Street. This is the art district of Moscow (some compare to Soho). There is a New Arbat and Old Arbat. The Old Arbat is a stream of shops on either side of a cobblestone walking area. There were musicians, painters and the occasional sign advertising for tatoos. Thousands of people crowded this street from end to end. There are even two Starbucks on this strand (and I naturally already wanted a Moscow city Starbucks mug). On this street is also the former home of famous Russian writer/poet Pushkin.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><a title="Lubyanka Metro Sign by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4500828500/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4500828500_4b62793def_m.jpg" alt="Lubyanka Metro Sign" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We decided to go back to the apartment to get the tripods for some night photography, but somehow got turned around on the all-so-simple Moscow Metro system. When it was evident that we would not have the time to get the tripods and be back on Red Square for the “magical blue hour” just after sundown, we scrapped that plan and checked out the Lubyanka Metro station (site of the first explosion in Monday’s suicide bombings. People were standing around praying and weeping around a make-shift memorial with photos of victims, flowers, and candles. It was a powerful expression by everyone who walked by. For me, there was some closure to see that something like this did affect people. Monday’s events left me stunned, but it felt weird to see people act as if nothing had happened.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We got back to Red Square just as the lights started coming on for the monuments. We spent a couple hours there, before going to TGIFridays (hey, it wasn’t McDonald’s) for a late dinner. This was our last night in Moscow.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Pray for those who are still feeling loss from the tragic events on Monday. Nearly 40 were killed, and over 100 were injured (some, including Marc’s Russian language teacher’s husband, were critically injured). As people may be faced with the thought of death, ask God to place people into their lives with the Truth.</p></span>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-61799319782231953372010-04-19T14:20:00.001+03:002010-04-19T14:45:36.896+03:00Clifton: Russia Trip-Day Five<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from<a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(170, 119, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Michael's personal blog</a>.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px;font-size:13px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px;font-size:13px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-style: normal; line-height: 21px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; "></span></p><div id="post-206" class="post-206 post hentry category-uncategorized tag-backtrack tag-day-five tag-engage-russia tag-moscow tag-russia" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; position: relative; "><div class="entry-content" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); "><div class="snap_preview" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Date: 1 April 2010</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I’m nearly kicking myself that I pulled a grand total of “zero” April Fools Jokes. I didn’t even attempt one.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Our train pulled into the station before sunrise. I had forgotten my tripod in our coupé and had to go all the way back from inside the station to our wagon (at the front of the train). Everyone had already gotten off and the doors were shut, but our wagon “stewardess” let me back in to retrieve. All I said when she asked was “Ya zabil” (I forgot).<br /><span id="more-206" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Most of the Most by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4476333369/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4476333369_7f27d3ef58_m.jpg" alt="Most of the Most" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We were exiting the station when we heard a voice of desperation ask, “Does anyone speak English.” This lady had the name and address of the hostel (Godzilla’s) where she was going to stay, but had no clue how to even get to where she was going. Marc and I helped her out all the way out of the Metro stop where she needed to be. It was a little out of our way, but we were at least on a Metro line where a McDonald’s was located. Yes, McD for breakfast, again. As we emerged at our stop, the sun was showing off a clear sky.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">After recharging our stomachs, we went to the apartment to recharge our phones, laptops, and various other batteries. We cleaned up from the travels and rested a bit before going out for the day.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Couple in the ГУМ by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4476347341/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4476347341_f700365f26_m.jpg" alt="Couple in the ГУМ" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Since the Internet had been cut off at home, and both my phone battery and minutes were used up two days previous. I loaded up some money on the phone and finally managed to relieve the nerves of my precious wife. I used up all my minutes in that one call.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We met another colleague for lunch at a food court in a mall near our McDonald’s breakfast location. I had Sbarro pizza, which was much better than their counterpart in Kiev. They even had pepperoni pizza!! We sat around discussing things and strategizing how I might be used once Marc was going stateside for a year.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Tomb of Unknown Soldier in St. Petersburg by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481253211/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4481253211_2ce0f76811_m.jpg" alt="Tomb of Unknown Soldier in St. Petersburg" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I then made my way out alone to meet up with another colleague, Tim, for us to videotape “man on the street” interviews with people to find out what they think it “means to be Russian.” I also needed to pick up the registration I had ordered three days prior.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I’m not sure we ever got a straight answer on the “What it means to be Russian” question. It was difficult enough to get anyone to agree to answer on video, and another thing to break the language barrier. One lady helped us for a few minutes to find others that would do it. One couple of older men chatted with us for over 20 minutes. One of them was Russian and the other Belorussian. The Russian dominated the conversation (or shall I say monologue). Every time the Belorussian tried to speak, the Russian would cut him off and tell him he was wrong. An interview with a couple ladies produced some laughs, and another compliment on my Russian language skills. I must have the most convincing nod in the world. <img src="http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); max-width: 100%; " /></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Duck (Duh) by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4484590639/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4484590639_388d30df39_m.jpg" alt="Duck (Duh)" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Tim had some other things to do, so he departed, and I made my way back to the apartment. My eyes shut for only a moment (more like an hour or more) when Marc hobbled in. He had sprained his ankle some kinda bad on the way home.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We still had plans to meet up with some of his former English Club students, so we headed out the door to meet with them. Only two of the group showed up, but we went to the nearest Schocolodnitsa Cafe for some coffee. We sat there for a couple hours talking and catching up with them.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Russian Flag by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4485237438/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2685/4485237438_dbd4c06738_m.jpg" alt="Russian Flag" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Marc and I said goodbye and went to Rostick’s (KFC) to get some real dinner to take back to the apartment where he could rest and wrap his ankle.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">By this part of the trip, my habit at the end of the day was to take the card out of my camera and load them into iPhoto, but I had not shot a picture all day. How was that even possible? So, I’ve just included some random photos from the trip throughout this blog post.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Having lived in Africa, it was easy to make friends quickly. People there smile and greet everyone. This became our biggest Culture Shock upon entering a former Soviet country. People here don’t smile much, and often become suspicious of you if you do. Friendships take time here. People are just not as open to foreigners. However, once a friendship is made, it becomes a deep friendship. These relationships are the key to unlocking the door to sharing with people in this culture. Marc demonstrated that on several occasions during the trip, but this night, when we met the two English Club students, it was apparent that one of these was a real life-long friend. Marc got invited back to his home village to stay with his parents.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Pray with us that these types of relationships be made and continue. We also pray that when they invite us into their lives, that we live transparent enough that they invite Jesus into their lives as well.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: center; "><a title="Double Eagle in St. Pete Palace by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4484589169/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4484589169_ec4d991055_m.jpg" alt="Double Eagle in St. Pete Palace" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; display: block; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></p></div></div></div><div class="clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><div class="comments" style="padding-top: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: left; position: relative; clear: both; "></div><p></p></span></i></span></span></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-38846955036772333462010-04-19T14:18:00.001+03:002010-04-19T14:20:14.693+03:00Clifton: Russia Trip-Day Four<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(204, 204, 204); line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from<a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/" style="color: rgb(170, 119, 170); text-decoration: none; ">Michael's personal blog</a>.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; line-height: 21px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Date: 31 March 2010</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We were roused from our deep (well deserved, I might add) slumber by the sound of our host clapping a wake-up call and the smell of bacon. It wasn’t early, but the previous day made it feel like we were waking well before it was time.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">A wonderful breakfast of eggs, bacon, biscuits, potatoes and brownies (wait, did I just admit to having a brownie for breakfast) were waiting for us as soon as we could drag our bodies to the table. Our hostess really knew how to make us feel welcome, and help us start the day.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Today, we planned better, expecting to take public transportation again, we shed some weight from our packs and journeyed out for the day. We met back up with Clint at a men’s prayer time at the Baptist Union building. These men were on their knees and faces before God, praying for people.<span id="more-203" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Me @ St. Isaac's by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4485234508/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2771/4485234508_044ee65d5a_m.jpg" alt="Me @ St. Isaac's" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">They finished around 10:00am and greeted us heartily. It was a few days before Easter, so we responded to the “Kristos Voscress” (Christ has risen) with “Voistinu Voscress” (He has risen indeed).</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I can’t say that I was disappointed to see the big, blue van outside that Clint drives waiting for us in the Baptist Union parking lot. We wouldn’t have to lug our packs around all day afterall. We were going to be able to take in a few sights for a few hours before we had an interview to videotape.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We got to see the Peter the Great Monument (pictured above), stand on the Neva River, and go up in the colonnade in St. Isaac’s Cathedral to get a panoramic view of the city. We paid “inostranits” (foreigner) prices for entry and made our way up the 200+step circular staircase that brought us to another set of steps to the top. With a fairly flat landscape, this perch at about 200 ft. helped us to see for miles in every direction.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="St. Petersburg "Winter Palace" by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4485239546/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4485239546_dd13e49d42_m.jpg" alt="St. Petersburg "Winter Palace"" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We then made our way to the square in front of the “Winter Palace.” This large, pale green palace is now the site of the Hermitage Museum. We didn’t have time to visit inside, but I hear this is an amazing museum.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We met our interviewee at a mall in town. We went in different directions in the food court. Subway was the first thing that caught my eye. I ordered in Russian with what must have been a distinctively American accent. The cashier told me that my “Russian is very good.” This statement made me wonder that if my Russian was that good, why did she tell me in English? I enjoyed my 30cm-long Italianski sandwich with a Mountain Dew to drink. No chance of me getting that in Ukraine. <img src="http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial !important; border-color: initial !important; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); max-width: 100%; " /></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Singer Building by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481256951/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4481256951_c2b73ec836_m.jpg" alt="Singer Building" width="161" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">From the mall we decided to go to the Singer building (former headquarters for Singer sewing machines in the Soviet Union) for the interview. The coffee shop there looks directly across to the Kazan Cathedral. We got permission to shoot the interview inside and enjoyed a cup of coffee or two.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The interview went great. We talked a bit about the “Russian mind” from the perspective of a Russian. Winston Churchill said “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”, but is Russia really that complicated? I would verify that the Russian language is that complicated and more, but our interview shed some light on the “Russian mind.” He said that Russians value “safety” which is in direct contrast of the typical American answer of “freedom.” There is a sense of pride in being a Russian, just as there is in being American (or any other nationality for that matter). Safety really helps explain why certain things are done (and why I had to go through all sorts of hoops to enter and stay in Russia to begin with). But it not only affects the overall mindset in government affairs, it also affects personal, family decisions. For example, a man might turn down a job that pays better in lieu of a job that appears more steady and “safe” for his family. It also explains why people are more willing to give up freedoms if they can feel safe.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><a title="Kazan Cathedral by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481906748/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4481906748_2336c6b0fc_m.jpg" alt="Kazan Cathedral" width="161" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We left there with excitement (either from the great interview or from coffee or both). We did a little souvenir shopping before turning towards our next destinatinon, dinner. Clint and his family had invited us to dinner before we got on the train to go back to Moscow. Clint’s wife had fixed chicken pot pie. This meal put my Subway sandwich to shame.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We got our stuff together and made our way back to the train for our return trip to Moscow. Unfortunately, this leg of the journey was not in as nice a train, and we had companions in our coupé. It wasn’t so bad. Neither of them talked much, so getting to sleep wasn’t an issue.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Spilt Blood "Onion" domes by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481902992/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/4481902992_cda262d923_m.jpg" alt="Spilt Blood "Onion" domes" width="161" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Of the three interviews we got a glimpse of the Baptist organization in Russia, theological perspectives of Russian Orthodoxy, and the Russian thought process. All three were crucial in understanding the task of getting the gospel to the average person in Russia. Especially when understanding the idea of “safety” in their context, one may see their traditional practice in a new light. Those actions are like an “insurance policy” or a “safety net” in case everything else doesn’t work. We need to communicate the gospel as something that is the ultimate “safety” provided by God, but in a way that shows that God is the initiator (not man, nor by anything man does). In fact, starting with man’s sin, we could show how we are ultimately in an un-safe situation with our Creator. Pray with us as we continue to share this Good News with the people of Russia and surrounding countries.</p></span></i></span></span></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-63175841858116531052010-04-14T17:35:00.001+03:002010-04-14T17:35:54.976+03:00Clifton: Russia Trip-Day Three<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from <a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/">Michael's personal blog</a>.</span><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 21px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Date: 30 March 2010</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I woke up early (as usual – and to the disdain of my friend, Marc Hooks) as the train was still making its way through the country to St. Petersburg. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon and dashed in between the trees as we continued down the tracks. It appeared to be a beautiful morning, and we had another hour before we arrived at the station. It was at this moment that hoped that the blue sky would continue throughout the day.<span id="more-199" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The train pulled in at around 9:00am. Marc and I immediately noticed that it was much colder than in Moscow. The sky was white with cloud cover and the chill in the air was heavy. Our friend, Clint, met us at the station and guided us through the metro to our first stop of the day, McDonald’s. I enjoy McD’s at breakfast than at any other time. I worked at McD for 3 years, and my favorite shift was morning shift, and I was in charge of making biscuits. According to my manager, I baked the best biscuits that she had ever tasted. However, they don’t know biscuits here, so everything is served on english muffins. I digress.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Central Baptist Church in St. Petersburg by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481249877/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4481249877_af41ed41f9_m.jpg" alt="Central Baptist Church in St. Petersburg" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Our first video shoot was at Central Baptist Church in St. Petersburg with the pastor there. When it comes to understanding the history of the Baptist Church in Russia, one must start with this church. Nearly all of the Baptist churches in Russia (that aren’t new church plants) can be traced back to Central Baptist Church.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We trudged from the <a href="http://www.karta-metro.ru/images/st-petersburg.gif" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">Metro</a> over a snow/slush covered walkway with our heavy, equipment laden packs to the church, which at first glance neither appeared “Baptist” nor “Central”. The church building has similar elements (like an “onion-shaped dome” on top) to an Orthodox church. In fact, at one time, it was an Orthodox church. Evidently, the Soviet government desired their former location in the “center” of St. Petersburg. Around 1960, the government was successful in occupying that location, but provided this “new” property complete with a (run-down) Russian Orthodox chapel somewhere on the outskirts of town.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Texture by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481899620/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4481899620_58c5c1d246_m.jpg" alt="Texture" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">For the past 40 years, Central Baptist Church has met in this location in a formerly remote place nearly out of the city in a formerly Orthodox church building. Now, the area around Central Baptist Church has experienced a boom of new people, buildings, and houses. Despite the government’s efforts, the church thrived and is continuing to thrive to this day. Evidently, the Russian Orthodox want their property and building back.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The sanctuary had large boards on the walls that explain church history in general, as well as their specific church history. The photos and information kept there was amazing. We met the pastor there, and video-taped a long interview in the sanctuary of the church. We then shot a few more scenes to make the video work together. This video was to be about the history of Baptists in Russia for <a href="http://engagerussia.org/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">Engage Russia</a>.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Ice Fisherman by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481251527/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4481251527_dd238508d8_m.jpg" alt="Ice Fisherman" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Our next stop was lunch. We made our way back up the snow/slush path that skirted along a lake. There were still several ice fishermen on the lake. That should explain how cold it still was in St. Petersburg. <a href="http://www.rostiks.ru/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">Rostik’s (KFC)</a>was nearby, so we settled on that.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Lunch ended and we headed towards the center of town to video our second interview. Or subject concerned Russian Orthodoxy, and our interviewee has a Master’s Degree in the subject. He also served as our translator for the previous interview. We decided to shoot this section near the most famous Orthodox cathedral in St. Petersburg, the <a href="http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/church-of-savior.asp" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">“Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood.”</a></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481904088/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4481904088_8131c95a4a_m.jpg" alt="Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">This cathedral is reminiscent of St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow in architecture. The colors were not as bright, but the detail work on the building was amazing. The church is located next to one of the many canals in St. Petersburg on the location where in 1881 Czar Alexander II was mortally wounded in the last of a series of assassination attempts. His son, Czar Alexander III, commissioned the church to be built there. It took 24 years to build and was funded almost entirely by the “royal family.”</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Church on Spilt Blood Silhouette by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481251899/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4481251899_8040b9712b_m.jpg" alt="Church on Spilt Blood Silhouette" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Our hostess was busy in the kitchen cooking up something with one of the best aromas imaginable. The host of the house was out doing other things and wouldn’t return until late that night. Fairly soon, dinner was served to Marc, Clint, and myself. This meal included a cream of broccoli soup and was followed by some of the best sweet & sour chicken I have EVER (and I don’t use that lightly) tasted. It was all I could do to save room for a mint brownie.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Kazan in B&W by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481904574/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4481904574_cd86f59d02_m.jpg" alt="Kazan in B&W" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Marc needed to get some editing done for the <a href="http://vimeo.com/10562163" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(187, 68, 17); text-decoration: none; ">“Special Edition”</a> Engage Russia video we shot the day before and get it uploaded. I remember talking through a couple things when I heard Marc say, “Just go to bed!” Evidently, I was sitting there snoring. Anyway, it was just enough of an evening nap for me to stay up for our host to arrive home and stay up beyond midnight chatting with him. Marc got the video uploaded and I went to bed.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">If the previous day was emotionally draining, this day was physically exhausting. Our packs felt like lead when we finally were able to put them down in the apartment. We learned quite a bit about Russian Orthodoxy and about Baptist History in Russia. It is amazing to research history that is hundreds of years old (when our own country is just over 200 years old). There is such a rich history here. Traditions run deep in the culture and their religion.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="More Crowds by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481905120/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4481905120_7cf44da5be_m.jpg" alt="More Crowds" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Pray for the Russian people. A deep history is great, but if traditions lose meaning, then the people fall into a “works” mentality. Pray for the continued work of Baptist churches and specifically Central Baptist Church as they minister to those around them and lead more to Christ as a result. Pray that they not be content in being the “Mother Baptist Church”, but continue to desire to plant other churches in the area and in various parts of Russia.</p></span></i></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-48986941950870334922010-04-14T17:33:00.001+03:002010-04-14T17:34:39.217+03:00Clifton: Russia Trip-Day Two<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from <a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/">Michael's personal blog</a>.</span><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); "><div id="post-195" class="post-195 post hentry category-uncategorized" style="padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; position: relative; "><div class="entry-content" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.8em; text-align: justify; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); "><div class="snap_preview" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Date: 29 March 2010</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Without much planned, this day started out lazily. We planned to meet another friend for breakfast, go to an office for my Russian registration, and see a few sights in Moscow before getting on a late night train to St. Petersburg. We were all stirring around the apartment when the calls started. An explosion had occurred in one of the Metro stations. Our host then began a series of calls to check on each of the people he knew in town. Everyone under his responsibility was accounted for.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><span id="more-195" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; "><a title="Lubyanka Metro Sign by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4500828500/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4500828500_4b62793def_m.jpg" alt="Lubyanka Metro Sign" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></p></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Within a few minutes of hearing of the first explosion (at Lubyanka Metro Station), we started hearing reports of a second explosion. When the second explosion was confirmed, we knew it wasn’t some random gas line explosion, but rather a coordinated attack. Rumors had started surfacing of a third, but never confirmed. Two female suicide bombers had set off bombs within 45 minutes of each other at Lubyanka Station and at Park Kultury Station, killing nearly 40 and injuring over 100 others.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Breakfast plans were cancelled, and there was some concern about riding the Metro. The “Red Line” was almost completely shut down since both explosions were on that line. After a couple hours, it was clear that the attacks had ended. However, I still needed to get my registration filled out, and we had to cross town to do it.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Business as Usual? by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4473943484/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4473943484_e4b222dc50_m.jpg" alt="Business as Usual?" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Just before noon, we ventured out onto the Metro. We felt a little heavy going down to the platform to wait for the train. We stepped into the train, and began our journey. On our wagon, there were dozens of police officers. Under normal circumstances, I would have felt more secure with their presence, but their faces showed absolute dread. These young guys (mostly in their early 20s) appeared to have a job that none of them wanted. Several of them were carrying silver-colored, shrink-wrapped packages about the size of a thick notebook. Two or three got off at each station until all of them had gotten off. I don’t know what their assignment was, but I am sure I didn’t want it.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Park Kultury Metro Station - 2nd Blast by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4473939928/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4473939928_c6483eb4bc_m.jpg" alt="Park Kultury Metro Station - 2nd Blast" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We surfaced from the Metro and wound our way to the GoToRussia office, where I would apply for and receive my registration. Paying another $45, I had officially paid more for visas and paperwork than I had for the airline ticket.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Along the way, we discussed taping a special edition of Engage Russia. We talked through it on the Metro and got out at the Park Kultury Station (which is an exchange station and the part we got out wasn’t closed). People were pouring in and out of the station. Many looked as if it was just any other day, but the police, fire, and television crews told a different story. We video-taped several segments and took pictures of the scene outside. We knew that while a terrible thing had happened, we needed to help people understand this in “light of eternity.”</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Headed to the Metro station by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4473165543/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2782/4473165543_640f4c32c4_m.jpg" alt="Headed to the Metro station" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Only a fraction of 1% of people in Russia understand the gospel from an evangelical perspective. Many are considered Orthodox Christian and go through the rites and practices, but don’t understand the meanings behind it. Tradition and mysticism garners the lives of the typical person on the street. While some were trying to make sense of the destruction of lives, others seemed un-affected and rather inconvenienced. Due to these acts of terror, many people entered eternity without Christ. Our job as believers is to tell the people around us the “Good News” so that they can be ready for eternity. Now more than ever, they need this message.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Gorky Park Carousel by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4476322623/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4476322623_21c991d16b_m.jpg" alt="Gorky Park Carousel" width="240" height="161" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We made our way from Park Kultury (formerly Gorky Park – mentioned in the Scorpions song “Wind of Change) back to the Metro to see Red Square. However, Red Square had been blocked off. It was a strange site for Marc Hooks to see the square empty of people. Temporary barriers were set up and guarded at every entrance. The gates to the square were closed. We grabbed a quick bite at McDonald’s before heading back to the apartment to pack for our trip to St. Petersburg.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Closed Down by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4477131284/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4477131284_c09646aab0_m.jpg" alt="Closed Down" width="194" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">It had been a mentally exhausting day. Our host had fixed us a wonderful dinner of barbeque chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and salad. It was a great meal. We packed our gear and essentials into our backpacks and made our way to the train station, leaving plenty of time for disruptions.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We arrived at the station with plenty of time to spare, or so we thought. We picked up some supplies of snacks and drink and went to the train that we thought was ours. It wasn’t. Upon further inspection of our tickets, we had been issued tickets for a train that left two hours before the time that the issuer had written down for our choice. We scrambled around to get a refund (50%) on our tickets and get one on the soonest train from that point. We secured our tickets and departed just after midnight. Our mistake resulted in us getting on a new train and in a coupe without any other people.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Hilton Hotel near Train Station by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4481893398/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4481893398_c5cefc254b_m.jpg" alt="Hilton Hotel near Train Station" width="161" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">What started as a lazy day turned out to be physically and mentally draining. The weight of this day sat on our shoulders. We were in Moscow on a day that will be remembered in history. We pray that such a terrible event gets people to start thinking about eternity, and that we would be sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit to share. God has a heart for the Russian people. Will you accept the challenge to pray for and share with these people?</p></div></div><div class="clear" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; clear: both; "></div></div><div class="comments" style="padding-top: 30px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: left; position: relative; clear: both; "></div></span></i></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-57301819558201975072010-04-14T17:19:00.003+03:002010-04-14T17:33:26.849+03:00Clifton: Russia Trip-Day One<i><b>Editor's Note:</b> Engage Russia's newest team member, Michael Clifton, made his first trip to Russia earlier this month. Michael is a media producer living in Kiev, Ukraine. This summer Michael will start leading Engage Russia production trips while Marc Hooks is in the States meeting with churches and others who are interested in becoming Engage Russia partners. The following is posted from <a href="http://mclifton.wordpress.com/">Michael's personal blog</a>.</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 21px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I had an eventful first trip to Russia, to say the least. I am still trying to unpack all that happened. I will use the next few blog posts to “backtrack” the week.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">The first day started early. We already lost an hour due to Daylight Savings Time taking effect. My friend, Brad Atkins, was there to pick me up around 5:30am.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I got checked in and through all the exiting procedures. I sat in the boarding lounge and watched the sun rise. I got in my (preferred) window seat on my first Aeroflot flight, and slept through taxiing and takeoff. I awoke to somewhat of a surprise, breakfast! Of course, it was minimal, but it was something.<span id="more-188" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></span></p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; float: left; "><a title="Orthodox Church by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4470646510/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4470646510_6b378f5535_m.jpg" alt="Orthodox Church" width="161" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">I always find it humorous that people from this part of the world applaud upon landing the aircraft. I don’t know the reasoning behind it. The clapping seems to be a sign of relief that the plane has re-established contact with the ground. On this occasion, I think the applause happened a bit too early. The back wheels touched down (clapping commenced), and the pilot showed the maneuverability of the 737 all the way down the runway. I thought we were on a road-course rather than a drag strip.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">My friend, Marc Hooks, arrived about one hour after I did. We made our way to the <a href="http://www.airportmoscow.com/Main_Page_Links/Moscow_Metro.gif" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">metro station</a>. We switched over to the metro line, rode for a while, and switched again to get on the proper line to the apartment. It was right at 1:00pm when we arrived. We chatted for a while with our host, and rested a bit before going to an agent to get train tickets for the following night for St. Petersburg, Russia.</p><div style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; float: right; "><a title="Lenin Monument by cliftonsabroad, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30940143@N08/4470645948/" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2696/4470645948_4829697c1d_m.jpg" alt="Lenin Monument" width="161" height="240" style="padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-width: 2px; border-right-width: 2px; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); max-width: 100%; " /></a></div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Octyabrskaya was the metro destination. The park and square had a large statue of Lenin in the middle. This is evidently the most recent erected statue of Lenin (1985) as a “multi-national” symbol of the 1917 October Revolution.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">We secured our train tickets, and finally got something quick to eat at Rostick’s (KFC). It was a late lunch for the two of us, but it was something. It was just like KFC in the US (except for the menus in Cyrillic type). A “zinger” was a “зингер”!</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">Taking advantage of the beautiful, blue sky, we leisurely made our way back to the apartment and took in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">Yuri Gagarin</a> Monument (picture at top). He was the first person in space and the first to orbit the Earth on 12 April 1961. He died 7 years later in a MIG jet crash, and was buried in the wall of the Kremlin. This stainless-steel (or titanium – debated) monument stands 40 meters tall.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">For dinner, the two of us and our hosts went to the <a href="http://www.starlite.ru/index2.html" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 119, 221); text-decoration: none; ">Starlight Diner</a> (not too far from the Lenin monument). The chrome-plated diner resembles (inside and out) a 50’s era US diner. The burgers and milkshakes (I had a bleu cheese and bacon burger with an Oreo milkshake) were great, but even the non-smoking side of the diner was clouded in cigarette smoke.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 13px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; ">All-in-all, not a bad first day in Moscow.</p></span></i></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-29611705111874584852010-03-30T23:19:00.003+03:002010-03-31T07:07:07.280+03:00Engage Russia-Moscow Metro Bombingshttp://www.vimeo.com/10562163Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-83467166997941518132010-02-11T05:01:00.002+02:002010-02-11T05:28:18.577+02:00<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span>Wednesday, February 10, 2010</span></i></b><b><i> – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada<o:p></o:p></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTFOYWot4BuS3WOfEJV9bvRU0Mnwb2R6lfcUe-cHG0rHXcaOdUohCAdUYRB_TiXDn8b_DBpa6u8j1P85dUfK_9XPkLWj35fqn8DHdlb-1ZJ91YaoIZrIKQirZE8SmS99oDkqV47KeXhU/s320/IMG_6669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436814179763800610" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Team <b><i>Engage Russia</i></b> is on the move again!<span></span>Never content to stay in one place too long, we have been working on an Olympic edition of<b><i>Engage Russia</i></b>.<span> </span>Three weeks ago we were on the banks of the Black Sea in Sochi, Russia – host city for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.<span> </span>And this week we are on the other side of the globe in Vancouver, Canada for the 2010 Winter Olympics!</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It is not hard to get Olympic fever around here.<span></span>It starts as you get off the plane and just continues to build.<span> </span>We even saw the Ukrainian Ski Team unloading their gear at the airport, as well as a number of athletes from Sweden.<span> </span>Already we are seeing similarities between the two Olympic cities.<span> </span>Both have a large portion of the city situated along major bodies of water (the Black Sea in Sochi and the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver) and both have spectacular snow-capped mountain ranges within eyesight of the shore.<span> </span>In addition, the temperatures in both cities have hovered around the mid-to-upper 40s – mild as compared to a lot of other cities which have hosted the Winter Games.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIb0rkl64QAXyRJGXBTIESvBaGnFN-4DcU49wNQHYOMckw5GR-_saFkqU6EyTGG0VGo_xTi_f8RMWhOC6XPfw56rLouHA-7hrgjSKS3U4qWxtsHMKSKiE0C6rRdKYe22eIYnwdB8g7q0g/s320/IMG_6652.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436814846499680578" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal">Day One was spent, as usual, getting acquainted with a new city.<span></span>We spent the day walking the streets, figuring out the public transportation, and taking in the sights of the city.<span> </span>The day started off with a few clouds, but by the end of the day it was quite chilly and rainy.<span> </span>Of course, Olympic venues are under very tight security, so there are many places (like the Olympic Village) where you are only allowed to be if you have the proper credentials.<span> </span>However, our purpose for being here is not to actually cover the games, but to find out how Southern Baptists are using this event as a stage for outreach and evangelism.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This week more than 500 Southern Baptist volunteers will make their way north to Vancouver.<span> </span>Most are partnering with a multi-denominational organization called <b><i>More Than Gold</i></b>, a relational network organized in response to the Winter Games.<span></span>More Than Gold’s mission is to extend radical Christian hospitality to the estimated 300,000 visitors expected for the Olympics.<span> </span>More information about the group can be found at<a href="http://www.morethangold.ca/">www.morethangold.ca</a>.</p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OXJUH4yJJ_4b4DdCY2nwBSgLimt9vJuptlYsUvgnOB2R9RzLLvGT-NmoH9q8OWlKvpNYtB39DX6amn6Xo_YXLwgFzXfh97SFCohbWogL_r8Eol3vOO9RH4Z7kWnzEAurLtCEofCeO5o/s320/IMG_6706.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436814185397113778" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><p class="MsoNormal">After having just come from Sochi, it was exciting to find the <i>“Russky Dom”</i> (Russia House) where workers were busily preparing to cheer on the Russian athletes and to promote the 2014 games in Sochi.<span> </span>The Russia House is located in Vancouver’s bulbous science museum just outside of the Olympic Village.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow we will join up with the volunteers and More Than Gold officials.<span> </span>It will be exciting to see how God will use the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to grow his kingdom.<span> </span>Stay tuned!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">More photos from day one can be seen at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2047089&id=1072353850&l=4a9aacd5d3</p>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-28690043524581296972010-01-10T14:01:00.001+02:002010-01-10T14:01:28.783+02:00Wrapping up in Karelia<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; ">Sunday, January 10, 2010 – Petrozavodsk, Russia – Republic of Karelia</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are wrapping up our work in Karelia today.<span> </span>As with most places in Russia, I really hate to leave.<span></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUv-SFtwx4mSAwyyMZLboL3eXNihGMrkt0vn0dIKZDNdY_8_zjUOPvKz7rL1j_-TIUvN9KPTAp_vx76Xz2J-ttfgjKcjrtpxZGq_nkkWVEmhpXDCULmEML7j71hXx9PHclnOQoDmCYqLo/s320/IMG_6411.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425079130589807394" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>This morning was disappointing.<span> </span>When we arrived in Karelia we had the address and phone number for a congregation of believers in Petrozavodsk.<span> </span>While we were able to find the church building, the phone number we had did not have enough digits, so we were not able to make telephone contact with the pastor.<span></span>However, the church had the times of the services posted on the two and twice we tried to connect with the believers here, but to no avail.<span></span>This morning we watched as 10:30 came and went and there was no sign of life at the little church building.<span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>We don’t know what happened or where the believers were. But they were certainly not there.<span></span>Their absence could have been due to the fact that Christmas was celebrated this past week and they chose to cancel services for the rest of the week.<span> </span>It could be that due to the expense of having electricity and heat, the congregation could be meeting in a home to save money.<span> </span>(I did notice one car parked on the street that had a “Jesus Fish” on the back of it.<span> </span>Common in America, very out of the ordinary here.) Wherever they are, will you keep them in your prayers?<span> </span>Will you also pray about how you might become involved in this area?</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2044333&id=1072353850&l=e19031519e">Photographs from our morning can be seen here.</a></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>This evening we will get back on a train headed for Moscow.<span> </span>We are due to arrive around 9am.<span></span>We will then start making our way to the airport for the second leg of this journey – Sochi, which is located on the Black Sea and will be the home of the 2014 Winter Olympics.<span> </span>And, this may come as quite shock to our bodies which have adapted to the near 0F temperatures.<span> </span>Sochi is forecast to be 50-degrees WARMER than it is here!<span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Please continue to pray as we travel, not just for us, but for our families who are at home without us.<span> </span>Due to travel, I will probably not update blogs until Tuesday night.<span> </span>However, I will try to keep my Facebook and Twitter status’ current for those of you who like the “blow-by-blow” accounts of our adventures.<span> </span>Thanks for praying and for following along!</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Blessings,</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Marc</p></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-29257106655649421182010-01-09T21:49:00.001+02:002010-01-09T21:49:36.939+02:00Northern Stars and Well Water<span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Saturday, January 9, 2010</span></span></i></b></span><span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> – Petrozavodsk, Russia – Republic of Karelia</span></span></i></b></span><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is a clear, albeit cold, night in Petrozavodsk.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As we were walking back to the hotel I stopped by the lakeshore in the hopes to see the Aurora Borealis.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">However, we are not quite far enough north to see that amazing sight.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oh well, I guess I have to have a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">few things left on my “Bucket List.”</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Maybe during my next trip to Murmansk it will be clear enough; it was not last year during my first trip.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am not sure that I have ever seen the stars in the way I did tonight.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I must confess, I actually forgot about looking for the Northern Lights until I was walking back and something caught my eye.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was Mars.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is no surprise that I am pretty geeky anyway, but it was so cool to see this planet tonight.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It just seemed to be popping out of the sky.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, there was no mistaking what it was.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have never seen it look so red.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Really quite amazing.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My favorite constellation is Orion, and he was easily identifiable as he crossed the northern sky.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There is just something comforting about being in an unfamilar place, but seeing the stars from home.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><div style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 1pt; padding-left: 0in; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_BD8ZCimdAx2B67-soel4AtQctpcgMyhpOl3-1TQIdu8bTH2QMJSqIMXRv0wBRFuiaygYES26JwnP-uNOHaGAS4jxab-8rf8Ff-yUFkM7hnELvUbST0Mr9V3tzYiD59soDe5vfoTh9Q/s320/IMG_6408.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424822905302507506" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have been thinking a lot about water today.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We met three women today as we were shooting stand-ups near the artesian well where the people from this part of town to get their water (yes, many places in Russia still do not have running water in their homes…fortunately, our hotel does.)</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of them was sharing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the history of the 45-year old well and she explained that the lake (which was about 500 yards away) has very dirty water.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, that the water which comes out of this well is very clean.</span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For the rest of the day, my mind has been consumed with the thought of how important clean water is.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These women certainly recognize the importance of getting clean water and what it means for their own health and for the health of their families.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Quite some time ago in a place far from here, there was another woman who came to a well for water.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Like these women, she met a stranger - a foreigner - at the well who told her that what she needed was “Living Water.”</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Of course, that man was Jesus. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>The Message</i> version of the Bible says Jesus told her, “When you drink </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">this water (from the well) you will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of the things that occurred to me today as I pondered the events of the day and the story from the Bible was this: our world is so polluted with religious messages.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Many think they are getting what they need.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They think that what they are getting is good for them.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After all, who would think that water could be bad for you?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Water is water, after all.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">However, these three women at the well today<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">reminded me of an important fact.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Getting water is not enough.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To be healthy we must have <i>clean</i> water.</span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrNONSZzF9taqeG_gjXJ9EdZ3fRIUnn3h5pLKkq5BbmdfqQlHO5YppgAu1NZJbINIXdni2IkmO-R1NuIs-FoIgzMaO75EGweaqZLDuF9QvzsFwV9iEC7BrTQeaOP572HCYVutpK-ticLU/s320/IMG_6307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424823619450024530" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Let’s make sure that as we come into contact with people -- no matter what country, culture, or society you live in – that you are pointing people to a clean source of water, not just any puddle or lake.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are a lot of bodies of water that, on the surface, look clean.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A walk through the streets of Prague will reveal many posters leading you to some of those different bodies of water as they offer better living through meditation, exercise, and a host of other religious options.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As Christians, we can put up signs and posters that lead people to Living Water. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We can build fancy buildings that cover the well and hope that people will recognize that as a place to come to get the Living Water.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We can build a water park and have events where we hope that people will be attracted to the fun and adventure of the Living Water.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And, we can even spend our spare time updating our Facebook and Twitter status’ to talk about the blood of Jesus and hope that people will feel guilty for not having the Living Water.</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But, wouldn’t Jesus be happier if we just sat down by the well and invited our friends to join us as we share a drink with him?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A drink of Living Water?</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Maybe then there would be more people coming to the well and less people pulling water from the lake.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Blessings,</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marc</span></span></span></p>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-12221341033767566982010-01-08T21:22:00.000+02:002010-01-08T21:23:04.290+02:00This was a light day?<span><b><i>Friday, January 8, 2010</i></b></span><b><i> – Petrozavodsk, Russia – Republic of Karelia</i></b><div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YK-8F1NS_tOXV9TNIH74n7T42q_A7IPsGDUoUE-zOuMdhyphenhyphenUoZglAoGtA5weL2bvP5fyfudFC_TZu3L7Zg1G17KHWejeVMiIKO_d6yg4ac2IorKS-E7xgYTCmGf5FFsbEpEBq4vje6SE/s320/Russian-Ira.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424449235759993026" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Today was not as busy as others, but physically it seems to have taken its toll.<span> </span>As with most places in Russia, we walk almost everywhere we go, and the main section of Petrozavodsk is not very large.<span> </span>An average day consists of 3-4 miles of walking.<span></span>Today, however, I think we put about double that amount under our feet.<span> </span>That is a lot of mileage under good circumstances, but add to that snowy and icy sidewalks and a couple of inches of new snow to that and the going is even rougher.<span> </span>Needless to say, tonight we are pretty worn out.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Temperatures here have also played a factor.<span> </span>This morning’s high of 14F quickly dropped and shortly after noon it was around 5F with wind chills below zero.<span> </span>Tomorrow’s highs are expected to be 3F.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>We have spent the past couple of days collecting research on Petrozavodsk, the Republic of Karelia and the Karelian people.<span></span>The task of the day was to shoot video of me in different places around town sharing that information.<span> </span>So, we did not cover a lot of new ground, but revisited a lot of familiar territory.<span> </span>That task will continue tomorrow as we ran out of sunlight faster than we wanted, and felt the temperatures dropping.</o:p></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjwrdQBi78F2Mac-sJtYjtVQmqF6XZv8n_q4vtFTEYo_8JYE5qKzI2Q-suvI7_tx6VQyILPxE3VFhbR-I7Bq9riBEop4zMMbe1x7mzhTTmwJCoxbtYpz1baPg9bXggEt4Ne9gZ9w06Hc/s320/IMG_6393.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424449869688539474" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Of course, no day here seems to be without adventure and today was no different. Petrozavodsk is located on the shore of Europe’s second largest lake, Lake Onega.<span> </span>Right now the lake is covered with two feet of ice and another two feet of snow. <span></span>What better conditions than to join the other ice fishermen on the lake?<span> </span>We trekked about 200 yards from the shoreline over the frozen surface and quickly struck up a friendship with Vladimir who allowed us to join him for a little bit.<span> </span>As we were talking we were able to pull a few small fish out of the ice and had a couple of others that got away.<span> </span>It was a strange experience to know that you were sitting in the middle of a lake and visions of the opening scene of “It’s A Wonderful Life” kept running through my head.<span> </span>However, it is an experience that I shall cherish and never forget.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2044140&id=1072353850&l=2de041c1f2">More photos of Vladimir can bee seen here.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLttqmT54BmaiF-DMq7UYBnumZu8cd_CR-ODrjXr9JF8maPSg1rzFvip3uuXmQY73xBXFX_-DvNlzvDIaHoQdm640uCu3zmbTeRRqn49lxfEup-NUA_sA8JR2RO1rLvAa21H6c8yCmFQ/s320/IMG_6395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424449260077102706" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>According to the sign on the door of the church that Tim found yesterday they were supposed to hold services tonight – a prayer meeting we think.<span> </span>We were hoping to make contact with the pastor and other church members so we could start working on a story about what God is doing in this part of Russia.<span> </span>However, when we arrived at 6:00pm tonight, the lights were off and the doors were locked.<span> </span>We are praying that was just because this week has been a holiday week that the doors were locked.<span> </span>I can’t imagine anything sadder than to find a church has had to close and lock their doors.<span> </span>To our knowledge, this is the only evangelical church in the area, and possibly the entire Republic.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Continue to pray for us as we work. We have more stand-ups and video of the city to shoot tomorrow.<span> </span>And since we are not used to the bitter cold it seems to be zapping our energy levels more than expected.<span> </span>Also pray for the church here.<span> </span>We hope the closed doors are not a permanent condition.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Blessings,</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Marc</p></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-65365228812855330432010-01-07T20:50:00.002+02:002010-01-07T21:00:45.031+02:00An "Air-Bus", Wooden Churches and More...<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-family:Calibri;"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>TIME \@ "dddd, MMMM d, yyyy" <span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin"><b><i>Thursday, January 7, 2010</i></b></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin"><b><i> – Petrozavodsk, Russia – Republic of Karelia</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> С Рождеством Христовым (Merry Christmas) from the Russian north!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Today is the day that Russians celebrate Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We could talk about that, but will save that discussion for another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> If anyone ever tries to tell you that missions work is boring, they are lying!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Today was another day filled with fun and adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, every time I think that this country can no longer amaze me, I am wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Mother Russia has plenty of surprises up her sleeves.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin">The day started before sunrise (9am) as I motored toward the airport in the taxi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Due to limited space for the excursion, Tim and I had to split up today, which meant I would be going to the ethnographic museum on the island of К</span><span lang="RU" style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;mso-ansi-language:RU">ижи (Kizhi).</span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="RU" style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;mso-ansi-language:RU"><o:p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span lang="RU" style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;mso-ansi-language:RU">Since some have asked the question already, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt; font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica">Ethnography aims to describe the nature of those who are studied (i.e. to describe a people, an <i>ethnos.</i>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the biological sciences, this type of study might be called a "field study" or a "case report," both of which are used as common synonyms for "ethnography."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><i>(Thank you, Wikipedia)</i> So, an ethnographic museum is a place that tries to capture and/or describe the nature of a particular people group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Often times these museums are outdoor exhibition centers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Many of you have visited Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is a good example of an ethnographic museum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, when we are traveling to new parts of Russia, we often seek these museums out so that we may better understand the culture of the native ethnic people of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It can sound a little boring when you describe it, but getting to see it first-hand is far from boring.</span></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica"><o:p> When I booked this trip, with the help of the wonderful workers at our hotel, I was told that I would be taking an “air-bus” to the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But after walking onto the airfield from what had to be the smallest airport I have ever been in, I soon realized that our “air-bus” was a helicopter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, after a 30-minute ride at 300 meters above the frozen lake below, we landed opposite one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox churches I have ever seen.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3g7Ng84s7awYEkNoAL4yL9VII8RwgGnomWA6YwjGJwn01ir6ItO53HVq0uuyV5-CUl_rWRLkimYOwJS9jZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kizhi"> This link will take you to more information about the island and the buildings found there.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> Most of the wooden buildings on the island were constructed in the early 1700s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The churches are native to Kizhi, while the other wooden structures were brought to the island to preserve them and so they could be part of the exhibition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had a wonderful, English-speaking guide who gave me a tour of the complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We talked some about native Karelian life and she echoed what we have come to learn…the Karelian way of life is dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Karelian language never did have a written form, and fewer and fewer people speak Karelian in this modern age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She added that most young people were leaving the Karelian villages and going to live and work in the big cities, such as Petrozavodsk, St. Petersburg and Moscow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Consequently, only older people remain in the Karelian villages of the Russian north and as they die, their culture is dying with them.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2044065&id=1072353850&l=6ce34bd0b4"> A link to some photo highlights of the day can be found here</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> While I was off exploring the island, Tim was up to his own bit of exploring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His task for the day: find the Baptist church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That task may sound like an easy one if you are living in the rural south of the United States, but here in Russia, that can almost always be like finding a needle in a haystack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We knew that several years ago Russian Baptist church planters had been able to start a Baptist congregation here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, we did not really know where and how to find them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, Tim succeeded!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>According to the sign on the door they will be having a service (of some sort) tomorrow night and we are hoping to attend and make contact with the pastor and other church leaders.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> So, continue to pray for us as we brave the frigid temperatures in this area close to the Arctic Circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But, even more, pray that we will be able to make contact with our Baptist brothers and sisters tomorrow night so that we can tell stories about how God is at work in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And lastly, begin praying now about how God can use you to minister to the people of Karelia.</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> Blessings,</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p>Marc</o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-16186163757026903142010-01-06T18:45:00.001+02:002010-01-06T18:47:27.599+02:00Karelian Assimilation<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>TIME \@ "dddd, MMMM d, yyyy" <span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span><![endif]--><b><i>Wednesday, January 6, 2010 – Petrozavodsk, Russia – Capitol of the Republic of Karelia</i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is Christmas Eve in Russia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Not the Christmas Eve that you and I usually think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, Russians celebrate Christmas based on the Orthodox calendar and tomorrow, January 7, is Christmas Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most Russians have been on vacation since New Year’s Eve and we have seen many families enjoying time together in the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Later tonight we will attend a midnight service at the large Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the center of town.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Our first day in a new city is usually spent trying to get ourselves acquainted with the people and the culture and this trip has been no different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It seems that no matter how much research you do before hand, there is always so much that you never know until you get your feet on the ground.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Worth mentioning, however, is how friendly people seem to be here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After living and working in Moscow for two years, it is often easy to forget that outside of the mega-cities people tend to be very friendly and willing to help strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The staff at our hotel has been invaluable in this regard and they have assisted us in numerous ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also received a warm greeting at one of the museums we visited this afternoon.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> According to statistics, there are around 130,000 native Karelians in Russia, and most of them live in the Republic of Karelia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, that number only accounts for less then 10-percent of the population here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Karelians are one of two minority peoples who are native to this area (the other being the Veps who are more closely related to the neighboring Finns.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, as a result of centuries of this land being shared between the native peoples, the Russians and the Finns, it is almost nearly impossible to identify native Karelians by their physical features.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, they more closely resemble Russians, than the fairer Veps.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> As with most Russians, the majority of Karelian people identify themselves with the Russian Orthodox Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, we have found several Catholic and Lutheran congregations here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is also a result of this land being occupied by the Finns and Swedes over many generations.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> I suppose that at the end of the day, several things about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Karelian people have caught our interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First, and probably foremost, is that the Karelian people and culture seems to be a dying way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most native Karelians identify themselves as being Russian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And the people, as a whole, seem to have been all but totally assimilated into Russian culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of our guides, a native Vep, said that she is unable to identify native Karelians during everyday activity.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> We also learned that life in the villages today is almost identical to village life over 100 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most of the Karelian natives found in the northern villages are wheat farmers and still work the land using animals and simple hand tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>People in the villages earn a living by selling wheat, milk, and other byproducts of farm living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, in order for them to have the money they need to survive the man of the house will usually travel to the city and find work there to help support the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once he has earned enough to last the family for several months, he will return home and then go back to find itinerant work in the city when that money has run out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> As with much of Russia, however, only a small number of people still live this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most are abandoning village life and are moving to large urban centers, such as Petrozavodsk – which explains much of the assimilation of the Karelian culture with the Russian culture that surrounds it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Only 25-percent of the people in the Republic of Karelia live outside of the cities.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> As you are praying for the Engage Russia team, and our travels, take a few minutes to pray for the people of the Republic of Karelia on this Christmas Eve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Most in the city of Petrozavodsk will not attend a church service tonight, or give thought to the birth of a baby in a stable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Others will stand in the midnight cold in order to receive their annual blessing from an Orthodox priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Pray that God will make himself known to the people of Karelia and that they would find hope in the manger tonight.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Blessings,</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Marc</o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-6686804714311521122010-01-05T21:45:00.006+02:002010-01-05T22:11:00.605+02:00Engage Russia: The Karelian Odyssey<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>TIME \@ "dddd, MMMM d, yyyy" <span style="'mso-element:field-separator'"></span><![endif]--><span><b><i>Tuesday, January 5, 2010</i></b></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span><![endif]--><b><i> – Train from Moscow to Petrozavodsk</i></b></p><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OwFhgJJp6zk4CCFFcEmshMqbKqqm7DpuIHeTCLx5RpMCH4cHmNXahS8PXXRb8CF0shZV6LK77O-scigqR66_OFhM6TwYn_m46krgwElyM28NpCrQqJio2vLiSeY49_2AwN4LEm-bdMoX/s320/IMG_6178.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423349638230967426" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">There is something majestic abou</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level:1">t a train ride though the northeast of Russia in the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>A thick blanket of clean snow wraps the countryside in a pristine calmness that I have yet to be able to adequately capture in a photograph or on video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And, it is a reminder of just how vast this country is.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> In Russia, the most cost effective and efficient means of travel is by train. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We usually travel in a “coupe”, a compartment with four beds – which means that we are usually traveling with at least one, and usually two strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This, in itself, adds flavor to every trip we take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have had rides, like this one, where our traveling companions say little, if anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However, long train rides have also allowed us to make new relationships, strengthen friendships, and often provide a very natural opportunity to share the Gospel.</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>You never can tell what kind of experiences you might have as the wheels clickity-clack against polished steel rails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></o:p></p><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfRvBpbzr-p66Cx85O80JhC0q2un-7NZRyV_A7gvykLKw8iWLvVa6sthhmKnJ7PULr0XNAo9XxaypHMd0rSglZqvJnvjwofrRGkhJx_pxjrRcj3U0f2SNTtCK8LeMo2Vo5iEcL1d9dBj5/s320/IMG_6219.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423349954159343762" /><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>The most fun stops are in places where local vendors come out to peddle their wares.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have seen everything from sodas and candy bars to the absolutely ridiculous such as crystal chandeliers and taxidermy of local animals such as foxes and badgers.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> This kind of travel is not for everyone and it is an experience that you either love or you hate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However it is a truly Russian experience as most Russians cannot afford to fly and driving across this country is impractical.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> This afternoon we will arrive in Petrozavodsk, the capital of The Republic of Karelia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Due to its northern location, it will already be dark when we arrive and the sun will not rise until 10am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Tomorrow will be spent exploring the city, visiting museums, and collecting information about the Karelian people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We will also begin our search for groups of believers so we can talk about what God is already doing in this northern part of Russia.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> Stay tuned as we Engage Russia!</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-60973395031102967672009-10-30T11:21:00.000+02:002009-10-30T11:22:08.834+02:00URGENT PRAYER NEEDED<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">URGENT REQUEST FROM RUSSIA:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">We have been asked to enter into prayer and fasting with the Russian Bapt. Union regarding new legislation being pushed through Russian congress. If it does pass, our missy activities and the regular Chr. life of Russian Bapt. will be severely restricted:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; ">Children under the age of 14 would not be allowed to attend ch’ch without express written permission of parents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; "> Missy’s would be restricted to preach/teach only within Bapt. ch’ch buildings with a letter of permission from sending and receiving organization for the specific dates he is to preach.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; ">Rehabilitation centers would be shut down. No Bapt. could work in places of ministry outside the ch’ch building.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; ">Ch’ches would not be allowed to offer ESL classes, VBS, or any other social work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>5.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; ">Preachers will have to give invitations that do not to appear to be influential.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>6.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; ">Foreigners who come to be involved in missy activities would have to have religious visas ONLY, not tourist or any other.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black; text-indent: -0.25in; "><span style="color: windowtext; "><span>7.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> </span></span></span><span style="color: windowtext; ">Bapt. ch’ch members sharing their faith would become a crime.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; ">Please join in intercession with our local Bapt. brothers that the Father will give wisdom and common sense to those making these decisions in the next few days.<span style="color: black; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p></span>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-4819032253555490042009-04-05T05:19:00.000+03:002009-04-05T05:21:13.546+03:00Front-row seats to a miracle.God is at work in Cheboksary!<br /><br />Last night 75 people came to a banquet hosted by the team from FBC Allen. It was an amazing event. Each group presented what they had done that week and Ron gave the Gospel presentation using the EvangeCube followed by an evangelistic message from Pastor Sasha (in Russian, of course). By the end of the evening, five people repented and gave their hearts to Jesus.<br /><br />As we prepare to go to church this morning we are expectant to see many of our new friends and are praying that more will ask Jesus into their hearts this morning. Please pray for John, Greg and Marc as they bring short messages as well.<br /><br />Thanks to all for your continued prayers. You are what makes Engage Russia successful.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />MarcMarc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-49526357619086500992009-04-01T16:08:00.002+03:002009-04-01T21:42:23.474+03:00A few photos from day one.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtt4oTeh_AjxPPW_bK720OcY-vyyQNMPWPGDdMJZRrFSvtfLZ6WX0IA85opXqgIdXusbHlzw7evRkUSteRQr-PwqFtmEJ6_JMB-w6zzROW_L_etC6h-I3PHE-G6nVzcLEmbpg0E6iPoim/s320/IMG_1866.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319712624072379666" /><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Meeting at McDonald's with Pastor Sasha and our translator, Zhjenya.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2LNzWmcqoiOvCOJe-kme3GUcyQUEMztK5_qSb5w7uxgTarSPbttrXci-IWvZfxSbQ7nfYyxovPflzb_5KXz6cDLdRi3lbzv23dH6H0s0YmKrCKn3354ZGkk3m7hv8OTvIQ4Fu3DUDw9f/s1600-h/IMG_1939.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2LNzWmcqoiOvCOJe-kme3GUcyQUEMztK5_qSb5w7uxgTarSPbttrXci-IWvZfxSbQ7nfYyxovPflzb_5KXz6cDLdRi3lbzv23dH6H0s0YmKrCKn3354ZGkk3m7hv8OTvIQ4Fu3DUDw9f/s320/IMG_1939.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319712627857645586" /><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">Greg leads morning devotionals.</span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGFF6yDcAUqh_URGx7KZ8tnvyOQNgsreOZ2xm3mYscBBrDIYr4aaRohMHFIWfYJzRcNtVi4OxlN_MFWwzDd0LVkwp8FMeyXpNSMxjFlIMd6RY5Gy6KI3dKgt-zNztCAtJA1yM-0kVpxlK/s1600-h/IMG_1904.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGFF6yDcAUqh_URGx7KZ8tnvyOQNgsreOZ2xm3mYscBBrDIYr4aaRohMHFIWfYJzRcNtVi4OxlN_MFWwzDd0LVkwp8FMeyXpNSMxjFlIMd6RY5Gy6KI3dKgt-zNztCAtJA1yM-0kVpxlK/s320/IMG_1904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319712619848501986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">John and Ivan make plans about showing the Jesus Film</div></div>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-43418650399675361242009-03-31T23:38:00.002+03:002009-03-31T23:46:34.894+03:00Brightness and Power<span style="font-style: italic;">EDITOR'S NOTE: This week different team members will be sharing their thoughts, experiences, and impressions from their trip to Cheboksary. The following submission was written by Greg R. following his first full day in Cheboksary.<br /></span><br />As we stepped off the train in Cheboksary this morning, one of the local pastors, Pastor Sasha, met us at the bottom of the stairs. His eyes were bright as shook our hands saying, “There is power in this group.” <br />Later int the day we met and talked with our translator, a 22 year old striking young lady, who started her testimony in good English with a heavy Russian accent. “I was born in a prison," said Zhenya. "My mother left me in a corner to die. ” When asked about her family, she added, “I don’t have a father here on earth, but I have a heavenly Father.” She ended her testimony with, “…and I have a fire in my heart for Jesus.”<br /><br />The brightness, the power, and the fire that were put in a small Russian city at the end of March, reveal a small inkling of our true and mighty power of God!<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /></span>Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-71590001756461287122009-03-31T23:20:00.002+03:002009-03-31T23:38:30.164+03:00Engaging Russia with TexansGod is at work in the Republic of Chuvashia.<br /><br />I know that you have heard us talk about this before, but our first day back in Cheboksary, the capital of the Chuvash Republic, confirms yet again that God has come here before us and is up to big things in this small city on the Volga River.<br /><br />After a 13-hour train ride, nine volunteers from First Baptist Church of Allen, Texas got their taste of "the real Russia" today as we spent the day orientating ourselves with the city and our hosts. But even before today God had revealed to the group that this was going to be a special trip. And God has dotted the path with "chance meetings" for the group. Even before arriving in Russia they "just so happened" to be on the plane with an older couple who attended an English Camp in Moscow last February....the same English Camp that was taught FBC Allen team members. So, even a year later, team members were able to renew connections and further relationships with people whom God has put in their path. "We haven't even really started our work yet and I am already changed," said team member Greg.<br /><br />One of the things that left the largest impression of the day was an informal session where the team got to spend time with their translator, Zhenja, who shared her testimony with them. We will bring you that story later in the week. However, there was not a dry eye among the group when she finished her testimony by telling us how she wanted to become a missionary herself.<br /><br />God has assembled an amazing team for the task at hand. They all bring different things to the table, but the one thing they have in common is their love for Jesus and a desire to help the people of Russia come to know Jesus as both Saviour and Lord. The seminars being lead by the team begin tomorrow evening. Please pray that their witness would be effective, that people who have been invited will not just attend, but bring friends with them as well.<br /><br />Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are excited to be able to share with you just a few of the things that God is doing in Cheboksary.<br /><br />More tomorrow.<br /><br />Blessings,<br />Marc (for all)Marc Ira Hookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17521925116220718106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6687230628691971130.post-53544277334217443842009-02-27T13:57:00.003+02:002009-02-27T14:06:10.312+02:00downtime<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRx1gNkAjjSnKCVDaqY0hcuwaSYK6P402dAgxeWuYoz13rLCobtuokz9DZSy-VarSC0eAy3gzceXZKuyEklX8uw_7meQqoo4KpSGv_uwvTL856VXXDKcYwfg59qBGtYTQZkybqnoQl4fX/s1600-h/n714121021_1747682_7996.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRx1gNkAjjSnKCVDaqY0hcuwaSYK6P402dAgxeWuYoz13rLCobtuokz9DZSy-VarSC0eAy3gzceXZKuyEklX8uw_7meQqoo4KpSGv_uwvTL856VXXDKcYwfg59qBGtYTQZkybqnoQl4fX/s320/n714121021_1747682_7996.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307447253091270082" /></a><br />We've been taking some downtime to spend time at home with family and friends. As much fun as traveling can be it is a lot of work and it can wear you out. Marc is in the states at a conference and Tim and I are relaxing in Moscow. <br /><br />We will be making a trip to Bryansk in the next week or so, we are still working on the details for this trip. It looks like we will be able to join a church there for their first baptism. This will be an exciting time of rejoicing with our Russian brothers and sisters.<br /><br />We will pass along more info regarding this trip over the course of the week.<br /><br />Thanks again for your continued support and prayers.<br /><br />JimmyUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0