Date: 31 March 2010
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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