Purpose of visit: Pastoral and preaching visit, including annual Yelets Bible School

Travel by Aeroflot, Heathrow to Moscow direct

We were met at Sheremetevo 2 by Iain and Anna Mac Donald, the plane being only one hour late, and were whisked by minibus and Metro to the MacDonalds’ compact but comfortable flat on the 14^th floor of a housing block in the South West of Moscow. There was time for a chat, and a meal, before bed. Iain and Anna are coping well with their Russian courses at the University, which are run on a ‘one to one’ basis with the tutor. When the courses conclude in a few weeks’ time, they hope to find someone else who will swap with them Russian tuition for English.

Sunday morning was devoted to the Breaking of Bread. Iain had invited by letter Sisters Marina, Victoria and Inessa, who are not on the phone. In the event, only Inessa turned up at the rendezvous, but it was a great thrill to meet her, after many previous attempts to make contact while her husband was ill. She really enjoyed the meeting, joining in our hymns with her clear, opera singer voice. Gennady also came round, but Igor S. was working, Igor P. was away in Latvia, and new sister Ludmila had a visitation from her parents. In the afternoon we metroed to the centre to buy train tickets, then walked round the Red Square and the new shopping centre, where we had tea. Military bands were entertaining the crowds, as it was Moscow’s birthday. On the Metro we passed the grim site of the bomb explosion on August 8^th, decorated with flowers and sad photographs of the dead.

Emerging blearily Monday morning from the overnight train to Lipetsk, we sat on the platform surrounded by cases, waiting for Valentin D., our contact, to turn up. After half an hour we phoned, to find he had been expecting us on the 14^th, not the 4^th. We were soon at his flat, and Valentin began a marathon telephone session to warn our contacts of the change of date. Sasha M. and his son Vlad, a science student, came round straight away, and later Dennis and Nastya K. and friend Maria S., whom Valentin had met at the Mormon’s English language school. They were thrilled to meet us, and came back next day, staying till the last minute. Dennis, 25, is studying in Warsaw. All three had excellent English. Vasily, an old contact, also came round with a small friend, Tihon P., and Irena, who had flu last time we called in February. So did Slav, a military man who has been attracted by the Mormons, who now have a strong presence in Lipetsk and a headquarters in Voronezh. Slav was interested in our attitude to military service. He agreed a Russian Christadelphian could hardly drop bombs on Northampton! Our Bible studies included ‘Life, Death and Salvation’, ‘The Bible and Archaeology’ and ‘Elisha and Jesus’ miracles’.

On Wednesday morning we went to town to buy bus tickets for Ephremov, then filled in the time by visiting a well run Aquarium, and admiring the cherubims and Last Day paintings in the big church. After a long journey we were met at the bus station by dear Bro Igor Bakai, and were soon tucking in to tea with Sis Valentina. We were both thrilled to meet young Julia C., whom we first met a year ago. We were particularly glad to hear she had attended the July Bible School at Kazan. She was full of questions about the Bible. On completing her course at the Pedagogical Institute in the Summer, she had managed to find a teaching post in Ephremov, which meant she could live with her father in his flat. That evening we were able to talk to 6 visitors about ‘The Passover’ and ‘Elisha’s miracles’. There was considerable discussion over the slaughter of innocent children on Passover night. Julia stayed till midnight, so we walked her home, then promptly lost the way back in the pitch dark and softly falling rain. It took four attempts to find the right ‘Flat 91’, since Block 15 was not marked. We were most thankful to recognise Valya’s familiar door. We were disappointed not to meet Bro Sasha and Sis Genia, whom we baptised last September. Fortunately, a quick phone call to Genia’s workplace brought her round for our Breaking of Bread next morning.

Bro David Hague and Igor agreed to stay behind at Ephremov until they had met and talked to both Sasha and Genia, which they did that night. Meanwhile, I went on with Valentin to Yelets. After a small contretemps over where we were supposed to be staying, we discovered Sis Nina was waiting for us at the Sanatorium, and soon were sat down for tea. By six o’clock the room was filling up with our regular visitors, and we launched into our study of Acts, which had reached ch. 13, followed by the first of a series on ‘The Tabernacle’. There were 14 present. We were pleased to see Sis Oxana looking better. Though still thin, she had a sparkle in her eyes again. At 10 o’clock dear Bro Edward V. arrived with his charming daughter, Lyudmila S., who had asked to be baptised.

On Friday morning Igor and David arrived in time for breakfast, so we were able to make a start on interviewing Yuri T., who has attended our studies for many years, and had asked for baptism. Then it was the turn of Ludmila. Both made a good confession, and we agreed they should be baptised next day, God willing. 21 visitors turned up for the evening talks. Bro David Hague started a short series on First Principles, alternating with Acts and the Tabernacle.

Iain and Anna MacDonald and Igor P. were due from Moscow at 5.00 Saturday morning, and good friend Kostya S. kindly volunteered to collect them from the station in his car. As we retired for the night, the arrangements for next day’s baptisms were worrying – the Yelets brethren felt they should be held in the river, a round trip of over three hours. As it had been raining with heavy thunderstorms for days, this did not seem very practical, and after a sleepless night we convened a business meeting at four in the morning and decided it was essential to use a bath. It turned out Sis Nina and Bro Vladimir had come to the same conclusion at their own business meeting, two hours earlier! We arranged for the baptisms and a Breaking of Bread to be held in their flat that afternoon, to give Yuri time to sleep after his night work. Then the four English brothers and sister and Igor B. had a private meeting with Sis Valya, Sasha and Genia. Valya continues to bring in lots of visitors each time we go, and Genia also has six contacts reading the Bible with her, plus Julia round the corner, so there is a lot of potential in this town. Valya herself suggested in future the Ephraimites should bus to Yelets for the Breakings of Bread, which will mean 9 brothers and sisters meeting together. It would then be practical for Iain and Anna to help out by travelling down on the overnight train from Moscow.

Igor and Iain had brought a second hand laptop computer, modem and printer from Moscow to help improve communications with the Yelets group. We were concerned that up to two months had passed since they last met together. Sasha agreed this was much too long, and with regular e-mail contact, we should be able to improve the situation.

The baptisms were witnessed by 14 brothers and sisters packed into Nina’s lounge, plus another Valentina (a friend of Genia’s), and Julia. Afterwards we had a moving Receiving In and Breaking of Bread, Bro Iain giving a short but powerful exhortation.

Soon we had to move, for Nina had arranged a talk on ‘Archaeology and the Bible’ at the Ladies Club in the Library, close to the Sanatorium, and our usual evening talks were also due to begin. David H. and Iain held the fort at the Sanatorium. After the talk at the Bibliotech, questions about the Bible came thick and fast for an hour while we munched our way through a surprise tea. Then it was back to the Sanatorium for the last talk on the Tabernacle. Altogether a busy day!

Sunday dawned, and after the regulation walk in the woods at 7am, and breakfast, we spent the morning on the Daily readings. Water and gas supplies were turned off, but the cook eventually managed to feed us, and after a rest we held an afternoon study on ‘Psalm 110’. Then came the last evening, and we finished off the Acts study with ch. 15, followed by an illustrated talk on ‘Gideon’. After sad farewells the taxi whisked us at terrifying speed to the station, where we left the MacDonalds to catch the 9.30 train. We boarded an ancient Azerbaijani train which had rumbled cross continent all day from Baku, next to the Caspian Sea. Our fellow travellers were loaded with huge canvas bags of goods, which they hoped to sell in the Moscow street markets. The night passed slowly, for our carriage had an alarming fault which meant that each time the engine slowed down, we cannonaded violently back and forth on the buffers of the adjacent wagons. However, these things always come to an end, and when the Metro opened up at 5.30 am, Bro Igor P. conducted us safely to the airport, where we were able to have a wash in delightful hot water, and sit back in the arms of Aeroflot all the way to England.

These annual trips have become an institution, after five years, and the two baptisms and dozens of visitors show the potential which exists in this part of Russia, which we must work at, so long as Our Father holds open the door. The on-the-spot presence of Iain and Anna will be a big help in increasing the amount of contact, as well as strengthening the growing Moscow ecclesia, which with them now has 9 members. Praise be to God, who is still calling out from the Gentiles a people for his name.

Bro David Pearce