[CONTENTS] [Diary of the trip to Russia (August 2-12, 2000)]
East European Bible School, Kazan, Russia (5-12 July, 2000)
The School was held in peaceful surroundings at a tourist camp on the edge of the Great Russian River Volga (6 kms wide there) in a pinewood. In our free time it was possible to swim or spend time on the beach. Once we hired a paddle boat for a couple of hours and wanted to cross the river but were stopped by a lifeguard on a boat when they saw us too far from the beach! The weather was beautiful sunshine, which allowed us to hold all our studies in the open-air theatre, which at times got so hot we were all trying to sit in the same patch of shade!
Altogether 145 brothers and sisters and contacts from 9 different countries (Russia, the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, England, Canada, Australia) met to listen to studies by Brother Martin Webster on Basic Doctrine (Baptism, the Devil, Demons, Sacrifice of Christ), Brother David Caudery on ‘Spiritual Growth’ which was a look at Bible characters and their growth in faithfulness (Faith like the Mustard Seed, a review of the developing faith of various Bible Characters); and Brother Duncan Heaster on The Crucifixion, which was a particularly moving study on the death of Christ and the effect it should have on our lives. And of course the regular daily reading sessions, which generated much lively discussion.
Evening activities were various, we had question sessions which were thoughtful and interesting and which provoked discussion; charades which were mentally taxing and quite hilarious to watch; and on the last evening there was a party!
But the most wonderful and moving part of the week was the baptism of 18 new brothers and sisters on Sunday in the Volga. After a baptismal address by Brother Martin, we walked to the riverside and watched the always-moving act of submission to Christ as one by one, they joyfully took on His saving Name. Afterwards we joined in with the angel singing with our own praise and celebrated the breaking of bread after an exhortation by Brother David.
There were 6 translators at the Camp and I was happy to translate at least one study a day. It was easy with Brothers Duncan and Martin who had spoken to translators before. Brother David was not easy to be translated in the beginning but soon he adapted to talking to a translator. Brother Duncan knows Russian well and some of his talks were delivered in Russian.
I went to the Bible School with the blind Brother Edward from my city and my son Arceniy. Everybody wanted to take care of Edward at the camp. Edward is an example of true faith. Arceniy liked staying there very much and he spent most of the time on the beach making friends with boys of about his age (he is 12 now). Brother Edward, Arceny and I shared a bungalow with Brothers Igor B. and Emily L.. At night we arranged tea parties and many came to see us.
We left on Tuesday morning after the daily readings and hoped we were going to take the chartered buses to the railway station. However, this was not as planned and we ended up getting into Kazan by various means. As we had time we (incl. Brothers Martin and David) went on a tour of the historical highspots of Kazan – we visited their Kremlin and the pedestrian area (precinct). Then it was a very sad time to say goodbye, knowing that it will be 6 months or more before the next opportunity to meet together once again.
At the beginning of August Brother Iain and Sister Anna MacDonald and Sister Lissie Faulks from the UK are going to visit Kazan, Kirov and Yaroslavl to meet brethren and sisters there. I am going to be their escourt and we'll be able to share the joy of fellowship with many brothers and sisters in this country and bring the Gospel of Salvation to the contacts in those areas.
