October 1, 2001

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Moscow!
Al and I just completed a deeply moving orientation for the new partners of 2001 in the Twinning Project. Representatives from three PC(USA) churches arrived in Moscow on September 11. After spending three and a half hours at passport control, we delivered them to their hotel in time to see the first footage of the collapsing World Trade Center. We were all stunned and in that moment a long-anticipated trip suddenly seemed out of synch with world events. The group knew that their families must be terribly worried and, in
their grief for their country and all those that were suffering, they felt helpless to find any expression of support. Al and I set up e-mail communication with all of the families and relayed reports to and from the group. That helped a little. We spent the next day and a half touring Moscow in a bit of a daze. It didn't make sense anymore. We had tickets that had been purchased well in advance for the Bolshoi’s performance of Don Quixote. It was a shock to catch oneself enjoying the performance when so many were suffering. The daze began to ease as we received messages from Russian friends, colleagues, and strangers offering their condolences and prayers. The world was grieving with our nation, and here in Russia we were embraced by the international community in so many ways. The pile of flowers left at the U.S. embassy in
Moscow was a deeply moving sight. Impromptu conversations on the street with friends and strangers touched our hearts.

On Thursday September 13, our American guests met with the pastors of their partner churches at the Baptist Union here in Moscow. After being shown the seminary, which is currently located within the Baptist Union, and the various offices of the Union, they sat down to dinner with translators scattered among the groups. As they visited with their new partners, the tension of those days eased some, and they began to anticipate the visits with the communities in the days ahead. Two groups left that night for churches not far from Moscow. The third group spent one more night in the hotel, the pastors joining them there, and left for the city of their partner the next morning.

Al and I spent the weekend in Moscow visiting with Gary Payton, a fellow PC(USA) missionary who works with the Twinning Project from the U.S. We also visited with a Presbyterian missionary from Perm. We were excited to hear of the work there and hoped and prayed that our group could let go of their worry and do what they came to do—connect with their partner churches and begin a relationship that would grow and strengthen through the years to come.

On Monday, we prepared to receive all of our guests back. To our joy, we welcomed back a group that glowed with the warmth of the fellowship they had shared throughout their weekend. They had shared their lives and the lives of their home communities with these Russian communities. They had worshiped with them, broken bread with them and walked with them. The group members had been to village churches, to orphanages, to a hospital for homeless elderly, to a prison, and so many places where these partners are touching lives with the love of Christ and sharing His word. The group was anxious to get back home to pass on what they had experienced. In the days just after the tragedy, they had wondered whether their congregations would be ready to hear about this journey in the midst of the pain that all were experiencing. When they returned from their partner visits, they knew what
they had to share was love and fellowship. This was not about a trip to Russia, but about the church universal.

Twinning is a spiritual journey together, two congregations discovering their brotherhood in Christ across oceans and cultures. It moves us beyond the isolation of history, geography, stereotypes, and world events. It is about a relationship of mutual care and concern. Perhaps in the grief of recent weeks, this aspect of twinning could be more keenly felt and appreciated. Al and I have been in Russia only eight short months. This was our first orientation for new partners. In the midst of it, it seemed like everything was going wrong,
but when our group returned we could see the Lord's work in their radiance.

This continues to be a difficult time for our nation. There is so much uncertainty and fear. Our work is here, but our thoughts and prayers are with you back home.

May the peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you and yours.

Ellen & Al Smith