March 5, 2007

Dear Family and Fiends,

We greet you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ! Winter seems to be drawing to a close. The temperatures have been above freezing for the last few days, and the forecast is for more of the same. The melt has begun. It is a messy, unpleasant time, but a necessary step towards spring and the first blush of green.

It has been an adventurous week in which I traveled with a group from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. John and Deb Burgess and I have been planning this trip for many months. John is a professor at PTS. Among other things, he teaches Eastern Orthodoxy. Two years ago, he and his family spent a year in St. Petersburg to deepen their understanding of the Orthodox tradition. The family was in Russia again last summer, Deb jumping in to help us repeatedly when my return to Russia was delayed. At that time, they got a glimpse of the Baptist Church in Russia as well. They arrived this past weekend with eleven students to give them a view of the church, both Orthodox and Baptist, in Russia today.

Having heard about my trip with Bob Ellis last September, they wanted to visit the monastery and rehabilitation center on the banks of the Volga (the one Bob and I reached by motorboat). After a couple of days in Moscow, we set out by train last Tuesday night for Kineshma, a city in the Ivanovo region, where we were met by Father Ioann. From Kineshma, we were taken by van to a ferry crossing below the town of Reshma. Given that we have had real winter for the past month and a half, the ferries were not running. The only way across the Volga was by foot over the thick ice. We watched in awe as a jeep and a truck drove out past the sign forbidding driving on the ice. We looked out in awe at the distance we had before us. Two young men, “the lads,” from the rehab center had sleds on which they carried some of the luggage, but there was enough left to be a burden. It was easy to lose our balance carrying the luggage, and we frequently found ourselves off the path in the deep snow. Each time we stepped off the path, it took more of our strength to pull out and get back on the track.

We were surprised to find water on top of the ice, but it was clear that the ice was solid. I fell repeatedly and each time had less strength to get up. It took all of us to help one another across this two-kilometer stretch. One particular suitcase was carried by at least three different people. Father Ioann and the two lads from the center came back out on the ice to help those of us lagging a bit, relieving us of luggage to lighten our load. Our line had stretched across a great distance, but we all made it, reaching the opposite bank with a great sense of accomplishment, as well as exhaustion.

Our time at the monastery was blessed. We had wonderful fellowship around the table with the four monks and eight rehabilitants (the lads). They had been worried about what Americans would be like, but were delighted to find new friends. The students from PTS were equally delighted. We chatted about the problems each of our countries face, realizing how much we have in common. The lads shared with us about the healing they experienced through the center. We worshipped with the monastery at both evening and morning prayer, and Father Mefodii introduced us to his program of film therapy, showing us a Russian film that we later discussed with the lads. They were very interested to hear our impressions, and we theirs. It is an excellent program.

One of the PTS students, Bob Ruefle, is a cinematographer and was using his skills to create a film about the journey. He and I spent some time with Father Mefodii one evening to get an interview on tape. Father Mefodii shared about the rehabilitation program, especially the film therapy. After the camera was turned off, we continued chatting with this gentle, soft-spoken monk. I know that Bob wanted to turn the camera back on as Father Mefodii shared with us about the challenges to the church today, about the tumult Russia has endured since Perestroika, about Orthodox perspective and their view of icons. When I didn’t understand the language he was using, he took great care to find a simpler way to phrase deeply complex ideas. I cannot share with you here the depth of what we gained.

After two short days, it was time to return across the ice. Knowing that there were some health concerns in the group, and having seen the difficulty we had with the luggage, the monks arranged for three of the group to cross the ice with a horse and sleigh. Father Pavel, at great risk to himself, drove our luggage across in a truck. Without the luggage, the rest of us made the return journey more easily. Back in Reshma, we were met by the same van that brought us. From Reshma, we drove 150 kilometers over very poor roads to Kostroma, where the next leg of our journey began.

In Kostroma, our Baptist brothers and sisters took us in. Our group was divided into five to stay with five different families. It was a time to hear stories and have fellowship, getting another view of Christian life in Russia. Two of the group stayed in the home of the pastor, who has five little boys. Two more went with a family that has seven children. Two went with a family that came to Kostroma from Chernobyl, where they buried two children. Two went with a very poor, but jolly family with teenagers. The other four of us stayed with Piotr and Olga Romme, the missionaries to the Roma with whom Al works. We each had the opportunity for warm fellowship, a view of the struggles that Russians face, and the grace by which these Christians carry on.

The group is now in St. Petersburg, where they will connect with our colleague, PC(USA) missionary Garth Moller, and with the Orthodox Institute for Ecumenism and Missiology. We look forward to their return to Moscow later this week. It has been a groundbreaking visit. It is the first group from a seminary that we have hosted. Our Russian colleagues have welcomed them into their communities not knowing what they would find, perhaps with a little apprehension, but we are pleased to share that they liked what they found. The students engaged here with Christian love and respect, listening more than talking, but sharing openly when asked. They accepted often very rustic conditions with patience and warm hospitality with love.

As I watched the melt begin on Saturday, I was glad that it held off until we were off the ice. The ice will not break up for another month, but the soft snow and slush is very difficult. The Lord has been with us in many ways.

With love in Christ,

Ellen

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 186