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Nor was I surprised at being the prey for airport taxi drivers. I did become annoyed however at their persistence…even more aggressive than our Israeli breed. Nevertheless the price to take me to the hotel was bargained from $125 to $35. American!
The greatest surprise came at the hotel. No one at the Registration desk could speak or understand English. There I stood with my luggage, five hours before the rest of the team was due and unable to communicate. What does Scripture say about “patience” and “long suffering”?
 I was forced to admit that in the past, my adventurous and willing spirit had been tempered by the fact I could communicate. Even in Israel, despite the challenges, I’ve been able to get by without Hebrew. This was a different story altogether. Not only was the staff not able to speak to me, they did not seem to care. Before
becoming too frustrated I had to admit that very few Americans speak Russian.
After what seemed an eternity, someone was found who read my name on the guest list and took me to my room.
Four hours to go before the team arrived…with translators I hoped. A walk and a cup of coffee in an outdoor café seemed the best way to orient myself. Thank God there were pictures on the menu and “coffee” is known in every language.
Cathedrals of the Kremlin
My first impressions were that
- ˇ The streets were W I D E, with at least three lanes of traffic in either direction.
- ˇ Almost every building was architecturally interesting
- ˇ Everything was clean
- ˇ Store windows boasted of sales on high fashions
- ˇ Outdoor seating of cafes was distinguished only by different styles of chairs
- ˇ Ice cream vendors were stationed every few meters
The young women looked anorexic
- It seemed that a spirit of slumber pervaded…people looked as though they were sleeping, staring straight ahead. Smiles were rare. Laughter more rare.
While like Israel, there are guards and soldiers everywhere, none carried guns (that I could see). But rather than having a sense of security, I felt intimidation. With bombs exploding all around me at home, I know no fear, here fear seems to hang in the air…not from those I couldn’t see, but from those I could. hmmm
Two hours after the appointed time, there was still no sight of the team, so I went out for dinner. I found an “American style” restaurant and realized a non-kosher hamburger would be a treat. It wasn’t kosher, and neither was it a treat. Sigh.
The team still hadn’t arrived, so I cast my increasing burden upon the Lord and went to sleep. I’ve never been happier to be awakened than I was when my roommate entered the room! It had only been a seven hour delay!
 The team, under the auspices of East/West Ministries International, consisted of twenty-two Americans, me, and about thirty translators. We ranged in age from 17 to 70+.
We came from differing backgrounds (including deliverance from alcohol and drugs) and churches, and brought differing gifts: skateboarding, music, ballooning, magic, dance, preaching, and teaching. A few had many years and logged many miles ministering throughout this region. For others, this was only their second ministry trip. For the majority, however, this was their first time out of the States.
But together we represented the One whom we all serve: Jesus the Christ.
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