[Kirsten's letter]
Krasnojarsk, December 1997
Dear Friends!
Two observations from our summer vacation in Germany engage me.
First observation: "If you have so much to do then you don't always have to write a four page newsletter." Second observation: "Your letters, Kirsten, often seem to me too pious, too much religious talk about Jesus!" Conclusion: I will gladly be briefer in this newsletter, but I can't be silent about what God is doing here in Krasnojarsk.
Advent and Christmas greetings to you, in the hope that you may not be wrapped up in Christmas gift wrappings, that you may speak, not just of the unhealthy hectic pace of Christmas that may grasp us, but that you may still find time to reflect and rejoice, that God really has come to us on this earth. (Here in Russia that does not always fall on me lightly, and I imagine that it falls more heavily on you in the "capitalistic West.") In any case many people have found time to think of us - many thanks again for all your support in all imaginable ways.
With this we come to the first catch-word:
Two worlds: I have found that it unfortunately is not possible for me to properly keep up all of our contacts in Europe and USA and at the same time to fully live here. So I ask for understanding for all unanswered letters. Yes, two worlds, so I experienced it this summer especially strongly as we came to Germany. Particularly at the beginning I felt lost: in Germany I was no longer entirely at home and in Krasnojarsk not yet entirely either. Then Jesus' words came to me, "... the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Matt. 8:20). And although I greatly enjoyed much in Germany (especially family, friends, and the sea!) there was always the feeling: What am I doing here really? I have nothing lost here, and so nothing to seek. As an answer was then the return to Krasnojarsk.
Second catch-word:
At home?! To quote Rudi, after we stepped into our small living room: "Oh, it's good to finally be at home again," he said, took in the situation, and plopped onto the sofa. Yes, and it was really good. The congregation received us affectionately, everything was quickly familiar, and it proceeded immediately to the work.
Third catch-word:
Life: In the congregation there is life, simply because where there is work, there is life. Although I won't pester anyone piously, I simply can't do other than rejoice at what God works here, in individual people, in groups, in the entire congregation. Ever more people, who think together responsibly (the summer months, in which the congregation without a pastor - but not without a Shepherd - had to make do, contribute much to this!), always new faces, always more trust and openness. Life - also in the children's worship service: more women co-workers, more children, two groups (big and little kids), a children's choir, once a month KiGo in a children's home (with 50 kids) and soon (at year end) a workshop on the theme Children and Youth Work, in Omsk, in which our entire family will participate.
Apropos family: Fourth catch-word:
Kindergarten: Jonathan goes since two weeks ago in a Russian (what else?) Kindergarten, which we all find rather exciting: Rudi, because the day begins earlier than usual; Anna Maria, because she finally has all the attention for herself; Jonathan, because he loves community and change; and I, because I have the feeling, again to take a step deeper into Russian life (although it naturally is the absolute exception, that we already fetch him at 12 noon, while all others stay until at least 5:00).
Fifth and last catch-word:
Experiment: Next week I travel with Rudi for three days to the villages and for the first time leave the children here with Gulja alone, except that we are reachable by telephone. I am very happy about the trip, to finally experience what Rudi otherwise always tells, and with respect to the kids we can only pray and trust.
And with these words I would say goodbye, and I wish for all of us times of prayer and trust in God's love and leading,
your Kirsten
[Rudi's letter]
I will continue further with the catch-words;
Winter: Yes, here it was already sharply cold; -33 C (-27 F) has seldom happened in recent years in Krasnojarsk. Many people have difficulties with blood pressure because of large temperature variations; example: last night we had -12 C, then overnight -20 C and early today -9 C. The wind is quite uncomfortable, that blows in on one equally through any opening in the clothing at that temperature. How high the snow lies here one can't say exactly because of the wind. It stacks up more in the corners than elsewhere. (Unfortunately I have just such a corner in front of my garage!)
Auto: The winter has not previously affected our auto; to make up for that two components in the drive train have gone out three weeks ago. That means to take apart the differential in the cold and fly in replacement parts by air freight from Germany. And if everything fits, just the customs duty for a 2 kilogram package again tests its power and discretion. I will not say anything bad about the Russian customs in a newsletter, probably it would happen, and so I leave it alone.
Religious law: In recent weeks I regularly receive reports from all over the world by e-mail on this subject. Overall it is being closely observed and reported, how the Russian officials are applying the new law. Our visas were renewed for a year without problems. (Ten Catholic priests here in Siberia however must leave the country after three months, in order to request a new visa.) It is clear that like all Russian laws, it comes down to the local authorities, and with the religious laws also to the relationship of these authorities to the current Orthodox bishops. In the south of our church district the authorities have withdrawn the registration of a Lutheran congregation (based around Novosibirsk). The issue now goes to court.
Work: There it lies in front of me and does not get smaller. The life that Kirsten talked about, also needs to be attended to. New congregations are always emerging in the church district and want to be visited. I don't know how I should catch up. Pray with us for a second pastor for Krasnojarsk! Now we rejoice for Waldemar Rausch from Mission Seminar from Hermannsburg, who will do a practicum with us for half a year.
Lena + Lena: Already before the summer we decided to install our musician Elena Solomatowa also with us in the office. That was obviously a fortunate decision, for Lena is very diligent, works regularly and feels very comfortable with us. She now takes over many small things, such as visits to the authorities, purchases, and necessary word processing on the computer, so that Tatajana has more time and energy for translations and I naturally get more accomplished. We are also astonished at how much this woman has gotten started musically. Since the summer we are also searching for a leader for our diakonia station, because the work simply needs to be organized anew, and because I have too little time to attend to the station. Now we have found various candidates, and the church leadership has chosen Elena Winokurowa. She is 31 years old and trained as a nurse. We got to know her as her mother, who came regularly to our church worship services, was dying (since I was at the Synod in Omsk, Kirsten visited her and gave Communion), and then was buried. Since then she comes with her two children to the church service and now on December 1 she began in the diakonia station.
Yeltsin visit: Recently Yeltsin met with the Japanese President in Krasnojarsk - perhaps the first time, that any of you got to hear something of Krasnojarsk in the news. Fortuitously we were invited by friends in the neighborhood to his lodgings here. I have never seen so many police and soldiers in a group. For the people of Krasnojarsk it is bitter, that for the President a landing place and security system from USA for two days were laid out, while most have not gotten salaries for months. But Potemkin-esque villages are always high in exchange in Russia.
I too wish you a time full of expectation and hope, from which you can later live.
Your Rudi!