Ways Of The Holy Spirit Home Page

Welcome!

An important role of the Holy Spirit is to help and assist us, the
children of God. It is my personal goal to help other Christians
understand the wonderful possibility to 'know' the Lord more intimately, not only as Lord and Savior, but also as friend who will be a guide, comforter and teacher.

2 Months In Russia

5 cities, 1 village

4 train rides (one 22 hours)

1 flight

4 harrowing car trips (roads poorly constructed and never repaired)

Bible schools in Izhevsk, Orel, and Samara

Seminary in Moscow

Teaching:

16 classes (3 and 4 hour duration)

Speaking:

2 all day seminars
6 main church services
7 small group sessions
1 public school

Seminary Commencement address

Multiple Counseling sessions

Gallons of hot tea

Countless hours of fellowship, dinners in apartment homes

Reunited with established friends of 19 years; met many new ones

Lodging:

Church basement prophets room; private homes; trains; seminary guest room; and suite of absent president

Gifts:

Handmade items, decorated cards, photos, clock, drawings, pictures,
8 bouquets of flowers, 10 boxes of candy, trinkets, jewelry

For me:

1 trip to tourist market

Thanks for prayers, Jeanette

PS: Please don’t offer me a bowl of soup when I return to the US.

May 9. 2012—VICTORY DAY in Russia

Victory Day is the celebration of victory over Germany, 1945. The impressive hour long parade on Red Square early in the day was the start, followed by impromptu car parades with blaring horns, flag waving, people shouting and hanging out the windows.

The seminary in located on a major boulevard, surrounded by tall apartment buildings beside and behind. In font, the vista is impressive: a huge park two blocks deep and several miles long encased in an attractive wrought iron fence, and borders the Moscow River. On the far side of the river are new high rise apartments, as far as the eye can see.

Watching from my window, all day a steady stream of persons with picnic baskets, lounging paraphernalia and sport equipment passed through the gate of the fresh grassy, heavily treed park, monitored by police.

At dusk about 9 PM, the night guard knocked on my door. Repeating one word ‘salute’ and sign language I understood it was fireworks to complete the day. After rounding up all the students in the seminary, he led us up a staircase to the roof. After a long wait spectacular fireworks finally decorated the night sky.

After the ‘oohs and aahs’, we started back to the door that led inside but someone had closed and locked it. We were stranded on the roof of a 2 story building. It became uncomfortable. There was absolute silence and just looking at each other in shock. By that time it was a black night getting late.

Periodically banging on the door and what seemed liked a very long time the door was finally opened by a stern faced man speaking sharply to the guard.

It was the building/grounds director. Seems that it was unsafe to be on the roof due to weak spots, and permission had not been given to go there. He wanted to punish the guard so he just let us sweat it out for a while. We quietly filed past him single file like scolded school children.

In the cafeteria the next day I overheard him chuckling as he talked about the incident.

April 23, 2012 Update!!

It is Monday morning and last day in Samara. I am alone in the house starting the process of repacking for the next leg of this journey, departing at midnight for the 22.5 hour trip to Izhevsk. Purchased all 4 places in the compartment for privacy and comfort.

As usual, when time comes to leave a location where I have remained a period of time, long or short, there is a tug of sadness. A bond has formed. I have been the recipient of their hospitality and they express appreciation for my efforts and love shown to them. It is the same story of 20 years in Russia; short term associations, pain of goodbyes, temporary attachments to those soon to be out of sight but ever close to my heart. There is a sense of my belonging to the whole, never the part.

Spring is finally here ...green sprigs of grass, baby green tree leaves, girls in flip flops, customers sitting outside McDonalds. Wet cold days have been replaced with dry, longer sunny ones, resulting in dirty everything.

Hate to leave my comfy lodging in this rather modern and spacious pastor's home (still in Ukraine/family for funeral). Young single female adults of the church cooked, stayed overnight, transported me in their cars. Others (including the guys) arrived to hang around the kitchen till midnight drinking tea, laughing, and practicing their English.

I was the main speaker in the church yesterday. 400+ member congregation rents a large hall for service. Up to date sound and lighting equipment adequate for a rock concert must be taken out of storage, assembled for each service. The reversed process was by precision of strong young men. Music was of professional quality.

The nightly teaching sessions went well. Attendees included the serious students as well as a sprinkling of older women who have the old Russian ways. With few exceptions these citizens cannot understand technology, hold fast to mixed theology, have no concept of ongoing education and receive very small pension without hope for improved conditions.

There is a great gulf between the older generation who no longer have opportunity or energy to change, and the younger generation with clothing, lifestyle, professional work, food, music...all infuenced by Europe, America, and the Internet.

A portion of the population still ride outdated, old and slow buses while increasing numbers of citizens have cars, even if it is an old Russian vehicle without shocks or convenience. Traveling over poorly constructed, 'never repaired' roads, by the time of arrival at your destination, every muscle, nerve and body part has been shaken, jiggled, jostled and you wish you had been on the bus instead.

The mix of vehicles still surprises the outsider; Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, etc, etc, jostling for a spot on the road with strange named cars from China, France and Soviet era Republics. Driving habits are chaotic. It is not unusual for 2 traffic lanes to become 3 when a bold driver risks passing stalled traffic, forcing cars in the equally jammed oncoming 2 lanes, hopefully to squeeze together in time to avoid collision. No one is angry or surprised; this is considered normal.

After church yesterday, I invited my three companions to a cafe for lunch. There was a lot of resistance as they are ultratraditionalists, rarely eat in a restaurant, uncomfortable with money spent in that manner, and take seriously the responsibility to host me. I insisted but could not reveal the main reason: I REALLY needed some variety in my diet.

Jeanette Chesser