Posts relating to Russia.
This is from EnglishRussia, a great website. I am touched by these pictures, which are a mixing of historic and contemporary photos. A companion post is here.
Vienna. 1945/2010. Soviet soldiers at the Imperial Palace Hofburg:
Moscow is getting ready for defense. 1941/2009. Gorky and Tverskaya Streets:
Berlin 1945/2010. A disabled tank “Tiger” in Tiergarten park:
Tavrichesky Palace and Gardens, St. Petersburg Russia. Catherine the Great and her lover/general Grigory Potemkin walked these very paths. The palace was built in the 1780s; it later was the seat the first Russian Parliament (c. 1906), and this is where the Bolsheviks took power.
This park is across the street from our flat; I took the picture walking home from the metro today.
I was looking through google analytics for this site, and discovered that post people spend the most time on is this one — about Lithuanian Swastikas. People from all over the world end up on this page and read much of it.
For those of you who haven’t read it I think you’ll find it interesting, perhaps the comments moreso than the post itself.
Twice a year we change tires on our vehicles. Usually in mid-October I put on winter stud tires. This is a classic picture of the process. It was cold and blustery. Many tire repair shops are outside. The balancing machine is inside the little shop, but the car stays outside all year ’round.
Sometimes I really feel for the workers, because they have to remove tires when it’s 20 below zero.
Here is some shaky video of my drive up Nevsky Prospect today. I need to figure out a way to reduce shaking. Any ideas?
Almost every time I drive on Nevsky, I am thankful for and amazed at the life God has given me.
It’s in several parts. Enjoy —
From Leitiny Prospect to the Fontanka River
From Fontanka to Gostiny Dvor
From Gostiny Dvor to Kazan Cathedral
The Winter Palace (Hermitage Museum) and Palace Square
Over the Neva River and onto the Split of Vasilevsky Island
Each month, MIR hosts a prayer meeting (above) attended by people who give their lives in Christian ministry. It was great to attend after missing the past few meetings. MIR is facing some challenges just now, so your prayers are appreciated. A friend once told me that choosing a life of ministry means choosing a life of poverty. There’s truth in this.
These saints refuse to pursue worldly wealth and achievement; rather, they lay down their lives in service. They serve orphans, print Christian literature, help local churches, manage projects, provide counsel, fix computers, minister to college students, and more. Our fellowship and prayers reminded me of the greatness and comfort of God’s kingdom; we are His family, united by His Spirit, even though we come from varied cultures and life experiences, speaking different languages. These are good friends and valued co-workers.
New opportunities are on our doorstep. For instance, we hope to help open a center for disabled children in Estonia. In Russia, we will hold a pilot Ecological Camp at Elama where a British ecologist will teach children about the beauty and diversity of God’s creation.
Now a closing thought from Olga: This year’s fall has been specially beautiful. I think I don’t remember such glorious October as we are having now. And even though the fall means that the nature is falling asleep, it hold a promise of new life in it. And for me that is what I feel. There is a promise of new life. God has something in store for us. And not only for us, but all of His children. His plans are good, His plans have a future. We may not understand this, we may not see it, but He does.
This is a classic picture. Olga and I had to go to a government office (yellow building). Several people were in line for the same office (the ‘line’ is pictured above). You might not know it, but the office was open at the time I took the picture.
We arrived an hour before the office opened. There is no waiting room, the officers don’t take people in the order they arrive, it’s not possible to take a number and know if you’ll be able to meet with the officers. So, we arrive early to be put on the ‘list’, a piece of paper held by one of the people waiting. Quite a few people arrived before us.
Russian government offices often are only open a few hours a week for people in any particular situation (people with our questions could only go there at specified times), and they are often understaffed. So, we waited in the rain for a few hours and never got into the building. Half a day spent waiting for nothing. . . .
Nine years ago on August 28 I proposed to Olga. We were at dacha (a Russian country house) celebrating her grandmother’s birthday.
A couple of days ago, we had another birthday lunch under the apple trees at dacha. Russians love to give toasts at special occasions. Orest Grooten, Olga’s grandfather, gives a toast to his wife:
And here is Orest walking back into the house.
As a service to ministries and folks in St. Petersburg, here is a map of flea markets in Finland. I will constantly update the map as we find more kirppisi (actually, kirppikset), so check back as often as you will. And let me know if I need to correct or remove any listings. (Accuracy isn’t 100% guaranteed, since things change! Please let me know if I need to correct, add or remove any entries.)
I’ve noted, as often as possible, which kirppis is run by Fida International, the Missions and Development Organisation of the Finnish Pentecostal churches.
The Great Tree at Elama met its demise —
Mike and Olga Cantrell 