MISSION TRIP TO ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Mission Trip to St. Petersburg, Russia

I was dreaming since many years of visiting Russia one time. I can hardly say, what is drawing me to this country and to the people there. First time I heard about the idea of serving God in Russia one day was shortly after my baptism 10 years ago. Suprisingly, it resonated strongly in my heart. I had several opportunities ministering to some russian students, but the visit of the country itself was running away for many years. I already deliberately decided in 2009 and made it my personal goal to travel to Russia in summer, but then again, God opened different door for us, and we visited Latvia and Lithuania. But shortly before leaving, I was introduced to young Russian man, who visited Prague as a tourist. We kept in touch since then, and I started slowly to refresh my russian language knowledge on skype. It ended up with my visit in the beginning of May 2010.

Sergey, my host, picked me up at very small St.Petersburg's airport and took me to the center, where he immediately helped me to get russian sim card for my mobile phone. In this way, it was very easy to get in touch with locals. We made short tour through the center. And then we went to a flat, that Sergey helped me to rent. It was a small appartement in the southern part of St.Petersburg. It was much more convenient then staying in the hostel. So I enjoyed staying in a typical block of flats from the USSR time. I felt like home, as I stay in the same block of flat in Prague. We czechs have lot in common with Russians from our communistic past.

It was already evening, and Sergey tired from the last days abandoned me after showing me the closest supermarket called "piatiorochka", I made my first russian shopping. I faced some difficulties, using russian money called rubles, as I was not familiar with it at all. Unfortunatelly, it was not possible to use my credit cards in such markets.

After coming home, I felt like, I would not like to stay for the rest of the evening in the flat. I thought of going out and maybe meeting some people. It was already 10 p.m. but it was only 8 p.m. Prague time, so I was quite fresh yet.

The moment I left the house, I saw 2 young men talking on street. I approached them and asked them, if they speak english. They laughed at me and tried some english. I asked them, if I can join them for the evening, as they were expecting 2 other friends to join them and go to a pub. I was so suprised, how smooth I got in touch with locals. The main problem was the language barrier. Their english was very poor and I was capable to speak some russian but I did not always understood, what they spoke to me.

Suprisingly, I did not even have to start conversation about God, as they started themselves as we passed by one new church building. I was not very sure, if it was wise to speak openly about my purpose of visit in St.Petersburg. I must admitt, that I felt very insecure before the trip and on the spot as well. But we had very interesting talk, and I shared with them my testimony. Only on that evening I had to resist their insisting on drinking vodka with them. Another thing, I was very much afraid of before going to Russia. I only had strenge feeling after some time, as one of them defended christianity the most, was the most drunken one.

Day II – divine appointments continues

The next day I took a trip to the see shore and I was walking the whole Vasilievky island back to the center of the city with the intention to find a student dorm there. Unfortunatelly, weather was not very friendly, so I got wet. I found one student dorm, but only realizing, that it is as a castle where no one without permission would be let in. So I took bus and went on for the meeting with Joe from Hope London. Using bus and so called "marshrutnoe taxi" was another advanture. "Marshrutnoe taxi" is a minibus, which has its fixed rout, but stops wherever you want. So of course, you need to communicate with the driver. But is not a problem for the drivers, as they are used to drive, talk to you, give you change and ticket and finding way in the traffic, all in the same time.

Eventually getting Joe from her hotel and finding a café in heavy rain, I was hoping for getting a bit warmer. It took Joe only few minutes to start conversation with girls behind her back and they eventually changed their mind and stayed in the café longer. It was at the end 3 hours discussion.

At the end they invited some more friends and we had very interesting talks. Young teenage girls were very interested in our testimonies, and it turned out, they are believers as well. Eventhough, there is only low percentage of even traditional believers in Russia, I felt like meeting all of them during my trip. We heared about some peculiar orthodox church traditions. And it seemed like orthodox church has quite some influence on russian youth throught the religion lessons at school. Unfortunatelly, they mediate very strong feeling of dependency on the „only true“ orthodox church and their priests. So not surprisingly the girls did not understand the gospel itself. With them we also got to know young man, mathematic student, with pure atheistic idea about life. We exchanged contacts and made appointment for the next day.

Day III – Kolpino, subburb of St.Petersburg

On the third day, we joined 2 teenage girls for a tour into the orthodox cathedral. We were explained many orthodox rites, including kissing icons (ancient paintings of „saints“), lighning candles in front of different statues or icons. There were surely at least 100 people in that cathedral in that moment. Some queuing to kiss icon, some lighening candles on the tables in front of statues. Later we took farewell, as girls had to prepare for big celebration of the end of the WWII and Joe had to take her plane.

I started conversation with a young man in a park going around with his baby in a pram. Hoping to interprete it well, I understood, even some young people think, that communism and Stalin was no so bad. Also this young man was an orthodox believer, who came to faith through orthodox church after the communist time. And he seemed to be fascinated with the ancient orthodox service held in ancient slavic language and lasting usualy 2 to 3 hours.

Day IV

Following day, I went again to the city center. I spoke with group of young people sitting in the park. They were also very open to talk to me about faith. And again, to my suprise, they were orthodox believers. Eventhough, quite young at their early 20ies, on couple was already married and the other was engaged. I was again confronted with strong dogmatic teaching of the orthodox church, as those people were not even accepting my translation of bible. Claiming the orthodox is the only true translation.

Later, I met with Sergey again, having opportunity to talk a lot about his personal life. Together we then joined another couple, that I knew from meeting with Joe. They took me for a St.Peterburg tour, showing some well known places. My personal sight seeing highlight was the warior ship „Avrora“, which I knew from my childhood. It was a symbol of communistic revolution in Russia, and so it became symbol for other communistic countries.

Day V

I flew back home after 5 days spent in St.Peterburg. Full of impressions, full of experiences.

What will be next? I have announced in Festival in Germany, that I would be happy for any one, who would be interested joining me for some next trip to Russia. Maybe in fall 2010.

Dr Ondrej
Hope Prague, Czech Republic