Visit to Rubtsovsk 1997

On October 11 last fall, Linda and Larry Halstead and I arrived wide-eyed in Moscow, the Russian capital,
on our way to our Sister City. While resting from the long fight, we were able to tour the Tretyakov
Art Gallery, Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, the Kremlin, Bolshoi Theater, McDonalds and certainly not least,
the Moscow Circus. Then boarding a red-eye fight, we arrived in Barnaul at 4:30AM. Not to be daunted
by unearthly hours, Vice Mayor Alexander Popov and Sergei Ushakov took us on a whirlwind tour of
Barnaul and hosted us at an exquisite luncheon for business and government leaders.

Then on to Rubtsovsk where the Mayor had us programmed from "dawn till dark." We visited a Polyclinic
and a terrific Medical History Museum. Then it was the Art Museum to view local artists' works and some
wonderful crafts. We opened a Trade Fair and joined in the fill' of a hairstyling contest. Add to that
tasting breads and cakes in a commercial bakery and bashing some birds in a badminton club. We saw
the health facilities in the large prison outside town as well as their beautiful prisoner-constructed and
decorated chapel.

We spent two entertaining evenings, one with students and one with business entrepreneurs. With the
students we had a great time of sharing and answering questions about how young people participate
in government in America. With the business people, we talked about the possibility of starting
a Service Club and presented information on how to start a Rotary Club. Perhaps the next exchange
may bring some of the leaders interested in such an enterprise.

One of the major interests the three of us had was to explore the status of Christians and the Christian
Church in our sister city. We visited the main Russian Orthodox Church and had a great time sharing
with the senior priest, Mikael. As one of the thousands of churches being restored since the communist
regime, this building had regained much of its original beauty (gorgeous icons and wall and ceiling
frescoes). Then we commemorated our visit and the friendship involved in our visit by laying some bricks
in the foundation of a new "mission" church on the outskirts of the city. Visiting with leaders from the less
formal churches offered some great insights to the openness of the Russian people to faith in God.
One pastor had started seventeen new churches in the past seven years. There appear to be representatives
of denominations such as Assembly of God, Baptist and Foursquare. Also, we met with some parachurch
organizations serving the needs of the Russian people through drug and alcohol rehabilitation and
handicapped activities in Barnaul. When we presented cash gifts of over $1,800 and other small tokens to
the various churches from our

Grants Pass churches, the response was very emotional and moving. When Larry presented his guitar to
one pastor, we found out that his had broken ten days before, and he had been praying for a new one.
Witnessing one of their worship services was a memorable experience. Their warm, deep love
for God and their unrestrained expression of it had me questioning my own commitment. All in all,
we found the Church to be small in comparison to the population, but extremely vital.

Our last two days in Russia were spent in St.Petersburg. What a gem! Alter years of hearing about the
Hermitage, Petropavlosk Fortress, St. Isaac's Cathedral, City Hall and the scores of lovely shops and
hotels, it was like a dream come true to be standing where history was made. It is truly a world class
city and definitely deserves a visit on your trip to the wonderful, warm folks in our sister city, Rubtsovsk.
 

We were privileged to go to Rubtsovsk this past October as Sister City delegates along with Mayor
Gordon Anderson and Dennis Strellman from Ashland. He now lives in Moscow working with New Life
Russia (the Jesus film project).

I wore two hats, that of a dentist and that of a pastor. My past involved 31 years of dentistry here
in Grants Pass, and my present profession is serving as one of the pastors at Cornerstone Church,
where I have been on staff for three years.

Linda added the perspective of a woman as well as a touch of class to the team.

We both enjoyed our trip very much, finding the Russian people to be very warm and friendly once you
know them. We only wished we could have conversed more with our host family without so much
"body language."

Spending time with the Christian community, especially our pastor friend, Illya, was a very special treat.
We are hoping he and his wife will be able to come here and visit us.

We both have fond memories of our Russian experience. We would encourage others to go and extend
hands across the oceans and meet people from other cultures who have much to offer.

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