Transnistria, and other news

Yesterday morning (thurs.) we headed off to Transnistria, the Russian dominated region along the eastern border of Moldova. At the border, the first stop is at the Moldovan checkpoint. Another quartermile and we arrive at another checkpoint with first a few Russians, and 100 feet further to the Transnistrian guards. The Russian who checked us asked our driver, second Serghei, “What are you carrying, a load of guns?” All in jest, though he did look us over well, as they do each time. Headed on in to the Transnistrian cities of Benderi and Tiraspol (see Moldova map link at right), where the two churches established by institutional brethren are. This is the regular trip each Thursday. Driving through Benderi, we passed a police checkpoint, which are common all over both parts of Moldova: police stand at the roadside watching for which vehicles they want to direct to the side of the road for inspection. Traveling in a cargo van, we get stopped almost every time. So there in Benderi, we were stopped again. The Russian/Transnistrian (?) officer asked Serghei where we were going, pretended not to hear, and then leaned in way too close, to hear the repeated answer. He was getting close enough to smell Serghei's breath, checking for drunkeness. As we pulled away, Serghei said with a smile, “That's why on Thursdays I always do not use toothpaste.”

The situation in Benderi and Tiraspol is in a state of flux. There is an American institutional preacher who visits here, Ken G., who is the legal owner of the building just being completed in Benderi, and who according to the Christians there, dictates whatever is allowed there, and whatever decisions are made there. He is the man whom we met two weeks previous when he was visiting from America. The Christians there enjoy Serghei's studies with them each Thursday, and the native preacher supported by the Americans does not study with them. Ken G. is working to find someone to move to Transnistria, and that someone will surely be someone whom Ken G. hopes will supplant Serghei's influence there. Well, Serghei wrote Ken G., asking if he could use their building to study with the Christians in Benderi. Ken G. replied in the negative, accused Serghei of trying to buy the Benderi/Tiraspol Christians with gifts (completely unfounded), and said that there was no point discussing anything with Serghei, since debates are always fruitless and he tries to avoid fruitless endeavors. Serghei replied with an excellent letter, in which he mentioned near the end that he would share both these letters with the Benderi/Tiraspol Christians, and would share any further correspondence with them as well, including any arguments Ken G. might want to make.

So that was on the table for our study in Tiraspol (with Christians present from both cities), and we hoped to have a study either of previous questions or of the institutional issues, at their choice. In fact though, the entire time was taken with discussing the letters and their thoughts about Ken G. and how things should be. The result was that the Tiraspol Christians asked Serghei to start coming on Sundays to lead their assemblies. So Sunday morning Serghei and I will travel to Tiraspol, while Second Serghei and Nathan will travel to Balti as normal. I believe (and hope) I will be doing at least some of the teaching in Tiraspol this Sunday. Then on Sunday evening we will have the Chisinau assembly.

Thursday evening we met with several of the local Christians again, and I discussed the work of the Holy Spirit, as per their previous question. I thought it went very well, with lots of discussion.

Late yesterday evening, I had a chance to call two girls whose numbers I had been given, and who had requested the opportunity of speaking with Nathan and me and in English, for improvement in their language skills. It's sometimes funny how foreigners put things in English (as I'm sure it is when I put things in their languages). “Appointment” is not a word they learn early on. But they do learn another word indicating an occasion when people agree to meet. When I called the first one and identified myself, she said “I would like a date with you and to speak English.” Well, the four of us had the “date” this afternoon between other studies. We were hoping that we might be able to interest them in spiritual things, and at least one of them appears to have some interest. They both claim to be Orthodox, but rarely attend any services, though their parents go from time to time. During our conversation, I spoke some about what we are doing here, and about the nature of my faith. I then turned the conversation in a different direction, but shortly thereafter one of the girls brought it back to faith, saying she found this interesting and would like to know more about the reasons I believe in God. That was what I was hoping to see, so we made another appointment for Monday afternoon.

I have neglected to tell about our relocation. The flat normally occupied by Americans who visit the church here was obviously occupied by Larry and Brace when we got here, so we were staying in a flat owned by Serghei's mother-in-law. She and her daughter (Serghei's wife) lived there some years ago when they were especially poor, and the flat reflects that fact. After Larry and Brace's departure early this week, we have been able to move in to this nicer, more comfortable flat. I didn't really want to live more upscale than the average Moldovan, so I asked Serghei and he says that this flat is about the average kind of flat here in Chisinau. We have a bedroom, a living room that doubles as a second bedroom, bathroom facilities, and a kitchen (pictured). My bedroom (also pictured) is the living room bedroom. I like it better, and Nathan likes his better. Excellent!

This morning it was again a road trip, to have a study with the women in Balti. We studied Romans 12, with much discussion. So much, that I didn't really get to say everything I had wanted to say. :) But we enjoy being there, especially due to Vera, who is such an active and cheerful person. Then this afternoon was our “date” with the two girls learning English, and this evening was another gathering at the Chisinau church's meeting place. Some who had asked questions the night before were not present this evening, so instead of dealing with those issues, Serghei decided to use the time and to use us to learn some new songs they don't know here. The Russian songbook has over 400 songs, many of them translated from English. For each song we knew and they didn't, Serghei had Nathan and me sing one verse in soprano, a second verse with Nathan still soprano and me on bass, and a third with both of us singing bass. He would record this part with a digital recorder, and then we and the ones gathered all sang the song together. It seems clear we will be doing more of this.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is some time to run downtown, a study with a non-Christian at noon, Singing/Russian with Dennis at 3, and supper at Serghei and Anna's at 6.