Terry's Russia Blogosphere

Happy Thanksgiving from Russia

Dr. Tiffany Elliott Visits us in Russia

Terri's sister, Tiffany Elliott is staying with us for a couple of weeks here in Moscow.  This is her second trip and she is working with us in many areas.

Tiffany is a Bible Teacher and an Evangelist.  She also sings and has produced her own CD. 

While here in Russia Tiffany is teaching The Life of Christ at the Good News Seminary.  The students already love her courses and they get actively involved during her classes.  She is animated and has fit right into our school.  Our students have a saying, "We love our director", meaning of course, Terri.  Now that they have her sister as an instructor they have come up with a new one..."We love the sister of our Director!" 

Last week, she sang for the whole church during the two morning church services.  This week, she will sing and preach at the English Language Service and following that she will minister at the Vietnamese Language Service.  She also has ministered the Word of God at the meeting for homeless people here in Moscow.

Terri & I are glad that she will be with us all the way through Thanksgiving Holiday next week.  That is a very special holiday for us as Americans who live overseas.  We are always away from home this time of year and it is nice to have a close family member to celebrate with this year. 

We enjoyed some cultural events as well this week, visiting Red Square, which is always a must see and the Christ the Savior church in Moscow.  We also went to the Tchaikovsky Theater last night to see a performance of the traditional ballet of Igor Moiceev...(its a folk dance)...How do those guys do that?

This week classes will continue as usual and much more is scheduled to see and do. 

You can check Tiffany's web-site out at:  Tiffany Elliott Ministries 

Veteran's Day

Today is the day when America honors its military veterans.  For some  it is just another day.  For others, a day which brings back memories; some good, some not so good. 

For those who never served on active duty it is hard to relate.  Those who did serve oftentimes are at a loss for words if trying to describe what it was.  Civilian life and military life are simply two different worlds. 

Not every veteran has fond memories of their time in.  I well remember the massive amount of complaining by the soldiers while I was serving in overseas posts.  It was a shocking adjustment for me when I transitioned out of basic training and school to life in Germany.  Going from a seemingly highly motivated atmosphere into a group of dissatisfied crybabies.  I can still hear the black soldiers looking at the white soldiers in disbelief, they had a saying, "Stop cryin'".  They had a point! 

It would take a large book to explain all the things I learned and experienced in the military.  I'll probably never write that one!  However, (LOL) I was born on an Air Force Base and that's where I grew up.  I knew every piece of equipment which flew over our houses on those bases.  When my dad retired we moved to Tampa and I learned all the civilian planes.  I was sure I would join the Air Force myself, I even wore my dads fatigue top to high school a few times, which drew the wrath of one of my teachers.  

Somehow I got the idea that the Army was the life for me though and my dad couldn't believe it.  Long story short, I got to serve in the Europe, Panama, the Middle East and the U.S.  I've been a heavy equipment mechanic, a driver, a cook serving with the field artillery and a military policeman. 

I salute the veterans of today's military, yesterday's military and the American people who honor them.  Take my word for it, please, there is no country like ours.  Freedom is at stake and if we are not willing to continue to pay the price to keep it we will lose it. 

I believe that those who gave of themselves to keep our flag would agree.

20 Years Ago the Berlin Wall Came Down

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Twenty years ago, the most hideous symbol of communist oppression in Europe was taken down.  The Berlin Wall - the Berliner Mauer. 

Nearly thirty years ago I stood at that wall and looked over into the country of East Germany.  I took this picture from the lookout point of the Military Police at Check Point Charlie. 

That day, I stood on the sidewalk for an extended period of time watching the Soviet officers travel in and out of the east.  I took it all in and it made a life-long impact on me.  If you weren't around back then you may not remember how it felt.  Politics were different. 

In the Soviet sector of Berlin, which was occupied by the French, British, United States and Soviet Union, each with their own sectors, control was established on every level.  Stalin channeled directives (mandates) down from Moscow to Berlin where both property and industry were nationalized (taken over by the government), and a form of political correctness was established.  If statements or directives deviated from the party line punishments were doled out, sometimes harshly. 

There was compulsory Marxism-Leninism curriculum in schools where students were turned into ideological, militaristic citizens.  An elaborate police state was created where the citizens were kept under strict surveillance by the Soviet SMERSH and later the East German STASI.  People were afraid to speak in public for fear of being overheard and turned in. 

Men and women longed to cross into the western sector even if it meant leaving their homes.  Soon, that would be impossible as they were imprisoned behind that wall in 1961.  The history is there for the reading.

Communism took the God-given freedoms of millions of people, replacing freedom with poverty, shortages, lack and few choices.  Often, especially during the days of Stalin, people were deprived of life itself.  Even the freedom of conscience was taken away.  It was anti-social and a threat to the "people" if you were a Christian and the church was forced underground.  Many believers died in prison. 

As a young soldier in Germany I can remember not only standing in Berlin looking at the wall but I also served on the border, far from Berlin.  I remember the snowy winters standing at the East German border where I saw the double fences, tank ditches, mine fields and guards with German shepherds and binoculars looking over at us.  A few kilometers inward there was a division of Soviet tanks.  They were keeping us out and their citizens in.  

I've since met some of those same tankers.  We live in Moscow now, the former center of Communism.  We are building the church of the Lord Jesus Christ here because the Russian people want to serve God.  I am thankful for what God has done. 

Almost 30 years ago I desired to reach into the nations where socialism stole the God-given rights of humanity.  Today, I am seeing the good news of Christ proclaimed throughout the former Soviet Union.  Gott ist in der himmel und er lebt in ewigkeit!  Jesus ist den herrn!

It's Getting Cold in Russia