Joy in Vladivostok
Today it was a blessing for me to be able to see Pastor Valentina again. You may remember that we met last May when I was first in Vladivostok. On this bright, cold beautiful morning resplendent with sunshine, I took a taxi to the building where Pastor Valentina holds her Bible studies and worship services. I arrived just as she and Margarita, her church's musician and pianist, came to the front door of the offices of the Russian Peace Foundation. We worshiped in a good-sized room that on one side was wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirror. There were festive holiday decorations and a "Yolka" (see photo below) -- the traditional Russian Christmas tree than is also a part of New Year's celebrations -- a tradition that was kept alive in the Soviet era.
It was a joy to see Valentina again, to hear her inspiring sermon/teaching, and to sing the songs of praise and worship with together with some of the members of the Bible Study Group -- there were seven of us all together. Some of the songs we sang were traditional hymns sung in Methodist churches in the US, and some were beautiful hymns and praise songs set to Russian melodies. Before the others came, Margarita was practicing the hymns that Pastor Valentina had selected, and when she played "Velikiy Bog," AKA "How Great Thou Art," Valentina told me of how much she enjoyed singing it in Moscow when there were also men's voices added to the voices of the soprano melody line. I have heard it sung in Moscow with both men and women in the sanctuary, so I knew what she meant -- the rich Russian baritone and tenor voices added to the women's voices makes a stirring harmony. I told her that when I participated in "A Christian Ministry in the National Parks" at Mt. Rainier National Park, that was always the central hymn in the worship services, because it so much describes the beauty of God's creation in that park with its huge, snow-capped volcano in the midst of 650 year old Douglas fir trees and the great variety of wildlife there.
After the worship service there was a fellowship time when we shared pieces of two lovely and wonderful chocolate cakes and tea in celebration of the New Year. Pastor Valentina took me part of the way back to my friend's house on a bus on the mainline that goes to the area where they worship, and also to "beautiful downtown" Vladivostok (which IS quite attractive because of being on the harbor and due to the interesting architecture of the buildings, a mixture of modern and Tsarist-era styles.) There isn't a bus stop very close to my friend's house, and it was a very cold day, much more noticeable when we were walking around downtown for a while. So we called a taxi and parted reluctantly.
I am planning to join her and the members of the Bible Study Group again on Friday, which is when they will celebrate Russian Christmas, and also next Sunday, God willing. How lovely to be able to look forward to those times in the near future.
Sorrow Back Home
Still jet-lagging and hit one of those "walls" of time and weariness when I had that kind of headache, so I took some meds and had about a four hour nap this evening. When I woke up, I spent some time with my friend, and then came back up to my room and popped online to check my e-mail.
Sadly, there was a note from my daughter that her husband Daniel's sister Allison had passed away unexpectedly because of the flu. I was very dismayed and called them through Skype right away, since although it was after midnight here, on the verge of Monday, it was around 10 a.m, on Sunday back in Atlanta.
It is hard to imagine the grief that Allison's parents and siblings are feeling, but I trust they will all be comforted by the Lord as they move through this time of grief, and always. She was a beautiful, kind and creative young woman who had just seen her first play performed last fall at Northwestern University where she had been studying. I was blessed to meet her several times, and just pray that everyone who loves her will be able to trust that she is at peace in the ever-loving, everlasting arms of our Father in Heaven.
You never know what is next, and I heartily agree with what Daniel wrote on his Facebook page, "Parents, hug your kids every chance you get."
Although it seems especially sad to lose a loved one right after Christmas and at the very beginning of a new year, maybe it will help because it is a time when it is easier to remember the gifts of the Babe in the Manger -- reconciliation with God and eternal life in the fullness of God's love and joy. I hope it will be so.
May the Lord continue to bless and keep you and all those you love.
In Christ -- Kathy
Kathleen Ware Harris © 2012
kwharris777@gmail.com
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