The ministry here is mostly relationship building, because our contacts recently began their ministry in this city. They spend a lot of time networking, meeting new people, and inviting them to events. The main events are English club which attracts a lot of attention. Weekly Bible studies are available for anyone who is interested, too. There is a house church meeting every week, too. While many people are interested in America and practicing English, not that many are looking for a deeper relationship with God. Almost all the children are baptized as babies in the orthodox church, but other than Christmas and Easter, they do not often practice any kind of religion or relationship with God.
Gloomy, that’s how it seems here sometimes. Today is overcast. We are staying in a neighborhood of gray cement mid-rise buildings that look pretty communist if you ask me. This is kind of what my mind’s eye expected when I thought of the autumn in eastern Europe. However, this mental stereotype I have isn’t valid. On the outside, that’s what you can see and even believe. Even a small effort to dig deeper shows something promising.
We’ve heard that people here are like watermelons. They are hard on the outside, but on the inside are sweet and delicious. I couldn’t agree more. These are some of the warmest and most hospitable people we’ve come across on the race, but you wouldn’t know it passing someone by on the street. We’ve also been told that people here have a lot on their minds. They are concerned with the difficult life situation and that is why faces are gloomy on the streets. I don’t know what it is, but there is definitely a look here. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism or façade, because I’m telling you that when you are invited into someone’s home, you are treated like family and the hospitality couldn’t be more warm and friendly.
