Sevastopol continued

I mentioned in the previous blog that we went to a Tatar church in Simferopol. Well here are the photos at last! This is Martyn Dunsford on the right, from Hedge End, Southampton with the leader of the church. It is their custom to wear traditional dress if they speak or are involved in the worship. The 14 year old girl in blue, below, danced during the worship.



Here are some of the other youngsters who were in the meeting.




On returning from Simferopol we headed straight for McDonald's! We loved it!



, After a full day on Sunday I had an opportunity on Monday morning to write a blog at an Internet cafe then see some of Sevastopol. It was bitterly cold and everyone is well wrapped up. Full length coats to within a few inches of the ground are common, as are fur coats with fur hoods. Part of the Russian fleet is based here.

And reminders of the liberation of Sevastopol from the Germans in the 2nd World War are to be seen in several places.

Since the fall of communism, consumerism has grown apace. Here is a supermarket similar say to Asda, in a shopping mall that we walked through. Warmer than being outside!



We have the inevitable meetings. Here we are on Tuesday morning with Sergei the leader of the Sevastopol church in his church office in the basement of his home. Alexander, in the middle, is our main translator. Very few people we met spoke English other than to say "Good morning" or "God is good all the time!" Still, what Russian do I know? Sputnik, bistro, cosmonaut, czar, dobra utro (good morning) and vodka! Note the box of chocolates on the table!

During our meeting I had opportunity to talk about our church in particular our youth and children's work. This was followed by a superb lunch provided by Sergei's wife. The salmon roe on bread as the starter below, caught my eye! The round black things are not small plums but olives! The biggest I have ever seen. This was followed by creamed mashed potato with big chunks of beef, grated cabbage with sour cream, gherkins etc. Wonderful!

Then off to Balaklava, the place of the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade. If you love your history it is a great place to be to bring to life the Crimean War 1854-56. We pass through Inkerman on the way to Sevastopol. It was because of the many British deaths through frostbite and illness that Florence Nightingale came, the Medical Corps was established, the first prefabricated hospital was built by Brunel and the first hospital train was run.

But we had come to Balaklava see Michael and his wife who are the leaders of a church and run a mobile phone shop to provide an income.

Now it was getting dark and it was time to return to our apartment followed by an evening meeting with the Sevastopol church. Again, wonderful worship with God evidently present.

Then to bed and up at 3.30 am for the start of our journey through the flat, snow covered Crimean countryside to our flight from Simferopol to Kiev and then home. What a privilege to see and hear of God on the move in another country!

Ken