Russia

Difference in schools

janclaus fellowship, Handing out Bibles, Russia , , , ,

As I drive in my home town I look at the schools. It seems like we are trying to make our schools more beautiful. As you drive by the newer schools they are so inviting. It is not like that in Russia. When we were there we visited many schools and they all, and I do mean all, look alike. I wondered how the children learned because they looked so dingy. When we went to Ukraine I discovered all the schools there looked just like the schools in Russia. Continue reading →

Is it a Garage? Or … ?

janclaus garage, Russia, Zelenograd ,

Here in the United States most of us have a car. In fact most families have two or three cars. We have different ways of protecting our cars. We have a drive way or a garage or a special parking place and we are thrilled to have our space.

While living in Zelenograd I noticed a very strange looking thing. They looked like metal boxes the shape of a car. I don’t know what it was called because it wasn’t a garage especially as we think of a garage. Zelenograd is by Moscow and in the winter it is cold and the snow covers the ground most of the winter. Continue reading →

Home Groups in Zelenograd

janclaus manners, Russia, Zelenograd , , ,

Hospitality means “Friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests.” I will admit I am not that kind of person. I’m the kind of person who will pour your first cup of coffee or tea and tell you where you can get your second cup if you want it.

When we went to live in Zelenograd, Russia it was to help people learn how to be small group leaders. We had a small apartment where our living room served as our bedroom and three times a week we had people over to show them how to invite people to their home and be hospitable to them. Needless to say, I felt out of my element. But I made coffee and tea and always had some sort of sweet. Continue reading →

Where am I?

janclaus English As A Second Language, Russia ,

That was my question on one of my trips. I was scheduled to go to Moldova. Not a famous country, but I knew where it was. When the plane landed, we went through passport control. We were met by our guides. We had quite a bus ride ahead of us.

About an hour later we were at another border crossing. We had to get out, fill out paper work and talk to more guards. Of course our guides helped us because we didn’t speak Russian or Moldovan. Soon we got a paper stamped with an official seal and was told we had to keep that paper with us at all times and wouldn’t be allowed out of the country without it. Continue reading →

Bibles for Russia

janclaus Handing out Bibles, Russia ,

When we first went to Russia, we had a lot of different reactions but no one ever rejected a copy of the New Testament. We handed them out in market places. Nothing is more humbling than having people kiss your hands as you handed them the Book. Many people looked at us with tears in their eyes and thanked us over and over. We enjoyed every thing we did, but the thing we enjoyed most was handing New Testaments to the people. Continue reading →

Apparently Manners are not Universal

janclaus manners, Public transportation, Russia, Zelenograd , ,

I was born and raised in the Midwest. As I was growing up, I learned several sayings I was told were polite to say: “Please”, “Thank you”, “I’m sorry” and the one I want to talk about today “excuse me”.

I was taught to say excuse me if I walked in front of any one or wanted to get by someone or touched someone accidently. I was and still am a polite person, but there are countries where you cannot be polite.UA 62 Continue reading →