Psalm 33:19 “…that he may deliver their soul from death\u00a0and keep them alive in famine. \u00a0Our soul waits for the Lord;\u00a0he is our help and our shield. \u00a0\u00a0For our heart is glad in him,\u00a0because we trust in his holy name.\u00a0\u00a0Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,\u00a0even as we hope in you.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Watching movies either about or taking place in Russia, it is time to find out for myself a little more about this country. \u00a0After months of preparations, visas, travelers insurance and necessitated prepaid hotel room\u00a0(Apparently\u00a0Russia wants to know: \u00a0when you arrive and depart, how you arrive and depart, where you will go, what you will see or do, and even why the visit!) \u00a0Packing all the luggage into the private taxi hired by our tour guide Alex, it is time to begin this next adventure. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Further north, and farther east than I’d ever traveled, St Petersburg provided the final piece of first-hand knowledge necessary to complete a particular event in my novel, “Chosen.” \u00a0I didn’t just “want” to see this city; I “needed” to see it, to imagine it, and then describe it.<\/p>\n Despite bad reviews of the airline, and in light of the Malaysian passenger plane shot down a few months prior along the border of Ukraine and Russia, I surmised the Russians won’t shoot down their own Russian planes. \u00a0It’s not that I’m naive about such possibilities; I’m not a fearful person. \u00a0Thus, the official Russian portion of my trip began aboard an Aeroflot airline, direct from Kiev to St Petersburg.<\/p>\n Unsure how early to arrive at the airport, we erred on the side of “early is best”. \u00a0Finding out flight check-in times are regulated down to the minute, the corresponding airline desk opened only<\/em> two hours prior to the flight departure time (despite lengthy security lines). Numerous agent “desks,” but no one present in them until the “allotted time<\/em>“. \u00a0Is this how it will be in Russia?<\/p>\n Knowing luggage allowances vary by airline and country regulations always a bit differ, I still thought it would be similar…well apparently, not this time. \u00a0Only one<\/em> luggage item allowed (beyond a small bag or backpack carry on). \u00a0My luggage caused additional difficulties. \u00a0Perhaps it’s because Aeroflot is 51% owned by the Russian government, or maybe their regulations just required it, or there’s a concern about weight distribution on the plane, but for a reason known only by the airline agents, I was sent me to a separate desk to pay in cash. \u00a0I returned back, with the required paperwork proving I paid the extra luggage charge, to the airline ticket agent . \u00a0Apparently I’m the only one knowing this requirement because other passengers used just<\/em> ONE<\/em>\u00a0piece of luggage…not two. \u00a0(I thought to myself, “good thing I left one heavy suitcase in Paris for my return next week!”)<\/p>\n With nothing to declare, and just little carryon bag with me, going through customs was relatively simple considering I left Ukraine for Russia. \u00a0The custom lines are regulated. \u00a0Only one passenger is allowed into a glassed-in booth for questioning. \u00a0I’m sure when the Custom’s Agent looked on their computer monitor they learned everything about me and of course, I had the nicely stamped 3 year Russian Visa) \u00a0As in most countries outside the USA, boarding and disembarking the planes are far away from the terminal area–a required bus ride to a plane parked quite a distance from the terminals. \u00a0Still unable to carry luggage or maneuver easily up and down stairways (metal steps), I barely hung the metal hand rails in icy weather. \u00a0Just knowing Russia was only one flight away, my heart beat with excitement.<\/p>\n No polite chitchat by airline employees on this flight and only small cups of water and hot tea are served complimentary during the two hour flight. \u00a0Ushered off the plane amidst pushing from other passengers (where did manners go), and crammed into buses, we were ushered into a glassed-in reception area with one escalator (again, everyone pushing to move forward). \u00a0Upon reaching the second floor, two custom’s agents–one in military dress, the other in a suit–looking very serious as each passenger checked through Russian customs. \u00a0(If every country cared about those who entered, borders might mean something!) \u00a0After a few questions to answer (with nothing to do but stand there) it was on to the next phase of customs–baggage to be scanned.<\/p>\n Already aware of the strict Russian regulations, I imagined lots of questions concerning the electronics (camera, battery back ups, laptop, cell phones, printer, external hard drives and lots of cords) and I was prepared with answers. \u00a0One by one each bag went through x-ray. \u00a0 No alerts or questions until one particular item caused a commotion.<\/p>\n One \u00a0lone Christmas ornament from London’s Westminster Abbey, in the shape of a cross, (padded with metallic thread and beaded decorations) caused the alerted reactions: \u00a0Seen on the computer screen: \u00a0a 5 inch by 3 inch image of a cross. \u00a0 I wondered to myself, did it look like a weapon? \u00a0Three young women (dressed in starched, unwrinkled, perfectly worn military uniforms) stood there whispering to one another. \u00a0The agents shook heads, confused.<\/p>\n “What is this?” one agent asked pointing at the object on the screen.<\/p>\n I answered, “A cross…It’s a christmas ornament…to hang on a Christmas tree.”<\/p>\n “Christmas tree?” she asked.<\/p>\n “Yes, I bought it in London as a souvenir to hang on my Christmas tree.”<\/p>\n The three said something in Russian to one another. \u00a0Still questioning looks from all three, I kept attempting to explain: \u00a0Christmas, a tree with decorations hanging on it, presents underneath, opening them..even Santa Claus<\/p>\n “Oh presents” she nodded her head. \u00a0The women spoke to one another again and turned back to me, “New Years tree?”<\/p>\n Silly me, I continued to attempt correcting her understanding of Christmas versus New Years but to no avail. \u00a0No one heard of Christmas. \u00a0Unlike in the Ukraine where many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, as a nation Russia doesn’t celebrate Christmas. \u00a0Instead presents are opened on New Years according to the Gregorian calendar adopted by Russia in 1918.<\/p>\n Seemingly unsatisfied with this answer, she wanted to see this ornament herself. \u00a0I had no idea where I’d placed such a small compact item, especially since I’d collected a few similar souvenir while traveling and tucked each one tightly into corners of my hard-sided suitcase. \u00a0Trying to help me find it, she pointed to the x-ray pictures. \u00a0After riffling through the suitcase I found the item in question: \u00a0a turquoise silk, padded ornament with “Westminster Abbey” embroidered onto one side and metallic threads, beads and sequins sewn along the edges.<\/p>\n Smiling, the ladies nodded their heads and repeated “New Years Tree”. \u00a0I smiled back. \u00a0None of the girls knew anything of Christ. \u00a0This generation of young people did not grow up worshipping Jesus as their Lord and Savior. \u00a0Trees are not the only difference for Russians–even Santa Claus is quite different. \u00a0A Russian Santa Claus is called Father Frost and is accompanied by the fairy tale princess, Snow Maiden (his granddaughter). \u00a0He brings presents to children to place under the New Year’s tree. He carries a staff, wears a long coat trimmed in white fur, a Russian style cap,and \u00a0leather boots. He has no need of reindeer–he’s carried across Russia in a sleigh pulled by three horses.<\/p>\n Religion was removed by Marxism, Lenin, and Stalin. \u00a0Communism prohibited public displays of any religious act. \u00a0When the Bolsheviks took over Russia (calling themselves “Soviet Union”), they removed the Orthodox priests and religion from government. \u00a0Since Czars and priests were considered tightly knit together. \u00a0When the Czar and his family were killed, so were the priests. \u00a0The state replaced everything associated with the old autocratic state. \u00a0As the first state with\u00a0an ideological objective to eliminate religion and replace it with universal atheism. From my first experience in Russia (the three women in customs) it seems to have worked.<\/p>\n “Mother Russia” protects, educates and often employs. \u00a0Science replaced God. \u00a0The twentieth century lacked any outward Christian worship for fear of reprisals. \u00a0I was unaware of this at the time, but it’s no surprise that the\u00a0majority of Russians now consider themselves atheists.<\/p>\n Though this Old Testament passage talks about Israel, it is applicable to this land called Russia. \u00a0I see the blindness as exhibited by these three women in their twenties: \u00a0beautiful, intelligent, intuitive, aware and yet, live in the spiritual darkness about God. \u00a0A century of darkness and lack of understanding about true Christianity.<\/p>\n 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n But I believe everything can change once a spark is ignited. \u00a0I pray for that spark. \u00a0God is everywhere, but is He worshipped as Lord and Savior? \u00a0Is he even acknowledged?<\/p>\n St Petersburg is considered the “Venice” of the Baltic Region. \u00a0Riding in the taxi I noticed canals and waterways everywhere. \u00a0Beautiful old bridges connect the small island with the historic district (where my hotel is located) to the newer parts of the city.<\/p>\n Canals similar to Venice, Italy<\/p><\/div>\n Strategically located–only a few blocks from Hermitage Museum (originally called “Winter Palace”), the famous “onion-domed” cathedrals (now museums) and the cultural art centers–the hotel’s location perfectly suited my needs.<\/p>\n![\"DSC01591\"](\"https:\/\/findinggodeverywhere.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DSC01591.jpg\")
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