Russia ('92 - '97)
My wife and I were involved in Counsellor Training Seminars for potential leaders of Christian
Camping International in Russia for several years, six weeks each year. In Moscow we were
met at the airport and hosted overnight by Dr. Alexander Bogamolov, head of the geology
faculty at the Moscow University, before we travelled on. In 1992, we travelled to Alma Ata
to visit Bertha's cousins, Abram Harms and Yuri Strigonov. In 1997, we first made a side trip
to visit my father's birthplace in Vaslijevka, Ukraine, then a trip to Veronezh, Arkadak and
Zentral in Russia to visit Bertha's father's birthplace and some of her relatives.
In Moscow we were hosted by the Bogomolovs. They are both professors at the Moscow University
but had time to show the sights of Moscow. Although they are not Christians they asked us to
pray table grace at every meal.
At Mezhdurechinskoya, 50 Kms from Alma Ata, we were hosted by Abram Harms and his wife Katya.
We ate all meals outside. Abram and we had only one language in common: Plaut
Dietsch (low German). Earlier that morning, I sat under the tree in the background and recorded
a 15 minute segment of the singing of a most amazing nightingale! The nightgale sang three short
sequences every 20 seconds, never repeating itself once during the 15 minute recording.
Near Arkadak, we photographed this long since abandoned church. We noticed trees and shrubs
growing on the various levels of the roof.
In Zentral, in the home of Lena Siemens, Bertha's cousin, we were surprised to find a beautiful piano,
reasonably in tune! Katya Strigonova, Bertha's niece, is a Russian student with wonderful ambition.
She speaks English fluently and attended several universities in Veronezh during the last year,
achieving high marks. She lives in Liski, near Veronezh.
Bertha, seated in the cozy dining room of Lena Siemens in Zentral together with Lena's three generation
family. The television/VCR is covered with a table cloth in the background.
At Ogoniuk, 10 kms west of Anapa along the north shore of the Black Sea, this above ground hot water main
had sprung a leak years ago. This spot became the local dish washing center for people who had no
running water. One day, two workmen, armed with some wooden planks and a tire wrench spent the
whole day trying to repair this leak. By evening they gave up and never returned.
In our dormitory the bathroom housed the hot water tank with its main switch right next to the shower.
Some plumbing repair had been done in the past. You can see that it is possible to make repairs to
water lines with an arc welder!
This Anapa beach front is the Florida of Russia. Many Russians told us that their dream was to
someday be able to afford a vacation here.
This shows one of our music classes in Anapa, Russia. These student had come from all over Russia to
attend the Counsellor Training Seminar. During a typical three week session they learned to use music,
sports and Bible lessons to lead Christian Children's Camps back in their home cities.
Beautiful roses are plentiful in Anapa!
Russian young folks learned ways to trust others. Falling backwards into the arms of your friends was a
difficult thing for them to do.
Final exams were held in the chapel, a large tent which was built in Winkler, Manitoba and donated
to the Anapa camp.
A well-kept vintage Russian car was parked at the camp
site.
Students and teachers liked to gather on the north shore of the Black Sea after a day of studies.
Unloading a container, shipped from Winnipeg, Canada. Donated dry goods, lumber, sports and
music equipment took months to arrive at Anapa.
A homemade solar panel, a network of pipes, heats water for the camp in Anapa.
Only two thin wires were needed to conduct 220 volts to the carpenters upstairs, who were running all their
power equipment off this "extension" cord.
Music teachers, John & Bertha Klassen, with recorders, in front of the camp administration building in Anapa.
A typical afternoon on Anapa's main street. Pedestrians use the sidewalk and the street. The occasional auto must
drive carefully.
Since square, extruded hollow metal bars seemed to be the construction material of choice in Anapa,
workmen needed only a diamond saw and an arc welder to build a new shopping strip.
A modern strip mall is popular in downtown Anapa.
Main Street in Pushkin, a suburb of St. Petersburg
Pedestrians along Nevsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg's main street
During our stay in St. Petersburg, we lived with a widow in this apartment building in Pushkin Village
The Church of the Resurrection in downtown St. Petersburg was being reconstructed.