Subscribe to Our Blog
Posts
All Comments
About Us
- TeamUfa
- We are a team of people trying to reach people in Ufa and Bashkortostan in Russia. It is no small task and we want your support!
Who's Visited Us
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Friends from the U.S.
10:33 PM | Posted by
TeamUfa
A group of tourists from America recently spent a week here
in Ufa. For some, it was their first trip to Russia, but others have been to
Ufa before and love returning to the city. I spent the week with them when I
could, helping them find the right bus or purchase something to eat. Mostly, I
was happy to spend time with fellow Americans.
They have good relationships with members of a Baptist
church here in Ufa. This mix of Russian and American believers spent time
together during the week doing a variety of activities, weather permitting. I
think one way a person manifests his love toward someone else is by
communicating. In the same way, the love that these brothers and sisters share
with one another was evident through the different ways they communicated. How?
With broken Russian or English, improvised hand signals, laughter, shared
meals, Uno, Frisbee, prayers for each other, and singing songs together to
praise God.
It was encouraging week for those of us who live here. I met
some new friends, I heard testimonies of God’s work, I heard the stories of
those who want to know God, and by the end of the week I had used every Russian
word I knew. Thanks to my friends back in the U.S. I hope to see you next year.
Shawn B.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Reflections: Four Months in Ufa
There’s a
lot that could be said about living in another country for four months. Any
move brings changes. A new environment, new people, new rules. Moving to
another country adds to that a new language and culture, and sometimes a
feeling of isolation, feeling especially far from all things familiar. For me,
I hope that such challenging circumstances will result in growth.
As a
follower of Christ I’ve better learned how to live the truth that I am
dependent on him. Before I moved to Russia I knew that Christ offered peace and
stability to my spirit, but the comfort of familiar things often disguised how
greatly I needed what Christ offered.
And what
peace does Christ offer? Most importantly we are offered peace with God.
Burdened by the guilt of sin and under the promise of judgment, Christ says to
each of us, “Turn from sin, follow me, be forgiven, I was punished for you.”
And after we have accepted this offer we must choose every day to meditate on
God’s truth. Because changing circumstances and feelings of isolation are
symptoms of being human, not culture shock.
God’s word
remains true and constant; it’s stable when the world is not. I think today I’m
more dependent on it, I’m more thankful for it, and I hope even more for those
who don’t know the word that they will soon meet him.
Shawn B.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
English Camp
For about 20 days in July I lived in a small village in the
southern Urals, Aigir. There are only a couple families who live there year-round.
The rest of the cottages are rented to anyone looking for a vacation in the
mountains.
Every year Bashkir State Pedagogical University hosts an
English camp in Aigir. For sessions of ten days students can come practice
their English and enjoy typical, camp activities. I was invited to participate
in the camp as a “native English-speaker.”
It was a new experience for me to be surrounded by mountains
and to live a more rustic lifestyle. There was no internet access and limited
cell-phone service. The primary indication of civilization was the sound of the
many trains that passed through the village.
The camp’s administrator told us many legends of the
mountains and some of the village’s history. We were told to breathe deeply in
Aigir. Surrounded by pine trees, the air was much fresher and cleaner than that
of the city from which many of the students had come. It was intimidating for
some of the students to speak with an American. But after being defeated at a
few card games, I probably seemed a bit easier to talk to.
I appreciated the chance to live in Aigir and participate in
the camp. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the different cultures
represented in Russia: Ukrainian, Georgian, Bashkir, and Tatar. I’m thankful
for the many impromptu Russian language lessons from groups of students, though
I won’t be using all the words I learned. And looking back, I realize that
being surrounded by such natural beauty is a revelation of God that we don’t
witness here in the city.
Shawn B.
Shawn B.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)