Shortly after the New Year, I travelled back to Aigir, a small village in the Southern Ural Mountains. The “camp” is open to tourists and mountain-climbers as a type of lodge. I was neither a tourist nor mountain-climber, but my university hosted another camp for high-school students studying English. So, I spent the first week of January helping students practice speaking English while we enjoyed the beauty of snow-covered mountains and forests.

One night I sat with a student, and we talked about our families and our plans for the future. His name was Almaz; he was fifteen years old. He had only been studying English for a few years, but he worked hard to communicate with me using what he knew. After several exchanges that night he asked me if I believed in God. He shared with me about the Koran, the Prophet Muhammed, and visiting the mosque. I told him about Adam and Eve, sin, and Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then he asked me if I believed in Judgment Day and confessed that he was afraid of that day. I explained why God’s love for us and Jesus’ sacrifice gave me a different perspective of Judgment Day.

I love the mountains, and they’re beautiful covered in snow. And I like interacting with groups of students and helping them practice English. But what I desire is to begin conversations like the one I had with Almaz. Thankfully, he lives in my city and we’re planning to meet again. Would you pray for the Holy Spirit to be working in Almaz’s heart?

Shawn B. 

Ever since I arrived in Ufa, there was something that continued to bring questions to my mind in the evening.  I always had wondered what the crime rate was here, especially leading on the side of homicide.  Originally, I thought I was the only one who heard such commotion; as possibly, the sound of a gunshot. However, this turned out to be nothing more than fireworks being shot off late in the night.

Imagine that! Fireworks being lit, taking off with the sound of a low scream, then suddenly bursting in mid-air; as if, an F-16 fighter jet just blew past Mach I, with the sound barrier being torn in two.  All of this happening around zero dark thirty in the morning.  There has been such excitement from people all over the city of Ufa, all anxious for the festivities to truly begin.

We now fast-forward to New Year’s Eve, where beautiful streaming and sparkling explosions light up the night sky all over the city.  The buzz of adrenaline and anticipation for the New Year’s approach is coming to its climax.  Soon, the city will put on their own firework show to entertain myself and the 3000+ people, who are all crowded around a giant Christmas tree in a square where one can find a statue of Lenin.

My friends and I all waited for this very moment with eager joy.  The moment has just about come for when the city of Ufa will unleash their barrage of beautiful firepower from their arsenal of display.  Midnight for Ufa has come and gone by this point.  The New Year will not be fully celebrated until midnight strikes in downtown Moscow. 

After waiting in -10 F weather for four hours, we all were ready to see the show and then leave as quickly as possible, so as, to avoid the traffic that awaited the end of the Lenin’s Square celebration.  We all begin to count up to 12: odeen*, dva*, tree*....Then finally…HAPPY NEW YEAR!! The fireworks were beautiful.  The wait was well worth it and the city of Ufa did not disappoint.

K.S.