Dear Friends of Eastern Europe Renewal:

Greetings from Switzerland. This will be brief as I am on the run, just back from a month in Russia, a week at Youth With A Mission in Switzerland and taking off tomorrow morning for 2 weeks of "German L'Abri" near Berlin. Most of you know I am not very conscious of media or corporate images, but some friends have spruced up EER. See the new signature at the bottom and visit the web page.

Russia is both Europe and Asia and so, rather difficult to understand. In my experience 70 years of Communism have left some scars. Cooperation and engagement are feared and cynically avoided. Freedom is understood individualistically. Trust is almost impossible. Bribery is increasing. We know of only one Church or seminary that is not almost totally dependant on foreign money and direction. The young people are bright, creative and full of potential but not of hope. It is long and hard work to establish enough credibility for them to learn from you. I love them and want to go back.

During the whole month of July in St. Petersburg, it did not get dark for one minute. The weather was generally perfect. While there I read Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" which brilliantly and horribly shows the chaotic depravity of people with the love of God as the only possible stable reality. The book was written in St. Petersburg and mentions many of the places one sees while going around the city. 

Our school was in a Lutheran Seminary funded by nearby Finland. It is in the village that has been home to the research laboratory of Pavlov and his dogs. The town has many dogs and they are actually very well behaved. The rural atmosphere reminded me of my childhood in California almost 50 years ago. During the month my friend and colleague, Marsh Moyle, director of SEN and I went to Moscow for a weekend Church retreat with the people I served in May. In the Church is a 9 year old cerebral palsied boy named Ben who has won the heart of Mary from a distance. She sent his mother a very good book about caring for him at home and we hope to go together to visit him. 

After coming home I taught for 6 days in a YWAM school of worldviews. This was an intense experience with students discussing 2 hours after the lecture and asking questions during every coffee break. We struggled and found some very good ways forward together. God blessed us all.

Some invitations have been coming in to teach in Slovenia and Scotland and other places from people I met in Hungary at the European Leadership Forum in June. I hope to accept some of these and return to the Forum next May. 

Thank you all for your prayers and support. Both are vital. God bless and keep you.

Much love in Jesus Christ,

Ellis

Bakyt and Sultan from Kyrgyztan and from Moslem families.

Teaching on Spirituality at the Church retreat in Moscow.

At the Pilaw feast prepared by the Kyrgyz.

Students on the bus. A Russian bus ride is difficult to describe.

Return to Top

Copyright © 2005 Ellis Potter.