Today was our first full day in Moscow. It also was the
coldest day of the winter season in the city, coming in at -19 degrees Celsius.
Naturally, we wanted to explore after getting our first full rest. We were
ready to go, cold and all.
We have been staying with Captain Julia and her friend
Natasha through the Salvation Army. She has been very hospitable to us, housing
us for our stay here and providing meals for us. Tonight she made borsch, a
Russian staple. After hearing people tell me all about it every time they hear
I was going to Russia, I was surprised that I liked it. According to one of the
other Salvation Army officers, Julia makes the best borsch.
Today Julia didn’t really have much to do at the District
Headquarters, so she accompanied us to our visit to the Red Square. It was
relieving to have a guide and to not have to navigate the busy metro with our
suitcases. After standing outside in the freezing cold to snap pictures, we
checked our bags (you have to) and visited Lenin’s tomb. It was a surprising
experience because a.) I didn’t realize we were going there at the moment and
b.) The tomb was eerie.
After going
through security checkpoints after checking our bags, we walked to the tomb.
The tomb is guarded by military men who stand expressionless, but ready to
react if you make the wrong move. Once you enter the tomb, you have to take off
your hat and gloves. Photography or any kind of electronic device is not
permitted inside the tomb, and must be checked with the bags. Once you descend
the stairs to the room containing Lenin, you must not make any noise as you
walk around the preserved corpse contained inside a glass box. I am assuming he
has been cryogenically frozen. There is little lighting in the room with the
corpse. The only lighting is shining on the corpse itself, and it is red
tinted. Our visit was brief.
Once we got back outside, most of us went to a nearby
upscale shopping mall that caters to tourists because we really had to use the
bathroom while Morgan and Julia unchecked our bags. The mall was three stories
and very beautiful architecturally. It was interesting to see some familiar
stores juxtaposed against unfamiliar ones. While Russian winter wear is vastly
different than the States’ (hello,
PETA!), everyday wear is different but somewhat similar.
When we reunited with Julia and Morgan we went outside again
into the cold and took pictures in front of the iconic buildings at the Red
Square. It was surreal to stand in a place steeped in so much history that I
wish I knew more about.
After our quick photo-taking spree, we walked to what is
supposedly the largest McDonald’s in the world. Honestly, I am skeptical about
the claim because Orlando claims to have the largest one and so did the 2012
London Games. Anyways, it was nice to get out of the cold, eat some familiar
food (I wasn’t brave enough to try anything new with my dairy allergy) and
access wifi. At the apartment we are staying at, there is none, so
communication has been spotty.
After lunch, we hopped on the metro and went to the
Salvation Army’s district offices where Captain Julia works as a teacher in
their training school. We toured their facilities and got to spend time with
the Officer there. He asked us questions about the states, and we had many
questions for him as well. It was interesting to hear what he had to say when I
asked him about the changes in Russia over the course of his lifetime. He said
that with the end of the communist era, Russians lost one of their largest
commonalities: each other. When everyone is under the same mindset, he said,
the relationships among people are better. He added that with the change of the
political climate, now that people fend for themselves, there is less concern
for the greater good. He likes the freedom, however, because as he said, “Now
we have Jesus.” While the church is regulated by the government (cannot have
members until the age of 18, etc.), it is active in Russia. He said that his
corp (church) fluctuates around 30-60 each Sunday and they also have daily
homeless outreach.
Tonight at dinner in our apartment, we got to ask Julia more
about her life. She is from Southern Russia closer to Sochi. She has only lived
in Moscow for 5 years because of her appointment with the Salvation Army. She
claims that her English is bad, but we’re impressed. Julia came to know the
Lord after tagging along with her older sister to a Salvation Army church when
she was 13. Since that time, she always knew she wanted to be a part of the
church’s leadership. She went to university and training school simultaneously
and also had her own corp. She was a busy lady!
The various corps in Moscow have had problems surviving, so
they all have combined into the one we visited today.
Julia has told us that Russians really love tea, and I
completely understand. It’s cold here. After our meal we had black tea and jam.
This jam had soft walnuts in it that had been picked when they were green and
combined with honey. It was surprisingly good and the nuts were surprisingly
soft. The jam is not native to this area, it was a gift from one of her friends
in Georgia. A few hours later she made us herbal tea with biscuits and honey.
We are unexpectedly getting the royal treatment. It’s a blessing.
