Go Open Fire in Moscow 1991

Одной из немногочисленных привилегий москвича в те годы был "друг со связями", человек, который мог достать качественные товары да и услуги по приемлемым ценам, хоть и в твердой валюте. Наш сосед напротив был одним из таких людей - у него была высокая должность в администрации Большого Театра.

В этой роли ему удалось помочь нам обойти большинство бюрократических припонов в регистрации нашего ввезенного из за границы автомобиля, офисного оборудования, да и нас самих! Как говорится услуга за услугу, и тем не менее в тех областях, где помощь нужна была больше всего он помочь не мог. Проще говоря, нам необходима была быстрая и более качественная связь по телефону и факсу с западом! К нашему разочарованию, наши предложения твердой валюты или предметов роскоши в данном вопросе не помогали!

В первый год нашего пребывания в Москве контакты по телефону или факсу с "Западом" имели единичный, скорее случайный характер, все зависело от воли русского телефонного оператора. Все звонки шли через телефонного оператора и именно оператор информировал нас о том, когда " случится" телефонный звонок, по обыкновению часов через 48, в не зависимости от того, на сколько срочной была ситуация.

Итак, через 2 дня раздавался телефонный звонок и это могло случиться в 3 утра или в 3 часа по полудню, далее следовала русская инструкция "оставайтесь на линии" или " занято" сопровождавшаяся звуковым набором. Если на другом конце было "абонент не отвечает" или " занято" начинался новый 48 часовой отсчет ожидания. Наибольшее неудобство случалось, когда нам были необходимы ответы или пояснения были из международной штаб квартиры в Лондоне или нашего территориального командного центра в Нью - Йорке. Наибольшим разочарованием для нас было, когда нас "соединяли" в не рабочие часы офисов в Великобритании и США, так как всегда был необходим дополнительный звонок и длительное время ожидания.

И, неизменно, если связь все таки удалось установить первым вопросом всегда было" Как дела в Москве? Вы уже были в самом большом Мак Дональдс в мире?" И наш ответ как всегда был" все хорошо, спасибо и да, были". Интересно было то, что в вечерние выпуски новостей CNN, BBC и CBS попадались именно эти вести из Постперестроечной России.

Русский шоколад и мороженое, бургеры и коктейли из Макдональдс, все по ценам в рублях, что в переводе на доллары было копейки, все это было нашими маленькими еженедельными привилегиями. Преодолевая культурные различия мы делали так же как "если ты в Риме - хватай мороженное, не меньше чем 4 штуки на человека". Биг Мак стоил копейки, но надо было простоять в часовой очереди, чтобы его купить. У Пицца Хат было 2 входа, один - для русских, а другой для иностранцев, который платили в твердой валюте.

Воскресные вечера раз в две недели в эти первые месяцы нашего пребывания были особенными. Каждую вторую неделю Кэти с любовью накрывала шведский стол на пассажирском сиденьи Toyota; на шведском столе были два Чизбургера, восемь Биг Маков, 9 больших картошек, печенья и клубничные коктейли. Это была часть нашего хитрого плана по сокращению времени на многочисленных дорожных досмотрах на нашем семичасовом ночном маршруте в Санкт Петербург.

С середины ноября по начало апреля частые снегопады покрывали придорожные шашлычные ( кебаб) и посты ГАИ (Министерство Внутренних Дел) в то время, как мы двигались по М-10, Российской главной автодороге. Месяц за месяцем, прогресс измерялся в свежих слоях гудрона, которыми покрывалась дорога. На каких то отрезках можно было ехать по свеже положенному асфальту немецкого качества, до тех пор пока асфальт не заканчивался колдобинами и грязью российских дорог.

Мне очень нравилось путешествовать в некогда имперскую столицу, в которой двадцатый век встречался с девятнадцатым. По обочинам дороги виднелись по двадцать с небольшим деревянных изб в каждой из деревень, которую я проезжал. Избы в каждой деревне были примерно одного цвета - желтого в одних, зеленого в других. Наверное, цвет был отражение маркетинговых навыков рыбаков этой деревни, или просто был единственным доступным на тот момент цветом для выкраса.

END PART ONE OF TWO

Translated from the book; RETURN TO BATTLE IN RUSSIA AND BEYOND

Tatiana Arkhipova
SA soldier/translator 1992-95

THE SA; Facing the AIDS epidemic in Russia

OLGA AFANASIEVA MOSCOW CENTRAL CORPS 1992

SUNSHINE  by Eric Ball MBE

The Salvation Army in Mainland China Receives Official Recognition and Registration

NEWS RELEASE: 

London, 20 September 2017

IHQ

The Salvation Army in Mainland China Receives Official Recognition and Registration 

THE Salvation Army's work in mainland China has been given a boost with news that the regional offices in China have received official government recognition and registration. The offices in the capital cities of Kunming (Yunnan Province) and Chengdu (Sichuan Province) have received official recognition and been given legal approval to conduct activities which include: disaster relief, disaster recovery, community development, social services, educational programmes and – at the invitation of Provincial Christian Councils – permission to partner with local congregations in religious activities. 

This achievement is the direct result of 30 years of patient, transparent and consistent relationship with government departments and Christian councils as well as partnerships with a multitude of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Lieut-Colonel Ian Swan (Officer Commanding, Hong Kong and Macau Command) says: 'Over the years there have been many hands and hearts joined in this process; however, we would acknowledge with gratitude the following individuals in particular: Lieut-Colonel Alfred Tsang, Envoy Simon Wong, Major Tommy Chan, Major On Quang-dieu, Major Jeremy Lam and Dr Chan Pui-si.' 

The Salvation Army's ministry opened in mainland China in 1916 and quickly expanded across the northern and eastern provinces until 1949, when it withdrew the mainland. Ministry and social services were retained in Hong Kong. In 1985, at the invitation of the Yunnan Provincial Government, The Salvation Army provided disaster relief and recovery in mainland China. This opened the door to further collaborations and partnerships which resulted in a wide geographical distribution of service and a greater recognition of the organisation's presence. These programmes included health education, HIV/Aids awareness, education sponsorship, income-generation projects to alleviate poverty, infrastructure and capital projects, consultation and training. 

In 2015, the Central Government of China reviewed its registration expectations and procedures which resulted in the establishment of a new law in January 2017. Significant meetings in 2016 with the government and Christian councils during the visit of General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox explored ways in which The Salvation Army could comply with these new regulations while expanding its partnerships and scope of work to better serve all the people of China. These discussions were very productive and opened new approaches which have now borne fruit. 

'God has richly blessed our efforts and desire to serve the mainland and its peoples,' says Lieut-Colonel Swan. 'We now have further opportunities and responsibilities to build on these foundations so the next 30 years will produce results for future generations.'  
From a report by the Hong Kong and Macau Command

This release is available through the News section of www.salvationist.org (click on name to access). For those who have full access to The Salvation Army's Lotus Notes databases the release is also available through the International News database. Please note that in some locations the database is replicated to the local server only two or three times a day.

THE DEMAS SYNDROME

I SHARE the preoccupation of Mrs Major M. Lloyd on the subject of officers who resign (January 1991). The problem surfaces from time to time, searching for a solution.

It is sadly true that when officers leave the ranks, they disappear from their comrades' view: we learn of their resignation (at least in this territory) only by rumour, or sometimes a note from THQ, and we don't even know their address. At the moment of leaving they are deeply wounded, often bitter and at times unfair in their judgments, preferring to cut off any connections with the Army. That is not to say that they disappear from our thoughts and prayers, or that we withdraw our friendship.

To consider them 'failures' would be to pronounce a daring, even incorrect judgment. Some of them may quite sincerely have been mistaken in their calling. (Several in this territory have served faithfully in other denominations. They were probably not destined to be officers.)

In our officership, we pass through critical phases which make us want to stop, take stock and get our breath. These may be caused by overwork or nervous tension. It is regrettable if an officer then sees resignation as the only solution. This suggestion of the Adversary must be repulsed and some means found to reorganise life and work, in certain countries such as France it is possible to obtain a few weeks' break through the Social Security system, to regain general equilibrium.

Critical periods can also be caused by disagreements about our work or doctrinal queries. To have no other option than resignation is discouraging.

The regulations make provision for leave of absence for specified family reasons only, If this could be extended to include officers who honestly and sincerely are going through a difficult period, they would no longer feel 'prisoners' of their officership. It would also enable than to discuss their situation with their superiors with the opportunity of clearing up any misunderstanding. Even so, some resignations will be inevitable.*

In my 38 years of service I never considered resigning, because of my

strong sense of vocation. Several times. though. there was inner unrest, and once, after more than 25 years of service, a situation arose which made me want to distance myself momentarily from the Army (the six weeks' extended furlough did not exist then).

Later I recognised it as a weakening of my consecration and obedience. It was a time of great turmoil, until one day I happened to read the following lines which made me continue on the path of service:

Your days are not your own

To spend just as you please.

Your days are meant for more

Than comfort, fun and ease.

For you were shaped to spend each day

In helping others on their way.

When a cadet in training I had been very impressed by the story of Abraham fighting the birds of prey which attacked the sacrifice he had placed on the altar. Bravely 'he drove them away'. We too have to watch over our offering to God. It is an old story but it is always applicable.

SUZANNE BARBELL, Lieut-Colonel (R),

France

Hurricane Irma - A Prayer For Those In Need

FREEDOM OF WORSHIP IN RUSSIA IS SHARPLY CURTAILED

A leadership conference of 1,000 pastors in Moscow in May 2014. The pastors were deeply concerned about the worsening situation regarding religous freedom in Russia. Recently, 74 pastors were tried under the law on "terrorism." In the photo: Laura and Hannu Haukka beside Bishops Vasily Yevtsik and Alexey Rudenki.

Russia’s ongoing crackdown on religious minorities, foreign missionaries, and evangelists has earned it a spot among the worst countries in the world for religious freedom.

“This reminds us of the Soviet Era,” says Vladimir Rjahovski, an attorney with the Council For Law And Justice in Moscow.

The Churches of Russia have pleaded with us to print more Evangelism books, New Testaments and Bibles asap. We believe we have a short window of opportunity.

Freedom of worship in Russia is sharply curtailed.

The Russian government has cracked down on all the evangelical churches with new laws and restrictive regulationsthat were signed by President Putin last year.

To enforce these new laws the government is compelling all evangelical churches in the country to re-register their charter.

The government now states any Evangelical Christian church with 50 members or more is designated as a “potential terrorist target,” and as such, must hire and Russian secret security agents to be on site at every church service.

In addition, every church is required to purchase and install very expensive metal detectors to the entrance to their church.

Churches cannot afford to pay for these security measures. It is simply a way to crush the churches financially.

Some pastors are trying to work around this law by removing all but 50 people from their membership rolls. For example, churches with 400 members are removing 350 of members.

Christians whose names are removed wonder what will happen to them. Will they be forced to gather someplace else? Will they be able to attend as visitors? Right now, no one knows.

Further, the Russian government is requiring anyone who leads in the church in any way--- such as Sunday school teachers or youth pastors--- to go through government training programs and receive certificates to continue teaching.

The problem is the government has their own curriculum and will tell these Christians what they can and cannot teach.

Providentially, while the Russian government has restricted the church in almost every other area, printing presses inside Russia are still accessible. But GCMM president Hannu Haukka says that we have less than 10 months to get these books printed before the doors closes completely.