Ted, Ted, Ted

Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2001 19:56:54 -0700 (PDT)From: theokuster@usa.netSubject: on scheduleWe are on schedule. We keep up the pace. People continue to invite us over, and we continue to overeat! Yesterday we had horse during the first course, and then a large carp, smoked with tomato and pepper and basil. That was only the second of three meals on Sunday!The church services are all very strong, good liturgy and good preaching. They use LW in Russian. There is a big need for the translation of Buls’ Notes, sermon helps into Russian. 20 or more students and pastors would be using them, but these people are not good at English. We might be doing that as a new project, it could cost maybe $5 for each note, and maybe some people back in SE MN might be interesting in “sponsoring” a note or two.On the other hand, the physical organization of the congregations into a church body that can be self supporting, self governing, and self propagating is not going well at all. In fact, it is the same story we saw in Panama, and in other places, the missionaries will not let it happen, they want to maintain control of all decision making and treat the people like children. Too bad, but this could be changed in time.We have had good weather for the entire trip. And the music events are very good. We saw Aida, the opera, on Saturday night. Our good friend Gabit, the Bach specialist, gave a wonderful concert on Friday night.We have 3 hours of video. Way too much for anybody to sit and watch, but maybe we will see it in little segments.We return on Wed according to schedule. But the London to Mpls leg was not reconfirmed, they said there would probably be no problem, but NW is keeping it tight and canceling flights. We have 5 hours in London and will probably call from there.Dad