Bike trip – July 11 Tatarsk town

We got up in Omsk town at 05.30 a.m., had breakfast at 06.00, and departed at 07.00. The order in our team is like in the army. So said – so done (dictum-factum). To be frank some of us are sometimes late for breakfast, but no one is late for departure…. Everyone is well aware that no one will wait for you. Despite the fact that awakening is a hard process for some we depart always in time. Those who are in the car are in the most privileged position than those who wheel all day long. One can nap in the car, but how to do it while wheeling? According to Vladimir Skovpen some succeeded to dream while bicycling.

So we arrived at Tatarsk safely. It is a small town with 26 thousand people. In 1894 there was laid a Great Trans-Siberian railway through this town from West to East. In two miles from Tatarka village there was built a railway station, which derived its name from the name of the village. The village began to develop quickly and soon became a rather big trading point with 4500 inhabitants. In 1911 the village was transformed into the town Tatarsk.

At 15.20, after 195 kilometers of the way, we arrived at the church house, to be exact - to a small church house. We have never seen such a small church house. The church hall is enough for 16 church members. But our hosts failed to welcome all 28 members of the Expedition simultaneously at the table. We had meals in turn. We were served okroshka (cold soup made from cucumber, kvass, radish, dill, egg, and meat), smashed potatoes with a cutlet and tea. Tea was too hot. It was + 35C* outside. Inside the church it was + 40C*. Or perhaps +50C* or more. It was very stuffy inside! We tried to hide from hot sun in the church house, but stuffiness pushed us away from it. Vyatcheslav, the leader of the team of «children’s» missionaries is getting ready for the service. He is to play the role of “Sharik”. Putting his costume Vyatcheslav asks us smiling not to have pity on him as «a conditioner and rinser» are inside the costume. Waving his hand on us, «Sharik» went to the point of his ministry.

Evangelistic service was held in the square not far from the church. Despite heat about 80 persons, in answer to the church invitation, came to the meeting with the members of the Transcontinental bike Expedition. Tatarsk inhabitants were very hospitable to us and open for the Gospel. Putting a screen Marina Kutuzova, Natalia Kosygina, Natalia Moshkova under the leadership of Vyatcheslav Remizov - «Sharik» - began to talk to kids. Denis Bernaz and a music team “Hope” from Vladikavkaz town said about God’s grace and sang to those who were older and those we did not take part in the children’s program.

Mass media people were present at the meeting. Journalists told me that they were amazed at the unity of our team, our skills to communicate with kids and adults. Saying good-bye media representatives asked local believers to take more active part in the public life of the town. 

Taking magazines «Faith and Life» and «Path» from the car, we began to give them out. Local girls ran up to us and offered their help. It was good to see kids, who do not belong to the local ECB church, giving out Christian literature. It was good to see people reading the literature.

We were busy involved in all these activities that no one of us noticed dark clouds above Tatarsk town. Heavy shower began. Everyone tried to find shelter. When rain stopped our fellowship continued in small voluntarily formed groups.