neljapäev, veebruar 24, 2005
Independence Day
flag
Today is Estonian Independence Day marking the 87th year since Estonia first became an independent nation. Like most holidays, it was a flag day and everywhere you went you could see the blue, black and white flying outside of homes and buildings. It is an impressive sight.
We attended an ecumenical church service to commemorate the day at Janni Kirik (St. Johns Church), a beautiful building dating back to the 1300s that had been partially destroyed by the Soviets in 1944 as they took Estonia in World War II. The building is finally being restored, and so to have the service there had great significance. It was interesting to see the crumbled brickwork pillars which rise to the vast arched ceiling and had been pieced together to retain the feel of the original structure. Contrasted with this was the pristine brick work on the upper level where the old stone had been destroyed, and the light-colored wood ceiling with inset modern circular lights. The harmonious clash of old and new could be a metaphor of Estonia today.
The service was packed, with easily 200-300 people. There was no amplification for the speakers, and from our place two-thirds of the way back it was difficult to make out the words that were spoken for the distance and the way the voice would echo in the large cathedral. I really felt for our translator, Ermo, who tried to make out the words and tell them to us, but finally gave up in frustration. But we are still glad we went and were able to see people of all kinds coming together in this way, the participation of ministers from several dominations, and to hear the beautiful vocal music. The building was very cold, though. The weather outside was something like -5 C (23 F) and because the building is still not completely insulated, it did little to keep out the cold. It was a funny sight to see everyone in the pews bundled up in their coats and hats. If anyone had dressed for the occasion, we had no idea!
Afterward, we went to the home of a family who moved to Tartu around the same time we did. She is Australian and he is American, but his family originally came from Estonia and owned a house in Tartu before the Soviets took it over. They were able to reclaim it after the second independence and for a while it was a bed and breakfast, but now they have moved in and are refinishing the place. They had an open house today, and we were able to meet many other foreigners like us who live in Tartu. There was a Christian couple from England who just moved in the past few months, the owner of the local restaurant Wilde Irish Pub who is Irish (of course), the restaurant's new manager (American) and his wife (Irish), and Kevin and Wendy Mason, who are American missionaries. We had a wonderful time just talking and getting to know one another better. I think when you are in another land, you really find community with those who are in your same situation even if they are not from your country.
After we arrived home, our front doorbell rang. I opened the door and found two Morman missionaries on the doorstep speaking to me in rough Estonian. I said to them, "Oh, I speak English," and one of them complemented me on how well I speak English. I had to confess to them that it was because I was American, and this look of surprise came on their faces that was great. They are also American and said how nice it was to speak to someone in English, and it seemed like they also were longing for that same type of community. They were interested to hear that we were here to open the Army's work (although they still tried to interest me in the Book of Mormon), and I invited them to stop by any time they needed to hear someone speaking English. Don't call me a heretic; these guys need to see expressions of God's love too!
So it was quite a day. Tomorrow Chris is going to a weekend youth retreat with a group from Kolgata Baptist Church--and it's going to be at the Army's camp in Loksa! It will be a real chance for him to stretch his Estonian language knowledge. Maybe we can get him to blog about it afterward. Be sure to keep him in prayer.
As we gear up for the opening, we ask for your continued prayers. This independence day reminded me that there is a place for us here.
--Tim
Today we prayed for my father, Gordon Clark.
Today is Estonian Independence Day marking the 87th year since Estonia first became an independent nation. Like most holidays, it was a flag day and everywhere you went you could see the blue, black and white flying outside of homes and buildings. It is an impressive sight.
We attended an ecumenical church service to commemorate the day at Janni Kirik (St. Johns Church), a beautiful building dating back to the 1300s that had been partially destroyed by the Soviets in 1944 as they took Estonia in World War II. The building is finally being restored, and so to have the service there had great significance. It was interesting to see the crumbled brickwork pillars which rise to the vast arched ceiling and had been pieced together to retain the feel of the original structure. Contrasted with this was the pristine brick work on the upper level where the old stone had been destroyed, and the light-colored wood ceiling with inset modern circular lights. The harmonious clash of old and new could be a metaphor of Estonia today.
The service was packed, with easily 200-300 people. There was no amplification for the speakers, and from our place two-thirds of the way back it was difficult to make out the words that were spoken for the distance and the way the voice would echo in the large cathedral. I really felt for our translator, Ermo, who tried to make out the words and tell them to us, but finally gave up in frustration. But we are still glad we went and were able to see people of all kinds coming together in this way, the participation of ministers from several dominations, and to hear the beautiful vocal music. The building was very cold, though. The weather outside was something like -5 C (23 F) and because the building is still not completely insulated, it did little to keep out the cold. It was a funny sight to see everyone in the pews bundled up in their coats and hats. If anyone had dressed for the occasion, we had no idea!
Afterward, we went to the home of a family who moved to Tartu around the same time we did. She is Australian and he is American, but his family originally came from Estonia and owned a house in Tartu before the Soviets took it over. They were able to reclaim it after the second independence and for a while it was a bed and breakfast, but now they have moved in and are refinishing the place. They had an open house today, and we were able to meet many other foreigners like us who live in Tartu. There was a Christian couple from England who just moved in the past few months, the owner of the local restaurant Wilde Irish Pub who is Irish (of course), the restaurant's new manager (American) and his wife (Irish), and Kevin and Wendy Mason, who are American missionaries. We had a wonderful time just talking and getting to know one another better. I think when you are in another land, you really find community with those who are in your same situation even if they are not from your country.
After we arrived home, our front doorbell rang. I opened the door and found two Morman missionaries on the doorstep speaking to me in rough Estonian. I said to them, "Oh, I speak English," and one of them complemented me on how well I speak English. I had to confess to them that it was because I was American, and this look of surprise came on their faces that was great. They are also American and said how nice it was to speak to someone in English, and it seemed like they also were longing for that same type of community. They were interested to hear that we were here to open the Army's work (although they still tried to interest me in the Book of Mormon), and I invited them to stop by any time they needed to hear someone speaking English. Don't call me a heretic; these guys need to see expressions of God's love too!
So it was quite a day. Tomorrow Chris is going to a weekend youth retreat with a group from Kolgata Baptist Church--and it's going to be at the Army's camp in Loksa! It will be a real chance for him to stretch his Estonian language knowledge. Maybe we can get him to blog about it afterward. Be sure to keep him in prayer.
As we gear up for the opening, we ask for your continued prayers. This independence day reminded me that there is a place for us here.
--Tim
Today we prayed for my father, Gordon Clark.
