Bike trip – August 26 – Khabarovsk town

First Baptist churches there were planted already in the 20-ties last century. Well-known Gospel ministers worked there – Jacob J.  Delyakov, as well as the grandfather and the father of George Wiense right in Khabarovsk town. Presently there are 7 churches with about a thousand members. Six churches have houses.

God blessed us that day in a special way. First of all we reached the “hand hold”. A big map of our route is glued on one side of our KAMAZ. Members of the Expedition checked the map daily, where we came and where we were still to go. Once we “reached” the “rear wheel”, then the “middle wheel” and today we reached the hand hold on the door of the truck. 195 kilometers were ahead of us. We wheeled for 5 hours and 33 minutes and reached an absolute record of the average speed of the bike Expedition - 34,940 kilometers per hour. There is not the only one record reached by the 4^th team of the Expedition. The maximum speed rate is 79,6 km/h on the way from Raichikhinsk to Obluchie along a gravel road (not asphalt). The maximum day length of the route is 318 kilometers – from Baikalsk to Ulan-Ude. Praise God, we have a strong team of bikers. Other teams were not weaker.

Amazingly quickly we reached the town. Road inspection cars were to meet us at 14:00 p.m., but we came there already at 11:30 a.m. We had several stops but still arrived earlier. We came to the Road inspection office close to the highway. They called to the central office and a car went to meet us. They guided us to the Central church building where happy faces of believers met us as well as a nice lunch. After lunch we took part in the meeting in the church. It was not a usual meeting, but a general meeting of all believers from Khabarovsk churches. It was a service of gratitude. Unbelievers were invited. It was not in vain as some people answered an altar call. Praise God! The meeting was planned for 90 minutes but lasted for over 2 hours. That is why right after that we went to the evangelistic service in the central square downtown. We put sound equipment and began the service at 19:00 sharp. Right before the beginning young boys came up to us, a local team, who are sport acrobats. They found about our visit and came to greet us with their special trick – a somersault above the stage without any safety wire. It was a kind of greeting to us from the town sportsmen. We greeted and thanked them with the Bibles and words of salvation. Many people were in the square. The weather was nice. Families strolled along town streets and square. People could go by chariots and horses, small toy engines.

The official permission we had for the meeting stated that no religious propaganda was allowed. That is why we sang and said that physical development without spiritual basis would do not good. We told the story about the Prodigal son and about the way out he found when he stood up and went to his father. We did not give out the NTs officially, though we took with us 7 boxes with the NTs in KAMAZ truck. At the end of the meeting no a single copy of the NT was left. Believers talked to unsaved people, gave them the NTs. Those were individual talks, no religious propaganda.

A young man came up to Levon, our doctor-biker, and asked about the meaning of the meeting. They talked. The young man’s name is Dmitry, he is 24. He has been using drugs for already 7 years. He grew up without a father and according to his words he lives for the sake of his mother and two sisters. During the talk he confessed that was ready to quit with his life. Many of his friends died already. He attended funeral services and began to think about the meaning of life. Young and still strong young man wept understanding that he had to make a choice – death or to change his life. Praise God, we came there in time until it became too late for him to make a decision.

Brothers Alexei Nozdrachev and Piotr Ryazanov stood by the KAMAZ truck. No more books were left. Two ladies came up to them. They were surprised about the Bike Expedition. They began to talk about the places of interest in the town. They mentioned our churches and that they have the NTs. One of the NT was give to one of them the other day, on her birthday. She was very grateful to Christians for their attention to her. She wanted to thank them in response, but she had nothing with her. It is interesting that next day when brothers went out into the town she met them and bought a book of the local poetess and a book about the history of crafts in Khabarovsk town. She took men on a sightseeing tour in the town and they told her more about Christ. She did not stop to wonder, as it is hard to meet each other in such a big town. Brothers told her that it was not by incidence that they met again, that it was God’s mercy for her soul. After the tour she led men to the church. We hope that her first visit to the church will become her permanent way here.

Leonid Kartavenko