Bike trip – August 31 – Spassk-Dalny town

Today is the last day of summer. The fall will begin tomorrow. So we imagined we were on vacations and had an extra hour of sleep. The alarm clock waked us up at 6:30 a.m. We washed our faces quickly, had breakfast at 7:00 a.m. At 8:00 a.m. escorting cars arrived and we continued our trip. We were to wheel only 140 km but decided to keep a good speed and were right. After 90 kilometers we had a stop, bought a watermelon and thanked the Lord. After other 20 kilometers asphalt road ended and the last 10 kilometers to the town we traveled along the gravel road.

 

Two road inspection cars were waiting for us in the vicinity of the town as well as Pastor Constantine Shtompel. The church in Spassk-Dalny town originated already in 1919. It lost 15 ministers during Stalin repression, but continued to have worship services. 10 years ago the church laid the basement of a new church. 8 years ago a young man Constantine arrived there, a graduate from Khabarovsk medical University. Today they have already a new church house. They are still to do some interior works and a peak on the church roof with a  cross above. It is planned to finish construction during next two years to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the church.

 

The church welcomes us warmly, treated us a nice lunch and prepared a shower for bikers to wash away road dust and sweat.

 

The meeting in the central square of the town was planned for 18:00 p.m. As usual a team of men together with Albert Redin went to the square to prepare sound equipment. 30 minutes before the meeting bikes arrived accompanied by road inspection cars. After that they went out into the town streets to invite people and give out invitations to the meeting.

 

At first sight there were not many people in the square – about 100 persons. But around square there were many walking and sitting on benches people. Perhaps not very attentively but still they listened to Christian songs, preaching and testimonies. We were accustomed to the usual procedure of our meetings with people but all these were new to people there. The meeting went on all right. We felt we did not come there in vain. Local Pastor addressed people in the square with a short message after the presentation of the bike Expedition made by our team.

 

After the public meeting we met local Christians in the church and shared many examples of God’s care during the expedition. Leonid V. Kartavenko preached. After such inspiration and prayers we had dinner all together. After dinner our local Christian brothers and sisters welcomed most of us in their homes. Our bikers remained in the church house for a night rest in sleeping bags.