Trip
to Estonia
for the Days of
Unleavened Bread 2000
By
Johnnie Lambert
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2000
Juta Kulbin flew from California to meet Hazel and me in
Newark, NJ. yesterday. We flew to
Tallinn for our fifth trip to Estonia.
As the plane landed, a light rain began. Juta and Hazel agreed this was a good sign since it has rained
for each of our arrivals in Tallinn.
The new airport is beautiful and easy to navigate. People are speaking more English. The exchange rate for money is l6.06 EEKs for a dollar.
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By the time we exited the airport, the rain shower was over. The sky was overcast and the wind cool.
Negotiating for a taxi to Tartu was not successful, so we
took the bus. The fare was $7.00 per
person. We arrived in Tartu in a
little more than two hours.
The Pallas Hotell is across the street from the bus station
but because of conferences and a trade fair being held this week-end, we will
be staying at the Rehe about three miles away from the center of town.
In the Feast tradition, we headed for dinner at the Aleksandri and drank a Saku (local beer). This was followed by their famous garlic bread, pickled herring, and steak. The meal, including tip, was $9.10 per person.
The custom for tipping waiters in Estonia is quite different from the USA. Most establishments do not add the tip to your credit card slip and prefer the tip to be left in cash. Five percent is considered to be a generous tip. The local people, if not by the waiter, consider leaving too much offensive.
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
Following breakfast at the Rehe, we went to
Koidula Üpruss’s
home to pick up sound equipment and song books for Sabbath services at the
Pallas Hotell conference room. UCG Radio Tartu FM 92.5 was set up for services. Mariia Viia, a gifted linguist,
simultaneously translated from English to Estonian. This was transmitted on our little radio station to the
Estonians who each have small FM radios with headsets. The sound is remarkably clear and well
understood by the Estonians.
Twelve people attended Sabbath services. (The Estonians: Margit, Luule, Katrin, Elle, Kordu, Maria, Helga with her
granddaughter Veronica, and Mariia.)
Luule and Elle brought beautiful flowers to services. The sermon was on repentance. I introduced the theme of this DUB –
Earnestly Contending for the “Faith Once Delivered.” (Jude l:3) Three major
points to the sermon:
· Repentance is the first step to conversion (Acts 2). Repentance means to change from the wrong things you are doing and to begin a new life.
·
Knowledge is required.
We cannot repent until we know what God expects from us. Repentance is about accumulating knowledge and then acting on that knowledge. During these Days of Unleavened Bread, I
will develop a distinction between true and
false Christianity.
· Reconciliation with God. This involves an acknowledgment that we are sinning and need the sacrifice of Christ to cover our sins. We do this initially when we make a covenant with God at our baptism. God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. (I John 2:4) Repentance is an on-going process which continues throughout our Christian lives.
The information seemed to be well received. Following services people left immediately
which seems to be the local custom.
This was a disappointment as we wanted to socialize. Later, Luule and Elle came into the
restaurant at the Pallas. We all went
to Luule’s home and then to the Taverna for an enjoyable dinner. The full meal including appetizers, wine,
and tip was $9.25 per person.
SUNDAY, APRIL 16
We moved into the Pallas Hotell which will be our home for the next week. It was nice to see the hotel staff again. They are all so friendly and service-oriented. A Bible study is planned for every night except for Passover and Night To Be Observed.
The study this afternoon was introductory comments and a video from Arts and Entertainment which explains how Christianity evolved to be the religion it is today. I emphasized that we must earnestly contend for the faith once delivered and explained how paganism has departed from this. The Christianity they presently see in most of the world’s churches is not what was originally given by God.
Last year we had only two to four people for the Bible studies. To our surprise and satisfaction, 14 people came today. I can’t explain how good we feel about the attendance. Most people left in a short time but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the day.
Margit joined us for dinner at the Atlantis, the location for the Feast of Tabernacles.
The restaurant is elegant with lots of woodwork, a gas
fireplace with copper hood, relaxing music, and windows overlooking the Emajogi
River. Unfortunately the new white
baby grand piano sat idle and silent.
Hazel had a mustard gratin tenderloin and I had chateaubriand. These were delicious. Juta and Margit had a salmon and cabbage tower which, unfortunately, were small portions. Even though this is one of the most expensive restaurants in Tartu, the cost per person including drinks and tip was $12.50. I gave Iris, the manager of the Pallas Hotell, an evaluation of the meal. She was having a meeting at the Atlantis tonight. I am certain they got the message.
This day was gratifying. The evening with Margit was very pleasant. We went to the hotel feeling good about “things.”
MONDAY, APRIL 17
Spring has arrived in Tartu. The sun is bright and warm.
Fewer people are bundled up in winter clothes. The restaurants are putting out moveable patios with tables and
colorful umbrellas. The leaves on the trees
and flowers have not yet appeared but the grass gets greener every day.
We were expecting Bryant and Lori to meet today in
Tallinn. Bryant knows the “ropes”, a
little Estonian, and how to get the bus
to Tartu. Lori has not previously flown
into Tallinn. When she came in 1997,
we flew into St. Petersburg and took the bus to Tartu. We were counting on Bryant to look after his
“little sister.”
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Sometime between midnight and dawn (which comes about 4 a.m. now), Bryant called from Chicago. His plane from Atlanta was delayed because of rain in Chicago and he missed his connection with SAS to Stockholm. The next flight is tomorrow afternoon (USA time).
Lori will be arriving this morning in Tallinn “on her own.” Although she is quite resourceful, Hazel is a typical mother and does not like the uncertainty involved. Juta arranged for a driver to meet Lori at the airport. Incredibly, he only charges 300 EEKs ($l8) to do this 200 mile round trip! We will certainly pay him more.
We visited a number of restaurants to make arrangements for Night To Be Observed. We are expecting 17. We decided on the Traverna. During our trek, Hazel and Juta had a meal at the River, one block behind the Pallas. It lacks atmosphere but the meal was excellent. The price per person was about $4.00.
The Gun Power Cellar Restaurant (Pussirohukelder in Estonian) that we have used for group dinners at previous Feasts is under renovation. The entire inside has been gutted. Hopefully the renovation will be complete by October.
The Bible study tonight was a question and answer
period. I have told the Estonians it
was “stump the minister” night. I
expected the attendance to be less than yesterday with the video being their
focus and tonight we won’t have Mariina to translate.
By 7 p.m. we had 12 people crowded into our room!!! Luule brought two large Sakus and candy
“ice cream cones.” Helle brought candy
from the children at the Emajogi
School. She told us the children are
preparing for concert during the Feast
of Tabernacles.
Helga had two questions.I spent 15-20 minutes answering her question on head coverings from 1
Cor. 11. Before going to her second
question (about the name of Christ), I asked if anyone else had a
question. Elle wanted to know what
happens after the 1000 years.
That started it. One hour and l5 minutes later, Margit had been “thru the ringer” translating. We had been through Rev. 19 and 20, and Ezek. 37. The interest from everyone was intense. I related this also to “the faith once delivered”, the doctrines of heaven and hell and the immortal soul held by false Christianity and paganism, and that the truth of God was the resurrection of the dead.
At 8:30 p.m. I thought I should ease off. Elle said she wished I would continue this all night and that she had a recording. We went for a late dinner at the Wilde Pub. I have waited a long time for their smoked fish pie.
Shortly after returning to the room, Bryant called to say he was boarding the plane in Chicago and will arrive in Tartu about 12:30 p.m. I need to meet him at the bus to carry the keyboard to the Pallas.
Henrikas Klovas sent an e:mail that he will arrive at 3:50 p.m. tomorrow and is bringing Gaile Kemekliene from Kaunas.
Bryant feels he is reliving “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” His plane from Stockholm to Tallinn was delayed. He finally arrived in Tartu at 5:30 p.m. Since he is my set-up man, he had to move quickly to get the sound system ready for the Passover Service.
Henrikas and Gaile arrived. He was hoping they could stay with Luule but could not reach her. We moved Lori into our suite, Gaile in with Juta, and arranged for a room here in the Pallas for Bryant and Henrikas.
Gaile is a former member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church and has been meeting on the Sabbath with Henrikas in Lithuania. She speaks Lithuanian, Russian, and some English.
Ten took the Passover: 4 from Estonia, 2 from Lithuania, and 4 from USA. Three languages were heard on the closing song.
The Lithuanians and Americans went to the Atlantis for dinner. We enjoyed a lively conversation in English, German, and Lithuanian.
In evaluating the day, I have the sensation that a real love
of the truth of God is developing here. What could make any of us feel any more gratified.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2000
We met with Ave Svarts at the Atlantis Conference Center to go over some details regarding the Feast of Tabernacles. She understands our dietary requirements and will make any needed substitutions to their menu. A group dinner in the restaurant was discussed.
The conference rooms are beautifully decorated with light wood and green chairs Ave had booked the medium-sized room for us but suggested that we use the Great Hall– with no increase in price! It has a state-of-the art sound system, a translation booth, excellent lighting and conference tables, if we choose to use them.
Upon returning to the Pallas, Gaile had some Bible
questions. We spent the next four hours
covering the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Her enthusiasm for God’s plan is contagious. We need more people like her here and in the United States. She is helping Henrikas translate the
Bible Lessons into Lithuanian.
Night To Be Observed at the Taverna was delightful. We were given large portions of food
beautifully decorated and wine for $10 each. Even though we had left written
instructions that no bread was to be served, three baskets of their delicious, dark bread adorned the
table! This was quickly replaced with
our flat bread. Lively chatter and
laughter was heard throughout the meal.
As we walked back to the hotel, we gazed up at the full moon
and looked at its reflection in the river. A conversation began about the Israelites fleeing Egypt.
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
Services for the First Day of Unleavened Bread were held in
the Pallas Hotell conference room for l5 people plus two translators. Having
Bryant play the keyboard for the song service was greatly appreciated.
Mariina brought
Niina Assmae, an English and Italian professor from Tartu University, to
translate the sermon into Russian for Henrikas and Gaile. When Henrikas gave the sermonette in
Russian, Mariia translated into English
for the Americans and Niina translated into Estonian. Niina seemed awed with the information in the sermon and
appeared to be listening more than translating.
The sermon covered the replacement of God’s Holy Days by
pagan festivals with emphasis on Easter. Everyone listened intently, took notes, and turned to all the
scriptures. What a contrast to
previous Feasts! This evening the Americans and Lithuanians went to the Wilde
Pub for dinner. In typical fashion, the
bar and restaurant area was overflowing with people. We finally found a table in a quiet back corner. Bryant and Lori met two Estonian young
ladies who are married to Americans and live in Buffalo, New York. It is truly a small world.
FRIDAY, APRIL 21
Today is Great Friday, a holiday for most people. Only a few shops are open. The temperature is 80 degrees F – a record high for this date. People are wearing shorts and tank tops, laying on the grass, sitting on benches in the sun, and smiling.
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Twelve people attended tonight’s Bible study on an overview of God’s promises to Abraham and his descendants. Even though it was a lot of material to digest, several people had questions.
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
Sixteen people plus two translators attended Sabbath
services. Niina, the Russian
translator, asked for information on
the ten tribes and where they are today.
Sincerity was the subject of the sermon and how we should treasure the
purity of God’s word.
Everyone stayed long after services to prolong our time
together. The week has gone very quickly.
SUNDAY, APRIL 23
Luule and Elle came to the hotel to say good-bye. Our trip back to the airport in Tallinn was quiet as we all thought about the growth we see in each person and of the cohesiveness that is forming. God’s spirit is here and is working. That makes the long trip rewarding and worthwhile.