Imagine a journey of over 2,000 kilometres through an inhospitable world of snow and ice. It is the journey Anastasia, office manager of the organisation of non-registered Baptists, is making. Together with a group largely made up of musicians and with evangelist Oleg Lyubich, she is on a winter journey through the tundra. Along the way, they visit settlements to hold meetings and encourage brothers and sisters. It is a harsh journey in which unforeseen events also lead to blessing from the Lord.
Journey through the snow
“During the two-month journey, the two Trekols (ecological tundra vehicles) we drive are our home. At first, it is very exciting to be travelling like this. Endless, snow-covered tundra surrounds us. We admire majestic ridges, see animal tracks and the occasional Arctic hare or Arctic fox. We have conversations, tell each other stories, exchange views on biblical truths. We try to use snow to brush our teeth and wash ourselves. At night, we enjoy the northern lights, which we can observe almost constantly.
The last 300 kilometres before the first settlement we drive along a frozen river. There is a lot of snow on the river. The ice crunches under the wheels, sometimes melting completely. The going is extremely slow. The last ten kilometres take us hours.
Arrival at the first settlement
After four days, we reach Oest-Avam. There we go door-to-door through the village in groups to invite people to the meeting that evening. The village has about 400 inhabitants. People tell us that life there is tough and hard. There is a school, but teachers are hard to find. They often leave suddenly because life in the north is too hard for them. Alcohol addiction is a huge problem. Families fall apart because men run off. Especially the fate of the children touches us deeply.
Meetings
About 30 people come to the meeting. As always, it is the children who come first. They are not shy and respond very positively to attention and affection. They don't get much of that in daily life. They listen attentively. Our programme consists of various musical contributions, short speeches and testimonies, poems, and so on. None of the visitors goes home without Christian reading material.
After visiting Volotzhanka, we reach Katyrik a few days later. There, forty people come to the meeting. And this time also very many adults! We sing: ‘In our hearts reigns a peace that is not of this world’. We see tears streaming down our cheeks. People are touched and so are we. In the following period, we visit four more settlements. We hold meetings in all of them.
Engine stops
It is then just under 1,000 kilometres to our final destination of Tiksi. On the way there, the engine of one of the Trekols breaks down. Fortunately, we have two vehicles and the Trekol still driving takes us in tow to the next settlement. By God's grace, we reach Saskylach, a substantial Yakutian settlement. Here, in no uncertain terms, we are denied access to the village hall. So we hold our meeting in the prayer house.
Staying leads to blessing
Because we have to stay longer, due to the repair of the Trekol, we can hold several meetings in three days. More people come each time. The Lord shows His grace also in this, that in Cheta there turns out to be an engine that is just right for our Trekol. It takes five days to get it to us. For the evangelist couple in Syskylach it will be a feast. So many young Christian guests..., they can't believe their luck. And we can help prepare food, play with the children and contact brothers and sisters in the village. Eventually we reach Tiksi, where the young evangelist Yakob Lyubich, Oleg's son, serves with his wife Svetlana. Then it is time for the return journey.
Pray for the people
People live in all the places we visited. People who heard the Gospel. Some were allowed to accept it, others remained in darkness. But in this so inaccessible part of the world, the message of God's love may be proclaimed. It was my privilege to participate in that for two months. And I kindly ask you to take the people who live there, their children and the evangelists who serve among them into the inner room with you. The Lord bless you.”
