A VILLAGE INVOLVED IN THE KINGDOM

I WANT TO DO A FINAL POST ON OUR WORK IN MONASTIRSHINA AND GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF THE OPENING OF THE CHILDREN'S CENTER. (NEXT WEEK WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR RUSSIA-VIEW FORMAT.) FOR OVER TWELVE YEARS NOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE VILLAGES AROUND SMOLENSK BUT MONASTIRSHINA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND EXCITING WORKS YET. IT'S BEEN ENCOURAGING TO SEE HOW THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONDED TO "GOOD WORKS" AND HOW THOSE "GOOD WORKS" CAN LEAD TO EXPANDING GOD'S KINGDOM.

I TOLD YOU LAST WEEK HOW THE MAYOR, NICOLAI IVANOVICH, WAS PLEASED WITH THE WORK AT THE CENTER AND DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED. THE CITY GOT BUSY DOING STREET CLEANING AND PREPARED A HOLIDAY FOR THE OPENING OF THE NEW CENTER. FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT HAVING ADMINISTRATION BLESSING IS IN RUSSIA. IT CAN EITHER HELP YOU OR KILL YOU.

NICOLAI IVANOVICH ACTUALLY PLANNED THE FESTIVAL DAY, ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS ATTEND. WE FINISHED ALL THE WORK, GOT EVERYTHING READY AT THE CENTER AND THE OPENING CELEBRATION WAS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY.

THE MAYOR INVITED PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE SMOLENSK REGION AND MADE A HUGE SHOW OF THE WORK. THERE WERE SPEECHES AND MUSIC AND PRESENTATIONS AND GOODS FOR THE KIDS. THE KIDS PLAYED AND SANG AND DANCED AND HAD A REALLY GOOD TIME. IT WAS A PRETTY BIG DEAL FOR A VILLAGE THE SIZE OF MONSTIRSHINA AND A PRETTY BIG DEAL FOR THE CENTER.

JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IN THE MIDST OF A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN RUSSIA RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD CAUSE YOU SOME DOUBT AND WONDER, THERE SOME GOOD STUFF GOING ON AND GOD'S KINGDOM MARCHES ON. EVEN IN THE SMALLEST, MOST FORGOTTEN CORNERS OF THE BIGGEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, POKA.

THE AMAZING RESULTS OF GOOD WORKS CONTINUES

LAST WEEK I SHARED WITH YOU ABOUT THE WORK IN MONASTIRSHINA. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT THIS WEEK AND NEXT SO I DON'T LEAVE YOU HANGING.

LAST WEEK SAW THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK AND THE OPENING CELEBRATION.

IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND WILL BE OF GREAT ADVANTAGE TO MINISTRY IN THIS TOWN. THERE ARE TOWNS JUST LIKE THIS ONE ALL OVER RUSSIA.

ALL OVER THE WORLD. MOSTLY FORGOTTEN. LOOKING FOR HOPE. OUR PRAYER IS TO HELP SHOW THEM HELP AND HOPE AND THROUGH IT ALL, HELP THEM FOR ETERNITY.

THE WORK IS SIMPLE. REMODELING AND CONSTRUCTING AND HELPING TO FURNISH AND FACILITATE A CHILDREN'S CENTER FOR INVALID AND POOR CHILDREN IN A BACK ROAD VILLAGE OF 11,000 IN RUSSIA. HOWEVER, THE BENEFITS OF LOVE AND GOOD WORKS ,WE PRAY, WILL HAVE A RIPPLING EFFECT THAT WILL LAST FOREVER.

NOW WITH MAXIM WE WILL DEVELOP A PROGRAM WITH THE KIDS IN THIS CENTER TO TEACH PRINCIPLES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE LASTING RESULTS.

NEXT WEEK, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW THIS TOWN CELEBRATED THESE GOOD WORKS.

POKA!

GOOD WORKS PRODUCE AMAZING RESULTS

I USUALLY RESERVE THIS BLOG FOR AN OVERALL PICTURE OF WHATS HAPPENING IN RUSSIA IN GENERAL AND NOT OUR WORK IN PARTICULAR. BUT TODAY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR WORK MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HAPPENING IN RUSSIA.




ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT WE HAVE TRIED TO FOLLOW FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS HERE IS TO DO GOOD WORKS, THUS BUILDING A BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP, THEN LEVERAGING THAT FRIENDSHIP TO EXPAND HIS KINGDOM. THAT HAS PRODUCED INCREDIBLE RESULTS (OF COURSE IT HAS, IT'S A DIVINE PRINCIPLE).



THIS YEAR I AM BEING AMAZED AT THE RESULT THAT PRINCIPLE IS PRODUCING IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF MONASTIRSCHINA, JUST OUTSIDE OF SMOLENSK WHERE WE LIVE.

HERE'S THE STORY. LAST YEAR WE MET VALENTINA VLADIMEROVNA THROUGH ONE OF OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS. VALENTINA HAS RAISED A SON, DENNIS, WHO HAS A DISEASE SIMILAR TO MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, IN THIS PRIMITIVE TOWN, FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
BECAUSE OF THIS SHE HAS DEVELOPED A HEART FOR KIDS LIKE HERS AND DECIDED TO OPEN A CENTER FOR INVALID AND POOR CHILDREN. OF COURSE TO DO THIS SHE NEEDED HELP AND CAME TO US TO SEE IF WE COULD. WE MET LAST WINTER AND WERE PROMPTED TO SAY YES, WE WOULD LIKE TO. WE PLANNED TO COME IN AND HELP WITH RECONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING, AND BUILDING A CHILDREN'S OUTSIDE ACTIVITY CENTER FOR THEM. OUR PROJECT BEGAN IN LATE JUNE.

HERE'S THE EXCITING PART OF THE STORY. THE MAYOR OF THIS LITTLE TOWN GOT INVOLVED AND SAW WHAT WE WERE DOING. HE WAS SO MOVED BY THE PROJECT THAT HE HAS NOW GOT THE WHOLE REGION OF MONASTIRSCHINA INVOLVED.
HE TOLD ME ON SATURDAY THAT IT IS HIGH TIME THAT THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE IN THE "OUT VILLAGES" BECOME INVOLVED IN DOING SOME OF THE SAME THINGS FOR CHILDREN AND INVALID AS THEY HAVE SEEN OTHERS DO FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.

AS A RESULT HE HAS BROUGHT IN LOCAL WORKERS TO CLEAN THE STREETS AND HELP PUT UP FENCES AND THEY ARE PLANNING A BIG CELEBRATION ON MONDAY FOR THE OPENING OF THE ACTIVITY CENTER WHEN WE COMPLETE IT. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR MAJOR GOALS HERE. TO HELP TEACH AND MOTIVATE THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE IN PRINCIPLES THAT WILL SUSTAIN THEM FROM NOW ON. MANY OF OUR RUSSIAN FRIENDS ARE TRYING VERY HARD IN THESE IMPORTANT AREAS. IT IS GOOD TO SEE! IT IS ALSO A GOOD THING THAT, IN A TIME OF STRAIN BETWEEN COUNTRIES, WE ARE FINDING WAYS TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS. THE MAYOR IS NOW TALKING ABOUT DOING THE SAME KIND OF ACTIVITY CENTERS IN EVERY LITTLE TOWN IN HIS REGION. WE WILL MEET WITH HIM ON MONDAY AND DISCUSS HOW WE MIGHT BE A PART. IT IS A SMALL STEP, BUT IT IS A STEP THAT I PRAY WILL RESULT IN MAGNIFICENT RESULTS FOR THE PEOPLE HERE AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

NEXT WEEK I'LL SHARE WITH YOU NEWS ON THE FINAL RESULTS AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. IN THE MEAN TIME, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

POKA!

PRESIDENT OBAMA IN RUSSIA

FROM AN "ON THE STREET" POINT OF VIEW, THE VISIT WAS A NON-EVENT. IT GOT VERY LITTLE MEDIA COVERAGE AND NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE CAFES OR IN THE PARKS AT ALL. THE MAIN RUSSIAN/AMERICAN FOCUS OF THE LAST 2 WEEKS HAS BEEN............................MICHAEL JACKSON.

HIS DEATH NEWS HAS OVERSHADOWED EVERYTHING ELSE, INCLUDING THE AMEERICAN PRESIDENT. IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE "MEMORIAL" IN FRONT OF THE U.S. EMABASSY. THOUSANDS OF RUSSIAN PEOPLE CAME TO PAY RESPECTS AND PLACE FLOWERS AND CANDLES. I DOUBT THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF PRESIDENT OBAMA DIED.

ANYWAY, THAT'S THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND PERSPECTIVE. OUR PRESIDENT IS ACTUALLY PERCIEVED AS KIND OF BLAND HERE. AND HONESTLY, NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE REALLY CAME OUT OF THE VISIT.

I DO KNOW THAT THERE WERE OVER 600 OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES IN THE GROUP THAT CAME WITH THE PRESIDENT (A RECORD)AND IT COST ZILLIONS OF DOLLARS (MAYBE COULD HAVE BEEN USED BETTER DURING CRISIS TIME) AND CAUSED EVEN GREATER MOSCOW TRAFFIC PROBLEMS (I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GO THERE). WHEN I BOIL IT ALL DOWN, THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA MET WITH GARY KASPEROV AND THEN MIKAIL GORBACHEV. BOTH FOGOTTEN PEOPLE.

I JUST WANTED YOU TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT THIS MUCH HYPED IN THE U.S. VISIT FELT LIKE FROM HERE. IT WAS NOT A "WOW" THING THAT HAS CHANGED ANYTHING. PROBABLY GOTTA MAKE THOSE KIND OF VISITS NOW AND THEN. IT'S A PRESIDENT THING. BUT, HONESTLY, I WAS HOPING FOR MORE. ANYWAY, MY HOPE IS SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOT IN PRESIDENTS AND POLITICS.

HEY, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE EMAILS AND RESPONSES. THIS BLOG IS INTENDED TO BE AN OVERALL PERSPECTIVE ON RUSSIA EVENTS AS WE SEE THEM (OUTSIDE OF MEDIA COVERAGE). OUR PERSONAL MINISTRY IS COVERED IN OUR NEWSLETTER. IF YOU DON'T GET THAT, BUT WOULD LIKE TO, SEND ME A NOTE AT brttrm2@yahoo.com.

ALSO, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING RUSSIAN, ASK. I'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM FOR YOU.

POKA!

WHAT ARE THE RUSSIANS TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK

THESE ARE THE THINGS WE ARE HEARING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT ON THE STREET AND IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

MICHAEL JACKSON.

MICHAEL JACKSON WAS WELL LIKED HERE. HE CAME TO MOSCOW RIGHT AFTER THE WALL CAME DOWN AND THE RUSSIANS NEVER FORGOT IT. I NEVER WAS A MJ FAN, BUT HE WAS AS BIG HERE AS IN THE US. HERE'S A SHORT CLIP TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE RUSSIAN THOUGHT ABOUT JACKSON.




CASINOS CLOSING ALL ACROSS RUSSIA.

THIS IS AMAZING BECAUSE JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THEY WERE ON EVERY STREET CORNER. LIKE AN EPEDEMIC. I'M GLAD TO SEE IT. THIS CLIP IS KIND OF LONG, BUT SOME OF YOU MAY BE INTIERESTED.

ALCOHOL. RUSSIA'S GREATEST ENEMY.

THERE IS NO GREATER PRACTICAL AND PHYSICAL PROBLEM IN RUSSIA THAN ALCOHOL. AT LAST SOMEONE NOTICED.

MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti) - Around 500,000 Russians die annually of alcohol abuse, the Russian Public Chamber said in a report on Tuesday.
"Every year in modern Russia, alcohol abuse kills around half a million people," the report stated, adding that the quality of the alcohol was not a major factor in the deaths.
The average Russian drinks 17 liters of spirits a year, with some 2 billion liters of alcohol being consumed in Russia annually.
The report also said that life expectancy for Russian males was lower than in a number of the world's poorest countries, including Yemen, Bangladesh, Mauritania, Honduras, Tajikistan and Senegal.
Alcohol is also involved in some 80% of murders and 40% of suicides in Russia, the report added.

GORKI, June 30 (RIA Novosti) - President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that Russia needs to introduce measures to fight widespread alcoholism and other addictions.
"We are drinking more now than in the 1990s, although these were very difficult times. A program is needed, certain measures need to be taken to improve the situation," Medvedev said at a meeting with the health minister, Tatyana Golikova.
The statement came after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin highlighted the problem at a meeting with World Health Organization head Margaret Chan last Friday, and pledged efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle in Russia.
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the architect of sweeping reforms in the late 1980s including measures to fight alcoholism, also urged on Monday an extensive new campaign to cut drinking.
"We are destroying ourselves, and then we will look for those who destroyed our country, for those who made us drink. The situation is such that we must take control," Gorbachev said.
A study by an international team of health researchers published earlier this month by The Lancet, the world's leading general medical journal, outlines the devastating impact of alcohol abuse in Russia.
"In several recent years," the study said, "Alcohol was a cause of more than half of all Russian deaths at ages 15-54 years. Alcohol accounts for most of the large fluctuations in Russian mortality, and alcohol and tobacco account for the large difference in adult mortality between Russia and western Europe."
Gorbachev introduced prohibition in the Soviet Union in May 1985 in an attempt to put a halt to the rampant alcoholism that was already taking its toll on the nation's economy and health system. His efforts to steer the Soviets to abstinence were ultimately unsuccessful, however, and the illicit production of moonshine - 'samogon' - rocketed, not to mention a sudden rise in sales of medicinal and industrial spirit. The never-popular policy of prohibition was later quietly dropped.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, modern Russia quickly found itself engulfed in an epidemic of alcoholism of catastrophic proportions, as what was already a serious social and health problem transformed into something on an apocalyptic scale.
According to the Russian Ministry of Health, the per capita consumption of pure alcohol is around four gallons per person. Tens of thousands of Russians die of alcohol poisoning every year. In the U.S., which has a population over twice as large, the number of deaths from alcohol poisoning remains stable at around 300 every year.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS COMING.

PEOPLE HERE ARE STILL WONDERING ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT.

FROM THE LARGEST COUNTRY ON EARTH. IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA, PLEASE STOP BY AND SEE US.

THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS

NOT LONG AGO I POSTED ABOUT MY GOOD FRIEND JOHN CREMEANS. I ASKED YOU TO PRAY FOR HIM AS HE WORKED, AND IS WORKING THROUGH, A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME IN HIS LIFE STORY. I WANT TO THANK YOU, ON HIS BEHALF, FOR THOSE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. THE NEWS, AS OF TODAY, IS THAT HE AND GOD ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH A CHAPTER THAT CAN RESULT IN NEW DIRECTION AND MINISTRY. JOHN WILL BE RELOCATING TO MISSOURI AND I CAN TELL FROM HIS POSTS THAT GOD IS CHURNING IN HIM A WORK THAT CAN BLESS MANY.

I WANTED TO MENTION JOHN IN THIS BLOG BECAUSE HE AND FELLOWSHIP CHURCH HAVE BEEN HUGE PART OF OUR WORK HERE FOR YEARS. I THINK HE MADE AT LEAST 12 TRIPS HERE AND LEAD HIS CHURCH HERE TO DO PROJECTS EVERY YEAR THAT HE WAS AT FELLOWSHIP. SOMETIMES TWICE A YEAR. HE GOT WAY DOWN DEEP INTO THE LIFE AND MINISTRY HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FED, BEEN CLOTHED, WARMED, AND WILL BE AROUND THE THRONE OF GOD AS A RESULT OF HIS EFFORT THIS WAY. HE'S BLESSED ME AND MY FAMILY. I NEED TO SAY THAT.

JOHN HAS BEEN MY FRIEND. THAT IS BIG, BIG WORD. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED AND I NEEDED HELP FAST, I KNEW I COULD CALL JOHN. I WOULDN'T HAVE HESITATED. WOULDN'T HAVE FELT I WAS BEING A BURDEN. HE'S BEEN THAT KIND A FRIEND. ONE OF THE MOST TRANSPARENT GUYS I'VE EVER MET IN LIFE. I SO LOVE THAT AND IT IS SO RARE. LOT MORE I COULD SAY. SUFFICE TO SAY, FRIEND.

I HAVE SAID PUBLICALLY THAT EVERY MISSIONARY SHOULD HAVE JOHN CREMEANS TYPE PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES AND WORK. SOME OF YOU WHO READ THIS, ARE THAT. YOU REALIZE THE NEED TO REACH THE UNREACHED, NOT JUST IN AMERICA, BUT AROUND THE GLOBE. SOME OF YOU, LIKE JOHN, HAVE AND ARE GIVING OF YOURSELF AND YOUR MEANS IN PLACES WHERE VERY LITTLE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS VISIBLE. YOU ARE LEADING OTHERS INTO THAT KIND OF VISION AS WELL. MAY YOUR TRIBE INCREASE!!!! A THOUSANDFOLD.

IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE SIGNIFICANT IN THE WORLD FOR GOD, WE WON'T DO IT ALONE. WE NEED FRIENDS. FRIENDS DON'T JUST ADD TO OUR EFFORT, THEY MULTIPLY IT. SO, SO, SO MUCH MORE CAN BE DONE AS WE PARTNER TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS TO DO WHAT WE CAN'T DO ALONE. IT SOMETIMES IS AMAZING TO ME HOW WE THINK IN AMERICA. WE BEG FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO UNREACHED AREAS, THEN WHEN THEY AGREE TO GO, WE DESERT THEM.? HOW'S THAT WORKING?

JOHN, PROBABLY WITHOUT KNOWING IT, TAUGHT ME TO VALUE FRIENDSHIP MORE. AND NOW I DO. I WANT TO BE A BETTER ONE TO OTHERS. AND, I WILL ALWAYS BE SEARCHING FOR MORE. NOT SURE YOU CAN COLLECT TOO MANY.

I KNOW I COULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS SAME BLOG ABOUT MANY OF YOU. I CHERISH YOUR FRIENDSHIP AS WELL. MAY GOD LET IT BE SO THAT WE GROW IN OUR LOVE FOR HIM AND EACH OTHER, SO THAT THE WORLD WILL REAP THE BENEFIT.

CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JOHN. I'M CONVINCED THAT GOD IS NOT DONE IN HIS LIFE STORY, AND WE KNOW, GOD LOVES, AND I MEAN LOVES, TO WRITE THE LAST CHAPTER.

THESE ARE NOT GOOD SIGNS

LAST WEEK, YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT I SENT YOU A REPORT ABOUT PUTIN'S TRIP TO PIKALYOVO. THAT WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT EVENT FOR US HERE. THE FOLLOWING IS A FOLLOW UP CLIP, A COMMENTARY ON THAT EVENT BY PAUL GOBLE. HE'S A GUY WHO IS PRETTY KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT POLITICS HERE AND HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON REAL LIFE IN RUSSIA THAT YOU WON'T HERE IN OUR MAINSTREAM MEDIA IN AMERICA. TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND WATCH IT.




ALSO THOUGHT I'D SHARE THE FOLLOWING LINK TO A REUTER'S REPORT OF DEMOCRACY OR THE LACK OF IT HERE IN RUSSIA.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE55A4TQ20090611?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

THESE ARE REALLY INTERESTING DAYS ALL OVER THE WORLD. THEY ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTING IN RUSSIA. THE SENSE IS THAT WE GO FROM ONE REVOLUTION TO ANOTHER AND THAT IT WILL NEVER END HERE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN RUSSIA RIGHT NOW

HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE OUR LAST POST.

WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND US SO WE'LL KNOW HOW TO RESPOND.

RUSSIA WAS READY TO INVADE GEORGIA LONG BEFORE LAST AUGUST:
http://halldor2.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/russian-general-admits-kremlin-prepared-for-august-invasion-of-georgia/

(THE GEORGIA/RUSSIA CONFLICT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE EXPAND OUR WORK IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA. ADYGEA IN RIGHT NEAR THE GEORGIAN BORDER)

FIRST TORNADO I'VE EVER HEARD ABOUT IN RUSSIA!



PRESIDENT PUTIN ACTING LIKE A DICTATOR.

(NO MATTER WHAT YOU HEAR, PUTIN STILLS RULES RUSSIA.)

GAYS TO WELCOME PRESIDENT OBAMA IN RUSSIA.

http://en.rian.ru/society/20090609/155210249.html

(THIS IS A NEW PHENOMENA IN RUSSIA)

RUSSIA TODAY - JUNE 3, 2009

THANKS FOR THE EMAILS!

YOU CAN ALSO LEAVE A COMMENT AT THE BOTTOM.

TODAY I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF CLIPS I THOUGHT I'D SHARE. ONE IS BEAUTIFUL, THE OTHER IS TRAGIC.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

RUSSIA CAN BE REALLY BEAUTIFUL THIS TIME OF YEAR. I LOVE IT. YOU GOTTA SEE IT SOMETIME! COME SEE US SOMETIME! TAKE A MINUTE AND ENJOY THE SCENERY.







THIS WAS SHOWN IN RUSSIA MEDIA. THE RUSSIANS, MANY OF WHOM LIVED IN A COMMUNIST SOCIETY, WERE CONFUSED.

RUSSIA TODAY - MAY 27, 2009

I AM REMEMBERING A VISIT IN THE HOME OF A FRIEND OUTSIDE SMOLENSK SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WE WERE EATING SHASHLIK OUTSIDE IN THE SIDE YARD WHEN THE MOTHER OF THE HOME BROUGHT OUT A BOX OF MEDALS. WAS SHE A SOLDIER? DID SHE WIN THESE MEDALS IN THE GREAT WAR? NO. SHE WAS AWARDED THESE MEDALS BECAUSE SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF TEN CHILDREN. 5 BOYS. 5 GIRLS. SEE, DURING SOVIET TIMES, CHILDBIRTH WAS CONSIDERED A GOOD THING. CHILDREN WERE CHERISHED. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT CHERISHED TODAY, BUT YOU'LL SEARCH A LONG TIME TO FIND A FAMILY WITH MORE THAN 2 CHILDREN IN RUSSIA TODAY. MOST TIMES IT'S 1 OR 0.

MY POINT TODAY IS NOT "TO HAVE CHILDREN OR NOT". IT'S DEMOGRAPHICS IN RUSSIA. THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BY SERGEI BALASHOV GIVES AN ACCURATE FEEL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE POPULATION WISE.

http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Culture+%26+Living&articleid=a1240941436

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US?

IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING TO ME SINCE WE'VE BEGUN WORKING IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA AS WELL AS SMOLENSK NOW, IN THE MUSLIM REGION OF ADYGEA. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CLIP?

CHALLENGING!