Moscaw to Volgograd

Eugenie was her usual efficient self in getting us to
the right train at the right platform at the right
station at the right time in Moscaw. This is no small
accomplishment since there are more than 10 main
stations and the one we had to go to was a member of a
trio all built on top opf each other... for me it was
just a maze of amazement.

My lasting impression of Moscaw is a sence of lively
optimism. Spring is well on the way from there on
south, and while we had to struggle to find stones
through sometimes more than a foot of packed snow on
the stations between Murmansk and the capital, most
sighns of snow has disappeared within hours of leaving
Moscaw.

The interior layout of the train was the same as the
previous one we took - they look the same all over
Russia Eugenie tells me - but the atmosphere was very
different. The pale blond northerners were now far in
the minority and our co-travelers' features reflected
the final destination of our train in Tadikistan. Much
less alcohol and more open interest in who we are and
what we are doing.

They did not heat the truck we were in during the
night, so we had by far the coldest night of our trip
sofar, and we were glad to be able to get of the train
and walk for hours in Volgograd yesterday.

This is where the turning point of WWII was in 1942.
When Germany was stopped and defeated here the rest of
the war was a story of the decline of the 3rd Reich.
But it came at an unimaginable price in human lives:
more than 3 million people lost their lives her in the
space of the 200 day battle of Stalingrad.

We visited the was memorial this morning where a mass
grave for more than 30 000 people was errected on the
mountain that formed the pivital point of the battle.

Thanks for all who sent scriptures and prayed with us.
We made the proclamations at the Volga river this
morning and I know the Lord is doing amazing things
here, and His plans to make this a place of His glory
is great!

Now to Sochi where we hope to find a ferry to Trabzon
leaving tomorrow night... nothing about this ferry is
certain, so please pray for us that all goes well
withour crossing over the Black Sea to Turkey!