Participants: Jim Ayer
Series Code: MW
Program Code: MW000027
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00:02 Hey, how are you, huh?
00:09 You know, many of these houses they call dachas. 00:12 This is the home that many people will come 00:14 all the way from Moscow, 00:15 hours and hours and hours 00:17 to have their own little private place 00:18 where they can raise some animals, 00:21 have some farmland to grow vegetables, 00:23 fruits, and other things. 00:24 Spend a week or two or three and then go back to the city. 01:00 In late March, the snow begins to 01:02 melt in Central and Northern Russia. 01:04 In the city, the snow is already gone. 01:07 With the bright sunshine and the coming of spring, 01:09 many dwellers of Russian cities and smaller towns 01:12 begin to prepare for the new dacha season. 01:15 Dachas are part of the lifestyle, 01:17 a favorite hobby for many, more than just a hobby to some 01:20 and almost an occupation for millions. 01:23 It's mother nature combined 01:24 in a unique prescription for stress relief. 01:27 It's recreation combined with countrywide 01:29 vegetable and fruit growing. 01:31 In a country where so many people consider themselves poor, 01:34 there are tens of millions of landowners. 01:39 Moscow and other cities are deserted 01:41 during summer weekends. 01:42 Most of these people don't own cars. 01:44 So Friday evening and Saturday morning 01:46 are rush hours for buses and local trains 01:49 that carry millions of Moscowites 01:51 every weekend to their dachas out of the city. 01:54 Let's open the door in the fence and enter the land of the dacha. 02:26 I'm told that almost 30% of the people not only in Moscow 02:30 but in other major cities also have their own little dacha, 02:34 their place away from home, or their home away from home. 02:39 So what is a dacha? 02:41 It's just a cabin, sometimes a shack. 02:43 This is the place where the retired people 02:45 find the hobby of their life, orchards, gardens, farming, 02:49 where the working people come during the weekends 02:52 to take a breath of fresh air, to experience physical labor, 02:55 digging, weeding, and watering plants. 02:58 Their fresh produce grown here 03:00 make for very tasty and healthy meals. 03:17 Usually they start with an empty patch of land. 03:19 Dachas for rest only are very rare. 03:22 So it's a resort and a farm, 03:24 a place to rest, and a place to work. 03:26 There are no telephones, no hot water 03:28 except what you boil on the gas stove 03:31 and people use outhouses and makeshift showers 03:33 instead of city style bathrooms. 03:52 Retired people usually move to the dacha for the entire season. 03:56 And that season in Central Russia begins in May 03:59 and lasts until October. 04:01 But already in February 04:02 when it's still frost and snow outside, 04:05 dacha fanatics are on the move growing tomato seedlings 04:08 and other vegetables to be replanted in early May 04:11 when there is no more threat of night frosts. 04:14 These country havens inspire both artist and writers. 04:17 The beauty of creation can be seen by all 04:20 who live in the country and is captured by artist 04:23 who enjoy year round. 04:28 You know, the cities are so congested 04:30 and their apartments are so close 04:33 and clustered together 04:35 that it's not the most beautiful ambience for living in the city. 04:40 It'd be great in the U.S. 04:42 if we could actually have a country home and a city home. 04:44 All right, but I guess 04:46 they have plenty of land here in this big country of Russia. 04:50 Eleven time zones this country spans? 04:52 That's true. It really is big. 04:54 And so the people with the smog and the pollution 04:58 and all those big buses and things, 05:00 the air isn't real clean in the cities either. 05:03 So they feel the need to come out in the country 05:06 where there's fresh air. 05:07 The one the other day, uh, we were at the lady's house. 05:12 The canned goods, the fruit, the vegetable, 05:15 I guess, they grow everything? 05:17 Yeah, they enjoy that. They go out on the weekends. 05:20 And sometimes in the summer, 05:21 they spend longer periods of time for their vacation. 05:25 And they grow beautiful gardens like with flowers 05:29 and vegetables and it really is a nice place of retreat. 05:36 When did you become an artist? 05:39 Well, it started in Moskva. 05:41 They were finally letting us sell our personal paintings. 05:44 So I decided to give it a try. 05:48 I first started sketching wildlife portraits. 05:51 But then I was told by a professional artist 05:53 that I need to expand on my work. 05:56 It looks like you did more than survive. 05:58 I mean, your work is beautiful. 06:00 How do you sell it? Where do you sell it? 06:02 Yes, they bought them in Moskva. 06:05 But now that I came back here, 06:07 I had to pay someone to sell it for me. 06:09 Before the profit was good, now it's not worth it. 06:13 So how much do you sell these to those people for, 06:16 the people who come and buy from Moscow? 06:18 Depending if they buy the paintings in bulk. 06:21 They will come and pickup 10 to 15 at once. 06:24 They will pay about 6,000 a piece. 06:27 What needs to be done on this one here? 06:29 It needs light right here. Need to make it brighter. 06:33 And here I need to make it a little darker. 06:37 And I need to shade in the bird on one side 06:39 because there's light on this side 06:42 and the other side won't have light. 06:44 I just need to finish it up a little. 06:46 How many years have you been an artist? 06:48 I've been doing it since 1994. 06:52 As you can see AWR is frontline mission radio. 06:56 Our first priority is to travel where missionaries cannot go. 07:01 We broadcast thousands of hours 07:03 each day in 70 major languages of the world. 07:06 AWR has the capability and capacity of blanketing 07:10 almost 80% of the world's population. 07:13 Not only do we broadcast via shortwave radio, 07:16 but our signal is on over 1,000 FM 07:19 and AM stations around the world as well. 07:22 Our podcast subscribers, Internet users, 07:25 satellite downlinks are growing rapidly, 07:27 evidenced by the 100,000 plus emails, letters, and phone calls 07:32 we receive each and every year. 07:34 Yes, AWR is your mission radio. 07:37 No walls and no borders. 07:39 For AWR that means 07:41 change lives and change hearts around the world, 07:43 because God is using the airwaves of AWR 07:47 to reach people everywhere. 07:53 Yellow pipe, yellow pipe everywhere, 07:56 no matter where we're born in Russia or Ukraine, 08:00 we continue to see yellow pipe. 08:02 Now we thought, well, maybe this is a gas pipe 08:05 or something and they couldn't lay it underground 08:07 because it freezes so deeply. 08:09 If there was a problem, they couldn't 08:10 dig it up or this or that. 08:13 We thought all these different ideas but, no, 08:15 when we found out it's actually because of communism 08:18 and during that time it is laided in that way 08:21 or set it up that way because it was cheap. 08:23 No other reason, just cheap, 08:25 didn't care if it was ugly because these are just workers. 08:30 In Soviet times, one of the most important duties of trade unions 08:33 was to obtain the land 08:34 and distribute it among the members of the union. 08:37 Since everyone was a member of a trade union, 08:39 everyone had a chance to get the land, 08:42 of course, there were differences. 08:43 The location, size, and quality of both 08:46 the land and the buildings were different 08:48 for a worker and the director of his or her factory. 09:01 During the time of the Soviet Union, 09:03 collective farms were unable to produce 09:05 enough food to feed the population. 09:08 And the money for importing food 09:09 was only sufficient to buy grain. 09:12 The result was an official policy 09:14 saying that citizens of the USSR 09:16 were supposed to grow much of the food for themselves. 09:20 These garden plots were formed as cooperatives 09:22 supervised by the trade unions. 09:25 At that time the land technically 09:26 did not belong to the people. 09:28 All the land was state federal property. 09:31 It was leased to trade unions and could not be sold. 09:46 Another serious restriction was that the usage of this land 09:49 had to be limited to growing things. 09:52 One simply could not make a lawn on his or her land 09:54 and enjoy the grass. 09:56 That would be illegal and immediately 09:57 would result in kicking the person out 09:59 from the dacha cooperative and replacing him with 10:01 a more devoted weekend farmer. 10:05 No more than one dacha per family was allowed. 10:07 The typical size of the land 10:09 given by the state to a family was about 1/10th of an acre. 10:25 Statistics show that today more than 10:28 30% of Russian families have dachas. 10:31 Traditionally, most of the land 10:33 was distributed by the trade unions 10:34 to the factory workers, although there were exceptions. 10:38 Therefore, in many cities, the figures are even higher. 10:42 The dacha was one of the key concepts of Russian life 10:44 in both Soviet and post-Soviet times. 10:47 These plots of land are both a resort and a slavemaster. 10:57 Many of the dachas or country homes 10:59 are very modest like this one over my shoulder here. 11:02 But there are some that are up to a million dollars. 11:05 And I asked, "How can people here afford 11:07 a million-dollar home?" 11:09 They said, "Well, people here don't make 11:11 the kind of money you do in the United States." 11:13 So it seems like it's a Russian secret they say. 11:16 No one really knows. 11:20 You know, it seems like when we're in the city 11:23 and we're talking with various people, 11:25 everything is apartments. Right. 11:28 Solid apartment buildings, but I noticed that 11:30 depending on what communist leader built them, 11:33 they look a little bit different on the outside. It's true. 11:36 I've been told that you can tell the era 11:39 that an apartment building is built. 11:42 Each Russian leader had his own architectural style 11:47 and he had his own architects 11:49 that planned these apartment buildings. 11:51 For instance, I heard that under Khrushchev, 11:54 the apartments were larger and little more spacious. 11:57 And under Brezhnev, it was a little different 12:00 in another way and so on and so forth. 12:02 That city we stopped in yesterday, 12:05 those were really good looking apartments. Yes. 12:08 They are the most modern ones, look very attractive. 12:11 I guess that's after communism law. 12:13 Yeah, that's true. 12:15 But I did notice, 12:16 especially the-- actually a couple of ladies. 12:18 We were in their apartments, the outside so drab and dingy, 12:22 the stairwells were horrible. 12:24 But you get into their apartment 12:25 it's all like a little oasis inside. It's true. 12:28 Yes, the outside is not taken care very well. 12:31 It's improved now. 12:33 I've seen on this trip where outside they have more flowers 12:36 and they even mow the grass. 12:38 I remember when some Russians came to the U.S. 12:42 and I was teaching at Andrews University 12:45 and my wife and I met them 12:47 at the airport and took them around. 12:50 And the little girl was looking around 12:53 and all of a sudden she turned to her mother 12:56 and she said, "Look at all the parks." 13:00 And all she was seeing 13:02 were the mowed lawns of the people's houses. 13:10 You've got such a pretty little home out here in the country. 13:12 How long have you lived here? 4 years. 13:15 So this must be really nice to move from a city at least, 13:19 unless you're a city boy to come here in the country? 13:21 Yes, but, you know, I used to come visit my grandmother. 13:25 I came here when I had a break from school. 13:27 I was a kid. I always wanted to be here. 13:30 It's more of a peaceful life here at this location. 13:34 To your grandmother this was her home, 13:36 how many years then has this home been in the family? 13:38 How many years did the family own this property? 13:41 About 80 years. 13:43 We had a house on this location, 13:45 but during the communist times, they took our house. 13:49 This is actually a barn. 13:51 My grandfather was a carpenter 13:53 and made furniture and things like that. 13:55 He actually cut a few windows out. 13:57 Right here we had animals lying around. 14:02 The family then lived here before communism. 14:06 Then they lost a lot of this, 14:07 but they hung on to the property, 14:09 they were able to maintain the property itself? 14:13 Yes, they completely tore the house apart 14:15 and took it all with them. 14:16 So the government could do anything they wanted to? Yes. 14:20 How were you able to 14:21 keep this little house here on the property? 14:24 Well, they only took the things they needed, 14:27 homes, fences, furniture. 14:29 This was kind of like a little shack. 14:31 Every house had it in their yard. 14:33 They figured if they took our home that would be it for us. 14:36 So this was the stables then. 14:38 They made this the stables? 14:40 Yes. Like I said, we added windows 14:43 and just expanded it and guarded it with a fence. 14:47 What did you do early in life, 14:50 from say 18 years old and onward? 14:52 What did you do? 14:54 At 18, I finished school and started working. 14:58 After work, I joined the army. 15:00 After the army, I left for Moskva. 15:02 So you were in the Russian army. 15:05 Tell me about that. What was that like? 15:07 Like the usual. Get up, physical workouts, practice. 15:12 Later more strength training. 15:14 We built better buildings 15:16 and better comfort for those in higher ranks than us. 15:19 It sounds like you were in construction. 15:22 Yes, I did. 15:24 That's where I received my construction profession. 15:26 Did you have to join or did you enlist? 15:29 No, I was forced. 15:31 I never wanted to join the army. 15:35 What happened after the army? What next? 15:37 I worked for a factory as an electrician 15:40 and fixed electrical problems. 15:42 When I asked Valera what it was like to be in the Russian army, 15:46 I was expecting a certain answer. 15:49 But the answer I got was not at all what I was expecting. 15:53 But, you know, matter of fact, 15:56 in any country, in any place in the world, 15:59 war and peace are interesting things, 16:01 because war is never what you would expect. 16:04 As you can see things have changed in Russia. 16:09 Here is another story of hope from Adventist World Radio. 16:14 Igor and Svetlana, 16:15 unlike some other Russians have seen nothing, 16:18 but hard times since the fall of communism. 16:21 The agriculture industry, so vital to their rural town, 16:25 has plummeted leaving the area in poverty. 16:28 Watching their dejected neighbors fall to alcohol abuse, 16:32 they were concerned about the influence 16:34 such a hopeless society would have on their five children. 16:37 So they searched for a positive influence for their family. 16:41 They found it in Adventist World Radio. 16:44 "You are the brightest light in our hard life," 16:47 they wrote to us. 16:48 We're always looking forward to your next program. 16:51 Thank you for your message of kindness and hope. 16:57 Adventist World Radio, shares the hope of Christ 17:01 with millions of people every day in their own languages. 17:04 For more information, visit awr.org. 17:09 Through the radio waves of AWR, 17:11 God is reaching people around the world. 17:14 We'd like to offer you an addition of "Making Waves". 17:17 It's four of our episodes 17:18 brought to you from around the world. 17:21 God speaking to hearts, 17:22 the hearts of the listeners of AWR, exciting stories. 17:25 We hope that you'll share those with friends and neighbors, 17:28 acquaintances, anyone you come in contact with. 17:30 Join us to make waves. It's completely free. 17:34 Right now the information's on your screen. 17:37 For your free, no obligation DVD, 17:40 write to Adventist World Radio, 12501, Old Columbia Pike, 17:45 Silver Spring, Maryland, 20904 17:48 or call 1-866-503-3531 17:53 or log on to www.awr.org/MWDVD. 18:01 Be sure to request offer number 10. 18:03 That number again is 1-866-503-3531. 18:10 You know, you can tell that 18:12 here there's still some elements of communism 18:15 that remain, you know. 18:16 Folks get a little upset when you're around 18:17 and they get little suspicious. 18:19 Yes, yes. That's true. 18:21 I noticed that folks normally 18:23 won't look at you eye-to-eye on the street. 18:25 That's right. Mm-hmm. 18:27 But there was a difference with the Christians. 18:30 Every Christian we met, they light up, they become friendly. 18:34 Yeah, they have a certain peace and calmness about them. 18:38 It's just rewarding to see that. Yeah. 18:40 What a change in their lives? 18:42 So this young lady is your wife? 18:44 How many years have you been married? 18:46 We are married for 4 years. 18:48 We were just going out for 2 years. 18:50 And after 2 years, we decided to get married. 18:53 And here we are, living together for 6 years. 18:56 I know that you're both Christians at this time. 18:59 Were you Christians when you met? 19:02 Well, Valera brought me to church. 19:08 He showed me what the Bible say. 19:13 I used to go to an Orthodox Church, 19:18 so I did hear about God a lot. 19:24 And I listened and listened 19:27 and little by little I became Adventist. 19:31 (Speaking in foreign language) 20:35 (Singing in foreign language) 21:11 Well, this is the task that we have to do. 21:16 It's the mission of Adventist World Radio. 21:21 It's also the mission of this church here in Shuleva. 21:26 We're all working together 21:30 to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 21:35 Because Jesus is coming again. 21:38 And the most important sign of Jesus coming 21:43 is the gospel going to the entire world. 21:49 And we long for Jesus to come. 21:54 Because Jesus will transform this world 21:59 and make it a new and beautiful place. 22:04 Don't you want to be a part of that? 22:08 Be ready for Jesus coming. Raise your hand. 22:14 Let us be faithful until the end. 22:18 And may God bless each one of you. 22:22 We will be praying for you 22:26 as you carry on faithfully in this part of the world. 23:39 Valera, your mother listened to AWR and her heart was changed. 23:44 And she wanted to run right out and baptize herself in the river 23:48 because nobody was around and then she began sharing with you. 23:52 What was it like when she began sharing Christ with you? 23:55 We didn't know where to turn, where the church is located. 23:59 We did study and read, 24:00 but we still didn't know where to turn and what to do. 24:04 We did realize that we need to get baptized. 24:06 We heard that as an Adventist, you would have to be baptized. 24:10 And since no one was around, 24:12 yes, alone, we would have done it in the river. 24:15 If your mother hadn't found AWR, where would you be today? 24:21 I think I would have still done it 24:22 because I felt that it was faith 24:24 and it was meant to happen one day or another. 24:27 And the Orthodox Church didn't get my attention at all. 24:30 Something was missing. 24:32 I didn't feel much from them. 24:33 Reading the Bible, understanding it, 24:36 that alone kept me closer to God and led me to Him. 24:40 I'd like-- same question to you. 24:42 If his mother hadn't found the AWR program 24:45 and then shared with her son and then with you, 24:48 where would you be today? 24:51 You know, if God found me here in Nazarovo, 24:55 he would have had found me in this family. 25:06 Yes, I told her, 25:07 but it all started with the Ten Commandments. 25:11 She followed all of the commandments 25:13 except the fourth about Saturday the Sabbath. 25:18 I explained to her that Saturday was blessed by God, 25:21 but she was confused. 25:24 I brought her different books, brochures, 25:27 and the Bible to show her that Saturday was blessed. 25:31 She didn't believe me at first, 25:33 and started reading and later told me that I was right. 25:40 We may not have an opportunity to get down to the site 25:43 where you were baptized, we may drive by it. 25:46 Could you tell me, 25:47 describe it to me a little bit where you were baptized? 25:56 There used to be a monastery. 25:59 But we're told that there was no God back in the day. 26:05 So they took the church down 26:06 and later it was just used for meetings and other things. 26:13 Right beside that building was a little creek, 26:15 covered up and very peaceful. 26:19 So we decided to get baptized there. 26:36 In our story today, Valera and Tatiana 26:39 live in a small village in a small house. 26:42 It was a building that had been a stable in times past. 26:46 It's a humble circumstance. 26:49 And yet these people have so much talent, so much potential. 26:54 We've seen that in the artwork that Valera has produced. 26:58 But the most important thing 26:59 I like about their story is how they described 27:03 their commitment to the Bible, God's word. 27:06 I'd like today to invite you, viewers, 27:10 to also commit your lives to Jesus Christ 27:14 with the same depth of humble obedience 27:18 that Tatiana and Valera have demonstrated. 27:22 That is what Jesus wants us to do. 27:26 And so right now I invite you to make that decision 27:29 and give your life to Jesus Christ. 27:33 If you'd like to know more about this phenomenal ministry 27:35 that's reaching around the world, 27:37 give us a call today, 1-866-503-3531 27:42 or you can write us at 12501, Old Columbia Pike, 27:46 Silver Spring, Maryland, 20904 27:50 or log on to www.awr.org. 27:55 And thank you for watching. 27:57 Please join us again for another exciting gospel adventure 28:00 because as you can see around the world, AWR is making waves. |
Revised 2014-12-17