Monday, July 22, 2013

VARIOUS ENCOUNTERS

No week is like another at the Centre. The past week started off with Dema cooking and ended with Oksana cooking for Dema.  On Monday 8 young people, representing 4 Mennonite churches, arrived from Switzerland.  They came for what had been billed as a youth camp.  In actuality this group teamed up with local young people to help with construction of the new church building.  In addition they declared themselves willing to help elderly with house and garden chores.  The kick-off - a Plov dinner at the Centre. Before the feast Dema gave the group a powerpoint lesson, familiarizing them with the Ukrainian chapter of Mennonite history.

Preparing this Uzbekian specialty dish authentically, requires a special cast iron pot which must be suspended over an open fire. The recipe includes lots of onion, carrots, chunks of pork, rice, and secret ingredients, i.e. certain spices, and several submerged heads of garlic - all cooked with water and much oil.  We were allowed to chop vegetables, however, no one but Dema gets to preside over the Plov pot.  The aroma outdoors was tantalizing and the meal a great success - feasting followed by a lively volleyball match.
One way of cleaning the picnic table before the feast begins



We frequently host visitors at the Centre.  On Wednesday a grandfather/granddaughter pair from Canada arrived with a tour guide from Odessa.  They came to explore their roots in Schönsee, the village mentioned in our previous blog.  We had met John previously; the surprise came when we noticed the tour guide.  Within a moment there was mutual recognition, taking us back sixteen years.  It was 1997 - we were on our first Mennonite Heritage Cruise.  On a Sunday morning while in Odessa, we had the opportunity to attend a service at an Orthodox Cathedral.  We were standing with other worshippers and at one point during the liturgy became aware of a beautiful soprano voice behind us.  Later, together with others, we met this young lady, found out that she could speak English, and invited her to join us for lunch on the ship.  This was followed by a memorial service for those whose ancestors had perished at sea, while serving in the Sanitätsdient in WW1 (an alternative service to active war duty). These people had the opportunity of tossing remembrance roses into the Black Sea.  During these moments of reminiscence we again hear this voice - Anzhelika singing "The Lord's Prayer" in Russian.  The minor melody tugs at your heartstrings.  It was one of those exquisite, unorchestrated, never-to-be forgotten moments.

Anzhelika, myself and Olga Rubel formed a trio

Anzhelika is married and has a 7 year old son.  As well as hosting a tour company, she teaches music at the university.  Her husband is an artist; he is often commissioned to paint backdrops for the Odessa opera.  Before we parted Anzhelika requested that we sing "Amazing Grace" together.




Sasha's mother at her workplace
Olga Rubel, our representative in Zaporozhye, has been keeping in contact with Sasha, the young man who lost his arms under very unfortunate circumstances seven years ago.  We've assisted in various ways through the years. He finished school in spring. Earlier this month we made it possible for him to attend a camp for disabled young people which he enjoyed.  He loves to swim and play soccer.  He has also become proficient in using a foot mouse to operate a computer.  We tried unsuccessfully to connect with Sasha last week, but did meet with his mother.  We are offering him a distance-learning computer course in fall and are willing to put needed supports into place.

Yesterday was a red-letter day - Dema's birthday! He made the announcement at church together with an open invitation to join in a wiener roast at the Centre in the evening.  At least 45 people responded.
Dema on the hot seat

Responding to the toasts & roasts

Oksana outdid herself baking 6 cakes, wiener buns and preparing salads.  A great climax to another week.

For more information on the work of the Mennonite Centre, please go to http://www.mennonitecentre.ca/

Click on pictures to enlarge


No comments:

Post a Comment