Unusual 2 Weeks

We know there is an economic crisis, and like many of you our savings are not what they once were, BUT sometimes you’ve just got to splurge – see the picture above.
It has been a most interesting 2 weeks. On a very sad note our neighbor, 28-year-old man with 2 small children died of a narcotic overdose. Our family went to the mourning, but we were not invited, so we did not go. We had never met him officially.
We used this event to discuss the drug issues with our Conversation Clubs and others. Evidently in Shirvan drug usage began about 5 years ago and has developed into more of a problem. Hypodermics are readily available since most people give their family medical inoculations. The drugs are coming in from Afghanistan and Iran.
On a very positive side Linda attended a committee meeting in Baku on Saturday. After the meeting we stayed with a former PCV, Amy, who has returned and is working with exchange students, and living in Baku. First, we went to dinner at a Turkish Restaurant, The Sultan, where we met up with 7 Fulbright Scholars and a person connected with the Embassy whose responsibilities include Human Rights. The food was excellent, and we ate more meat than we had in a week. The company was as good as the food.
After supper we divided into groups to get to know each other a little better. I met a young man named Munir from New York whose parents emigrated from England after India. He was working on a history of the first Azerbaijan Republic, 1918-1920. The British pulled out after WWI and then wanted the oil. He is writing from the perspective of how the Republic was shaped by natural resources.
Linda met a law professor from Minnesota who is teaching a course in International law, and will return to the U.S. in June as will Munir. There was an Azerbaijan exchange student, and others.
After supper we went to Amy’s apartment where she gave up her bed for Linda and me, and slept on the couch. The apartment is on the fifth floor above a Chinese Restaurant. It has 3 small rooms and a nice kitchen for Azerbaijan. There were 3 of us staying with Amy.
We asked her about churches in Baku, and that we really wanted to go to church no matter what denomination. She suggested the Baku International Fellowship, which she had visited in the past. Amy said she would make all the arrangements with the taxi driver and settle on an amount, but could not go with us. Linda and I were concerned that we would not be able to negotiate the trip by ourselves. As we were going down the stairs from Amy’s apartment, we met 2 men carrying Bibles. They were from Nigeria and were going to BIF. We accompanied them by paying for the taxi and having them come with us to instruct the driver.
I shared with them that one of our dear friends had a niece who had served in Benin. The Nigerians said Benin was a wonderful place to hike, but everyone wanted to live in Nigeria because it was free.
The church is made up of many nationalities and also has a Korean congregation. It reminded me of attending Riverside Church in Manhattan. I will forever cherish the memory of Noye from Nigeria giving me a sustained emotional hug as we departed. The 2 Nigerian men were on the Azerbaijan Soccer Team, and earning money to send home. The soccer was very difficult because they had no strong players.
We also met an American Scott Mullhouer who is working with the Ministry of Sport and Youth. Scott played his college basketball at Oregon Tech and works with the national team and a small professional league in AZ. Scott and his wife have 5 children aged 14 down. They have been in Azerbaijan for 5 years and he is an Elder in the church.
It was sad situation at the church in that they were saying goodbye to their youth pastor and his wife who were returning to Minnesota for the birth of their second child. But, it was a glorious and uplifting time for us. Even though they were very busy, many people made a special effort to help us know how to take bus 253 back to Fountain Square.
We hope to develop our friendship with the pastor, David in the future although we rarely will go to Baku. David is from Canada and has been at the church for 2 years and 3 months. The ministry is much like a military church – lots of turnover. The students graduate, move on to jobs, the executives serve their companies and are back to their home countries. But, the church also reaches out to Azerbaijan people any way they can. The services are in English.
Words fail to express the feeling we had when we were joined with the 2 Nigerians. If they or we had left 30 seconds different than we did, we would never have been drawn together as we were.
After the rejuvenating weekend in Baku we returned to Shirvan. Monday was a holiday for International Women’s Day. Linda received several gifts from students and colleagues. That night Fidan, the daughter in our host family, turned 10. The night was filled with good food, family visiting, and gifts. But, here are gifts: a card with candy (from us), a 2.5 foot teddy bear, a stained glass bowl, an artificial flower arrangement, and clothes. The clothes are the only things that make sense to us.
People were invited, came to visit, and it was the first time we have seen other children at the home playing. Yet, during the meal the host does not spend time with the guests.
All in all a most unusual 2 weeks.
There is a lengthy spring holiday called Novruz which is the Lunar New Year, and coming of spring. We will be traveling for a few days. Linda will be attending a mature women volunteers retreat, and I will be traveling with her. We will meet up with a couple, Bill and Dorothy. Linda and Dorothy will go to the retreat in Sheki, while Bill and I hike in Zaqatala. Then we will meet up again for one night in Sheki. It will be our first opportunity to see some mountains.