Number Five: Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone. It is almost 8 AM here, 10 PM eastern time zone. Off to Catholic services, which in 1969 was the first church the Soviet Union allowed to function in Central Asia. When we attended while here several years ago, the services were all in Russian and I initiated a 9 AM English language service which was a struggle at first. The Russian Jesuit was as resistant to this change as the Soviets were to allow the church in the first place. We were only allowed English services once a month, and there was concern it would fade away once I left. But it has thrived now with weekly services and to a growing number of people. Attending Russian services was interesting, and the very long homilies or sermons good for my Russian language practice. But an American priest came one 'English' sunday to offer mass and I was hooked. I knew that I needed that weekly liturgy in a language I could understand.

Then...after church....off to the mountains with friends! The beautiful montains. Pix and video will follow.