The Sights

Charlie was feeling a little better yesterday. We could see some of his energy coming back to him. They wanted him to eat the horrible barley soup cereal again, and he refused again. We can only hope that he did eat some of the other meals presented to him. Today, we go back to the two visits per day routine. We are also excited today because more Americans arrived yesterday afternoon, and we are eager to meet some new faces.


Today I wanted to tell you about some of the sightseeing we have been doing. My favorite excursion was to the Russian Orthodox Church. This church is 400 years old, and many of the artifacts inside are even older. Outside the church, there is a gravesite for the church’s first priest. It is said that he could read the minds of his parishioners – he knew their inner struggles and desires. He also could find humor in any situation, even when robbers attacked him. He is still loved today by the congregation. There were fresh flowers at his grave. There is also a small monument with a small portrait of his face. Larissa said that it is a custom to place your palm against the stone and make a wish.





This artwork hangs inside the church. It was made by a priest. Each stone was donated by a member of the congregation. The inside of this church is very different than what we are used to. There were just two rooms – much smaller than American cathedrals, and there were icons everywhere to honor the saints and to light candles and things like this. There is also a little counter inside the church where you can buy candles to light, or little religious trinkets. I bought a small plaque of Mary and Jesus. I thought this was an appropriate commemoration of Charlie’s “birth” into our lives.





We also visited a few mosques. Every time we made a visit, it was prayer time, so we did not get to go inside. In the Islam faith, there is a call to prayer at certain times of the day. The call to prayer is a song that is played on loud speakers from the top of the minaret. This is the signal for everyone that it is time to go inside the mosque and pray. In Kazakhstan, Muslims are not radical like in other countries. Their faith is very loving and kind. We were welcomed warmly by a man who may have been a priest at the mosque (?) and his son. In Kazakhstan, women can pray alongside the men. Everyone must remove their shoes before entering the sanctuary. Larissa joked that we could go inside and try on everyone’s shoes.





In Kazakhstan, there is a happy mingling of faiths. Larissa said that in Astana (the capitol city of Kaz), there is a church with four doorways. One doorway is for Catholics, one is for other Christians, one is for Muslims, and one is for Jews. Each doorway has a hallway that leads to a central/shared sanctuary. I wish that we had this kind of mentality in America.





In Soviet times, it was forbidden to worship at any church. Many people practiced their faith at home, but many more were simply without religion. After the iron curtain lifted, many people decided that they did want spirituality in their lives. There is a casual air to religion here. No one is trying to convert anyone. The novelty of being able to choose – the freedom of religion – is still the main focus.


We also visited a spot on the Irtysh River where wedding parties visit. The best friend of the bride and groom must climb one of the pine trees and hang a champagne bottle in the limbs of the tree. The higher he hangs the bottle, the more luck for the bride and groom.





Close to the area with these trees, there is a natural spring that is said to be holy. People come here to pray and to drink the holy water. Larissa said that the water makes you younger and that she is actually a 90-year-old woman. That Larissa!! She bottled some of the water to take home to her family.





This is a monument to the people affected by the nuclear testing that was done in this region by the Soviet government after World War II. Many nuclear bombs were detonated just outside of Semey. Many people became ill and died. The countryside was made barren. Larissa’s parents witnessed these tests and even saw the mushroom cloud of one of the first bombs. They did not know what they were seeing, and of course, they did not know about its harmful effects. This is a very sad period in Semey’s history. The top of the monument symbolizes the explosions. At the base of the monument, there is a woman sheltering her baby.








Next to the monument, there is a wishing tree. Marriage parties and others come here to tie a ribbon to the tree and make a wish.





We also visited one of the four gates to the city. There are four gates – one on the east, one on the west, one on the south, and one on the north. I forget everything that Larissa said about the gates! I do have some funny pictures, though.








Yesterday, we went to the zoo. It is a small zoo, but they have EAGLES!!!! I was so excited.





I find it so interesting that almost every place we visit has a spot where wishes are made. At one point, Helena said, “I guess if you really desire something very much, it will come true.” Here in Kazakhstan, across the ocean and over mountaintops, and on the exact opposite side of the world, all of our wishes are coming true. Now, when we make a wish, it is for Charlie to have a long and happy life filled with enthusiasm and meaning. All around the world, wishes are made for love and happiness. You just never know where you will find them!!