Cambrensis into Russia.... May27th.-June 3rd.2000

Cambrensis Choir augmented by family and friends travelled to Russia in May for a week of ministry and sight-seeing. We've asked one of the choir members, Ben Thomas to add a few recollections alongside the pictoral diary.

St Basil's Red Square, Moscow	Peterhof Summer Palace, St Petersburg
It was at a chilly 3.30am one Saturday in May when thirty-three shadowy figures boarded a bus for Heathrow Airport, bound for Russia on a week-long Cambrensis adventure. The group spent seven packed days in Moscow and St Petersburg at the invitation of Logos, a Christian Music Seminary based in the Russian capital. A link was first established between Cambrensis and the Moscow musicians when a youth choir visited Wales 12 years ago. With a firm bond existing between the two choirs, Cambrensis' return visit was hosted by the Logos Music Director, Evgenny Goncharenko.
Kelvin Thomas (Centre) and Evgeny Goncharenko, (Right) Director of Logos Christian Ministries The entrance to Second Baptist Church, Moscow The Choir outside First Baptist Church, St Petersburg (The oldest in Russia)	A timetable of three concerts was planned with plenty of sight-seeing in the meantime. In Moscow the group sang twice on the Sunday of the visit, on both occasions at Baptist Churches in the city. There was a very warm welcome and the congregations appreciated the mix of traditional Welsh hymns, modern worship songs, and even a smattering of Russian in one or two of the pieces. There was also an opportunity for several of the Cambrensis members to give their testimony of God's work in their lives. Fellowship afterwards made both of the services very memorable indeed. The choir's hotel in Moscow was right on the edge of Red Square with a host of tourist sights within walking distance. Although only in the capital for three days, Logos had arranged a host of activities including a boat trip, a visit to the State Circus, and the obligatory tour of the Kremlin. Tuesday night, and an eight-hour train journey took the group to St Petersburg for the second half of the tour. The one concert in Russia's second city was at a church on the outskirts of St Petersburg. Cambrensis sang as part of a special preaching service and were made to feel very welcome by a congregation that included quite a number of young people. Nobody could fail to be struck by the beauty of St Petersburg and again the choir was treated to an evening river-trip and visits to two of the other cultural jewels of the city, Petergof Park and the famous Hermitage Art Collection. The whole trip was a joy for all those who went on it with so much packed in that the seven days felt like a lot longer. God was good to the group and there were no major difficulties to contend with. We are all grateful for the prayers of people back home, and looking forward to the return visit of our Russian friends, hopefully before too long.
TGIF Moscow Style	The Kremlin
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