Burton’s Missionary Tales

Yesterday, we did a passport run.  In Russia they are now letting us have  two passports.  This cuts down on the time a couple must stay out of the country while they wait for their new Russian visa.  Now, couples just fly out using one visa and fly back in using the other visa.  The sad thing is that couples would go to Madrid or another European capital and get to see a little bit of that country.  Madrid was popular as it had a temple.  Prague was another popular place.  Only certain cities were used.  Now the couples just fly to Kiev, stay about four hours in the airport and head back to Moscow, or whatever city they are assigned to.

A passport run is not too exciting.  You get the passports that need to be exchanged and other paperwork.  You also get to pay for the passports in American money.  We took the metro to the closest stop, then you walk about 1/2 mile to the embassy.  You go us to the guard station where you show them your passport.  Then they ask you if you have a gun, a knife or pepper spray.  Then they look through your purse and briefcase,  then they run one of those wands around you and let you in the gate.  The guards that are doing all this checking are Russians.  After you go through the gate you can enter a side door.  Not at all fancy,  kind of like the service entrance at hotel.  You go into a little room manned by another Russian guard, where you put your purse and jacket through an ex ray machine.  Then you give the guard your cell phone which he puts in a cubby and gives you a claim card for when you come out.  Then you go through another door that must be made of reinforced concrete it is so heavy.  This room is rather small with 4 windows where business can be transacted.  You sit at a table until it is your turn.  DeVere went up to the window, gave the girl the new passport we were bringing in and they gave him six passports to bring back.  His new passport was not there and he ask why.  When we had taken out requests for new passports two weeks ago, DeVere got an email saying there was a discrepancy with his application.  He had used his full name but the Visa agent in the office had put is in differently on the letter of invitation.  DeVere had emailed back to get it changed.  When he went to the window they found the email in a to-do box.  Anyway he got it fixed (We hope) and his second Visa should be issued in two week or so.  Mine was ready in less than a week.  I went into more detail than you probably like, but these are some of the things we do to satisfy Russia’s requirements.

This morning we got up and went to work for a few hours.  Our computer Internet access was down until after 1:00 yesterday so we didn’t get much done in the morning and the embassy run started at 2:15 and we got back at about 4:50.  Our day was mostly shot.  This morning just before we went to work,  our neighbors across the play ground in another apartment building ask us if we wanted to go see the White House.  The White House is there Parliament building.  They were going to see it at night with the lights on.  We left at 8:00 and got to the building about 8:30.  We strolled through a park behind the White House and then sat down.  As we visited , we saw two policemen start to look at passports.  Russians all must carry passports.  The first group they looked at must have been fine, because they walked on to another couple.  I don’t know what was wrong with their papers, but the policemen had them come with them.  Kathy was excited because she has been in Russia for almost 18 months and has never been asked for her passport.  She was hoping they’d ask for hers, but they walked right on past us and one of them even smiled and touched his hat.  To tell you the truth, I was ecstatic.  I was scared a little too.  Being stopped by a policemen is one of my fears.  Most couples here say they never see older people ask for their papers, so most of them don’t even worry about it.  Being a champion worrier, I worry.  But we feel very safe here.  That has been a big surprise to me.  It finally started to get dark so we walked around to the front of the building.  It’s very large.  just across the lawns and a busy road is the Moscow River.  We stood by a guard rail and watched the river with its tour boats go by.  I hope we get a chance to take a river tour before we leave.  We will check in to see the costs involved.  A little after 10:30 the lights came on.  It is a pretty site.  Dad took a few pictures and then we walked to the Metro and headed back home.  I’ll be going to bed as soon as I send this off.

Again way,  I hope you get a picture.  DeVere will attach a picture soon so you can all see it.

We love you all.

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, DeVere and Arva