More Host Stories From the Russian Leadership Exchange Program - 1999

Dr. Bruce Weaver, Director of the United Methodist Russia Initiative for the General Board of Global Ministries, worked with Dr. James Billington, Librarian of Congress, to bring young Russian leaders to the United States to see how citizens live in a democracy.

Igor Gorevoy left America with T-shirts that said: "Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo."...Igor is a manager of a TV station in Russia....He sits on a city commission in a city comparable to Kalamazoo (but even colder). The commission wanted to continue the closed meetings rule but Igor lobbied for open meetings and won. [In Michigan], while having the opportunity to speak on the radio, he shared his vision for Russia: that his son would be able to grow up in a free country.

Jim Athearn in Springfield, Virginia, placed Russian visitors with disabilities in a hotel where local people could come to visit and eat with them. On one beautiful day, he was able to take them to George Washington's home. It is handicapped-accessible, which allowed them to tour comfortably. They were also able to visit local schools to see how children deal with disabilities in the school environment.

Mardell and Herschel McClurkin in Alma, Arkansas, hosted three Russian guests. Mardell is sure God placed them where they were supposed to be. One, the translator, was searching for some answers after the recent deaths of several of her friends. When she found out that Herschel was a retired Methodist minister, she began asking him many questions. She must have gotten her answers because she asked him to baptize her in the sanctuary. The other two Russians attended the ceremony.

In Neenah, Wisconsin, the constant talk was how this program had blessed everyone. The visitors were given Bibles in Russian when they left. Since they were given two Bibles each, they were asked to pass one on.