I’m letting myself off the hook by calling these pieces ‘Memories of Conversations’. This is by no means an exhaustive report of the many conversations we had but is simply a record of what I remember and what made the deepest impression on me.
During our three full days in Moscow we spent time at Friends’ House Moscow and attended a Meeting for Worship. A staff member at FHM gave us an overview
of the work they are engaged in and the challenges this presents. Here is a quotation from the most recent annual report:
“Friends House Moscow is a small non-governmental nonprofit organisation that funds projects for peace and civil society in the former Soviet Union. FHM supports projects which work in such areas as human rights, education, restorative justice and non-violent communication. Each project also furthers social goals such as grass-roots collaboration, equality and non-violence.
The work of Friends House Moscow reflects the deepest values of the Society of Friends (Quakers).”
FHM also engages in translating Quaker texts into Russian. We were shown examples of the most recent publications.
On Saturday afternoon we attended Meeting for Worship and met some of the local Quakers. After Meeting we had opportunity for tea, cake, informal discussion and sharing of experiences. All four of us found this encounter enjoyable and informative. I’ve found the Russians I’ve met on my visits to the country to be very forthright and disinclined to engage in small talk and this can lead to lively debate. One point I remember which was repeated by other people we met was that as Russia had suffered so much in what we call World War Two and Russians call The Great Patriotic War, they are determined that they should never experience war again.
As a Quaker I was so happy to meet up with Moscow Friends. I have been asked to serve on the Board of FHM and have accepted. I look forward to further contact with these warm hearted and hospitable people.
Live Adventurously 