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During a July trip to Russia, seniors Russ Mottram and Peter Bailon discovered that foreign travel isn’t always fun and games.
“We were there to preach the gospel and tell the truth about Jesus Christ, that we’re saved,” said Mottram. “Not because of anything we did, but because of everything Jesus did on the cross.”
Drummer Mottram, sound producer Bailon, and five other musicians left for St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 13 , to play heavy Christian music in coffee shops with the program Youth With a Mission. They stayed for about two months.
“We saw all these skinheads come in,” said Mottram. “Then I gave my testimony on how I became a Christian and how I knew Jesus Christ. A skinhead came up and he started yelling a foot away from me. I looked at him and said, ‘Jesus died for you, too.’”
Mottram and Bailon got their footwork in figuring out Russian tastes in music before they left on the trip. Many Russians enjoy heavy Christian and alternative music, but they also are into old rock and roll.
While experiencing Russian culture Bailon and Mottram noticed some differences from America.
“People could tell if you were American because you’d be smiling,” said Bailon. “Nobody would just smile.”
The most memorable experience that Bailon had was when he and Mottram met Russian teens.
“We got to meet a group of kids at Street Cry; we became good friends,” said Bailon. “Russ and I took them to Pizza Hut.”
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