We did it!

Imagine this . . .

Beautiful log cabin

Fox and coyote hides on the wall

Wild boar’s head trophy on the wall

Dart board on the wall

Antlers for coat and towel racks

Table and benches made of logs

(Sounds like an Idaho cabin so far, right?)

On the table . . .

5 varieties of chips

Pistachios

Dried smoked fish

Apples

Oranges

Deer jerky

Non-alcoholic beer (“kvas”)

(Still sounds like Idaho . . . )

Add in . . .

4 Russian pastors

1 American missionary

1 American pastor

1 American businessman

All wearing next to nothing

A 120 degree sauna room

Water to splash on the rocks to add humidity

Birch branches with leaves on them for slapping your skin while you sweat

10 minutes in the heat

Quick dip in the river

Sit, drink fluids, talk, eat

Repeat the cycle three times

That’s the Russian experience called Banya, and Todd and I have passed our initiation. I had to skip the river because of my shoulder and not wanting to navigate snow/ice but Todd did the full treatment. I stood outside and rubbed snow on me to cool off after the heat cycle. What I’ve been told is true . . . you feel really good after Banya. On my 11th visit to Russia I finally participated and now I wish I had done it sooner. No pictures–in this case what happens in Russia stays in Russia (except for descriptions on the internet!).

–Jim