CEE Story From The Mission Field
"Dyen Alyenovodov"
(Day of the Reindeer Herders)
April 2002
The celebration day began with the spilling of the reindeer's blood as the crowd of people gathered around knowing that this reindeer gave his life in order that all could be fed. The babushki (grandmothers) waited patiently for the cup of blood to come to them. Drinking the fresh reindeer blood would bring long life and good fortune.
The fire-pits were lit to prepare the fare of the day, which consisted of reindeer bouillon soup, shashlik (shishkebab), and plof (rice, vegetable and meat dish). No one would go hungry today.
The Eveni dance troupe moved to the sounds of the tight-skinned drums declaring their respect for the fire god. Their graceful movements beautifully demonstrating the gratitude and joy they felt. The fire applied to the fresh meat offering would bring strength and nourishment to each one. The bear hunt dance illustrated for all, the superiority of the great Eveni hunter and protector of the reindeer herd.
Stripping down to bare chests, the young men entered the ring with the hope of being the champion this year. Once thrown to the snow-packed earth with his back to the frozen ground, the contestant was eliminated. The crowd cheered, seeking to encourage their brother or friend to victory. Only one would remain undefeated!
Participation in these holiday events was special in many ways to Randy and Robin Covington, missionaries to the Russian Far East. First of all, the invitation meant that the villagers have accepted them and respect them for the work they have begun in their midst. Secondly, it reminded them of the spiritual darkness in which most Eveni live. Thirdly, it offered them the vital opportunity to experience the villagers' life style first-hand, thus enabling them to find a way to introduce the gospel message into their culture in a way that is understandable and relevant.
These native villagers are members of the Small Peoples of the North: small, not in size or stature, but in number. Because they live in the cold northern reaches of the Russian Far East they have little access to the Gospel. The Covingtons took the opportunity of being part of the community to hand out Christian literature along with candy and toys. Parents brought their eager children in hand to accept whatever they had to offer and the gifts were always welcomed with a smile of genuine gratitude.
The living sacrifice, the spilled blood, the benefits of partaking of the blood -- these things the Eveni understand and embrace. They are pictures that God has given of Himself. Only they don't know the author of these concepts and pictures. They have only the shadow, the idea. The Covingtons are praying that God will help them convey the true meaning of the pictures and give significance beyond what they now have. Now they have the reindeer and they are the mighty reindeer herders. One day they will have Christ and be mighty warriors for Him.
View the photo essay of "Day of the Reindeer Herders."