Ukraine: Part 3, Mangup

We had a few adventures during our time in Crimea, but the one that tops them all was our trip to Mangup-Kale, a cave city on a mountain plateau minutes from Krasni Mak.
   We arranged rides up the mountain (it is possible to hike) from a guide and another man who was our driver.  We went up what we'd like to call a road in 2 old army jeeps.  It's at times like these that i'm glad to have grown up in the north, quadding in the bush.  Makes our adventure not so scary!  :)  So, needless to say, our ride was a little precarious. We had an older lady from Maxim's church, Nadia, along for the ride.  It didn't seem to phase her!  I told her after that she's a very adventurous lady. 

   So, we arrived at the top, seeing the ruins for the first time.
Mangup is a fortress city, built centuries ago during the Byzantine (Roman) Empire, when Constantinople was the capital city (renamed Istanbul in 1930).  There are many cave cities in the Crimea region, two of them being minutes from where we were staying.  Mangup was destroyed as a result of the Tatar-Mongolian invasion in 1475, when Turks invaded the peninsula.  Something the people of Krasni Mak are very proud of: it took the conquering army 5 months to take the fortress!

The land is shaped like a hand, with "fingers" stretching out and away from the main fortress.  These were used for farming and defense. 
You may be wondering who the Tatars are, or maybe not.  I myself needed a bit of refreshing on my history! (as I mentioned in my first post on the trip). The Tatars are Turkic tribes (Muslims) living in Russia and republics of the former Soviet Union- nearly 8 million people.  In WWII, Stalin accused the Tatars of being Nazi collaborators and deported the entire people group to Central Asia and other lands of the Soviet Union.  We were told he gave them 2 HOURS to leave.  Many died of disease and malnutrition.
Since the late 1980's, about 250,000 Crimean Tatars have returned to Crimea.
   It was really quite something to be walking on ruins over 600 years old!  The fortress is gone, but in the sides of the mountain are many caves.  Some were used for housing animals, storing food, and hiding from enemies.  Our team had a lot of fun exploring!

Mangup was definitely a hilight of our trip!
The return of the Tatars to the Crimea region is a big reason why we are involved in supporting this church plant.  Over 200 mosques have gone up in the past few years in Crimea, and we want to help Maxim and his church to be an Evangelical influence in their area.  God has big plans for Crimea and all of Ukraine!
Some of our prayer time included words about the valley of Krasni Mak being like the valley of dry bones, and God will breathe life back into those bones!  Jer. 1 talks about uprooting and tearing down, destroying and overthrowing, building up and planting.   We belive the time of destruction is over, and it is time to build up and plant.  We believe God has a plan for the women of these churches.  That they would be like Jael, stopping the enemy in his tracks. Also knowing their job as leaders and intercessors.  They play a vital role in God's plan for this nation!  God is big enough for their past, and can carry their future!