TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
Report 69
January 16, 2001
Dear Friends:
Being present at the dedication of the BALTIC MISSION CENTER & CHURCH on September 10, 2000, in Tallinn, Estonia, was a "mountain top" experience for those who were present.
It was deeply satisfying to be in attendance at the achievement of Rev. Dr. Olav Parnamets' prophetic dream of ten years ago. Celebrations that day brought together hundreds who had dreamed the dream with Brother Olav. How satisfying to break bread with so many from the United States who had an important part in the completion of the debt-free facility that had been conceived and constructed in such a short time. The dedication was a gala affair and many new friends were made that weekend.
It was overwhelming to realize that a hidden part of the miracle of that spirit-inspired dream of the late 1980s is the enormity of the mission that will be served by the teaching facility and worship center.
I left Tallinn with a song in my heart!
As soon as I returned home, plans for a plaque for the Memorial for Ambassador Robert C. Frasure were undertaken. Since the plaque was to be mounted in the newly dedicated building, determining the content, size, and proper location required planning with Rev. Olav, and my return to Tallinn for twenty-four hours.
On November 16 several locations were reviewed and the most appropriate was determined to be at the entrance to the sanctuary. This location will guarantee that those entering the church in perpetuity will be reminded that at a critical time in history a skillful American diplomat served Estonian interests in a remarkable way. Bob Frasure, the first US Ambassador to Estonia, arrived in Tallinn soon after the Estonian Parliament had declared sovereignty in 1991. There were many tasks required to restore Estonia's rightful place in the community of Western nations.
Back home I contracted for the construction of the plaque, and when I received it, I scheduled a trip to Tallinn for December 16 and 17 to deliver and set the plaque.
Sunday, December 17, was an exciting day. From Brother Olav's new pulpit I shared friendly greetings from my neighbors in Delmar to the congregation that had welcomed me into their midst for the last ten years. I recounted the pleasure I had gained from the "street recognition" my adopted church had given me during my self-styled missionary work as I passed through Tallinn on my way to Moscow. The Frasure plaque was dedicated with a prayer for the significant work Bob had done.
On this trip I discussed with Rev. Olav the fact that I believed the Sister-Sister Church relationship with the First United Methodist Church of Delmar should now be passed to another Methodist church in the US. The pleasure our congregation has had should be offered to others who will benefit from knowing Rev. Olav and his congregation.
While the BALTIC MISSION CENTER & CHURCH now exists, Rev. Olav's needs continue to be heavy: maintenance is costly, heating the structure is expensive, and faculty salaries are necessary. In time the Tallinn facility will become more self-supporting, but for the immediate future Olav and his congregation continue to need help. Others will benefit, as we have, from a close relationship with friends in Tallinn.
FIAT VOLUNTAS DEl
Note: I'm pleased to report that the University of The South (Sewanee) now has a "Robert C. Frasure Internship in Foreign Diplomacy" as well as an annual "Robert Frasure Memorial Lecture".
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Harmon Associates
34 Elsmere Avenue
Delmar, New York 12054-2126
(518) 439-7166 FAX (518) 475-0434
November 10, 2000
Rev. Dr. Olav Parnamets, Superintendent
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN ESTONIA
Narva str. 51, 10152 Tallinn, Estonia
Dear Brother Olav:
It was a pleasure to meet you and your delightful wife Urva more than ten years ago. To become acquainted with you and your 900-member congregation, the largest UMC in continental Europe, was a privilege that has enriched my life.
The early days of our friendship were filled with uneasiness, fear, and expectation of catastrophe. And yet, in those darkest days you had a dream of serving a broader constituency to serve Christ's plan for the new millennium.
As our friendship grew I became aware of your unique skill in sharing your dream with others so that they became partners in accomplishing your goals.
I shared the faith I saw reflected by you and your congregation with members of my home church, the First United Methodist Church in Delmar, New York, and was delighted when we found ways to be helpful to you and your neighbors in Tallinn. Providing food that enabled your youth camp to be rescheduled in July 1991 was a task happily undertaken by FUMC members. This church provided a home base for little Sergey and his entourage as steps were taken that gave him back his life. Ludmila Bobkina, Sergey's excellent interpreter, was baptized here, and when Ludmila was faced with becoming a "woman without a country" we quickly provided funds for purchase of her apartment to qualify her for an Estonian passport. Recently funds were provided for instruments for your youth orchestra, and efforts were undertaken to help cover the shortfall for your dedication.
A "Sister-Sister Church Partnership" formalized the relationship between our two congregations in recent years. The support given by my neighbors here in Delmar was provided in love, without high visibility, and with the knowledge that you and your congregation were partners in faith with the whole world and us.
With the BALTIC MISSION CENTER & CHURCH being completed and debt-free, and now having international visibility and prestige, it is time for us to retire from our sister- sister partnership. I will suggest this to our Administrative Council next month so that others may enjoy the excitement of working with you and your colleagues.
Your faith is inspirational and a beacon for all to follow!
Yours in Christian Love,
Millard Harmon
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THE FINNAIR PARTNERSHIP
Finland is a dynamic Western democracy with very little appreciation of Communist philosophy. However, because of geographic proximity to the former Soviet Union, and with a strong, divergent approach to practicality, the Finnish government and industrial leaders became consummate experts at dealing with their neighbors to the east.
My first contact with the Soviet society occurred in 1958 with a doctoral field study in the USSR on education in grades one through eight. Both the field study and my return for an update of that research in 1983 gave me experience in dealing with that society. However, when I decided to open Soviet skies to Western "sport" pilots, I needed help from the experts. I went to FINNAIR headquarters in Helsinki.
I shared my desire to spend my retirement in increasing understanding between Soviets and Americans to help reduce East/West friction. My first task to get Soviet attention would be to fly my single-engine Beech-36, TEN ROMEO, into Sheremetyevo, Moscow, to open Soviet skies to western light aircraft.
I said to the FINNAIR leadership, "You know the Soviet psyche best; they do not answer cablegrams, don't write letters, and refrain from speaking by telephone with Americans. Soviets prefer to sit across the table from an individual and assess his character before making a judgment about working with him. I may need to be in Moscow quickly to work with Soviets to handle details of special projects that will lessen friction between Americans and Soviets. To do this I need your help."
"Dr. Harmon, you have an unusual mission! FINNAIR will become partners with you. When you need to be in Moscow quickly, call our New York office. If we have an empty seat, you will be in Moscow the next day. If no passenger seat is available, we will give you the 'jump seat' in the cockpit as an honorary member of our flight crew."
Thus began a partnership which resulted in nearly 50 flights to Moscow with FINNAIR. Without this generous help, Soviet skies would not have been opened with TEN ROMEO on June 18 of 1985, three years of consulting with Aeroflot to make their skies more friendly to Western pilots would not have happened, and serving as a mediator between Tallinn and Moscow at the request of the Soviet government would not have been possible. A number of humanitarian projects were also accomplished.
Before the FINNAIR linkage I had flown most world airlines into Moscow which provided a basis for comparison. FINNAIR is a great way to travel the world! They have an enviable safety record, maintain a daily schedule between JFK and Helsinki with convenient connecting flights worldwide, and provide comfortable accommodations. Flight costs are competitive. The sensitivity and skill of their flight attendants, the topflight cuisine offered, and the special attention all passengers receive makes that airline very attractive. FINNAIR has been an excellent partner for many years.