Featured Photo: There are some signs you do not “see” until it is too late.
Each mission trip always has one memorable moment…so are very good, others are not very good. The elevators used in the former USSR are a challenge in faith—you get on walking by faith that they will function. On my first trip to Ukraine, I was in an elevator crammed with people. At first there was ample room but at the last moment about 4 young boys beat the closing doors and compacted the group so they would fit inside (like those fools trying to fit x number of people into a telephone booth). We were going to the basement of the hotel where several were to be immersed. As the elevator started these boys had the hairbrained idea that it would be fun to jump while the elevator was going down—they thought it would go down faster. Contrary to their thesis, the elevator stopped. It was warm when we were crammed into the elevator and the mass of bodies soon heated the temp even more. It was so crowded that several of us were standing in the elevator with our arms above our heads. Finally, someone outside managed to get the elevator working and we escaped.
That memory of elevators in the former USSR is indelibly chiseled into my mind’s forever files. And every time I get into an elevator my pulse increases and anxiety borders on the flight mode.
With that past in mind let me bring you up to date on the elevator intimidation. We are traveling to meet certain recipients and follow-up on various efforts for the Lord’s Church. After an afternoon’s travel turned into a midnight arrival, we reached the lodging arranged for Valery, Tanya and myself. There was no parking so the plan was to unload and then go park the vehicle, then return. The rooms are on the 9th floor. Burdened with the bags, suitcases, water and I do not know what else, we walked to the elevator. It was old and had to date to the USSR period. Tanya looked and asked if we wanted to use the elevator because if the electricity went off the elevator would stop. Looking at all of the baggage and thinking of packing it up to the 9th floor, I said the elevator. All three of us got inside the compartment which is about 3×3 square—it was a tight squeeze but we made it! And, the elevator took us to the 9th Floor with no problems. I enjoyed a great relief! Valery dropped his bags and said he needed to get back to the van before it got fined and towed. We were to get the rooms and meet him outside to find parking. It took about 30 minutes and then we were ready to join Valery. We chose, the fatal choice, to take the elevator.
The doors opened. We entered. We pressed “1” for the first floor, the doors closed. No movement. I pressed “1” again. Nothing. Tayna though the elevator was moving but it was only the result of us moving inside the elevator—as we moved inside the elevator cabinet would sway outside from one side of the elevator shaft to the other side. I suggested we not move. Still no movement. Tanya was convinced the elevator was moving to which I responded, “I hope so but if so this is the quietest elevator I have ever used.” Eventually she admitted it was not moving. I though that maybe by pressing another floor we would get off stuck. So, we pressed each floor waiting for a response that never happened.
As I looked at the buttons, I saw that the “open door” and the 10th Floor buttons were taped and a warning posted not to push those. It said the 10th Floor button doesn’t work. I wanted to add that the 9th Floor button does not work. I should have seen this note prior to getting in but the thought of climbing nine flights overrode any reasoned thinking.
I thought of prying the doors open because I was sure we had never left the 9th floor. I budged the doors maybe an inch. I needed a “cheater bar” but unfortunately that was not to be found in the 3×3 elevator compartment.
I began thinking of how I have seen in the movies those trapped inside an elevator and by climbing through a removable panel in the ceiling, the scaled the walls using the cables as ropes. I know Bruce Willis must have done that in “Die Hard.” But…I was lacking Bruce Willis’ stuntman and decided against that option. Besides the ceiling was probably eight feet high.
So, we pressed buttons again. I finally discovered an alarm button. I pushed it and heard a faint dying moan of the alarm. We heard voices from the stairwell and pushed the mournful alarm and no response.
Finally, Tanya got in a place where she had connections and called for help. Valery was outside in the van but he could not enter the building as it is secured with a magnetic lock fob. He assured us he was still there and would wait for our liberation. Standing on one foot with one arm above her head, Tanya managed to get connected again and called the manager. He said he would call “Emergency Services.” But he did not say how long it would take them to get to us. At moments like this you begin to contemplate the most serious matters. Consequently, Tanya said, “Well I’m thankful I used the toilet before getting in here.” My reply, “I’m thankful you did as well.”
And so, we stood. You dare not sit down on the floors of these elevators. And so, we stood and stood. It was now past 11:30 and quickly coming to midnight. And we stood.
Tanya got a call saying Emergency Services were on their way. My reply, “How long?” Her reply, “I don’t know they didn’t say.”
At that moment Tanya looked at a posted sheet of paper. She said, well here are instructions about what to do if the elevator gets stuck. She said there are two imperative things you must NOT do if the elevator gets stuck. Number one, do not push any more buttons. Number two, do not try to pry open the doors. OK. Super FAIL on these instructions!
Finally, we heard the lady that had met us at the rooms calling through the doors. Tanya said “She going to let Emergency Services” into the building. Of course, that meant she had to go down 9 flights and then back up 9 flights and I honestly thought her physical condition could not do that task. But she did.
We heard some hammering, scraping and knocking outside the elevator. We started to move! All I wanted was the doors to open so I could escape. But we started going down, then up, then down. I thought surely this thing was not going to cycle to every floor button we had pushed! We were “ridding forever” this elevator. Suddenly thoughts of the Kingston Trio’s “Charlie on the M.T.A.” flashed into my mind as the chorus sings “he’ll never return No, he’ll never return and his fate is still unlearned, He may ride forever ‘neath the streets of Boston, He’s the man who never returned.” (For those who want to hear the song click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oaVU0I_oCA ).
Eventually the elevator returned to the 9th Floor. The doors opened! We jumped out quickly and were free. I looked to see how the Emergency Services appeared. I expected to see an entire unit. But, instead of a unit with fire axes in hands, EMTs ready to jump into resuscitation drills, and dressed in fire retardant uniforms stripped in fluorescent yellow, the Emergency Services was one anorexic looking fellow with pink scraggly hair wearing a baseball cap turned the wrong way with a headlamp! But he freed us and I thanked him. As we were about to take the stairs, the lady said, “The elevator is repaired you can use it.” Without any hesitation, “No we will use the stairs.”
We were told there is another elevator in the building that does not get stuck as often and we could use it. “Thank you we will use the stairs.”
We finally got Valery parked and returned to the rooms (via climbing nine flights of stairs) and collapsed. I awoke this morning with no hot water, no elevator confidence and no internet except for what we can use at a café! The only regret is that Gif has not yet joined us and missed this adventure, but we will send him on the elevator to make sure it is operating!
This morning when walking past the receptionist’s booth, I was thinking of the nine flights just a few steps ahead of me, so I asked about the other elevator. “Yes there is one but here is one right here.” Tanya explained that we used that one last night and got stuck. The receptionist looked excited. “Oh! so you were the ones that got stuck at such a late hour last night! Well, we have all heard of that but the elevator was repaired and it is working at the moment.” “Thank you we will use the stairs.”
From this perspective, we are positively confident in the coming days because things can only improve! We go forward!
John L. Kachelman, Jr, Ukraine Missions, Dalraida Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109
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