{"id":10522,"date":"2024-10-11T05:41:40","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T10:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/?p=10522"},"modified":"2025-03-01T11:09:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-01T17:09:55","slug":"fall-trip-report-6-the-elevator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kachelman.com\/ukraine\/blog\/2024\/10\/11\/fall-trip-report-6-the-elevator\/","title":{"rendered":"Trip Report #6 | The Elevator"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Featured Photo: There are some signs you do not \u201csee\u201d until it is too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each mission trip always has one memorable moment\u2026so are very good, others are not very good. The elevators used in the former USSR are a challenge in faith\u2014you 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\u2014they 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That memory of elevators in the former USSR is indelibly chiseled into my mind\u2019s forever files. And every time I get into an elevator my pulse increases and anxiety borders on the flight mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Church. After an afternoon\u2019s 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<\/sup> 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<\/sup> floor, I said the elevator. All three of us got inside the compartment which is about 3×3 square\u2014it 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The doors opened. We entered. We pressed \u201c1\u201d for the first floor, the doors closed. No movement. I pressed \u201c1\u201d again. Nothing. Tayna though the elevator was moving but it was only the result of us moving inside the elevator\u2014as 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, \u201cI hope so but if so this is the quietest elevator I have ever used.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I looked at the buttons, I saw that the \u201copen door\u201d and the 10th<\/sup> Floor buttons were taped and a warning posted not to push those. It said the 10th<\/sup> Floor button doesn\u2019t work. I wanted to add that the 9th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought of prying the doors open because I was sure we had never left the 9th<\/sup> floor. I budged the doors maybe an inch. I needed a \u201ccheater bar\u201d but unfortunately that was not to be found in the 3×3 elevator compartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cDie Hard.\u201d But\u2026I was lacking Bruce Willis\u2019 stuntman and decided against that option. Besides the ceiling was probably eight feet high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cEmergency Services.\u201d 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, \u201cWell I\u2019m thankful I used the toilet before getting in here.\u201d My reply, \u201cI\u2019m thankful you did as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tanya got a call saying Emergency Services were on their way. My reply, \u201cHow long?\u201d Her reply, \u201cI don\u2019t know they didn\u2019t say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we heard the lady that had met us at the rooms calling through the doors. Tanya said \u201cShe going to let Emergency Services\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s \u201cCharlie on the M.T.A.\u201d<\/em> flashed into my mind as the chorus sings \u201che’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.\u201d (For those who want to hear the song click: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_oaVU0I_oCA<\/a> ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually the elevator returned to the 9th<\/sup> 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, \u201cThe elevator is repaired you can use it.\u201d Without any hesitation, \u201cNo we will use the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were told there is another elevator in the building that does not get stuck as often and we could use it. \u201cThank you we will use the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 caf\u00e9! 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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This morning when walking past the receptionist\u2019s booth, I was thinking of the nine flights just a few steps ahead of me, so I asked about the other elevator. \u201cYes there is one but here is one right here.\u201d Tanya explained that we used that one last night and got stuck. The receptionist looked excited. \u201cOh! 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.\u201d \u201cThank you we will use the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From this perspective, we are positively confident in the coming days because things can only improve! We go forward!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John L. Kachelman, Jr, Ukraine Missions, Dalraida Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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