Image: Christians teaching village leaders how to develop their village.
In Kyrgyzstan, living standards have fallen after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some of the many poor seek solace in conservative Islam. It is a dangerous place to go and it is estimated that more than 330 young men have joined the Islamic State and Islamic terrorist cells have been uncovered in the otherwise peaceful country.
Image:Tobias Lyster Kjøller
Tobias explains: I had gone to the country to visit the Danish European Mission's partner that works to improve health and create development in poor villages. On the way up into the mountains, we drove through a beautiful mountain landscape where eternal snow covers the tops of the peaks.
The villagers are helped to help themselves through education in health, nutrition, hygiene and conflict management. This may sound basic to a Dane, but it's not in a country where the public healthcare system collapsed after the fall of the Soviet Union and many diseases subsequently broke out. I taught the staff human biology, which gave them better prerequisites for teaching in the villages.
Government turns the country against Russia - to avoid Islamization
There were a surprising number of churches in the area, despite the country being Muslim. The Muslim tradition was watered down under communism and the country appears secular at first glance. For example, not many women wear veils, there are free elections and the press is free.
Yet Kyrgyz who convert to the Christian faith face increasing resistance from their families and communities. This resistance is strengthened by wealthy Muslims, including those from Turkey and the Gulf states, building mosques in every village to strengthen and reintroduce Muslim traditions.
To counteract Islamization, the Kyrgyzstan government has oriented itself towards Russia and joined the customs union Euro-Asian Economic Union between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. The goal is to create economic development in the participating countries through free trade. In addition, Kyrgyzstan has allowed Russia to open a military base in the country.
The project staff are proceeding cautiously. They use biblical principles in their teaching, and slowly but surely the people in the small communities realize that they are Christians. The villagers can see that the teaching benefits their village and their prejudices against the Christian faith can be broken down.
