European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 24, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Tow Palace of Catherine tha growl in Pat tin. A t least one tour group is encouraging tourist to meet the people at Well at of Lam of the soviet Union. The get lost tour to Russia by David Butts United press International w Hen Lou Smith takes a group  Lounts to the soviet Union tic leads them to the Center of an unfamiliarity and tolls them to get lost. Smile 15 not trying to scare Oil customers at his your Olej travel Agency in Dallas. On the contrary getting lost and having a soviet citizen coma to your Aid pushes soviets and american visitors into the one on one Inen ships that Are the trademark of his Tours. Global concepts the Agency Smith runs out of a tiny upstairs room m his assistant s apartment will Lake at least 400 people on 20 Friendship adventures to the soviet Union this year increasing to 50 hours in 1987 with any Luck most of the participants will get loss. Turn to a soviet Tor help and perhaps even be invited into his Home ii you be had an Opportunity to Sil around a Kitchen table and talk about your feelings about politics religion family and bust up a few myths on both sides Vou can t come Back just referring to the far East because now there is a Natasha and an Ivan with a tace. And you be hugged them and you be shared food with them and you be shared feelings with Idem. You be laughed with them Smith said. You Don l come Back in two or three weeks an expert but you will have an experience that no one can  contrary to Smith s technique most of the 50.000 to 80000 americans who travel to the soviet Union each Toavs Leonly what their soviet guides show them and Jet Amto the United states with All their preconceptions confirmed he said the travelling americans who encounter Smith s groups Are puzzled by his unorthodox ways. We constantly find people in the same holds we slav to it think they can t walk out the front door of tags Kotsmith said. They think it is illegal. They Ink they cannot break away from the Firouz and hav Rencounter with a person on the Street. Americans will come up id me and say what s wrong with you Why arc you hawing such a Good Lime " Smith has a Good time by focusing on Hie people of the Soviel Union not the sights. Two years ago Smith 45, was happily minding my own business pretending that i could t do anything about International affairs Bui after his first tour to the Soviel Union in 1984, he had trouble concentrating on his work As a Selt employed management consultant. He decided to funnel his business talents and three personal Compulos into building a travel Agency with a Mission. Smith is taking advantage of a loosening of tension Between the United states and the soviet Union and at the same time hoping to loser even greater relaxation he says. If you ask a Soviel citizen it it s illegal for Thorn to talk to you they look at you As if you be Tost your mind Smith said they say five or 10 years ago we might not have been Able 10 be comfortable talking to you on the streets but now it makes no difference " the Reagan Gorbachev Summit while ailing to reach a major agreement on reducing nuclear weapons added some substance to the easing of tensions. In their joint statement the leaders announced a renewed cultural Exchange program a joint program of cancer research an expansion of sports contacts and an agreement on joint cooperative projects in environmental Protection. Tour Tsu on Smith a Tours become part of a corps of citizen  the tour members carry a bag of Sullons with Friendship Willen in russian and English and a picture of two shaking hands one stretching irom the United slates and the other irom the soviet Union. The buttons olten Lead to conventions and sometimes invitations to visit a Soviel Home. With gestures and the English ability of a surprising number of soviets communication is possible Smith said. When they return to the United Stales participants Are required to give talks at Community gatherings for six months. I be done 31 slide  said Cherie tuesday june 24, 1986 Eagan 11. A Telephone prayer guide for the Unity school of christianity near Kansas City. To. Eagan went on one of Smith s Tirol Tours in May 1984, she Calls it the Best experience of her Lite and her excitement spreads 1o those who Walch her presentations. All i know before i went is what i heard thai they were communistic and they could t be free she said. What 1 found was boat Laiful people. We went into their Homes and they mentioned the word of god and prayer before i  Joe Sullivan. 51. The vice president of Brookhaven Junior College in Dallas has spoken to More classes and Church groups than he can remember since his tour his message he says is one of building Trust and getting to know the enemy " we will never begin the process of Trust until we have some connection. If our governments Don t Trust each other How about the people beginning it Sullivan said. Barbara Rinnan of Chicago describes herself As a 1 56-year-old lady who should be sit Ling under a Palm tree drinking a mint Julep but instead she will be leading a global concepts tour Afler having gone with Smith twice. We go out on the Street and we dismiss our guide she said. And we have made incredible can lacks. We have been in the Homes of communists dissidents and jewish refuseniks jews who have applied for exit visas the Success of the people to people Lour May Best be reflected in the change of heart Sullivan s 10-year old son went through. When Sullivan first announced he was going to the Soviel Union the boy began to cry and asked his father not to go. He said Don t go to the soviet Union. You May not come Back " Sullivan said. Now the same son is saying. When Are you going to take me " global concepts leads two to six Tours to the Soviel Union each month. The Tours stress smaller cities and try to cover Al least two of the 16 soviet republics. But All Tours visit in Moscow and most also hit Leningrad. The stars and stripes Page 13