I DID IT!!!!!!!!! I washed my clothes by hand in the tub. Y'all should be very proud. I am officially all grown-up. It's silly how excited I am that I chose not to be lazy and wear dirty socks for 2 more weeks. hahahahahahaha
We went to the drug district again yesterday. I walked around with Joanna and Joseph, as always, and one of the guys that works at the Teen Challenge Program, Sergei. For the first time there, we met someone who was an educated athiest. Too bad I couldn't understand what was being said!! Sergei really didn't know how to answer his questions and I was interesting what Joanna was able to translate. But there was a guy standing there listening and you could see he was broken. He wanted help. The kids and I noticed him and the kids started talking to him. He knew of the program be/c one of his friends he use to do drugs with was at Kultan (the main center). Joseph asked if he wanted to pray but I think he was a little embarrassed. He told us that his dad had died 4 days ago. He just looked so tired. We told him the bus could take him to church and if he wanted to go today he could go to the rehab/Kultan center. We left there and talked with a couple more people. As we were all standing around waiting to leave, Joseph kept wanting to run go get that guy. Of course, the adults didn't want to but Joseph so desperately wanted him to come to church. Janet is usually talking to passersby until we pull her into the car, which makes us late for service. Yesterday, we were thankful for that. The bus and another van had already headed back to the church and we were just pulling out of the parking lot. And up walks this man Ruslan, that Joseph wanted to get. He got in the car with us and came to church. In the car, he was telling us about his life and I found out he was 27. I was blown away. He looked more like 35. It's amazing how much life and especially a hard one, will age you. So, I am very happy to report he went into the program right after church!!!! He was so ready to go. Whoever is reading this and would like to pray for him PLEASE do!! His name is Ruslan.
Tomorrow, my canadian roommate leaves. I just don't know what I am going to do with myself. Guess, I will really have to learn the language now. hahahahaha. The other 3 girls that live there are from the orphanage and the newest roommate, Katya, gave Kim and me a gift that she made. She learned how to sew in the orphanage. Kim got a hat and I got a HOUSEDRESS!! It's pink, to boot. I am slowly turning into the Russian version of my mother. hahahahahahahahaha.
I have changed my tickets to come home a month early so, I can come back with them in January. I will my touching foot on American soil in 2 wks. I am happy and sad at the same time.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Texas
I cut my own hair in the bathroom this morning. My bangs are just getting so long and I couldn't take it. I had my Canadian roommate hold a trash bag in front of me while I did it. Luckily, no one was hurt and I can see now. :-)
It hit me this week that I am ACTUALLY teaching. I have gone from being a hairstylist for 8ish years to teaching a 10 yr old boy Science, History, Health and Vocabulary. I wouldn't say this of myself but I am sure all my friends would say that I am doing an amazing job. (right Dad) Luckily vocabulary is one of my favorite things in the world. The older girl, Jessica, is doing 9th grade and her words are crazy. I mean really, who uses the word ethereal, REALLY? What's really sad is that the book couldn't even make up their own sentence, they had to use a quote from Shakespeare. That's when you know it's a hard word. We pulled through it but I don't know if she will ever in her life use that word.
We went ice skating last night. It was super fantastic fun! Joseph told me he was skating fast be/c you know why.......... to burn off some of the fat. See!!! See!!!! He is learning. We covered calories and metabolism in health. (hahahaha) There was a group of teenage boys that heard us speaking English and then decided to harrass us through out the night. We would skate and link hands (all 5 of us) and a couple of the boys would get in front of us and go slow. Finally I just skated right into him. hahahaha Of course, it looked like an accident be/c I almost fell but he got the point. He didn't get in front of us again. :-) I KNOW I KNOW! I am the adult and I should rise above but ya know.................
It's starting to get cold here. It's probably the same temperature as our Christmas time. I only know this be/c there are very few times a year when we see our breath. Ilya asked me if it was cold outside one morning and I said "well, you can see your breath." He laughed and asked if that's how Texans know it's cold. WEll, duh! :-)
Public transportation is fun! I don't get annoyed with it yet at all be/c we drive so much at home. I do love the people watching on there and of course, we get looks when we speak English.
Well, it's time for me to go to church. Bye Y'ALL! Jessica loves saying that now. Y'ALL. :-)
It hit me this week that I am ACTUALLY teaching. I have gone from being a hairstylist for 8ish years to teaching a 10 yr old boy Science, History, Health and Vocabulary. I wouldn't say this of myself but I am sure all my friends would say that I am doing an amazing job. (right Dad) Luckily vocabulary is one of my favorite things in the world. The older girl, Jessica, is doing 9th grade and her words are crazy. I mean really, who uses the word ethereal, REALLY? What's really sad is that the book couldn't even make up their own sentence, they had to use a quote from Shakespeare. That's when you know it's a hard word. We pulled through it but I don't know if she will ever in her life use that word.
We went ice skating last night. It was super fantastic fun! Joseph told me he was skating fast be/c you know why.......... to burn off some of the fat. See!!! See!!!! He is learning. We covered calories and metabolism in health. (hahahaha) There was a group of teenage boys that heard us speaking English and then decided to harrass us through out the night. We would skate and link hands (all 5 of us) and a couple of the boys would get in front of us and go slow. Finally I just skated right into him. hahahaha Of course, it looked like an accident be/c I almost fell but he got the point. He didn't get in front of us again. :-) I KNOW I KNOW! I am the adult and I should rise above but ya know.................
It's starting to get cold here. It's probably the same temperature as our Christmas time. I only know this be/c there are very few times a year when we see our breath. Ilya asked me if it was cold outside one morning and I said "well, you can see your breath." He laughed and asked if that's how Texans know it's cold. WEll, duh! :-)
Public transportation is fun! I don't get annoyed with it yet at all be/c we drive so much at home. I do love the people watching on there and of course, we get looks when we speak English.
Well, it's time for me to go to church. Bye Y'ALL! Jessica loves saying that now. Y'ALL. :-)
Monday, September 8, 2008
More Ramblings.......
It's amazing what all can happen in such a short amount of time. I feel like I have been here much longer than a month!! In a good way, of course! I am sorry I am only getting to write once a week. There is an Internet cafe close to our apartment but every time we go there, they tell us it's not working. I don't really believe them. I kinda feel like he's annoyed that we are English speakers so, he doesn't want to accommodate us. Ah well.
I love these kids! They have such big hearts. My birthday was last Thursday. When I got to the house in the morning they started singing as I walked in the door and there were balloons everywhere and they had made a big sign. It was soooooo sweet!!!! Also, my Canadian roommate Kim got me 3 snickers and a cute pink towel. My comfort food seems to be Russian Snickers. My Russian roommate, Sveta, got me a Russian Pinnochio doll that sings. That is probably my favorite be/c it's sooooo Russian. It was a very nice day. I also got to hear Wyatt tell me Happy Birthday. Hopefully, we will go ice skating this Saturday. I wanted to go last Saturday but something came up. Sunday, I also received a gift. One of the guys in the English class at Kultan is the head of the carpentry and he made me a picture frame and wrote a scripture on the side. He also made Kim onу but since I don't get to go to the classes anymore he gave me mine at church. He is the only guy that will speak English as much as he can. He rode the bus home with Kim and I and he would speak broken English on the crowded bus not caring who heard him. It's so cool to see the eagerness and willingness to learn.
Sunday we went to Zabseep again and I walked around with Ilya, Joanna, Joseph and Kim. It is so neat watching Ilya talk to these people. There is compassion and love to his boldness. Even though I don't know what he is saying I am learning how to evangalize to people. I know that is something that so many of us shy away from but we were called to go. How will these people know if they are not hearing. Like Mr Grise always says Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
I want to tell so much but when I get here I forget all of what it is I want to say. Some things I notice............ Drinking in public is allowed. There are so many drunks even at 9:30 in the morning. Drunk. And you can smell it pretty thick on them. It's kinda normal for them to get in a fist fight and then make-up right after. I have seen that a couple of times. I also saw a woman beating her husband's head on the bus but he maintained his composure and said they would fight about it at home. Children I have seen drunk and smoking. Hmmmmmm what else do I see on a daily basis. If it's nice weather in the evening, people hang out outside the apartments. The old people gather to gossip and the littel kids run around and play games. Each cluster of buildings have their own little place area for the kids. Some even have volleyball courts or little soccer goals. It's funny to see the kids playing the same kinds of games: chase, hide & seek, climbing and sliding. I was walking to the Banteev house the other day and I saw a grandpa with his little grandson and he was giving him crumbs to throw to birds. You could tell he was just learning how to throw be/c his balance wasn't quite right and the crumbs didn't go too far.
Our washing maching is broken! I am really hoping it gets fixed soon so, I don't have to wash my clothes in the tub. I guess I am still slightly a spoiled American.
I read all of your comments. I am sorry that I don't get to write back to each one. I am really only on the computer once or twice a week. So, don't think that I have forgotten about any of you be/c I haven't!!! I will see you all very soon!
I love these kids! They have such big hearts. My birthday was last Thursday. When I got to the house in the morning they started singing as I walked in the door and there were balloons everywhere and they had made a big sign. It was soooooo sweet!!!! Also, my Canadian roommate Kim got me 3 snickers and a cute pink towel. My comfort food seems to be Russian Snickers. My Russian roommate, Sveta, got me a Russian Pinnochio doll that sings. That is probably my favorite be/c it's sooooo Russian. It was a very nice day. I also got to hear Wyatt tell me Happy Birthday. Hopefully, we will go ice skating this Saturday. I wanted to go last Saturday but something came up. Sunday, I also received a gift. One of the guys in the English class at Kultan is the head of the carpentry and he made me a picture frame and wrote a scripture on the side. He also made Kim onу but since I don't get to go to the classes anymore he gave me mine at church. He is the only guy that will speak English as much as he can. He rode the bus home with Kim and I and he would speak broken English on the crowded bus not caring who heard him. It's so cool to see the eagerness and willingness to learn.
Sunday we went to Zabseep again and I walked around with Ilya, Joanna, Joseph and Kim. It is so neat watching Ilya talk to these people. There is compassion and love to his boldness. Even though I don't know what he is saying I am learning how to evangalize to people. I know that is something that so many of us shy away from but we were called to go. How will these people know if they are not hearing. Like Mr Grise always says Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
I want to tell so much but when I get here I forget all of what it is I want to say. Some things I notice............ Drinking in public is allowed. There are so many drunks even at 9:30 in the morning. Drunk. And you can smell it pretty thick on them. It's kinda normal for them to get in a fist fight and then make-up right after. I have seen that a couple of times. I also saw a woman beating her husband's head on the bus but he maintained his composure and said they would fight about it at home. Children I have seen drunk and smoking. Hmmmmmm what else do I see on a daily basis. If it's nice weather in the evening, people hang out outside the apartments. The old people gather to gossip and the littel kids run around and play games. Each cluster of buildings have their own little place area for the kids. Some even have volleyball courts or little soccer goals. It's funny to see the kids playing the same kinds of games: chase, hide & seek, climbing and sliding. I was walking to the Banteev house the other day and I saw a grandpa with his little grandson and he was giving him crumbs to throw to birds. You could tell he was just learning how to throw be/c his balance wasn't quite right and the crumbs didn't go too far.
Our washing maching is broken! I am really hoping it gets fixed soon so, I don't have to wash my clothes in the tub. I guess I am still slightly a spoiled American.
I read all of your comments. I am sorry that I don't get to write back to each one. I am really only on the computer once or twice a week. So, don't think that I have forgotten about any of you be/c I haven't!!! I will see you all very soon!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Normal
The week has begun. This is a schedule I am use to; Tues-Sat, off Sunday Monday. Ilya and Janet usually take Monday off for a family day be/c they spend all day at church on Sunday.
Went to Zabseep again yesterday. The residents didn't seem quite as hostile this time around. The kids recognize me now and will talk to me. They know me as the American. wahoo. The Canadians know me as Texas, or at least that is what I have been dubbed. I feel so honored. But getting back to my point. The ministry is moving. Slowly but surely. Every Sunday people get on the bus and come to church. I have seen a few of the same faces. Yesterday I was shocked to see a guy that Olya, Edith (from New York) and I had talked to the first time we were there. He was angry when we talked to him and didn't really want to have anything to do with what we said but stood there and talked with us for awhile. Actually, Olya (Ilya's secretary) knew him from the past and so it was an easy way in to talk with him. He of course, argued with us about God not being in his life be/c of all the bad stuff that happened to him. So, I was so excited when I saw him on the bus and he stayed for the whole sermon. Things may not be happening instantly but stuff is changing there! I want to reach the kids. You would not believe the conditions these children are growing up in and just like any kids they are running around smiling and laughing. Yet, they are living in such an evil place. Again, I looked up yesterday and saw a needle with blood in it stuck in a tree. One in ten addicts have HIV here, I heard today. Crazy. But I don't know what I would do going back to a "normal" American life. I don't really want it! So, I am praying for God's direction.
Oh yeah, I forogt to mention last week that I took the kids for sushi on Monday. It was their first time to have it. :-) They loved it of course! I am so glad that I can bring a little culture to these girls. hahaha. Then we went bowling with the couple from Canada. The husband and I had a friendly competition. He won by 2 points on the first game and I smoked him by 19 the second. Wahoooo!!!
Went to Zabseep again yesterday. The residents didn't seem quite as hostile this time around. The kids recognize me now and will talk to me. They know me as the American. wahoo. The Canadians know me as Texas, or at least that is what I have been dubbed. I feel so honored. But getting back to my point. The ministry is moving. Slowly but surely. Every Sunday people get on the bus and come to church. I have seen a few of the same faces. Yesterday I was shocked to see a guy that Olya, Edith (from New York) and I had talked to the first time we were there. He was angry when we talked to him and didn't really want to have anything to do with what we said but stood there and talked with us for awhile. Actually, Olya (Ilya's secretary) knew him from the past and so it was an easy way in to talk with him. He of course, argued with us about God not being in his life be/c of all the bad stuff that happened to him. So, I was so excited when I saw him on the bus and he stayed for the whole sermon. Things may not be happening instantly but stuff is changing there! I want to reach the kids. You would not believe the conditions these children are growing up in and just like any kids they are running around smiling and laughing. Yet, they are living in such an evil place. Again, I looked up yesterday and saw a needle with blood in it stuck in a tree. One in ten addicts have HIV here, I heard today. Crazy. But I don't know what I would do going back to a "normal" American life. I don't really want it! So, I am praying for God's direction.
Oh yeah, I forogt to mention last week that I took the kids for sushi on Monday. It was their first time to have it. :-) They loved it of course! I am so glad that I can bring a little culture to these girls. hahaha. Then we went bowling with the couple from Canada. The husband and I had a friendly competition. He won by 2 points on the first game and I smoked him by 19 the second. Wahoooo!!!
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