All grown up....

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.