Face to Face

FaceTime is a great thing...or some may like Skype or Gmail Chat. Whatever it is that can let us talk to friends and family from across the ocean, we appreciate! We use FaceTime often to talk to Mom and Dad Gormong and we use Skype to talk to my family in Ohio each week. The other night Philip and I were trying to wind down our brains from over 2 hours of Russian study, when we decided to FaceTime with our friends the Rambos! The Rambos are currently missionaries in Africa with World Gospel Mission. It was so neat to be able to talk to them (and hear about their news of having another baby on the way---Congrats!)! The Rambos are dear friends from seminary, who we miss a lot!

It is amazing to be able to use technology like we do. Years ago when Philip and his family were on the mission field, there was no FaceTime, Skype, or Gmail Chat. There was just snail mail and probably a few phone calls here and there. We are so blessed to have the internet to be able to stay connected with our family and the Western world. Of course we are orienting our minds to life here, but there is still a part of your heart and mind that longs for the familiar things of the west...FaceTime, Pinterest, Facebook, News websites, and blogs all help us in this department!

Pray for us as we are turning in our residency paper work once again tomorrow. This is the 3rd time for corrections so we are praying this will be the last time. We don't just want to assume that we will be accepted, but we are continuing to trust the Lord for Him to work things out!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Pictures!

Meet: Esther (no, not me, the puppet!)

I guess she wasn't impressed with Esther's performance!

Learning the Bible Verse! John 3:16

The Queen Esthers!

Adalynn was suppose to be making a necklace...but she was too hungry so she ate the "things" to make the necklace!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

*pictures taken by Cara B.

Sunday Evenings

Twice a month we get together for a large group gathering (there are usually around 20-25 people). When I saw "we" I am talking about the small groups/house churches that have formed from the leadership team of our church plant--Grace of Christ Church. There are 4 groups meeting or going to be meeting each week. During these groups there is time for fellowship, reading and discussing the Scriptures, and a time for prayer. It is great to meet each week, but it is also nice to get all the groups together as a whole twice a month. During our large group gatherings we have a time of tea and fellowship, singing, prayer, reading of the Word, and communion. I have been teaching the Sunday school lesson to the children during these meetings when the adults start reading the Bible and doing a study. The children get to participate in worship and fellowship, but they are ready for Sunday school when that time arrives!

Last night we talked about Esther and how God answers prayers. We usually have 5 kids all under the age of 7. I did a puppet show with Esther. I forgot how hard it is to tell a story and move the puppet's mouth all while having an interpreter! I think poor Esther's mouth wasn't moving at all the right times...plus one of her eyes fell off and she about lost her hair during her story! Yikes! It was fun though and the girls go to make crowns, scepters, and necklaces. We met in a large room that had a blow up castle jumping thing that the girls got to play in after the lesson. It was pretty fun for all!


Being praying for Philip this week. Tonight starts his class on Pauline Epistles. He is ready and excited to for this experience. He is still busy preparing each day, so pray for strength, wisdom, and clarity of thought as he continues to prepare and teach!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

наш сосед--Our Neighbor

So, just a few days ago, I was home alone with the girls. It was evening, and I had just gotten done giving both girls a bath when I heard our door bell ring. (It actually is the sound of birds chirping...weird, I know) The door bell didn't just ring once, it rang twice and then it sounded like someone was just holding in the button. I had to unlock three doors to see who it was. I wasn't ready for what was to come. Mind you, I was standing in my reindeer pj pants and INDIANA t-shirt (could I be more American?!). My neighbor, or I thought it was at this point, started yelling at me. I caught some words she was saying, but I was too flustered to even try to put all the Russian words into sentences in my head. All I know was that she was standing outside our door (the door that goes to our apartment and hers) pointing to the door handle and yelling...in Russian...fast Russian. I told her I only understood a little Russian and I only spoke a little Russian. I don't think she cared because on she went. She must not have seen the cute little 4 month old in my arms or the cute little 2 year old standing at our door in her flannel purple flower pjs. The door handle had broken, but not by me. I wasn't sure how to tell her that I didn't do it. I just said I didn't know and I was sorry. She eventually stopped and just shook her head in frustration and kept talking to herself under her breath. Probably said something like, "Stupid, Americans", but I don't look American so who knows what she was saying! Anyway, the girls and I went quietly back into the house until Philip came home.

The door cannot be opened from the outside unless you leave it just a little opened. It needs to be fixed. We decided just to leave it a little opened because we didn't want our lovely neighbor to be locked out. Yesterday we went out and came back to find the door shut and locked. I thought, "Great, now we have to ring our neighbor to let us in!" We rang her door bell and waited. Out came an old lady chatting on her phone. She unlocked the door and then started talking to us in Russian. We started up a conversation...well as much as we could. It was her daughter that I "met" the other day. This lady lives in the apartment, but had spent the summer at her dacha (summer house...no probably not the kind of summer house you are thinking of). She said all kinds of things to us, only half we could barely understand, but we just stood there and smiled and said what we could. She loved the girls. Later that night we had our leadership team over to our house and she came out to see what was going on...(not uncommon I suppose of some older women). Some of our team members talked to her (they are Russian, so obviously they could communicate with her more clearly). She is really chatty and has an old dog. I mean old! Anyway, she talked about the people who used to live where we are living and how she helped them out and how they just left. It wasn't a good situation I guess. She ended up giving us some veggies from her dacha!
I think our neighbor turned out to be pretty nice...and chatty. Pray for us as we have opportunities to talk her in the coming days and months.

Overcoming Fears

Well, she has done it! Adalynn overcame her fear of the sand on the playground! Yesterday I went outside with her and Gwen and Adalynn decided to walk by herself to the slide! She did everything herself! I was so proud of her! I have a video to show you, but it is not loading right now so I will have to try again later. The pictures will just have to do for right now! I said, "Good Job" to Adalynn over and over because I was so proud of her for walking on the sand. I heard her saying every time she would walk over to the steps in the sand, "Good Job Adalynn! Good job!"

We have been pretty busy here this past week. The missions team that was here left on Monday. I went in to Moscow with the team to take them to the airport. After that we (Geyla, another team member) went to Ikea and H&M to do some shopping! It was fun! This week Philip has been busy preparing for the class he is teaching in just a few weeks. He feels like he still has a lot of preparing to do, so please pray for him this coming week. In the midst of getting ready for this class, we have been studying and doing Russian homework, getting our small group together to start next Wednesday, going to meetings, being sick, and preparing for our larger group gathering for our church. It has been busy and it seems as though things are going to keep being busy all month! Wheww!
It is actually sunny here today, which is a nice change up from the rain and the cold. Our heat came on a few days ago, so that is also nice. Of course it is warmer out when we don't need the heat now that the heat is actually on! (temperature is around 50 or low 60s) Today is our third day to play outside. I was able to meet a Russian mother along with her daughter and mother. I introduced myself and Adalynn (Gwen was not with me at the time). I saw her again today and waved to her. It is kind of nice "knowing" or recognizing someone. Her name is Yulia. Pray that I will have more interactions with her in the coming weeks.

Thanks for you prayers!
Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

I am so sorry for not blogging lately. It has been a crazy week/weekend. Last Saturday we had a team come from the States to do some ministry. It was a great week! On Friday we had a prayer time with them as a missionary team and then we hosted a Mexican Fiesta luncheon at our apartment! It was so fun to have mexican food! They also brought us a bunch of goodies from the states: cake mixes, muffin liners, stuffed animals for the girls, spices, icing, apple cider, taco seasoning, cds, books, jewelery...you name it! It was super! We feel super blessed by them!

On Saturday, Philip and I went in with the team to Moscow for a day of site seeing! It was our first time as tourist in Moscow, so it was pretty neat! Brian led the team and did the tour guide thing! We left Saturday morning and took the express train, which takes about 2 1/2 hours.

(Train Station in Vladimir leaving for Moscow!)

This train took us straight into Moscow, where we stopped at a Starbucks and then headed to the metro to Red Square. This metro system is one of the deepest in the world. It was originally made for an underground bomb or nuclear shelter for the whole city during WWII (I think or it might be WWI) .

St. Basil's Cathedral

Welcome to Red Square! (That is the Kremlin Wall)

We then walked around the Kremlin Wall and saw the beautiful gardens. We ate lunch at a mall and then headed to Old Arbot Street to do some souvenir shopping! We spent about 2 hours there shopping and drinking more Starbucks Coffee! At 6pm we left on the train to head back to Vladimir. It was raining at this point as we ran to the train. Gwen was pretty tired, wet, and hungry by this time. Overall it was a great trip! I can't wait to do it again!

Russian Ballet takes place here (sorry about the H&M sign right in the way!)

Weather and Potatoes

Have you wondered if it is snowing in Russia yet? Well, don't worry, it is not...yet. Right now it is cold, but not cold enough for snow. Every day there are clouds...sometimes it rains, sometimes is just looks like it is going to rain. When it rains it seems even colder outside. The heat does not come on (they don't turn it on) until October sometime. Until then people just bundle up inside their apartments or use a space heater. Our apartment has actually not been too bad. We all wear our slippers and have long sleeves, but for the most part it hasn't been cold enough to break out the space heater. At night the girls have to wear their fleece pjs (oops, I only brought 2 for each!) to stay warm. I think it is perfect sleeping weather!
So, yes, it is cold and rainy and grey out most of the time. But today we did see the sun a few times and a little blue sky, which was nice! It is often windy too which adds to the chill in the air. Anyway, I love fall time, so it is great weather for me!!!! As you can tell in the picture above, Adalynn is armed and ready for the rain...her face is priceless!

(We walked down this little alley...)

We tried a new restaurant last Saturday. Well, new to us. Cara took us to get our pictures taken for our residency applications and afterwards we all went to eat at Papa Potato! You basically get a baked potato and get to pick what you want on it...cold salads or stew like soups. It was really good. It was so good I forgot to take a picture of my meal for you. Sorry!

(...and it took us to Papa Potato, which surprisingly looked pretty nice on the outside after walking down that alley!)

Adalynn enjoyed some blini, juice, and potatoes!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen