Art School

Yesterday evening I was a model.  Yes, didn't you know that I model here in Russia?!  Haha just kidding!  No, but really, I was a model...for an art class of young Russian students.  They were probably about 15-16 years old.  This class is a class taken separate from regular school.  They have art class three times a week for 2 hours.  The students I talked with said they really enjoyed the class.  This particular art class is taught by a lady who goes to the other Wesleyan church.  The teacher saw me at church a few Sundays ago (when our new church came to share about how God is working in the new church) and asked if her students could draw me.  They needed someone different to draw.  Since I am odd looking (no, it is because I am Korean and look different than other people around here), she asked if I could come model for the class. The teacher's daughter has helped us in different ways since we have been here.  You might remember her, Natasha.  She is the woman who came to our first apartment over a year ago and taught us how to cook our first Russian meal! 

Around 4:50pm Natasha met me at the bus stop by the mall and we walked to the art school.  She helped me get situated, answered a few questions, and then left. I actually just sat there for 2 hours while these kids drew me.  

 Of course everyone spoke Russian, but I just sat and listened and tried to figure out what was going on.  A few students were actually studying English, so they helped when needed.  I did understand a few things she was saying.  I guess they were all drawing my nose incorrectly...too pointed.  The teacher even had a student, whose nose was a little larger, come up and stand so she could show them the difference!

After sitting for about 30 minutes, there was a break and the teacher and some of the students took me on a short tour of the art school.  It was pretty neat.  I also got to meet two other teachers.  One was a sculpture teacher and the other teacher taught sewing and other textile art.  

It was a good experience.  I am actually going back on Monday for another 2 hours so the students have another chance to draw me.  Then in a few weeks I will take Adalynn.  We will only stay for 15 minutes though.  If you know Adalynn, you will understand that she will probably not be the biggest fan, but I wanted to make it work for the class.

Here are a few pictures of my experience.

 Some of the students

 I sat in a chair and then the students sat around me in a semi-circle.  They all had easels and either pencils, chalk, or charcoal. 

 Drawing in action

 

 There I am...

 

Philip said this is my Mulan drawing...thanks, honey.

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Spring Puddles

 What?  Is that the road/ground you see?  Yes, it is true there is actually ground under all the snow.  I was beginning to think we were just walking on endless layers of ice and snow.  On Thursday it snowed.all.morning.  It was sad.  But today the sun was shining and the temperature got up to the 40s!  Yay!  When you stepped outside this afternoon, you could hear the steady dripping and gushing of melting snow from buildings.  It was a good sound.  

 

Here we are walking home from our Easter celebration with our Missionary Team.  We had a nice brunch at our field directors' house.  We did not get home until later in the afternoon, so Gwen was out like a light once we were on the bus.  

 

I told Adalynn she could actually step in the puddle.  She was beside herself with excitement because I am usually telling her to NOT step in the puddle.  It was a good picture moment, and we were just excited to not be walking on snow!

Happy Spring from Russia!

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

We Are HERE!

Guess what these three things have in common...

 

 

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I am sorry I have been behind on posting!  I hope you are still checking back to make sure we are still alive!  We have kicked up our language hours a few notches.  We had a great schedule going, but then decided that a few more hours of language would probably be beneficial, so we started hitting the books harder.  I can tell you my brain is a little more worn out.  

I went to the market on Saturday to buy some grass seed for a Sunday school project.  While I was there I decided to buy some fruit and vegetables as well.  I went to the vender who I went to last fall.  She remembered me, and asked me how the children were.  It was nice to "chat" with her and also practice my language.  See, in Russian, when you use quantity (numbering items) you have to change your noun or thing you are naming.  In this case, when I would ask for 3 pears, the word pear would use the genitive singular ending.  This is true from 2-4.  When you get to 5 you use the genitive case but in plural.   Are you lost?  Yes, I thought so.  Me too.  But as I talked to the lady and asked for different items, I made sure I said how many I wanted while using the correct genitive cases.  (We have been learning this with our tutor during our lessons.)  I walked away with 250 rubles worth of produce (about $8) and some good practice of the genitive case.

On Wednesday, we began meeting with our small group. Now when I say, small, I mean SMALL.  The girl, Vika, who I had coffee last month, came.  The other girl has gotten busy with school, but said she would try to come whenever possible.  It was good to get back together!  We are reading the book of John.  Pray for us as we continue to meet on Wednesday evenings.

Last week, it was warmer outside, so I took the girls for a walk around the building.  We met a little girl and her grandma.  We chatted a little.  They smiled at Gwen, who was stuffed in a her snowsuit in the stroller!  The little girl was Adalynn's age and was really sweet and interested in both Adalynn and Gwen.  They live on the 3rd floor of our building with the little girl's mother.  Sunday, I saw them again, and made sure I said hello.  Maybe we will see more of them in the coming days.  That is if the sun decides to melt the snow...

Hmmm...what else can I update you on.  Tomorrow we go AGAIN to try to get registered.  We have our official residency permit stamps in our passports.  Now we have to get registered.  Philip went on Monday, but they wanted some more paperwork, so we go tomorrow to hopefully be done with it!  We do have to work on our exit visas next, but that should be more simple...wait did I say, simple?  Nothing is simple here.  

Well, I leave you with this precious smile from 10 month old Gwenyvere.  We cannot believe she is going to be 1 in just a few short months!  Gwen and Adalynn are both a constant joy to us.  They bring hugs, words of love, and smiles to us when we need it most!  

 

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

A Stamp

Today we did a lot of running around. Once this morning and then later this afternoon for over an hour. But it was all worth it because at the end of the day we came home with residency stamps in our passports!!!!!! We got on Monday to get registered. We are official! Praise Jesus!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Praises

Have you been on your knees before the Lord praying for our residency to be accepted by the end of this month? The Lord has granted us this request and has heard our prayers! We are overwhelmed with the faithfulness, graciousness, and love of our God. His hand is on us, guiding us, leading us, and providing the way for us to be in His will. We give thanks to the Lord and our hearts are filled with songs of thanksgiving to Him. He deserves our utmost praise!

Psalm 65

For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.

1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
to provide the people with grain,
for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.


The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 65.

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Spring!

Spring is on its way over to Russia! Yesterday it was quite a bit warmer out. Now when I say warmer, I am not saying 70s and 80s like in Indiana! It is warm enough that the snow is melting...soon the roads and sidewalks will be big yucky puddles. Oh the joys of spring in Russia. Oh, and did I mention that at night the puddles may freeze and then you have to enjoy sliding around on them during the early morning hours? Oh yes the price to pay to have warmer weather. I'll take it!
Yesterday after I spent all morning studying Russian and Philip spent all afternoon studying Russian, we decided we all needed a break! We took the girls outside for a walk around the apartment building and little play time on the slushy playground! It was fun and the girls enjoyed being outside. We even saw our neighbor outside with her dog. We said hi, talked about the warmer weather, how Adalynn can say some Russian words, and how tired Gwen looked!

This is Adalynn looking through the fence at the muddy road.

Sharing a swing!

Adalynn was "helping" push Gwen!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Kingswood Team

The Kingswood University team left on Thursday evening after our Women's Day celebration with Grace of Christ Church. We had wonderful time! Here are some things that the team was able to do while they were here!

-Worshiped in both Wesleyan Churches in Vladimir

-Participated in 2 different English Groups led by 2 different GP missionaries

-Team members personally met with 16 non-believers during the week, helping to strengthen existing relationships that we (GP missionaries) are building in the community


-Many team members were able to share their faith a non-believer, and pray with Russian believers at least once during the week

-Financially made possible and participated in Grace of Christ's largest outreach event


-Participated in 2 prayers walks in two different cities (Vladimir and Sobinka)

-Participated in a seminar for the Religion and Philosophy students on the campus of Vladimir State University

-All team members visited the homes of Russians and GP missionaries once during the week

(part of the team at our house!)

-Traveled to Suzdal for a cultural event

-Visited a Orthodox cathedral/mass in Vladimir

As you can tell, they were busy! They were encouraging and really ministered to people while they were here! What a great team!

The team was led by Dr. Peed, who actually served in Africa with Philip's family when they were on the mission field years ago!!! Dr. Peed was known to Philip as Uncle Bill. Adalynn went around saying, "Where is Uncle Bill?!" It was neat to see Philip serving along side Uncle Bill after all these years!

During our celebration of Women's Day, I led a craft for the women and children. This was the event that the KU team helped with! We had almost 50 people attend, both believers and non-believers!

Grilling the shashlyk---this is a something that most Russians like to do together!
(You can see Dr. Peed is enjoying the grilling in the cold weather!)

Thanks for your prayers this week!

Blessings,
Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen