Russian Villages

*UPDATED*

We have been without a computer for about a week, so I am sorry that there are no pictures for this blog post! I have quite a few of pictures sitting on my camera waiting to be put on the blog, so keep checking back! We will get our computer returned to us next Wednesday, so you can be sure that next Thursday there will be loads of pictures for you to look through! (Though I forgot my camera when we went to the village today! Grrr!!! But Kerry was kind enough to let us take some pictures on her camera!) Today we went to the village with our other GP friend, Kerry, and Russian friend Nastya! We had so much fun! Kerry and Nastya go to the village once very other week to bring groceries to the older people...grandmotherly type...Babushke. This ministry is called the Stephen Ministry. You can find out more about the ministry by going to Kerry's blog over on the right side bar (Ministry in Vladimir with Kerry). 

Kerry and Nastya picked us all up at 9am this morning. Yes, all 4 of us went, the little girls and all! The girls had their little head wraps on, ready for village life at its best. The drive is a little over an hour to Karpovo and Nikola Ushna. 

Once we arrived we stopped by Babuska R's house to drop off groceries and pick wild strawberries from her backyard! Adalynn LOVED the strawberries. And if Adalynn LOVED them, Gwen was IN LOVE with them. I think the girls ate a bushel between the two! The bugs weren't bad, and the the breeze made sure we were not too hot. After filling our stomachs with strawberries, we walked around the village (really we just walked down the street). We were able to meet the Babuska who broke her leg earlier this summer. She held Gwen, and of course Gwen giggled and chit chatted with her! Adalynn kept her distance. 

 The strawberry patch

It was time to drive to Karpovo, which is not but a 5 minute drive away from Nikola Ushna...a bumpy drive at that. Here, we met Babushka L. She also had some strawberries that the girls ate. Every time Gwen saw any green plant, she would reach her cubby little arm out and make noises and do the baby sign language for "more"! Babushka L showed us her lovely garden. It was full of beets, tomatoes, onions, garlic, strawberries, fruit trees, potatoes, cucumbers, and flowers! Her neighbor came by and I asked her if she had a garden too. She took me over to her garden and showed me all her vegetables and fruits. The gardens looked amazing! These ladies are hard workers, is all I have to say! Adalynn picked two cucumbers to take home. (She ate them for dinner tonight and loved them!) For lunch Babushka L made borsch from the fresh vegetables and greens from her garden. It was yummy! We sat outside and ate, which was hot because of the sun, but we all enjoyed it. Then we went to the neighbor's house and had tea. The neighbor and her husband were quite nice. They had Loui Armstrong music playing in the background, and the husband even mentioned that this type of music was his favorite. They even got some toys out for the girls to play with, which the girls thoroughly enjoyed! 

 The bathroom where they shower...they have to walk across their yard to bathe...we didn't try it out!

Around 2:30, both girls were getting tired, so we headed back to Nikola Ushna to Babushka R's house. Nastya and Philip carried water from the well to her house for her, and the girls and I picked strawberries to take home. Gwen and Adalynn ended up sitting on a blanket by the strawberry patch. Adalynn had a little basket that she would ask to be filled, then she would take the basket over to blanket, sit down, and then proceed to feed her little sister strawberry after strawberry. Gwen was in heaven. The only noises I heard while I was picking the strawberries, were of little Gwen as she grunted while signing "more", and Adalynn saying, "Gwenie, do you want some more?" The girls had strawberries smeared on their faces as proof of their "pickings". Philip, Nastya, and Kerry joined in the strawberry picking. 

 So much fun!

 Multi-tasking:  Picking strawberries and holding Gwen up!

 

We left around 3:30 and headed back to Vladimir. Gwen cried for awhile in the carseat, one because she was tired, and two because she never sits in a carseat. She finally fell asleep along with Philip and Adalynn. Once home we enjoyed some fresh strawberries with homemade shortcake and whipped topping. I think village trips should happen more often... 

Blessings,  

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen 

Normal Life...with Coffee

This is what we all need these days...COFFEE!

We are back into our normal routine of studying and working on our Modules for our internship.  Of course we still had Russian class and did some homework while Mom and Dad Gormong were here, but it was not as regular as before.  Now, we are back to studying numerous hours a week....with coffee or tea in hand!

Vika made it to the States safely!  She has written me a few times over facebook.  She seems to be doing alright, but I think she misses home.  She is working at a hotel cleaning.  Please continue to lift her up in your prayers.  Hopefully in the next week she will be able to get connect with our friend Meredith (from IWU), who lives in the same city.

Thanks for your prayers!

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Suzdal, Russia

 We took Mom and Dad Gormong to the famous town of Suzdal last weekend.  Suzdal is famous for its  old cathedrals and beautiful Orthodox churches. 

Our field directors went with us...they were wonderful tour guides!  It was good to hear the history!

Thanks to Faith Wesleyan Church for the gift of sending Mom and Dad Gormong over for 2 1/2 weeks!  We have thoroughly enjoyed them!  We are sad to say our goodbyes tomorrow morning.

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Gormong Parents

 Mom and Dad Gormong arrived safely on Tuesday morning!  (top picture...fresh off the airplane!)  On Wednesday, they were able to participate in our final small group before our friend Vika leaves for America.  

The girls are in love all over again with their grandparents!

 On Saturday we went to Bogolyubovo, a town outside of Vladimir.  We went to see this beautiful church, which is in the middle of a big open field.  We went earlier in this spring, but most of the area was still flooded from the rain and melting snow.  This time around, we were able to walk right up to the church and even go in!

(picture above)

This is a monastery we were able to go in and walk around the grounds.  

Pictures above

The beautiful church, Gwen's new best friend---Grandpa, Mom and Dad, Mom and Adalynn taking a rest!

We are having a wonderful time with them!  We head to Moscow on Tuesday---Philip and I as tour guides.  Let's hope we all don't ride the metro all day...and return back to Vladimir:)!

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Dandelions and Hope

On Tuesday we went outside despite the cooler weather that rolled in with the rain earlier this week.  (It is actually hot and sunny today!)   I decided to try to get some pictures of the girls in the grass.  Well, Gwen was not impressed.  She made this face the whole time...with a little whiny cry to go along with it.  She clung to her little bunny and whimpered.  Gwen wanted nothing to do with grass, flowers, or picture taking!

When I was little I, my mom would put my sister and I on a blanket outside while she hung up the laundry.   We hated the grass, so we never moved from the blanket.  Daughter like mother I suppose!

While we were outside we met a dad and his daughter.  The little girl followed Adalynn around.  They played a little and I made small (what I could) talk with the dad.  The little girl was 1 and 2 months.  Her name was Nastya.  We have a friend who watches the missionary girls on Fridays.  Her name is Nastya too.  When I told Adalynn this little girl's name was Nastya, Adalynn looked at me really funny and said, "No it's not.  It is not Nastya!"  Hahha!

Picking "Russian flowers" as Adalynn calls them.  I am sure Adalynn will be delighted to know that dandelions grow all over the world! 

 

Dr. Jim Lo is here in Vladimir teaching a class at the Bible College.  Dr. Lo was one of Philip and I's professors from Indiana Wesleyan University back in the day.  I was able to go to class last night with the girl Vika from our small group!  It was a great class!  She really enjoyed it!  She has class the next two nights so she won't be able to go again.  She was disappointed about this, but again said how much she enjoyed the lecture.  Dr.  Lo had a great lecture and even shared the way to salvation which was so neat since Vika was there.  Dr. Lo even mentioned some stories from John, which is the book we had been studying together.  Throughout the lecture Vika would say to me, "I remember, we talked about this!"  Please continue to pray for her as she leaves in just a little over a week for the United States for 3 months.

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Victory Day!

Today is May 9th, Victory Day here in Russia.  Today is a day to celebrate all the veterans from WWII.  It is a fun celebrated holiday.  There is a parade (not like you may think like in the States---it is more just cars driving with officials and the people in the services), balloons, flowers, and lots of people.  

 

 

At the end of the speeches given at the Eternal Flame, people come and put flowers by the eternal flame (a flame that is always burning) in memory of those who died.  Or people will find a veteran and give them flowers in honor of their service. 

 

People are lined out along the street ready to sell flowers.

 

Adalynn got a balloon.  Her first balloon from Russia.  I think she is in love.

 

Gwen just chilled and finally fell asleep as we approached home 3 1/2 hours later!

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen

Picnic

May 9th is Victory Day here in Russia!  It is a big celebration!  The holiday is from Sunday, May 6th through Wednesday, May 9th. (Russians worked on Saturday to make up for a working day so they can have a longer holiday weekend---more details on this interesting fact later)

Our friend A and her family invited us on a picnic today.  We were not sure what a picnic really involved.  I mean, when you think picnic you probably think a checkered table cloth, sandwiches, and a Frisbee, right?  Well, there were about 15 people at our picnic.  Friends of friends of friends.  It was a lot of fun!  Our friend, A, and her family picked us up and we all drove out to the forest (it was a woodsy area with empty places where you can have fires and camp).  Once we arrived, we waited for the rest of the people to join us. 

Gwen chilled in the baby carrier and the stroller.

 

The girls enjoyed the bubbles...

 

No, they are not playing American football and no, Adalynn is not getting ready to tackle little K!

 

 

When the rest of our group arrived, the barbeque began!  They grilled some sausage things, and we all ate them wrapped in this bread, like tortillas.  You could add some fresh dill, parsley, and green onions if you wanted.  Then there was some volleyball and soccer playing, and some more grilling of pork.  It was delicious!  My friend, A, and I basically watched our girls.  We also went on a walk and played on a blanket and talked.  Another lady there joined us as well because she is going to be a mom this fall.  Adalynn really liked her!  A is really interested in the church so we are excited to have her and her family join us for a service here soon.  

About 3 hours into our picnic, it began to rain and the girls all gathered in the car while it passed.  Then when it stopped, we all got out and ate some more!  Soon we started to hear thunder so we all quickly packed up and headed back to Vladimir. 

It was a good day!  The weather was perfect (besides the rain toward the end!), the girls were super, and Adalynn even went to the bathroom outside for the first time---like a real Russian kid!  We really enjoyed our time today!

 

Can you tell these girls had a good day?  This is a picture of them on the way home!

Blessings,

Philip, Kara, Adalynn, and Gwen