First Snow

Well winter came last week, but it did not stay long. These are a few pictures of our winter wonderland outside our apartment. This is just the begining of our winter fun. Stay tuned to more pictures that look just like this one but more snow.

Technical Difficulties

I am sorry because it has been such a long time since I have posted but I can not display pictures at this time. I can however tell you what I have been up to in the past couple of months.

Our team went to the Island of Popova for a prayer retreat. It was an enjoyable time filled with team prayer time and fun. The island was not like what Americans would think as nice island or anything and NO we did not stay at a Hilton or Best Western. I mean the only time we had hot water was 7-10 at night and that was it. Even though it was not a luxuries vacation it was nice just to get away and to have some team building.

My deaf ministry is also off to a great start. I have attended Bible Study which was fun. Finally, I actually understood what was going on and being said. PRAISE THE LORD!! I also was asked to go to a cookout on the beach with them one Sunday which was fun just being able to build relationships with them and making my presence known to them. It was nice because both of my teachers went to so if I got in a language bind they could help me out. Mostly though I played with their children which are hearing.

My personal favorite thing I have begun to do is teach an ESL class to preschoolers. I have 7 four olds, and we meet in Jen's teacher's home. I teach using Bible stories, songs, and crafts. They are great kids please pray for them and there families as I minister to them.

I am looking forward to several things coming up soon. Well hockey season has started here and I bought a city team jersey so GO AMUR TIGERS!!! I am also looking forward to a night of Olympic Figure Skating next week. I am a big fan of figure skating and I have watched it ever since I was little with my mom so you could say I am supper excited.

Well I am sorry about no pictures I am trying to fix the problem. I hope to soon have it all fixed.

Celebrating the 4th Russian Style!

We celebreated the 4th on the beach with our "family". We had a cook out and just hung out together. We even had an adventure look at our pics to see what happened.

Jody showing his true American spirit while driving.

grilling hamburgers

The kids played in the water while they waited for the burgers.

I flew the kid's kite while they played in the water.

Then at the end when we were leaving the adventure began!!!

We drove the van on accident into the sinking mud/sand. We got stuck and it took about 15 minutes to get unstuck.

Then we learned with team work you can do anything even getting a car unstuck. YIPPEEE!!

My Crazy Life in One Post

Well my life in the past few weeks has been crazy to say the least. I have been busy with my language study and helping with some volunteer college student groups that have come. Well the first group that we had was from Missouri. They were a really cool group. They were here to help our Student Team with English Clubs and speaking to English classes in the univeristies. They really made a great impact on our city. While they were we celebrated our city's 149th birthday. So we spent the day atthe river and watched fireworks that night.

This is our "famous" beach at the river!

Deaf students selling balloons for the celebration.

(my mission field)

Then our new team came from Cincinnati and I took them around to see the city and went on a boat ride. However since they have been here I have gone to see Fantastic 4 in Russian and I went to an orphanage.

I got to walk and play with a dog while I was at the orphanage.

UC team, Jody and Misha leading the kids in song.

Something I was introduced to this week was "summer snow", which is not really snow. It is this fur stuff that comes from the trees here. The cool thing is the wind blows it out of the trees so it looks like it is snowing all the time here.

Last but not least we took Connie our SC out to dinner for her birthday to this really cool Russian resturant. Check this out!

Still Alive

Well I have not forgotten to post it is just that I have been doing the same thing every week and I thought that might be boring for some people to read. My weeks are full of classes and studying. I was taking 5 classes and 2 languages, but this past weekend it was cut down to 1 language and 3 classes for right now. I had to drop my RSL class and I am hoping to get a private deaf tutor in July. Which will be much better for me. I am exciting about the challenge. However she does hear a little and only speaks Russian, but I learned from the past few weeks that it will be to my advantage to learn this way with my new tutor. So to say the least I have been staying very busy, and on top of that we just had a volunteer team arrive yesterday.
Our volunteer team is here working with the large university student population here in our city. They will be conducting English Clubs while they are here. We even have times where I whole team is involved in some ministry opportunities which I am excited about just so I know what goes on when teams come so I can better prepare and plan for when teams come and work with me.
Jen and I do a Bible Study each morning and right now the study really prepares people for the field and also continues to while you are on the field. Through the past week when we did our study God has just been showing me to love others which I do, but this week God really laid on my heart the student population as I ride the bus and tram with them daily. My heart has just hurt for the young people here in a life of sin. I see them on a daily basis drinking and smoking starting a very young age. I am so excited as I go to church here each week and as I see more and more young people at church. They are few but the ones there are strong in the faith which is a great blessing. I am also so thank for teams like the one here this week who have answered God's call to Siberia to reach the student poplutation in our city. Please pray for the students here and pray that as I live here God will give me an opportunity to minister to the deaf and hearing students. Pray for our team as we try and reach them.

Scenes around town and a parade

Pics of my new home inside and out!

Our building is on the left.

View out our living room window.

These two pictures are of my room.

Our lovely living room

Our kitchen

I hope tomorrow to post some pictures of the city, but it is getting late here so I will stop for now.