Cold, Cold, and Cold

Yes, it has been chilly here (-30F this morning … really quite normal for December in Siberia). But this title is also a description of 2 other recent frustrations…

Last Thursday there was an announcement outside out building that our cold and hot water as well as hot-water-radiator heat would be shut off for the majority of the day on Friday for "Capital repairs" (whatever that means – apparently they were doing a "retune" update on some pipes or something). I sighed and thought, "oh well, that's Russia for ya'" and began to make "preparations" (i.e. fill the bathtub with water).

On Friday, all was as they said it would be. And then I noticed Friday night on the announcement, someone wrote over the date in pencil, extending the date through Saturday as well. Saturday came and we thankfully had cold water and heat but still no hot water. Then Sunday came and the heat was turned off all day, and still no hot water. Today is Tuesday, and after my landlady spent 2 hours on the phone calling different government offices, she finally got someone to come and check out why we didn't have hot water. (She said they all responded, "That's not possible." I suggested she invite them over to take a bath and see for themselves.) PRAISE THE LORD, we got hot water back around 6pm tonight! I'm sure my classmates will be thankful that I will be bathing more frequently once again ;)

My landlady told me a joke (when I was complaining about them deciding to work on pipes in the winter time) that went something like this; There were 2 out fishing and one said to the other, "I think I'm going to dig a trench this summer." And the other man responded, "Throw away that idea! Nobody digs a trench in the SUMMER!"

The last "cold" would be referring to what I feel coming on right now as I type, breathing through one nostril and sucking on throat lozenges.

I would appreciate your prayers for my health and rest.

Praise God from Whom I receive grace for every moment. May we all grab hold of His grace and live in it!

Good day at church

I had to write a quick note (for any who read my blog from last Sunday) and say how refreshing the messages where today at church. The message for Sunday School expressed how it was okay to have patriotism in being "Baptist" but the title doesn't really matter before God. The guest speaker went on to point out that there are MANY other people in the world that are Bible believing Christians but don't claim the title "Baptist" and at the same time, people who call themselves "Baptist" but don't believe the Word of God. He pointed out that we need to focus on following the Word of God and fellowshipping with those who are doing the same.

Dima gave a sermon on being bold and stepping out of your comfort zone to share with those around you. He also commended the church for their effort to hold an outreach. He mentioned that it might not have turned out like they planned, but that it was the first step. He noted that a first step had to be taken in order for more growth and the success of future outreach into the community. And that those who participated, no doubt received a blessing from being involved.

I was pretty much pumped to hear these brothers share the same feelings I do! I'm exciting to see the growth that is going to continue to take place at our church "Transformation".

Going to Extremes after the Curtain Fell

Several nights ago I was watching TV with Baba T and there was a new show on, that compared different decades in Russia's history to more modern times. The night we were watching they were comparing the 1960's with the year 2000. It was interesting to see how the traditions and culture of the 60's were very Russian but the culture of modern times was more like a tacky mixture of extremes from every culture outside Russia. For example, the clothing of the 60's seemed to fit the culture – warm, practical, beautiful, modest clothing. The music and movies were in the Russian language, portraying life in the USSR. But the cloths of 2000 were full of bright colors and patterns, strange hats and shoes, weird run-way-style clothing from Europe, America. One music group of 2000 was like a Russian version of the American-pop-group TLC singing about how diamonds are a girl's best friend. Another popular song from 2000 was a Russian pop artist singing a song in English.

On a different night I went out to say goodnight to Baba T and she was sitting at her desk doing a cross word puzzle from the newspaper. I noticed on the page above the cross-word puzzle was a large picture of a topless swimsuit model. I wasn't going to say anything (sadly, I have come to accept such "advertizing" as the norm). But then Baba T said, "I can't believe they have this trash in here" pointing to the picture. I said, "I know, I was thinking the same. In America they wouldn't have a picture like that in the newspaper." She irrupted in laughter and I said, "What, you don't believe me?" This led to a conversation that wasn't my favorite, involving how its America's fault that there is such garbage in Russia now. While, sadly our society is pretty sick and inundated with pornography in varying levels, to me it doesn't seem as in-your-face as it is here (i.e. watching a family TV show and during the commercials you see a topless woman). My attempts to defend my country and society, being judged by the reputation Hollywood has given to the World, were in vain.

The next morning at the breakfast table, Baba T brought this subject up again. While I did not want to discuss it again, she asked me to hear her out. She explained that perhaps I am right about it being worse here, but that it didn't change the fact that it came from America. She went on to say that because the government had so much control over the people during the USSR and didn't allow anything from outside of the Soviet Union to come into (cloths, music, cars, appliances, magazines, newspapers, ANYTHING), that when the Iron Curtain fell, Russians went crazy adopting and bringing in the things and cultures of the west. They threw away their culture and considered the things outside the former Soviet to be better then what they had lived with for the past 70 years. One example I see today, is clothing that is not fit for cold-Siberian-winters (mini-skirts, short jackets/coats).

Thankfully, I think that the next generation of Russians are learning to appreciate their Russian culture and not completely throwing it away in attempts to live like Americans and Europeans.

400 year anniversary of “Baptism”

So today the local church I attend celebrated 400 years of "baptism". (By this, they are referring to the Baptist denomination.) I must admit, I did not deem this "monument" worthy enough to write on my calendar. Though I have nothing against Baptists and find myself lining up with them on many, if not most, issues regarding Scripture, I am not Baptist.

The word "Baptist" in Russia has many nasty connotations – since propaganda about the denomination has been spread by the government since the Soviet era. (For example; some believe that Baptists actually practice baby sacrifice.) If I were Baptist, I would not want to draw attention to the fact that I am part of the Baptist denomination. Call me chicken, but I don't even like to admit to people here that I attend a Baptist church. I don't think the name of the church I attend is important and I would much rather draw attention to my Savior and His Gospel then some profession of faith.

So, I found it odd that my local church would celebrate this anniversary by holding an "evangelistic outreach". I applaud them for attempting to hold some type of outreach (a concept fairly foreign to the Russian church). The music was exceptional, a short video on the history of the Baptist church in Russia was shown, a special speaker shared the Gospel (of sorts) and a testimony was given. But none-church-goers didn't exactly flock to the 400 years of "Baptism" celebration.

I understand that my Baptist friends are tired of humiliation. They desperately wish to clear their name of ridiculous misconceptions. They want people to understand what Baptists are really like. I am happy that my fellow brothers and sisters celebrated their profession of faith. But I couldn't help but think the whole event really seemed to miss the point.

My prayer for Russia is not that the name of Baptists' would be cleared, but that the name of Jesus would be made famous.

Pray for Russia. Pray for her Church to know how to reach out and relate to people and clearly share the Gospel. Pray for Russian believers to seek and promote relationship not church and traditions. And, above all else, pray that no matter how inadequate we men are to be God's representatives, that He would continue to do His work of drawing people to Himself.

Good Mood

I'm not exactly sure why I'm in an extra good mood today. Maybe it's because:

I feel much better having recovered from an icky cold

There's a ton of people praying for me and supporting me

I calculated my financial support and am OVER 100%!!!!!

Relient K is rockin' my socks off right now

My God is eternal and unchanging no matter how temporal and changing the world is in which I live

God is my friend, parent, guide, comforter, redeemer AND He's ALWAYS in the same time zone

The news is disheartening, BUT it reminds me that the King of kings is coming quickly!

My you find yourself in a good mood today too. Having trouble? Start by thinking about the fact that God wants to bless you right now :)

Peanut Butter Cookies

Trip to the Cemetery

Several weeks ago I went to the cemetery with a friend to visit their husband's grave. I volunteered to go with her months ago and it was certainly good to be there with her as she remembered and mourned for her husband. It was also interesting to see a Russian cemetery and compare it to ones in the US. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures to show you – one, I wasn't sure if that was very reverent to be taking a bunch of pictures of other people's graves; and two, my batteries where dead anyway. But I will share a few interesting things that stood out to me about my "introduction" to the Russian Cemetery.

The newer graves (less than a year old) where very easy to recognize as they were COVERED and pilled high (in some cases over 4 feet high) with fake flours, giant wreaths (that looked like fake Christmas trees), flags and ribbons. Traditionally, the family waits a year before having the head stone placed.

Several (of not the majority) of the graves had a small bench and little table next to them. My friend explained to me that this was so that loved ones could come and eat and drink with them.

The head stones varied in style and extravagance. I noticed many with the Russian Orthodox cross on them and others with stars. I thought the star was just a decorative symbol but when I noticed more and more I thought perhaps it symbolized a soldier or something to do with the military. I asked my friend about the star and she said that it indicated that they were atheist but the cross symbolized that they were believers (in God). I couldn't help but sadly wonder how many people wished they could come back from the grave and scrape that star of their head stone.

My friend told me before arriving to the cemetery that she would take me past the special graves designated for the academics (for those who are like me and don't know what that means – it is a very highly educated person (president of a university, professor/doctor, scientist) that a board of already appointed "academics" esteems worthy enough in knowledge, education and experience to be named an "academic"). The name of the suburb in which I live means "academic town" – so as you can imagine there are a lot of academics here. My friend talks about "our academics" SO proudly and with so much respect it should have been no wonder how impressive their graves would be. I wish I had a picture to show you of their "graves" – many had sculptures or busts of the academic, with a marble pad covering the entire square (about 10 times bigger than the normal plots) that was marked off by a fancy chain fence. Their wives where berried alongside them with a more simple head stone (usually white). After having been to Arlington Cemetery, I'd say that Kennedy's grave (even though it has an eternal flame) can't hold a candle to those of the Russian academics. (It is almost midnight here, so forgive me if that is on the corny side.)

These extravagant graves for the highly educated go to show just how important knowledge and education are to the Russian people. Science is hailed. That same friend that went with me to the cemetery often backs up "strange" (to me anyway) theories by simply saying "Well, the scientists said it, so we know it's true." During one discussion in particular (involving the energy of plants and how they receive positive or negative energy from people near them who are "givers" or "takers" thus effecting their growth) it came to my mind that we try to prove and make sense of everything. Some think everything happens for a reason that reason must be scientifically explainable. I might suggest that while certainly everything happens for a reason, perhaps it's because there is some One causing it and not some thing…

I don't know when I'll go to the cemetery again – but I hope I will be able to be there for my friend when she goes again.

For anyone who will happen to visit my grave (wherever and whenever it will be), please don't treat some bones in the ground as if they're me. After I'm dead, I'll be too busy living how I was meant to live to just lie around :)

Not a Sacrifice … a Surrender

I was so blessed by the lyrics of this song by Jason Upton that I wanted to share them with you. God not only has what's best for us in-mind but what is far greater then we could even imagine! So why not just give our all to Him. After all, it all came from Him.

No Sacrifice by Jason Upton

To you I give my life, not just the parts I want to
To you I sacrifice these dreams that I hold on to

Your thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
This is no sacrifice
Here's my life

To you I give the gifts
Your love has given me
How can I hoard the treasures that you've designed for free?

Because
Your thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
This is no sacrifice
Here's my life

To you I give my future
As long as it may last
To you I give my present
To you I give my past

Because
Your thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
Your thoughts are higher than mine
Your words are deeper than mine
Your love is stronger than mine
This is no sacrifice
Here's my life

Man, God's good!

I apologize for that last entry which was written shortly after a long nap at a time of day that my body thought should be the middle of the night. My mind and body is still not back up to speed but it’s recovering :)

With that said, I would like to just share with you some of my ponderings this morning that I have had as I thought on God’s goodness and grace to me over the past 37 days of travels.

Things that made these past few weeks challenging:

- Traveling for 32 hours straight with nothing more than two 30 minute naps along the way … TWICE!

- Going through a 13 hour time change 2X (affecting the mind and stomach . . . or was that all the airport and plane food?)

- Sleeping on 11 different beds/couches (one of which was for 4 nights consecutively, another for 3 nights consecutively and the rest were less)

- Driving over 2,000 miles and flying over 5,000 (in the States)

- Spending “quality time” in 7 different airports (and going through security 8 times)

- 5 delayed flights (averaging 1.5 hours a piece)

- Not getting to spend much time with my parents or sister

- Having to say goodbye . . . A LOT

BUT ways in which God’s grace was poured out on me:

- I had safe, smooth travels – I never fell asleep while driving, never lost ANYTHING, and only paid luggage fees one time!!

- I was never sick

- Enjoyed games of “Yahtzee”, ping-pong, “Clue”, “Rook”, “Nickles” and “Sorry” with family

- Played ultimate frisbee (I forgot what it was like to play any type of sport, since I’m a girl and all ;) )

- Watched a Colt’s game with my sister (they won of course, even though it was pre-season)

- Shared with 7 congregations, visited 2 colleges, met with 7 pastors

- Had a 4 day vacation in Minneapolis for a friend’s wedding (it was awesome to be a part of that bridle party, they were a hoot!)

- Countless hugs

- Late night talks (and late night Wi hula-hooping contests!)

- Great food! (I seriously felt like my schedule was “meet, eat and leave”)

- Numerous people who showed genuine interest in what I am doing (I could tell who was keeping up with me, and some of them I didn’t even know!)

- Speaking at a relative’s church that wasn’t even on “my list” with a last minute (literally!) invitation to share for the whole service . . . did I mention that they also very generously blessed me?!

- Having God get me through times of sharing my ministry when all my body wanted to do was sleep

- Somehow getting me on a FULL flight out of Moscow because of missing a flight AND saving me about $150 in baggage fees!

Man, God’s good! His grace never ceases to amaze me! In hind’s sight, I would have liked to have more time to prepare for some of the opportunities I had and I would have liked more time with family. But God used this time to abundantly bless and show me – yet again – His faithfulness and grace.

Welcome, Baaack

So I arrived back to my Novosibirsk home and to T - my Russian babushka. I was so glad to be back to this home and with Baba T. However, not without problems...

A few hours after this last entry I arrived to Chicago, waited 2 1/2 hours for the next flight, boarded to plane and waited some more. The door wouldn't close on the plane because the inflatable slide (for emergency exits) had come loose. They said they would fix it and we would be on our way able to make up time as we flew the long rout over Greenland and down into Moscow. 30 min later the captain came on again and said they were having to replace the whole slide and it would be another 30-45 minutes. By this time I knew that I would not be making my connecting flight in Moscow (which only had a 2 hour layover), but relaxed as they began to play an episode of "The Office" while we waited :) Then half way through the show they came back on and said that it was taking so long we needed to de-board the plane and go to the other end of the terminal to board our new one. (And the sad part was, I didn't get to find out how the late birthday party that Jim and Dwight threw for Kelly went!)

Anyway, while we waited to board the next plane I talked to a counter lady (I don't know where their titel is?) and I asked her to see about changing my connecting flight out of Moscow. She said she booked me on the next flight, printed off the information for me and I was worry free, having a 3 hour layover in Moscow. We were on our way once again, only 2 1/2 hours later then expected.

By now I should know better then to assume that just because something works "that way" in the States, it doesn't always mean that it works that way here...

To make a long story short, the "counter lady" didn't get me on the next flight but thanks to God's help, Russian language ability I barely made it onto the next flight while managing to get all of my over weight luggage onto the plane free of charge (I guess the gentleman at the check-in counter felt pretty bad for me and knew if he charged me I would not have time to go pay the fee and still make my flight :) )

So I slept great when I finally got home (from 2am to 2pm) :) but then last night I was only able to enjoy sleep for 3 hrs when my body said "rise and shine" at 2:30am.

I apologize for my delay in posting my arrival. My internet "wasn't working" when I arrived and it took me a while to get around and get tech support to come take a look at it . . . just a few minutes ago a guy came looked at the problem and asked "where's your internet cable?" So, yeah, turns out I totally forgot to plug my cable into my computer . . . oops! Pretty sure that dude thinks I'm a french fry short of a happy meal - if he knew what I'd been through, maybe he'd cut me some slack . . . then again, this is Russia so probably not.

And if there's any typos or miss-spellings; remember you're probably not in Russia and cut me some slack ;)

From Home to Home

As I type I am in the Denver Airport waiting to fly to Chicago then to Moscow then to Novosibirsk - "home". But I'm also COMING from "home". My 33 days back in the States went by pretty stinkin' fast and it was stinkin' hard to say goodbye to family - somethings God calls us to do just plain stink.

I type to say "hello" to those I didn't get a chance to see (please understand how busy my schedule was) and to say "until next time" to those I was blessed to hug and say hello to.

I am so blessed with supportive understanding parents, that allowed me to "get down to business" during my short time in the States and shared me with others. (I know my mom would like you all to know that I was "home" home for only 8 nights and those were not consecutive.) Durring the 32 hours I had with JUST my parents at home was filled with ping-pong, Yatzee, Clue, Sorry and ALOT of talking!

I would appreciate your prayers as I head back to The Mother Land and get back into my life over there - Russian language and Russian culture. Also, please pray for my parents as they adjust to another 10 months (or so) with me half-way around the world.

Thanks for reading and praying!

From Darkness, Layers and Snow -To Sunlight, Sandals and Flowers

When summer finally got here, it was hard to believe the transformation that took place all around you – that is after all the mud, slush and puddles diapered. Summer came in with more sunshine, warmer weather and – biggest change of all – longer days! I think the days are getting shorter again – but for a while there in June the sun would come up some time around 3:30 or 4am (I not for sure ;)) and go down after 11pm (now, that I do know!).

You might not even be able to tell that these are pictures of the same places!

In mid May around here, they figure it’s warm enough to shut off everyone’s heat (since we’re all on “government” heat in our apartment buildings) – this would be fine, if the weather didn’t go back down to 30 F at night!! Needless to say, the wool blankets were well loved! It actually wasn’t until a week ago that I stopped wearing a hooded sweatshirt to bed.

Another exacting summer event – is the turning off of everyone’s hot water so they can “clean the pipes” and do repairs. Again, this wouldn’t be so bad…if it was actually hot outside, it was only for a few days, and the water out of the tap didn’t feel like it came out of a glacier! (You seriously lose all feeling in your extremities after about 30 seconds.) Thankfully, they turned our hot water on again on Saturday (after boiling water and often sporting a pony-tail for 14 days) . . . though the announcement outside our apartment building said it’s not over – there’s still 8 more days of glacier-bliss to come!

Now that the rain has let up (I think it was like 3 weeks or rain back in June) the bugs are coming out! I haven’t noticed many misquotes but little nasty gnats are EVERYWHERE and bug spray doesn’t even faze ‘em! If you stand still for 10 seconds they attack your head – who knew those little buggers could bight!?! Good thing I’m already used to them living in our apartment! (See Jan entry “Babushka Babblings: Flies, Ice Cream and Potty-training” and Dec entry “Miss Scarlet did it in the kitchen without any weapons”)

I think it’s time I share some more of the blessings of summer . . . I think I’ll just list my top 10:

10. going running in the morning (and not having to wear a coat, worry about ice, snow and it being dark)

9. not having to blow dry my hair before I leave the house in order to keep from getting yelled at

8. seeing beautiful flowers and less trash (much of which was covered up by grass and plants)

7. eating fresh greens and vegetables from Baba T's dacha

6. painting my toe nails knowing that they will actually be seen

5. walking on paths that I didn’t know where there before (since they where covered with 3 foot of snow)

4. going to the dacha with Baba T

3. getting a fresh bouquet of flowers from the dacha every week (every week a new flower is “featured”)

2. eating a bowl of strawberries every lunch and dinner (and I’m still not tired of them!!

1. NOT wearing tights (the Russian version of long underwear)!!!Baba T. has been bringing a ton of strawberries back from her dacha - a basket like this 3 times a week! It's interesting how we will feast on one thing from the garden for 2 or 3 weeks and then that's it (like a month of "green soup" - made from ground grass and weeds followed by 2 weeks of sour wild berries, 4 weeks of radish salad and now strawberries! I wonder what will be next!)

Here is my bouquet Baba T. picked for me for this week (I'm sad that I haven't been taking pictures all along - they have all been different, beautiful and smell great too!)

Living by your Head vs. Living by your Heart

“I don’t understand why you people in the west [North America and Europe] always think you have to pay people back for their good deeds to you.” This statement by Baba T. began a rather lengthy “discussion” at the dinner table a couple nights ago.

She went on to explain that (based on movies and things she’s heard) people from western culture are always figuring who they “owe” and who they don’t, who they need to go good things to and who they don’t. She said that in "your" culture it’s everyman for himself, people live for themselves and don’t pay attention to others. If someone does something nice for you, it means you need to offer him back something right away – you can never receive something without strings attached, without obligation. She even said, “That’s why you Americans don’t have guests over to your house. If you meet, you meet in a restaurant. You don’t open up your lives to others.”

Of course, while she was saying all of this, she was describing how it’s not that why here. She said it wasn’t like that in Russia during Soviet times and even back in the times of the kings, people helped each other out with no questions asked. While the Soviet system truly was “every man for himself” (having to con you way up by knowing the right people and saying the right things), the people and culture were concerned about making sure EVERYONE survived.

Of course, I wanted to defend my culture, my country and MYSELF. I said that just because people say a county is one way it doesn’t mean that EVERYONE from that county is that way (something I desire to tell people here a lot). And the way I saw it, of course we want to go good back to people that have done good to us, it feels good. I didn’t understand where Baba T. was coming from since SHE HERSELF refused to receive the help of my friends at her garden without paying them something. This “discussion” was most likely heard by our neighbors and just seemed to spin in circles.

She told - and I mean told; with voice raised, entire body gesturing and ending it with a tear in her eye - a story of a woman whose husband was away at war and had 3 children. She only had one blanket for her whole family and could barley feed her children, let alone herself. One day a young mother with a baby came knocking at their door asking for something to eat. They ended up staying with the family for several days, and when they left, the woman gave them their only blanket.

I felt pretty uneasy as I thought about how I don’t know that I would find it my responsibility to give my last blanket to some women who should have found a way to make some money and fulfill her responsibility as a mother. I tried to bring this conversation to a close and said, “I know there are not many people that would give up their last blanket, but I do know that that is exactly what Jesus would have done. He gave up more than a blanket on the cross.” This did make her go quiet. But she ended by saying in a calm voice, “It’s a difference of living by your head or living by your heart. And I want to live by my heart.”


I write all this all to say, I don’t know if that’s how it used to be in Russia, I don’t know that it’s wrong to feel obligated to people who have done good to you, but I do know that the kind of good deeds she was talking about were EXACTLY the kind of good deeds that Christ commanded His Church to do; deeds out of kindness, of sacrifice, knowing that there will be nothing in return (on this earth anyway).

God has been using Titus 3 to show me just how important it is to Him to do good to others – not just those of faith or family (discussed earlier by Paul in chapter 2), but those lost in sin, the people all around us. Verse 8 says, “be careful to engage in good deeds” – I feel perhaps this translation falls short of the idea in Greek; be mindful to take on the responsibility of doing better deeds. Our motivation behind these good deeds comes from the understanding of who WE once where and – by God’s amazing grace and mercy through Christ – are no longer. Such understanding will bring us to look at lost sinners with the love and compassion of Christ. Are such deeds out of obligation? Or do they simply derive from a true understanding of grace?

Check out Titus, I think you’ll find an “amplified version” of Ephesians 2:8-10, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not of works, to that no one may boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

nothing of depth, just life

i don't write on this thing enough, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to write about, but those things all take time to think about what to say and how to say it. and since i don't feel like thinking too hard right now, i thought i would just write and tell you what i'm doing tonight.
Nearly 2-year-old Samuel Orner and I are jamming out to the hip-hop/rap blaring across the street where there is a tennis tournament going on. today is a bit better then yesterday's music (that had a lot of english swear words in it...i'm pretty sure they had no idea what the songs where about...)
Well now, jamming out is too old and now we're running around trying to find something interesting to get into. So with that said, i better get back to being a babysitter.
thanks for reading and i hope to write something with a little more depth soon.
Until next time here's Sam’s and my top 5 things to do:
5. eat a little bit of bread and apple with your peanut butter
4. go up and down stairs in the hall way (watch out, a face plant doesn't feel so hot)
3. watch Russian Sesame Street…5000 times
2. play songs on classical interments (rolling pin, and other kitchen utincles)
1. and the most exciting of all! - let your sippy cup leak apple juice all over your bed!

Graduation Gowns: Collective vs. Individual

A few weeks ago my friend Nena, who works at a high school here, invited me to go to the graduation with her. It was fun to compare the differences between the Russian and American ceremonies (and really, school systems).

Similarities:
-The head of the school said a few words along with some well respected, “seasoned” staff, the top students and a well-to-do alumnus

-Diplomas where given

-Parents and family came to watch

-There were lots of pictures

Differences:
-There were no caps and gowns – well at least not the “gowns” we have. These girls went ALL OUT! I think the hair dressers in town were busy that morning! One of our Russian language teachers said that it is a very expensive event for parents of graduating girls! Nena said it was “terrible” if anyone showed up in the same dress as another girl!

-Their diplomas have all of their grades printed in them (more like a transcript or report card)

-Other than the differing dresses, everything else steered away from individuality and toward collectivity. Here’s what I mean:

Graduates did not come across the stage one at a time but with their class group. In the Russian school system you go to all the same classes with the same 15-25 people from 1st grade until 11th grade. Maybe half girls and half guys or maybe (like one class at the graduation) 2 girls and 17 boys. You are expected to work together. You are identified as a whole, collectively; either in a good class or a bad, athletic or smart, active or uncooperative etc. etc. As each class was presented their diplomas a staff worker briefly talked about the class; for example, “Class 11-8 was the brightest, smartest class. Two students from this group got perfect scores on portions of the ЕГЭ*.” Or, “Class 11-13 didn’t work well together and had problems. But we hope they do better in college.” (No, I am not kidding!)

This was a good eye opener for me and a reminder of what being a student at the Tuvan State University is going to look like. The same class system is used at the universities – there are no such things as “electives” in the Russian education system. I will be the first to admit that I like to study and work alone – so this “class” thing is going to be a challenge!

*ЕГЭ is the Russian version of the SAT or ACT. This test is brand new to the Russian education system and is very controversial. Prior to this year, students received scholarships and were allowed to enter a university by writing essays, making presentations and having interviews. In the government’s attempt to make their school system more compatible with that of the west, the old system was done away with and universities are forced to use the testing method (except for the elite, Moscow State University which gets to continue under the old system). Most feel that the test is impersonal and even in accurate (teachers are suspected of helping their students cheat on the test).

Trip to Tuva Summer 09

This was only my second time there – but this time it was for a whopping 4 days. I apologize for my sarcasm, but I have to admit, it’s a little lame to only get to TRAVEL to this amazing place and not live there. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here in beautiful Akademgorodok, where the forest is green and there’s the smell of flowers in the air. I know that God has brought me here – to what might be the best Russian language program in Siberia and to Baba T. – for a very good reason. It’s always just a bit hard to leave Tuva - a place that is so unique, so beautiful, so isolated, so hard, so lost and yet, somehow, reminds me of home.

Enough of the “prolog”, the trip there with the Orner family went well – we took a train for 24 hours to Abakan (the last stop) and then a taxi for 5 hours to Kyzyl, Tuva. My friend had asked for a few things from our metropolis here in Novosibirsk that he couldn’t get anywhere his side of the Sayan Mountains. I was a bit reluctant to hall a futon mattress, 2 mattress covers (the size of sleeping bags) and a mirror along with my personal belongings over this long journey. But I didn’t want to “wimp-out” so Baba T. and I packaged up the things. Praise the Lord that everything fit on the train and in the taxi!

Samuel did great on the train ride!

While there, I got to meet some new brothers and sisters and got to know some people from the first trip much better (my language had improved quite a bit since the last time I was there 6 months ago!).

A sister who works as an English teacher at the Tuvan State University gave me a little tour of the campus where I might study at in the fall of 2010. The campus is in the middle of nowhere – so it feels like home!

We also got to go to barbecue at a family’s house out in the county and use their REAL Russian banya – this little log house didn’t exactly have the “relaxing atmosphere” of the public city banyas I’d been to. I seriously thought that my body was going to catch on fire and the lady with us was a “professional” at beating people with birch branches . . . IT WAS GREAT!!

Nothing like roasting imported marshmallows after the banya! Seems, i got this one a little over done...

I decided to take the bus home, to give it a try and to be back to Novosibirsk in time to help Baba T. with a memorial dinner for her husband (more on that to come…I hope). It was only 21.5 hours and the bus was only half full so I had 2 seats to sleep in. Our bus was a modern, spacious, clean Mercedes Benz with a big screen TV (that worked for 30 minutes before all the shaking of the bus got to it).

Highlights of the trip:

laughing with friends

being encouraged with language

playing hooky for a week

gaining a better understanding of life in Tuva and how to pray