The Semester's Over! Now, Waiting on Christmas and Russian Invitation

I know it’s terrible that I don’t write here more often…but what can I say, I’ve been busy!

I just finished emailing in my last assignment for this semester’s classes, that makes it 24 credit hours down and 9 more to go! I will be taking 3 more classes next semester to finish up my degree in Intercultural Studies at Calvary :)

This past Sunday I was at the last church I was scheduled to share at – that means that I don’t have to travel any more :) I’m sure I’ll still be leaving the ranch to get out and see people, but now I feel like I’m free – no more homework and nothing else on the schedule…well, except to sit back and enjoy Christmas with family!

I called the university in Krasnoyarsk last night to check on my invitation (which I am waiting on to apply for my visa so I can return to Russia as a student). No news there, except I found out that they were a month later than they had previously told me in submitting the paper work to the government to receive the visa. So if my estimates are right (though no one can ever be sure of anything when dealing with dates and timelines in Russia) it looks like (the optimistic view) the soonest I will be returning to Russia in the end of January first part of February…perhaps it is more realistic to say the end of February…

I’m not sure what I will do with “all this extra time” but I have a feeling that it will fill up pretty fast. I am getting more anxious to return to Russia and fear losing my Russian language more and more as I stay here in the States.

BUT I do not want anyone to think that I am not enjoying my time here. I am REALLY enjoying time with family and friends and am stinkin’ excited to be here for Christmas!!

Until the next time, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

p.s. I’m kinda glad I’m not in Krasnoyarsk right now, they are experiencing -40*, -50* weather…burrr

motivation for reading: super-soaker and a BA

Pretty sure that my present-day life is reading books. When I get finished with one, I write a paper about it and pick up the next one. After I finish a chapter or section I “reward” myself by changing my reading location (from the floor to the bed, from the bed to the chair, from the chair to the floor) or do other fun activities like go to the bathroom.

Coffee is my friend.

It's so much fun...especially since reading has always been my favorite thing to do…

I remember when my parents bribed (they would probably describe it as “rewarding” or “encouraging”) me to read x amount of books over the summer with $10 of spending money. It must have worked, because I remember buying a super-soaker water gun (I still have it too!)

But pretty sure I wouldn’t be going through all of this for a super-soaker. If only $10 would buy a Bachelors of Arts degree. Turns out a BA costs a little bit more money than that AND, wouldn’t you know, it requires reading!?

DON’T GET ME WRONG, I’m enjoying what I am reading and God is teaching me through it. I’m also thankful that people are supporting me during this time, so I am able to get this better-than-a-super-soaker-BA debt free!!

Enough about the college life (take 2)…

Two weekends ago I took these pictures while with some Greer’s in Springfield, MO area (Brighton and Silver Dollar City) MO.

Good times!

Back to College Life

Here I am in Kansas City, MO at College. To be honest, I haven’t exactly been excited about this “opportunity” to be back at College. I feel like I’ve been there and done that and would like to move on to “bigger and better” things than dorm life, dress codes and papers. God is still working on my heart to enjoy my time being here, because I know where this is where He wants me, for now.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to get my accredited bachelor’s degree – and move one step closer to getting credentials to teach English in Russia. Praise God for His provision of funds to go back to college (being a student is surprisingly stinkin’ expensive).

I am also thankful that CBC has a good non-traditional studies program (online classes, correspondence courses, independent studies and intensive night courses) that enable me to remain flexible to travel and be at home with family while working on completing 33 credit hours (needed to get my BA…don’t worry, I’m not taking all of these 33 at the same time). I will have to be here in Kansas City, on campus through September 27^th.

There’s some really neat students here – and although they make me feel “old” – it is encouraging to see their desire to serve the Lord.

God is using the classes to teach me more about Himself and myself. In my night class last Thursday God used the teacher and homework to show me that my focus was off. I realized that I was focusing on my goals, plans and tasks ahead of me (and finding myself over whelmed, exhausted and inadequate). You might be like me and think, “What’s so bad about focusing on your goals?” You’re right, it’s not “bad”, in fact I would say that it is “good”. The problem is that it is not the “best” thing to focus on. Because I was not focusing on Jesus, I was becoming overwhelmed and forgetting my purpose in accomplishing my goals and Who was my motivation in accomplishing them.

Praise God for His Holy Spirit that helps keep us inline. In Sunday School the teacher referred to the Holy Spirit as like the rumble strips on the high-way of life. He alerts us to know that we are veering off the path of God’s best, God’s will. May I be able to keep my focus on Jesus – who is going in front of me making the crooked places straight (a reference to Isaiah 45:2 - one of my Grandma’s favorite verses to quote to her grandkids).

Matthew 11:28-30 continues to be words of Christ that bring comfort and strength – “Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from mw, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.”

From March 10 to May 28...

Sorry that I have neglected my blog. I struggle knowing whether it is worth the time to keep up with it. I do this for people that like to know what's going on in my life. But I fear that weirdos out there read it instead...

So to all you weirdos out there that just check out strangers' blogs so that you can make annoying comments to "challenge" their blogs and make bloggers feel like their lives are messed up: maybe your life is the one that need some "fixing".

But to all my friends and family that actually check my blog: Thanks for reading! I'll try to keep up better.

Much has happened since the last time I posted. I'll bring you up to May 28th with the help of some pictures... if you're a friend or family member you probably already are receiving emails and updates anyway).Me and my American friend Michelle (and sleeping Ethan) enjoying a weekend together in Chereponevo (South of Novosibirsk)

At the Novosibirsk Opera with Lena (she took the picture)

On my birthday I went to see this Orthodox temple in Novosibirsk

Me and some sisters at a church youth convention

This would be a me, some horses and a camel outside of Kyzyl, Tuva

Packing up my room getting ready to say goodbye to Akademgorodok and the people I love thereLenin Square in St Petersburg (where I spent 5 days with the Slawsons before flying across the Atlantic)Rapid City, SD...almost home
Come on dad, it really wasn't that heavy...