Hello Everyone,
Hello Everyone,
Another week here in Smolensk! For the time that I have been here I have to say I am learning how much we have in the USA that we don’t even think about! First, I didn’t have heat and it was in the 30’s, then I didn’t have lights for some time and last week it was the hot water. Through it all I have learned how to still live my normal life. I put on more clothing to keep warm, see a friend if I don’t have lights, and getting cleaned up by boiling water on the stove. This is all part of the normal life for most Russians. I know we have those problems in the USA but not each month! Over the last month, most Russians have been getting potatoes for the winter. Families will get 3 or 4 bags of potatoes, clean and put them away so you can eat in the winter months. If you don’t then there are no potatoes for winter. I was surprised at this and even more at the other kinds of foods you cannot get in winter such as most fruits even apples, bananas, and corn! I would think there are some other things that I haven’t even thought to ask about! I am not telling you this to make you feel bad for me, not at all! Just letting you know what our brothers and sisters over here deal with each and every day!
On Tuesday night Nastya, a youth member came over with a surprise for me. It was a bag of DVD’s all in English! She looked around her house and asked friends if I could watch something I could understand! I have been enjoying Russian TV, trying to learn more of the language by watching the shows. A normal night, if I do not have lessons or group meetings, is checking email if it works, reading, cooking, having some lessons (classes at my house) and watching TV and now DVD's. At night, I am at my house because I am living in a city, I can’t speak the language very well, and I am a woman; everyone tells me it’s better to just be home. I was told to go out only with a group of people to be safe! It’s not a big deal, just people watching after me! I am fine with being home at night and I like being able to read! This is just one of the ways that our Russian friends have been showing me how much they care by trying to make my time here comfortable.
I have spoken with the pastor of the United Methodist Church and will start teaching English to the children on Sundays after the service. This will not make the children have to pay more money to come into town! I am looking forward to teaching younger children and being more of a member of the United Methodist Church. The Youth Group has been meeting each week on Saturdays but are changing the day to Sundays to have more youth join us. It will start to feel like a normal Sunday for me.
Please keep me in your prayers in order to be able to take all that comes at me with a strong faith and that God has it under control, for the health of us all with winter coming, for many friends who are changing their lives for the better with marriage, school, babies, jobs, moving, language, and relationships. During the last two weeks there have been a lot of ups and downs. Last Monday, I got a call from Helen telling me something was wrong with my paperwork. Then on Tuesday, we spoke with the people to find out what needed to happen. On Wednesday, we sat around for a couple of hours to meet with the woman but she didn’t show up. On Thursday’ the Pastor of the UMC and I went back to see the woman. She told us that every 3 months I would need to leave Russian. I do not have to return to the USA but to a different country! Each time I have to travel to a country other than Russia, and then I can return to Russia. On Friday, Helen and Lydia tried to work out a deal where I would only need to leave after 6 months. This deal didn’t work out. This week I have been learning about where I can travel without a Visa that is close by and where the cost would be less. The traveling part sounds good but the cost is high and I DO NOT have money to do this! At this point I may have to return much earlier than I had been hoping to. Please keep it in your prayers that this can all workout to bless God. I have many worries about leaving so soon and my return to the USA.
Thanks for all your love, prayer and emails! I am very thankful for it all!!!!! Have a great weekend! <>< Julie