Bestest Family

Chris Baggett has a great post. You gotta love the wisdom from the mouth of a kid less than hald your height and 1/3 your age.

Well... (Part 2)

In light of yesterday's post, you can go here for more.

Hopefully more Russia today.

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Well...

I guess this is one way to settle things in the gay marriage debate. Lame.

More Russia coming soon.

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For Real, Day 4

Awoke in the AM to be at the train station by 10am. Met Julia (pronounced Yulia) there and hit the train for the 4 hour ride from Kostroma to Golich. This was a special part of the trip for Kelly and I as it was the location Kelly went to last year with Interstate Batteries. Our train ride provided a good amount of time to talk with Julia about different ideas on how to raise money for the orphanages as well as improving communication between all parties involved (CHC, orphanages, sponsoring organizations, sponsors, and kids.) Some great ideas were spawned that will hopefully bear some fruit in the future.

When we arrived at the orphanage we greeted the director and made our way to the lunch room. We were treated to blini (potato and sauerkraut stuffed pancakes) and enjoyed every bite.
As we made our way down the halls, some of the kids began to recognize Kelly and whispering "Jook." Jook was a theater game that she played with the kids and it was good to know that they remembered her.
One stop was with the pre-schoolers. We played through a couple of songs and then about half of the kids had poems that they wanted to recite for us. Most were Russian cultural poems; boys in love with girls, love of country and the like. It was amazing to watch them recite from memory.
We got a few tours of different halls that had been renovated with funds from Interstate Batteries. It was cool to see the sponsor money being put to such good use. What was most amazing was when we got to see an unrenovated room and were able to compare it to how different a room looked after funds from Interstate had been used to fix it up. They go from scuffed wood floors to linoleum floors, from peeling wallpaper with exposed dry wall to brand new wallpaper with wall hangings and plants, from bare windows to windows with blinds and drapes. The overall effect of all of this is that the kids now have a sense of worth. It is now a little less like living in an orphanage and being part of an institutional system and a little like having a home that is inviting and "cozy." It's amazing the effect a little decor can have on the psyche.
We ended up spending over an hour with Natasha and her friends. Natasha is one of two kids we sponsor. She is 10 and in the 5th grade. Kelly played a round of Jook with them (about 10 kids in all) at their request and we spent the rest of the time singing songs for them and talking about sponsors and stuff. This was quite likely the highlight of the day.
We were fed dinner and, again, enjoyed every bite.
Our last stop was back with the pre schoolers. We had promised to return for one last round of percussion. The kids loved the "toys" so much we ended up leaving them all (everything except the cocoa pod shaker that Kelly's mom gave us from a trip she took to Mexico a few years ago) for their enjoyment. Now for a trip to Guitar Center for replenishing.
Julia called a taxi to take us from Golich back to Kostroma. Kelly and I fell asleep about 5 minutes into the ride. Maybe it was for the best. Russian taxi drivers scare me.
Tomorrow, Sudaslavl. (Don't worry if you can't pronounce it. I couldn't get it right until I got back home.)

Day 4...

Coming Soon. I'm training a new employee so my blog time is limited. I should be able to post tomorrow.

In the meantime, visit Scott and read the post for 3.18.04. Kid's rock!
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For Real, Day 3

Got the journal, woohoo!

Got to Volshky late AM. When we pulled up there were kids in the snow covered school yard rolling snow to make snow men (Imagine Ralphie's brother from Christmas Story and you're with me). As soon as our interpreter, Dema, stepped out of the car their voices, high pitched and loud, screamed, "Deeeema, Deeeeeeeema!!!" It was hilarious. Turns out they were the orphanage's pre-schoolers. When we got in, one took Kelly's hand right away and led her upstairs with the rest of the gang to get changed out of their snow clothes. They then took us into the pre-school room and we played a few songs for them. They were so inspired they asked if they could share a song with us. Three of the little guys got up, shirts tucked in, standing (as) tall (as they could for pre-schoolers), and proceeded to belt out their best rendition of a Russian folk song about a soldier returing from war to his honey. Get these kids a recording contract! Then it was time for lunch so the kids ate and made their way to the other room for naps.

Kelly, Scott, Dema and I hung out for a few minutes waiting for the Jr. High kids to get back from school (they live at the orph but go to public school). Had some good time to talk about connecting a little deeper with the Coffee House idea and the scenarios in Kostroma.

Jr. High kids got there and we played some for them before Dema handed out their (late) Christmas, New Years and Valentine's letters from their sponsoring church in the States. Turns out they are in Ft. Worth. This was the place that I began to realize the impact that sponsorship has on the kids. The looks on their faces when they heard that Dema had letters was amazing. I began to realize that the letters, not all the cash and presents, is what gave the kids a sense of worth, a sense of belonging. For them to know that someone (especially someone in America) cares about them enough to, in one respect, include them in their family, simply put, blows wind up their skirt and rocks their world. You know, its the "little" things in life... But are they really that little if they mean so much?

Following Volshky we made our way to dinner at Fly's and Sty's to enjoy more delectable (sp?) Russian fuud. Afterwards to Boris' place to watch (for my first time) the Big Lebowski (Duude) and enjoy a few fine Russian beverages.

Then, back to the Ministry Center for rest. Tomorrow, Golich, where Kelly and I sponsor two kids (also the place Kelly went last year with Interstate Batteries).

Dosvedonya!

Russia Day 3, Feb 29th

I'll have to post this tomorrow. I left the Journal at the house and I've slept since Russia.

Till then you can read how things are going at Mars over here...

And, dang. Just plain, dang. Hurts, don't it?

Russia Day 2, Feb 28th

The ride from Moscow to Kostroma was mostly uneventful. Except for that one incedent. Shortly after we took off I needed to make a trip to the restroom. (Note: You may not urinate or deficate within Moscow city limits. You are required to wait until you exit the city to take care of your business because your business drops from the train to the ground below as you travel.) On my way back from the restroom I realized that I did not ask Dema what our cabin number was. I walked to about where I figured our room was (about the 4th out of 8 on the car) and proceeded to open the sliding door. D'OH! What's this? A middle aged lady with her pants half way off and a very shocked look on her face? Evidently she did not expect me. I apologized (in English, of course) and proceeded to the next door. this time, a little wiser, I knocked. The door slid open to reveal the face of an angry man. I apologized again and made my way to the next door. Knocking on the next door down revealed two men with beer in their room. While the offer was tantalizing, I knew the language barrier would prove to be a great hinderance in my asking to share their tasty beverages. I apologized and realized I was way too far down the hall to be anywhere near our cabin. Turns out, ours was the third one. I slept in fear that the lady who's pants were down might know the angry man next door.

We arrived in Kostroma (unharmed) around 5AM.

CHC provided a van from the station to the Minsitry Center where we were to stay for the week. Arrived around 6AM and made our way quickly to bed. It was still 9PM (the previous day) to our bodies. Talk about WHACK! All told, from the time we left on Friday to this point, I had about 6 hours of sleep. A little tip for future travellers: your body will require more than 6 hours of sleep for 2 flights totalling 14 hours of your life and approximately 10 hours of walking through the glorious city of Moscow.

Slept till the evening. Dema took us to dinner at the Yellow Submarine where we had good food. Cream and mushroom soup and Blini, a crepe style stuffed pancake.

Walked around the corner to Scott Parks' flat (approx 250 sq. ft.) where he and his wife have ahouse church. About 10 people showed up and we had a great time talking (through translators) about church in the States and in Russia, about the common struggles they face and the diversity found in both. One major hurdle we dscussed is how to "do church" apart from the "Pastor as CEO" model that seems to plague both continents in the Protestant congregations. It made me wonder how much of that is the fault of the Westerners who brought that model to our friends in Russia. I was truly saddened by the thought. Kelly and I sang a couple songs as did Boris (a fellow enjoyer of fine beverages) and Sash. We left very encouraged and knowing we had new friends for life.

Took taxi home, stopped at the store next to the Ministry Center for yogurt, bread and cheese for breakfast and slept peacefully.

Tomorrow, Monday, would be our first trip to an orphanage. It was just west of Kostroma and called "Volshky."

Russia Day 1, Feb 27th

Left DFW and flew to JFK. 30 Minutes to get from one gate to another to make the plane for Russia.

JFK to Moscow- 9 Hours. Dang, that's a long time on a plane.

Moscow- We were advised to check our drums and guitar through Customs. Get to the desk and the guy is reading a book. Great, we just interrupted the Customs guy in the middle of his busy day. Kelly asks if we need to declare our instruments. "Are they new?," he mumbles in broken English. They are not. He points and motions us to the "Nothing to Declare" line. We are not disappointed.

Greeted by Dema, our interpreter for the week, and Masha, CHC financial coordinator for Moscow. Driven by van to drop off luggage at the Train Station and made our way, via The Metro (underground transportation) all the while singing "Riding on the Metro" in one big flashback from the 80's.

Spent some time in Red Square in the 30-ish degree weather. Freezing rain, etc. Met with Mark Sprinkle from Alpine, TX, at the Eternal Flame memorial to fallen WW2 soldiers. Mark is living in Moscow doing Church Planting and evangelism. Went to Moo Moo's for lunch. Luby's style cafeteria dining, Russia style. Tried Meat Jell-o. Yes, it is as strange as it sounds. Clear Jell-o with a shredded meat surprise in the bottom. Mmmm, yum. The spicy mustard is a must to off set the idea that you are eating Jell-o stuffed with meat.

Rode Metro to Christ the Saviour Cathedral just in time to make the 5PM Saturday service. Russian Ortho service, very cool. Nice break from the hectic traveling of the day. In the Ortho service, you either stand or are on your face. Sitting down (like on pews or couches) is considered disrespectful so, since we had been walking at that point for about 8 hours after a 14 hour plane trip, we decided to only stay for about 15 to 20 minutes of the service to save our legs from just completely giving out.

Walked back to Red Square and made our way to the mall (Gum, pronounced "Goom") and had dinner. Chicken Balls and Chicken Letters are an International Language spoken by most Fast Food Chicken chains.

Rode Metro to Train Station (after hours and hours and hours of walking), said "Dosvedonya" (goodbye) to Mark and loaded onto the train for the 5 hour ride to Kostroma where we would base our activities for the week. After adjusting our luggage situation to accomodate the 6x9, 4 bunk cabin, we settled in for a few Z's.

Feel the rocking of the train car, the steady rythm of the tracks beneath the wheels. Hear the SCREECH of metal on metal as you stop for the fourth time in some unknown town at some unknown time, with an unknown amount of time to try and get a little more sleep. Ahhhh, life on the go. Kostroma, here we come.

I could not imagine how the coming 5 days would change me.

We're Baaaack

Wow, what a trip. Literally.

I'll start posting some of the highlights today.

In the meantime, drop by the Mars Blog and leave a message.