Survived the Russian Highway

Ok... this is a 2 lane highway... opposite directions. There are no lines. And you see cars on both side on the street heading the same direction. It gives a whole new meaning to the bumper sticker "God is my Co-Pilot"

Traffic Jam in St. Petersburg. They drive worse that we do in Wilmington!

Crossing the Neva River. VERY famous and beautiful river!

Kids on stage, waiting to perform for us on Russian Day

Russian Mail Truck!

Me playing with the kids in St. Pete

Very common at rest stops... well, their verson, that is. Basicallly it's an outhouse. And we it was smelling STRONG from where I was standing taking the picture.

Inside the "outhouse"

I didn't go. I waited.

A lady from the police (militia) came to talk to kids about safety. Traveling in pairs, looking before crossing the street, etc.

Chris and Austin wearing traditional Russian clothing

Chris, Austin, and me - in St. Petersburg

I FOUND NEMO!! Apparently, he is living in the St. Petersburg aquarium!

One of 1000 bridges in St. Petersburg. This was a small canal

Another view of the canal

Gas station

Entering St. Petersburg and city buses

Thay says "Stop" in Russian... But the lights don't work. Wonder why there's traffic problems???

More streets of St. Pete

Aquarium in St. Petersburg, Russia.

McDonalds!

Tiny, tiny, tiny highway. No room for error!!

Loading the bus to go to St. Petersburg (4 hour bus ride south of where we are living )

Back seat - Sergei, Alex, and Ann

Chris and Maxime (one of our translators) and Oksana and Vica peaking through behind the seatsScienic view of Russia from the bus

We passed an accident!

Max, Natasha, and Inga eating dinner (lunch)

The entrance to the school. Notice the chandelier.... that's small. They are in all offices!

Chris talking with the kids between classes

Me with Kate, Dasha, Oksana, Vica, Ana, Lina, and Tania

The highways in Russia aren't in the greatest condition. In America, we should NOT compain about our roads!!! Four hours in a bus.... hitting potholes at 60 mph......

It has rained a lot, and we were gone to St. Petersburg, so I'm a little late in posting this week. We had a great time! Chris, Austin, and I went with the translators and school administrators to St. Petersburg to the aquarium and around the city.

Today after school, they had "Russian Day" to show us how they celebrate their culture. They wore traditional dress, did dances, and gave us gifts. I uploaded a video on you-tube, and will post the link for you so you can see some of it. We still go to the market everyday, and they are so used to seeing us that the ladies pretty much know what we want. Chris and I are able to talk a little better, so it's easier to communicate well. A new adventure everyday! I am also running into more people from the Christian church a lot more. Their serious Russian faces seem to soften and they smile brightly, say ПРИВЕТ (pronounced Pryee-vyet), which is the Russian form of a warm, welcoming greeting. They only say this to people they know or like. It brightens my day :-)

Thank you for your patience when responding to updates and emails. I love hearing from you, but cannot spend as much time online as I'd like. Internet access is spotty and we have to pay for computer use. The school does not have a link.I will put ALL photos up when I get back home and send you all the link to the site. I have hundreds! Just no time to do it all now.Thank you for your support and prayers. PLEASE pray that we are able to talk to the adults and students. WE came here for a purpose and I want doors to open for those conversations.

Love you all!

Kim