Finished our FIRST official week

Explaing the games

Chris helping Nick with his English

Austin with students in the gym Waiting for the games to begin!

Russian cruise ship down the river. I was waving hysterically at them. They started waving back!!! Russian ARE nice when you make the effort :-)
The market from the window of the guy's flat.

Monument erected in honor of Peter the Great, who founded the city 300 years ago

Anfisa and me - drinking well water from the spring

Breakfast...... Cherries soaked in water overnight (they call this juice), liver, bread, and oats. I already ate the cucumber before I took the picture, and thank GOODNESS I had a granola bar stashed in my bag from my sister!!!! So my breakfast was a peice of cucumber and half of a granola bar. Being the nice person I am :-) , I had to split it with my counterpart.

A sign the students made for my classroom

Russian Orthodox Church in Lodeynyoe Pole.

Kristinia and Dasha imitating street signs. There was a hole down the street.

Another form of breakfast. (Pam, I didn't bring enough granola bars!)

Austin, me, and Chris with students walking around the city.

We finished teaching today and then had games outside with the kids. They have this strange gave of volleyball where they play like usual, but don't hit, set, pass, etc - they catch and throw. Very interesting. I tried to take a video with my camera, but have to figure out how to upload it! Then they had sprints outside. It hasn't rained yet today, so the internet is working :-)

Tonight, we are having the American delicacy of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. There is no peanut butter in Russia, so someone brought a jar from home. We've been pretty excited about it all week. It's the simple things.... haha!!

Yesterday, we went walking with some of the kids and their families alllllllllll around the city. For about 2 hours. They took us to a well where you just drink the water with your hands. I participated. It was strange, but when in Russia... ;-)

Chris and Austin have a picnic planned tomorrow with some of the boys, and Chris, Austin, Aimee, and I are going on ANOTHER walk with people in the afternoon. They walk so much!

Last night when I left the guy's flat and was heading to mine, I ran into one of the sweet babushkas from church on Sunday. She immediately recognized me and came to me, hugged me, kissed my forehead, cheeks, nose, lips - you name it. She was speaking in Russian and I have no idea what she was saying. I said a few things to her that I knew in Russian (hello, my name, I enjoyed meeting her, I loved her, hope to see her again, etc) And she just looked at me with the kindest, most sincere blue eyes, and hugged and kissed me more. Then we just looked at each other and embraced in a hug. It is AMAZING how Christ can bond people, even through language barriers. As we left, she took my face in her hands, kissed my forehead, closed her eyes, and was praying for me (in Russian). I just stood there in shock as she walked away. I didn't know her words, but I knew what she meant. I am so lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to connect with people in a way that I never knew possible.

My "Russia" verse is John 17 24-26 -

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know you have sent me. I have made you known to them and I will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and that I myself may be in them."

This speaks volumes to me. This woman knows the Lord, and she knows I know the Lord as well. Isn't that amazing? The kids know there is something different about us, too. Please keep us in your prayers as we try to reach the kids and families by spending time with them outside of the classroom. We are praying to get into their hearts. Thank you for reading, for your love, prayer, and your wonderful notes. I am sorry if I do not respond to everyone, but it does not go unnoticed.

Love you all!

Kim Rogers