Challenge

If you've ever been to Irktusk, you will know what I am talking about in this post...if you just look at the people - look out the window of your apartment...it is depressing. The landscape is dirty and grey (even in the Spring, it isn't very green). Russian culture dictates a somber mood which means there are very few smiles. It is rare to see kids laughing, running around and playing.

A little of this climate can go a long way.

If you are one who are prone to become a product of your environment, you will surely come home from Irkutsk in a bad mood. You will also notice your temper is short, you seem to shove and push your way through doors in public places, you put a determined stare on your face when you are in public...and you don't make eye contact with anyone.

On my trips to Irkutsk - I've noticed this over and over again. The first time I went (in 2004), my husband and I couldn't understand why everyone was looking at us funny. We look Russian...we were dressed like everyone else...what was it? It was because we were smiling and having a good time walking through town.

When I was there by myself in 2005 - I fit in better. I didn't smile at anyone, walked with a very determined gate. On the rare occasion I would engage someone in a store, I noticed if I was able to catch thier eye and smile...they would smile back - and believe it or not, thier faces didn't crack!

This last trip was my 5th to Siberia. I think I've experienced a lot in that city (although there are still things I want to see and do). Because I was cooped up in an apartment the whole time - with nothing open because of the holiday...I tried to see the same 'ol thrugh different eyes.

Do you ever sit at an airport and people watch? I do. I make up these stories in my head about the people I see - who they are, where they came from, where they are going...and why. Well, I started to do this in Irkutsk one afternoon as I was walking around.

I put on my IPod (of course, carefully tucked up in my hat so no one would see it), plugged in some David Crowder and Hillsong and took off for a walk. Funny, the people and places didn't seem so depressing. The average day of these Russian citizens started looking like a music video. I started seeing everything through a filter.


As the song 'You Never Let Go' played on my IPod, I searched the crowd of people for someone who might look like the Judge. I wondered what she might have gone through in her life to cause her to be so cold hearted.



When "Freedom We Know" from Hillsong came on - I saw the kids...they were playing, having fun - skipping rocks, and setting off fireworks - throwing pop rocks at old ladies. Not a very nice way to play, but they were playing nonetheless.



I saw a group of girls that could have been my group of friends (10 years ago), the song "Glory Of It All" played. They were dressed for a night out, and were laughing and huddling around a cell phone - I assumed looking at a text message. I wondered what thier lives will look like when they are my age. When I was in my 20's, I certainly NEVER thought I would be walking around on New Year's Eve in the middle of Siberia...by myself.


Then "Oceans Will Part" came on (Hillsong)...Whew! I found myself fighting the tears...and you all know, I am NOT an emotional person (almost to a fault). This song just hits me. Maybe it is because I really believe that oceans will need to part for us to bring Anya home. I prayed through the song - maybe it will take a whisper to the Judge. Maybe it won't take some monumentous earth shattering event to get her heart to move.

Oceans will part; nations come
At the whisper of Your call.
Hope will rise; glory shown.
In my life, Your will be done.

Hope will rise glory shown
In my life your will be done



Finally, Doxology came on...I think this is from the Passion worship band (David Crowder) (it was an extra bonus track on ITunes, and for some reason, I got it like 5 times at the end of everything I purchased that day). Little known fact about me...this is my favorite "church" song. I remember when I was little being so excited to sing this after the offering was collected. This version is a little different - more modern, better in my book.


THE CHALLENGE
Go to a part of your town that is depressed. A section of your community that needs God's love, compassion, understnading, rebirth. Pop the Doxology in - and I guarantee you will see things in a different light.

I think on this afternoon, God allowed me to see things through His eyes - even if it was just for a minute. Even tho many of the songs didn't have anything directly to do with whatever I happened to be watching or pryaing about at the time - the lyrics moved my mind and eyes.

I have always had a big heart for the people of Irkutsk. These are my daughter's people - how could I have any other feeling for them other than love? My feelings were all rekindled that afternoon.

winter trees

IN the mornings in Irkutsk - the trees are so beautiful. Everything seems to be covered with a fresh coat of snow - leaving the city looking clean and new. The streets are quiet (unless, of course, it is around the first of January!) and peaceful.

The trees are what hit me every morning. Every branch was highlighted with a thin layer of snow - perfect subject for a Ansel Adams.

I took these pics from my apartment. True scenes of winter...

pics of apartment

I thought I would post a pic of the apartment I stayed in last week. Honestly - it was the nicest apartment I've stayed at (and I think I've stayed at 5 different apartments in Irkutsk - not sure if that qualifies me as an expert, but it does give me a good foundation to base opinion).

This kitchen has stainless appliances! Seriously! Everything was BRAND new...and very up-town feeling.

If you ever stay at the apartment on Lermontova Street...know it is a nice pad!

more funnies

So, I was sitting talking with Anya's caregivers. They were asking me where in the US we lived. Generally, I just say near Chicago - it is much easier than to explain where the booming metropolis of Bristol, IN is.

Here is how that conversation went:

me: "close to Chicago"
them: "oh, do you know Barack Obama?"
me: (laughing) "um, no..."
them: "do you have a gardener?"
me" "yes, the gardener is me"
them: "do you have a house director?"
me: (after long pause trying to figure out what a house director was) "I guess that would be me too"
them: "how many employees do you have?"
me: "none"
them: "do you have a driver?"
me: "nope!"

pause

them: "you don't know Barack Obama?"
me: (laughing again) "sorry, no I don't"

DId I tell you about the blind boy?

I don't think I told you the story about the blind boy.

Well - on my flight from Moscow to Irkutsk, there was a little boy (I would say 3-4) who was blind. He was getting on the plane after I was already seated. He was feeling his way through the aisle, and came to my seat...and felt the seat, my arm, my face...next thing I know, his fingers were up my nose, he had a handful of my hair, and let's just say - he knows I am female! Oh my goodness!

I didn't know what to say (or do) about all this - didn't want to offend his mother or cause a scene...but I really wanted my hair back. He was content walking to his seat...with a handful of my hair. Thankfully the adorable pleasant girl sitting next to me (Tatianna) told his mother to please remove her son from my hair, and to keep his hands to himself.

Good grief!

I must say...

A quick note to all of you who have sent me heart felt notes, and posted such nice replies here. Thank you...really, thanks! Your kinds words and prayers are amazing - they give me (ok, US) strength to press on.

funnyiest thing

Conversation I had with Tami when I was in Irkutsk:

Me "Isn't there a website or something that says when the malls and stores will open? I mean, isn't it printed on a sign or in a newspaper?"

Tami (laughing almost uncontrollably) "um, no"

Shake shake in english

I asked Anya to sing 'shake shake' in Russian and then in English. Too funny!

shake your booty

Here is the first English song Anya has learned - yes, I am so proud...

so funny

Anya was having a lot of fun trying to make me laugh. In this video, she is saying tiger - grrrrr (Russian style).

learning Russian

Anya was trying to teach me some more Russian, pretty funny...

still cracking up

One of the parts of this holiday play Anya was in, included these boys doing this circus like thing with hoola hoops - it was HILARIOUS! But, I don't think it was supposed to be funny.

I am not supposed to video or photograph other kids - so I took this short video on the down-lo - you can see how serious these boys are! Check out the little guy front right (with the yellow top on).

poetry

In the holiday play, Anya had this speaking part. Not sure what it was all about, but in Russia, children reciting poetry is a big deal. She's got those arm movements DOWN!


THe movie starts with one of the little boys - sorry about the quality - hope you don't get sea sick!

That's what's it all about - left leg!

OK, no jokes about my dancing ability here - it is hard to dance when you are holding a big girl! Isn't her hair LONG?

Here is me trying to teach Anya the Hokey Pokey...might have been funnier in person than it is on YouTube...

My Little Penguin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_S0EkDOUdc




This is a video of Anya in her holiday program. She is in the 2nd group that comes out - the tall one in the back (right back side).

BUT THE FUN DIDN’T END THERE – CAN YOU SAY EMERGENCY LANDING?

My flight to Atlanta was about 45 minutes late, not a big deal. After I got through passport and immigration – I lost about 10 lbs sweating again. I am so tired of being hot! Ya know, when you think of Russia in January – you assume freezing cold. My experience has been the outdoor temp is comfortable because it is so stinking hot inside

Anyway – got on the flight – and we took off for our 9 ish hour flight.

As we were nearing the second ½ of the flight, a flight attendant came on and asked if there were any medical personnel on board. Hummmm, interesting.

Then, the pilot came on and said that we were going to be making an emergency landing in Canada.

Another announcement asked for more medical personnel and if anyone had one of those machines you use to test your blood if you are diabetic.

Then one of the flight attendants came back and asked a few men to follow her to the front of the plane.

Not knowing what was going on was killing me – so I decided to take a nap.

About an hour later, we landed in Grander, Canada. The pilot told us that several officials would be coming on board to remove the passenger, and we were give strict instructions not to get out of our seats.

I started hearing bits and pieces of what was going on. One of the ‘medical’ people was a medical student (not sure about that, he just looked young) who was sitting behind me. He was talking about the toxic effects of booze and drugs. Several were commenting on Ambien…heard someone saying something about this guy drinking what he purchased through the Duty Free stores (which is a big no-no).

Come to find out that this passenger was a Russian man. According to one of the guys who was helping ‘he wasn’t very nice, his wife did not de-plane with him’. The bad guy had taken some ecstasy and drank a bottle of vodka. He accosted one of the female flight attendants.- she told him to stop or he would be arrested, the guy became belligerent, punched the male flight attendant, was going crazy. They hog-tied him with those plastic on-board handcuff things, and he broke out of them like they were made of cotton candy.

It took 5 men to keep this one man contained. I guess he started to convulse – which is why they were looking for a way to check his blood levels. Then, he passed out.

He came to as he was being hauled off the plane and became very mad – apparently he kicked out the window of the ambulance.

Yikes! Glad I was sitting in the back of the plane!

This whole episode caused us to be 4 hours late to Atlanta. Of course, I missed my connecting flight into SB. And of course, it took 2-3 hours to get my luggage (this is AFTER I went through customs, immigration and security!).

Anyway – it’s 2am, and I am with pizza at a Days Inn. Going to catch the 10am flight home tomorrow morning.

I still don't get it...from TGI Fridays in Moscow

I still don’t get the bloating thing and flying. We no sooner got in the air this morning – and I felt it coning on…the bloat!

I don’t get it.

So now I am sitting here at the TGI Friday’s at Sherm.2 (airport) in Moscow. The WiFi teased me – it looked like I could log on – but it was some kind of service for cell phone subscribers.

It looks like my flight is going to be delayed – the flight that comes in from Atlanta is about an hour late, so I am sure we will be delayed.

Wondering what I can have that will take this major bloat away – it’s just uncomfortable and pretty unattractive. Don’t want to eat or drink too much, then I run the risk of needing to use the bathroom. Have you ever used a public restroom in Russia? One word – EWWWW!

And for some reason, my laptop won’t charge. I can plug it in, and it is all ok – but it won’t charge. Odd – maybe it has something to do with the power (the 220v thing?). Who knows. All I know is that it is 11:07 A.M., and my flight is supposed to leave at 1:10 – and it isn’t even on the kiosk yet.

prayers were for easy and safe travel

I know I asked you all to pray for my travel today - maybe I needed to be clearer...here is how my day started...

Well, my day got off to a rocky start. As expected, Alex called promptly at 5:30am to tell me that my taxi was waiting outside – and the car number was 129. So, I gather my things, put my coat on and head downstairs. The apartment I was staying at had a unique key lock system, so I could shut the door of the apartment –and lock it with out a key…so I left the key inside for Alex.

I head down to the security area of the apartment, luggage in tow – push my way through the maze of doors to actually get outside…and no car. My first thought was that the car was on the way, no big deal, I’ll just stand in the freezing cold and wait…and wait, and wait, and wait. Since I had left the keys in the apartment, I had no way to get back into the apartment building. My only choice was to wait – did I mention it was freezing cold? I would guess it was about -10 or -15.

I start to pray – God knows where that taxi is – so I was praying that He would somehow bring that taxi to me (it was pretty clear that where that taxi was waiting for me, wasn’t where I was).

10 minutes go by, 15 minutes go by…I thought maybe the taxi was at the side of the building. The apartment is kind of on a corner, so I hauled my junk through the snow and ice, around the corner – there was one taxi there, but it wasn’t my car – the number wasn’t 129.

This side of the building is a little creepy at night – so I decide to go back to the part of the building that is well lit. Of course, on my way there, I am asked by 2 taxi drivers if I need a ride – they were not the taxi I was waiting for – so I said no. I’ve learned that taxi drivers in Irkutsk can be a little unsafe and not so honest…it is best to stick to those drivers Alex knows.

Well, not we’re looking at 25 minutes from the time I THOUGHT the taxi was waiting for me. My prayers of “God protect me” turn to “Oh God, HELP!”.

My prayers turned to panic, and the panic turned to tears. Do you blame me? I have a history of bad experiences trying to get out of Russia – by the time I am packed, I am ready to go home – don’t want to stay, don’t want delays – I want to go home.

A man walking a dog passed me, looked at me strangely – so I said ‘please, help – telephone?” He pretended he didn’t hear me.

I summons all the courage I have, and walk back around the corner to the dark side of the building. There were several cars and that one taxi sitting there – certainly someone would have a phone I could use.

Then the thought occurred to me – who am I going to call? I need Alex’s phone number, and I wasn’t sure where I had put that. Generally – that is on a piece of paper that never leaves me when I am in Russia. I have all kinds of important information on that paper - Alex’s number, his assistant’s number, my apartment address, the phone numbers for the Jackson’s. But where is that paper?

I opened my bag, and as if God himself reached into my luggage – that darn piece of paper was sitting right there on top.

Number in hand, I head to the dark corner. Of course, by this time, no one is there – the only car is that one taxi whose driver was sleeping. I have no choice – I knock on the window. He jumps about 10 feet in the air, and blurts out something in Russian to me. He could probably tell I was a little distressed – I asked him for help, and if I could use his phone. He pulls out his phone, and hands it to me.

WHEW!

Now – let’s hope that Alex answers his phone…it is in the middle of the night. First ring, I hear ‘hello’ – PRAISE GOD!

Alex happened to be in a taxi, around the corner from where I was. He was putting my bag in the car within 2 minutes.

I still don’t know where the original taxi was. Neither does Alex. Generally if a car is called, and goes to pick up the people – and the people don’t show up – Alex gets a call. He never got a call.

I got to the airport, through passport control and security with no problems. On to Moscow!

NOTE TO SELF

Russians do not have the same sense of humor as I do.

Documents again

I have some changes to make on our documents – only a few things, nothing major. Should only take me about a week to gather everything – funny thing, most of the changes are mistakes other people made…not stuff I did. People. Please – FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! One of the errors is from our HS agency, they put someone else’s passport number on a document (what the…..??????).