A Happy Birthday

I had a nice birthday yesterday. Anneka and I dressed in matching Buryat dresses. Irene made me a cake that we brought to church and shared with everyone after the service. Then we had a leisurely afternoon, where my mom made me macaroni and cheese (my birthday favorite since I was a little girl) and yummy caramel brownies. I opened fun presents and we watched an episode of the Cosby Show (one of my presents). I love the Cosby Show, by the way. Then Leif and I went bowling with Chingis and Ksusha in the evening while our moms watched the two kiddos. It's been so nice to squeeze in dates and have time with each other. Thanks for a great birthday!

Linda's Siberian Impressions

Finding beauty in a place of ugliness

As us grandmas were pushing adorable Anneka in the stroller, we were looking at all the filth and garbage. Irene with delight said, “Oh look at the flowers!” It tickled me as, yes, here the morning glories were pretty, but back home they are an obnoxious weed.


When Jami, Anneka and I went downtown I thought I just might be a grandma to a 13 year old. Svetlana was hungry and dirty. We fed her and learned that she had no place to sleep. She told Jami that she wanted to go home with her and live, and compassionate Jami wanted to take her home. She called a friend who worked for the city, and he said that Leif and Jami could lose their residency if they took her in. We directed her to a place where she could get social assistance. It was hard for Jami, but we just couldn’t take her home with us. We prayed for Svetlana.

Almost everyday there have been friends come to Jami and Leif’s. It is customary to invite them for a meal. When we had friends over for lunch they brought their wash with them. We learned that the couple with their baby live in an 11 square meter home with no running water. To think about going to an outhouse in -50 degree weather is hard to imagine. It was encouraging to see though that even though their life is hard, they have the joy of Jesus in their hearts. To see beauty in people’s lives even though there is little beauty in Siberia is an encouragement.

Camp? by Mama Irene

What a day! It started out simple enough Linda and I (the two grandmas) got up, ate breakfast and read until about 10am. Then we called the kids and went over. Anneka just finished a nap, so we got a little “baby (lya-lya)” time before we had to leave. Leif and I were headed off to camp help with a children's day camp in Zakamensk, a town about 6-7 hours from Ulan-Ude. Jami, Linda and Anneka walked us down to the bus which came right away. We got to the marshrutka that would take us to Zakamensk and waited about an hour and took off. We made a few stops on they way including here by a lake.

After about 6 hours on the road we came to the check point. We all got off and they took Leif and my passports. It was taking so long the marshrutka took off to a café about a quarter mile down the road. We waited and finally the guards came and told us we could not enter the next region without some papers we could only get in Ulan Ude. Just a few days earlier Leif and Shannon (another missionary from their team) called to see what we needed to do to go into this region and through the check point and were told we would just need to fill out papers at the check point. The soldiers insisted we needed to go back. Our marshrutka driver brought back our backpack and duffle bag and we sat on the bench praying for a kind person to bring us home. There were no marshrutkas going back to Ulan Ude until the next morning and it was after 7pm. It was miles to the next settlement or any homes. All we could see was farm fields and rolling hills. Leif’s phone was in a “dead zone” so we couldn’t let the other campers or Jami and Linda know what was happening. The bugs were beginning to swarm us. We got out bug spray and some snacks and waited about 10 minutes. A spirited Buryat man and his extended family drove up to us in a Honda step wagon. He told us to get in and he’d take us to the café, but the soldiers were not allowing that. Then he said he’d go back and get documents and take us to Ulan Ude as they were headed for a wedding there anyway. About 15 minutes later he drove back and they rearranged themselves in the wagon so we could fit in. There were two sisters and I in the middle seats. In back was one of the sister’s husband, three little granddaughters and another older lady. Leif and the other husband, Sergei our driver were in front. Sergei and Leif talked for hours as we rode. They included us sometimes and I found out that his wife Dora who sat by me was also an elementary teacher and had taught over thirty years, too. We stopped for gas and I was happy to help. We also stopped for spring water and I thanked God I had my bottle with the filter. Then we made a stopped at Gusinozyorsk which was about 100 km before Ulan Ude. They said come meet our son and his family for tea. There we met the son, his wife, their 9 month old, Erdeni, plus the wife’s mother and some sisters (I think). They were so gracious. We shared a small meal of fried fish, sausage, veggie salad, bread with butter and fresh raspberry sauce, chocolates and of course the tea-a nice green tea cooked with milk. We took pictures and I talked with the daughter in laws mom who knew a little English from college.

We got back into the car and stopped at a house just before Ulan Ude. Everyone got out with bags and packages except Sergei and Dora. We suggested we could call a taxi and get home, but they insisted on driving us right to the door of the apartment which was another 20-30 minute drive for them. We were all very tired from our long day. As I got back into the apartment that Inka and Elizabeth so graciously allow us to stay in for our visit I was struck with the parallel of the story Jesus tells about the good Samaritan. Sergei and Dora and their family (by all signs Buddists) were surely our good Samaritans, and I thank God for delivering us from such an adventure that could have turned out much differently. I know He just has different plans for us this week.

Sharing Our Lives With The Mamas/Babushkas

It's been fun introducing our moms to friends here and showing them around Ulan Ude. Today we had friends over after church and our moms made lunch. It was really nice to be able to sit and relax and talk with guests. Also, today was the first time that I've been able to sit through the whole church service since Anneka was born. My mom sat with her outside while she slept, which was SO nice. She's recently taken a liking to her stroller and will fall asleep in it. The only problem is that since camp, she doesn't fall asleep (on her own) very well in her bed. Sigh. It'll take 3-10 days of training to get her back on track. I'm hoping it's closer to three!

The picture above is from church today. One of the ladies gathered some of us together and posed us. Tomorrow Leif and Irene will go to a small city 6 hours away to be a part of a week-long day camp. Mom and I won't have a lack of things to do, I'm sure!!

Anneka has two little Russian kercheifs that she wears now that it's summer. I love them. You can't see it too well in this picture, but it's super-cute!

English Camp

We had a busy/fun/cold/tiring/exciting week at camp. This was our little "home" while we were there. The students stayed in yurts (traditional nomadic homes).



I found that being at camp with Anneka was busier than I'd anticipated. She was my only "responsibility", but with a crawling baby and no place to put her except on the sand or dirt, I found myself carrying her a lot, and this gang (and more!) of children followed me around wherever I went. There were times when I was SO ready to have my space, but overall I enjoyed the kids. I also connected with some of the workers and students in ways that I wouldn't have if I'd been tied up with other responsibilities.



Every evening, a Russian speaker shared about the "key to life" and got the students thinking about important questions, such as why we are here. Here, some Americans are leading a worship song in English. Most of the songs were in Russian, but as an "English Camp", we sang English songs, too.



Anneka LOVED the sand and loved to eat it. She was so quick!



This is one of the kitchen workers, feeding Anneka. The camp is owned by the deaf church, and the staff was SO WONDERFUL in welcoming us and serving without complaint. There was a mixup and the staff didn't know we were coming this week. They were so gracious and flexible- it was amazing. Such a reminder of how we really do shine like "stars in the universe" when we don't grumble or complain.



Leif was SO busy at the camp. He was the sports instructor, and this included leading exercises in the morning, pre-planned games in the mid-day, lifeguarding at free time (or leading other sports when it was cold), and leading organized games in the evening. Many students said that this was their favorite part of the camp.



During the English lessons, Leif often helped in the kitchen. Here he is with Zhenya and Sveta, peeling carrots with sharpened table knives.



a picture of our little family



On the second-to-last evening of camp, the speaker shared about the hope that we can have in Christ and gave the students opportunities to give their lives to Jesus. Eight of them publically decided this is what they wanted to do. (these are two of them). Others of us lit candles as a declaration that we want God to shine through us.

For many weeks before the camp, there were only 6 students signed up. At the very end (the last two days!) many more signed up (maybe 40? I don't even know how many). Things seemed so scattered and overwhelming. It was amazing how God was the one who put the camp together. We are so thankful for the prayers of many and for a wonderful week!

Baby Swap and Welcome Moms!

Both Leif's and my moms arrived this morning to visit us for a few weeks. We thought it would be funny to play a little joke on them at the airport and hold someone else's baby. Our friend, Adriana, met us at the airport and gave us baby Kristina and she took Anneka out of sight. I was a little worried that they wouldn't think it was funny, but my mom laughed and laughed as soon as she saw the baby. Irene said that she thought something seemed a little strange because the baby didn't smile, but she also said she's not very visual and didn't want to say anything. But quickly, they were reunited with their granddaughter. Adriana even dressed Kristina in some clothes that I'd given her of Anneka's. haha.

We look forward to a fun month together! We still will post a blog about camp. We have so many pictures that we need to sort through them first.

Jeannie Cross

Late yesterday we arrived back from a week on the shores of Lake Baikal where we saw God work amazingly in the hearts of people who joined us there for an English camp and we will share more details about that, but we were also greeted with some very sad news as we returned. Our dear friend Jeannie Cross has been taken home by our Lord. We are grieving from here with those who know her, and in particular our hearts are heavy for her husband Scott and daughter Malia (11). We have shared with many of you about the battle with a very unusual cancer that Jeannie has gone through. There were many emotional ups and downs as hope was repeatedly given and taken away regarding her physical well being. Even as she went through this struggle, she was able to love many people and touch lives of people on her way. A piece of scripture that God impressed upon me this last week was Galatians 1:24, “And they glorified God because of me.” This is regarding Christians who praised God because of how He worked through another person. This has been true for us with Jeannie. We praise God because of her and how He has worked through her. We love how she and Scott have always taken time with us and for us. She was so full of joy and loved life and those in her life. She prayed diligently, sought deep relationships, laughed sincerely, strove for honesty and cared with all of her heart. She has been such a blessing to us and we will miss her so much! We love her and ask that you would pray for her family.