Beekeepers, Ministering through Sports, and Village Joys

       Last weekend we visited Pastor Oleg in the village of Shabur.  His wife and daughters were out of town, and we enjoyed a very full and interesting weekend together!  Oleg made us a cold soup out of kvas (fermented bread water), greens from the garden, boiled eggs, rice, and meat.  Leif's mom, Irene, is visiting, so it was special for her to eat such interesting foods and see our kids' love of farm life.

 

     Ike loved climbing on Oleg's motorcycle and pretending to ride.

      Anneka just loves farm life in general.  She worked so hard, continually asking Oleg what she could do next to help.  She said that one day she wants to own a farm...and we believe her!





     At 10:00pm the first night, Anneka was found out milking the goats.  It was dark and stinky, but she was in her element!

     Sunday Leif gave the talk at church.  The church family was very warm and inviting.  They were so glad to have us, and different people gave us fresh eggs, cows milk, and cottage cheese as a thank you for coming.  It was encouraging for Irene to see how welcoming they were and how happy everyone was to see us. 




     After the church service, we got to visit a beekeeper.  We went to buy honey, but the lady was so sweet and gave us a whole tour of the bees and showed us how the honey is made.  We got to wear these fun covers to protect our faces from the bees. 



     The kids stood very still and didn't seem fearful at all of the bees flying all around.

      She let us try honeycomb with pollen and honeycomb with honey.  Then she showed us the spinning process for getting the honey out.  She also let us all try it right out of the big pot with a spoon.  Often I don't like honey very much here, but this honey was SO good and pure.  Mmmmm!  This woman and her brother had such fascinating stories to tell of persecution their family faced in past years for their faith in Christ. 


 
     We all went back to Oleg's for another interesting lunch, and I made some zucchini cake out of some zucchini from his garden.  Then Leif and Oleg went to do some shooting with some of the youth.  Oleg has a real ministry with many of the young people of this village and really cares for them and pours into them.  He often will teach them archery.  On this day they shot pellet guns.

     I stopped in for a few minutes and they convince me to shoot one of the pellet guns.  I got it on the target!  =)

     All of the kids enjoyed eating different leaves and vegetables from the garden.  These leaves had a very tangy flavor- almost like lemon.  I couldn't find what they're called in English.

     Then in the evening, we all headed to the soccer field to connect with more of the youth for a soccer game.  Several of the boys there we knew from previous hiking trips that we've taken.  The guys were happy to have Leif visiting!  Quite a few people came!  (I didn't get any pictures of the whole group).

     Each of our kids joined in the game at one  point or another.  Ike was so cute and happy running around.

     And then for part of the game, Irene and I took the kids to a nearby playground.  All of the kids surrounded us and had lots of questions for us.  They all knew Oleg, too.  I don't think anyone in this village doesn't know him and his family!  We pray for this next generation, that they will grow up to know and love Jesus!