Summer Flashbacks (Part 1)

     I'm going to attempt, in this next week, to finally catch up on summer blogs.  I realize that when I'm this behind, things that should have been full stories become condensed into one picture!  I also realized that there are a lot of things we didn't get pictures of that we'll just have to treasure as memories.  Leif was a part of the Training National Trainers program again this June.  They stayed in these yurts.

     The theme was the book of Psalms and each of the men really grew to love the book as they studied the passages deeply and as each prepared and gave sermons from the book.  It's been encouraging to see the men in Ulan Ude growing from the second generation group that has come out of these bi-yearly sessions.  

The Blakers planned a special party for the last day of school.  The kids cherish these memories!

     I picked up the kids from the party and Kandid and Daniela invited us for cherry pie and to meet their new kitten.  It was a lovely afternoon.

   
     This year Inka turned 50!  She threw an amazing party (it's normal to throw a party for yourself, especially on a "Jubilee" year.)  Many, many people came and shared skits, songs, slideshow, and stories of the blessing that Inka is to them.  I felt so grateful that we got to celebrate her at such a happy occasion and not because she was moving away or something.  =)  Lena Belaganskaya asked me to collect money from a bunch of people and to purchase a piece of Buryat art for Inka (from the church).  Our artist friend, Larisa, took Martina and me to meet her friend who is a famous and incredibly talented Buryat artist.  We fell in love with this picture of Buryat children laying on the grass, looking up into heaven.  We felt it was perfect for Inka, as she works with children, pointing them to heaven (to Jesus!)

     The Sunday school teachers planned a special end-of-school celebration for the kids out in the village.  They played games, heard the good news of Jesus from the wordless book, made bracelets, and we all had a hotdog lunch. This is one of the traditions that is a highlight to our kids' year.

     Early on in the summer, we met this dog.  He took a liking to Ike right away, so we started calling him Ike's dog.  He shows up on playgrounds everywhere, and Ike and this dog have a calming effect on one another.  I've seen Ike sing this dog to sleep while sweetly petting him.  I love their relationship!  =)  These girls are friends that we've connected with a lot other summers but hardly saw this summer.

Anneka learned to ride a bike this summer!

     Ella's kindergarten went so late (into the summer) that Anneka and Ike would play together in the mornings while we waited for her to return home.

     Our neighbor's cat had kittens!  This meant that our kids really wanted to find homes for these kitties.  Several times this summer, they went around from playground to playground, asking if anyone wanted a kitten.  As a joke one evening we left the bucket with the kitten outside the Brubacher's door, rang the doorbell and hid.  But it didn't work.  ;)

We spent time with my friend, Asya, and her kids.  She always buys cotton candy for the kids to share.  Our kid think it's great!  I think it's so gross (but very kind of her!)

We went to a greenhouse to pick out flowers for our balcony planter box.

     A common sight- playing with kids on the playground, taking the rat for a walk, holding a kitten.

Another common sight:  finding stray cats on the playground and cuddling them.

.....and picking flowers (the whole thing, roots and all) was another common summer occurrence.  =)

I have yet to find a good vase!  I usually use a jar or bottle.  They still display the flowers nicely.  

     We got our tick-borne encephalitis shots this spring and summer, along with the Brubachers. Encpehalitis is so serious and we're in the woods enough, that we decided it's pretty important to take action to prevent it. Ice cream was the perfect reward after the pokes.  =)

Here's the village we're moving to!  

     ...and the people we'll be living/working with (except for Nettie's friend, Andrea, who was visiting)

 We took one evening to pray together down at the river and to pray over the area.

     Ella cuddling with the Sharlanov's pet bunny.  We ate him a couple of weeks ago! Shhh... don't tell the kids.  ;)

     After last summer's drought and poor crop, this year's rain was an answer to prayer!  People this year are thrilled with their wonderful harvests and nice plump potatoes.  On this day it wasn't raining at all when the kids and I left to run errands, but it turned into a torrential downpour.  

     There's been a lot of construction going on in the city this summer, and specifically new roads.  Of course, this is very exciting for a 4-year old boy to watch!

     Even though we didn't have English Club every week, we still had special game nights throughout the summer to connect with people.

     We enjoyed getting together with Leif's friend Chingis and his family.  He taught us this knife throwing game.  With little kids!  They all loved it, of course.

     Ike got along really well with their boys.  It was so fun to watch them playing together and to hear Ike using his Russian.

     We set aside a day each week for rest and family time.  We took advantage of the good weather by often going on picnics on these days.

... or playing in the local fountain!

     These last two pictures are funny to me because I found them and had NO IDEA whose home or baby this was or whose rabbit Ella is holding!!  Then I remembered that Leif and the kids went to a village a couple of hours from here with another family.  The pastor moved away, so different men from Ulan Ude are taking turns to go and share with and encourage the church family there each month.  There wasn't room for me in the van.  It looks like they had a grand time!  ;)

Stay tuned for more summer fun....!