A Wonderful Winter

A wonderful winter continues to unveil its surprises and joys here in Moscow. As I type this, I'm at a rather important turning point in the semester. Tonight's my last night in the apartment of an amazingly hospitable family from the school (they've allowed me to stay with them for three weeks while my new apartment is being remodeled), and tomorrow I'll be moving into the new apartment on the east side of the city. It's a one-room apartment that God has graciously provided, but I don't mind since Max and I get along so well. Tonight marks six weeks from the beginning of the semester, with six weeks remaining before Spring Break (I'm quite excited about heading to Jerusalem with some teacher friends...we were able to get a great deal on plane tickets for that trip in which we'll be staying with some former teachers at Hinkson). Tonight also marks the end of Winter Break, which has been so healthy for me. I've been able to rest and spend time doing everything outside of my routine.

See all the pictures below for a quick recounting of this past month!

A quiet Friday morning in the fifth grade as my students write out their memory verse quiz before chapel begins.

Two students, who also happen to be best friends, dressed up for our ancient Egypt construction project. One project is a 3D model of the Nile River, complete with the ingenious cataract system. The other is a miniature shadoof, which the ancient Egyptians used to scoop water from the Nile.

A half-birthday celebration for one of my students. His birthday happens to fall in early June, which is just after the school year ends. Celebrating half-birthdays allows all students in the class to celebrate their entry into the world!

Very similar to last year's social justice project, this year's fifth graders are pumped about our slave-freeing campaign. After learning about the many injustices in our world (there are still an estimated 20 million slaves in our world today) - specifically in Africa, studying what the Word of God has to say about our role as Christians toward the poor and oppressed, and brainstorming practical things we can do to help, we officially launched the HCA version of the International Justice Mission's Loose Change to Loosen Chains campaign. Our goal is to raise over $1,000 before the end of the year, which could free between one and ten slaves, according to some estimates. This project is especially good for this class as it unites them in a unique and purposeful fashion.

Mr. Tim Wiley, school chaplain and one of my best friends, visited the fifth grade class on a Friday afternoon to demonstrate how to use his authentic African jimbay drum and to explain its history. Fascinating!

I am now convinced that one of the best things about being a teacher is seeing former students grow up and mature, especially when they come back and visit! A couple Fridays ago, I was asked to join the 6th graders for a sledding/hot chocolate & hot dogs/Princess Bride evening. It was a blast!

Heading down the hill with the boys, legs entangled and all!

Last Sunday I visited the local Russian Orthodox church (see below) with the mother of the family I'm staying with. While there, I took this picture of some babushkee (grandmothers/older women) cleaning the candle holders. Many Orthodox churchgoers buy candles, light them, and place them near certain icons as symbols of their prayers. These candles are near the cross of Christ. I've found that going to Orthodox services on occasion really helps center me again about the importance of having reverence for God. For can we really live wisely if we don't first fear God?

Here's the cathedral. I just love the blue tints!

The wooden village in the town of Suzdal, Russia. Suzdal still remains practically untouched by industrialism and is very much an agrarian community. Four teacher friends and I visited the historic city for the first two days of our Winter Break. Many of the buildings in the wooden village are replicas or restored originals from the 1200s and 1300s, if I remember correctly.

Gail, Laura, Christiana, Phil, and Luke...five friends, spanning three different decades of life, yet sharing a common passion. I can't recall a recent time in which I had so much for for three straight days. We laughed so much this weekend!

A gray and white composition of two large windmills from the wooden village.

An icon of Christ, just within a cathedral in Suzdal. One doesn't have to spend much time in a cathedral to have one's sense of awe renewed.

The view of the walls and fortresses within a Russian monastery in Suzdal. Notice the birch bark fence posts?

A beautifully-lit cathedral in the industrial city of Vladimir (about 2.5 hours by train, east of Moscow). Christiana spent her first year in Russia working at a ministry center in Vladimir for orphans who had graduated from their respective orphanages. We were privileged to see her "home" city and to spend some time at the ministry center.

The three amigos!

Ever tried this before? Take a steaming hot cup of some beverage (in this case, tea/chai), and blow your breath gently through your nose. This propels steam upward, where it can then condense on one's glasses. Pretty weird, huh? I also love the mug that I'm holding in this picture. It's an odd shape with no symmetry, and the message is simple: "Nobody is perfect". I'm slowly learning that truth, which can be quite difficult to swallow. But once a person realizes that he/she isn't perfect, there's a great freedom in embracing that imperfection. I'm coming to understand that it's OK to be me, all of me. A Brilliant God created me with the strengths and weaknesses that He fully intended for me to have. Wow!

On the staircase, inside the Golden Gate, in the city of Vladimir on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Gate is one of only a few landmarks that remain from the city's original ramparts.

The cathedral that looks beautiful at night is even more stunning during the day!

After a safe train ride back to Moscow, Luke is happy to be home!

Praise God for His tremendous and timely answer to prayer. Last Tuesday, our school's legal assistant and lawyer had two very important meetings regarding our school's licensing. Both meetings were bathed in prayer, and it was evident! We found out later that day that one of our two educational licenses (the one that is based in the States and issues visas for the administration) had been renewed for three more years, and our other educational license had been extended for two months! Please pray for the second license to go through expediently, as we're hoping for it to be renewed for another three years! This document is essential for the school's operation next year.

Please pray for me as I have a very busy week coming up. Sometimes I don't know how to properly handle a lot of stress, and my prayer for this week is simply for wisdom and strength.

Pray also for me as God is working on some deep (yet painful) areas of my life.

Pray for my students to grow in their love for God and their neighbor.

Pray for the families of my students, as many of them are carrying the gospel throughout the world as missionaries or businessmen.

Pray for the school's staffing needs for next year as a number of positions will be opening up.

Praise God for the incredible things He's doing in your life!