Saturday, 12 June 2010 23:47
Did you ever read the Little House on the Prairie books? Not only did I read them over and over as a kid, but a few years ago I re-read them as an adult, and loved them more than ever. I’ve always been amused by one particular chapter in the 6th book, Little Town on the Prairie. The chapter is called, “A Whirl of Gaiety,” and it chronicles one week in 16 year-old Laura’s life, when she’s living in the town of
I suppose you could say that’s what we’ve had around here lately. On Tuesday, we had our last English club meeting with our University students. We had prayed for a chance to share Christ with them before we left, and in the middle of a conversation about politics or movies, or I-don’t-know-what, one of them suddenly asked, “So what’s your religion?” So we got to share the whole Gospel message with them all. Totally exciting! We will miss this group of intelligent, enthusiastic young people. We’re trying now to plug them into another friend’s English club, where they can carry on with what we started here.
On Thursday, our neighbor Galya graduated from university. She is now a fully-qualified veterinarian: we are so proud of her! I went to the graduation with Nina and Vladimir: what a cool celebration it was! The ceremony was not unlike what you’d see in any American university, but with far less pomp and circumstance, and much more of a feeling of fun and hilarious celebration to it. Students here don’t wear the traditional Anglo-American gown and mortarboard, instead, they each choose their own special outfit. Russian girls love to dress up and look nice, so for me, it was as much a breathtaking fashion show as anything: women wore anything from dressy pants to full-length ball gowns. There were slide shows and speeches, and—as tradition dictates—the first-year students put on a presentation for the graduates. They chose to do a musical expose, with singing, ballroom dancing, and belly dancers who walked on glass. I was amazed at the level of talent in people so young, and the whole thing was very festive and fun.
In the afternoon, our Russian company (through whom we get our visas) threw a party for the American families who will be leaving. (On the way there, I had a quarrel with a taxi driver who tried to cheat me, which is not worth going into here except to say that I won: HA!) Every Russian woman I know sets a table and presents food like a professional caterer, so it was all very elegant. Also, these particular lovely people always go to great pains to do something special for our children, which any parent will tell you is a direct route to a mother or father's heart. The American families each shared a particular impression or memory they had from their years in
Are you tired yet? I was! On Friday, we went to the village where we’ve been helping with English classes, about an hour and a half away, and had a last evening with our beloved “second family” up there. The biggest prize was our teacher Svyeta’s Baby Alicia, just 3 weeks old. I got to hold her, between courses, and watch while she had her bath. Pure medicine for the soul!
I brought my abacus (acquired in a shrewd business move at the market in
One more thing we accomplished Friday night was to make one last delivery to the drug/alcohol rehab farm and the single mothers’ shelter in that village. These two wonderful ministries have been the final destination of many of the things you’ve sent us these last several years. We’ve often had the first-hand word of kids who’ve been blessed by the hats, blankets, soccer cleats and craft supplies you’ve sent, and recovering addicts who live off the clothes that came in your boxes from
Today is, let’s see…Saturday. I spent the morning sorting the kids’ school papers (“Keep In Case a School Board Somewhere Wants Proof That You Taught Them Something” and “Throw Directly Into the Dumpster, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200.) This evening, we had dinner with our neighbors to commemorate Galya’s graduation.
I should add here that Galya is hoping to immediately enter the post-graduate program, but in order to do this, she has to be able to speak English fairly well. We have been working on this together, 3 or 4 times a week, and her progress is very rapid. I have high hopes that she’ll pass her oral entrance exam in two weeks, but by that time, I’ll be out of the country. She jokes that I’ll be far enough to be out of firing range, if she doesn’t pass, and close enough to reap the credit if she does!
Tomorrow is our final good-bye with our church. Our last week will be spent saying farewell to the American community here. Meanwhile, we are always in the thick of selling things (I live with my cell phone in my hip pocket these days), and sorting and packing and throwing out and giving away. What a process. Would I be a wimp if I admitted I’ll be glad to hit American soil and stay put for a few weeks? Like Ma Ingalls, I'm ready to get back to the quiet life.
Meanwhile, next week promises to be just as full and every bit as bittersweet. I’ll keep you updated, and you keep praying for us!
