Wedding invitations…

I can hardly believe the humor of creating our own invitations for our wedding. Amy and I really thought it would be a good idea to save some money (which in fact it REALLY saved a LOT of money). The real humor is that creating our own invitations for the wedding really created a LOT of work. I worked on them in Russia and really got a good headstart.

When we got to the States, I just had to drop in the text and we were ready to go. Amy and I headed off to the copy shop to print a test invite and… they didn't have legal sized card stock… so I changed the invitation to letter size. Then we printed a test. It was perfect.

So the next day we returned to make the invitations. They didn't have the same card stock… it was too thick which made it too difficult to fold the invitations and they didn't look as nice.

So the quest began. There is a store in Ann Arbor called Xpedex, which basically only sells paper and related products. So we found the right weight of paper and the right color. We needed enough to print 200, so I got 250.

All was great until we were walking out of Kinko's (the copy shop) and realized that the invites are 2 pages of double sided… which means we needed 400 sheets of cardstock… and it was already 5pm. So another day lost in the process of putting together the invites.

In the end, they are created and this weekend we'll be folding, stamping, stickering, labeling, and mailing them! Look out paper cuts and gummy tongues.

Laying Low

I had never expected to have such a HUGE desire to be anonymous in my life. I'm actually afraid of bumping into people right now. I'm not overwhelmed being home really, but there is SO much going on right now, that I just need to have some alone time. It's planned for tomorrow.

The speed of life in America

I love America. There are rules. People follow the rules. People enforce the rules. Some of the rules we know. Some of them are just culturally implicit. The speed one drives a car is an explicit rule. We know it. Sometimes we don't see the signs… sometimes we just don't obey them. At the end of the month, the cops are out and watching to catch speeding drivers and I got stopped. 3 days I've been back in America and I've been stopped by the police. She was unmerciful. I was all of 10 feet into the zone were the speed changed from 35 to 30 and she had me clocked at 37. So I now have to pay a ticket.

I'm in enough culture shock that milk is nearly $4 a gallon, but a speeding ticket at $120 is about to break the bank. I couldn't believe it was so expensive. Gas has increased $0.70 / gallon since I left. I know that I'll get used to it, but I do want to hold on to my new awareness and my bi-culturality.

I'm also reeling a bit at the busyness of our lives here. We go from one task to the next without much resting and relaxation. Amy and I are literally discussing creating a calendar to make sure we SCHEDULE our relaxing time… I know that I’m not always spontaneous, but whoa.

Home SAFE!

Sorry once again for the blog hiatus. I know have a connection to the internet again. It has been a whirlwind coming back to America for my wedding and the first year of my marriage with Amy Carew! We are so excited. We have been engrossed in wedding, wedding, wedding planning. All is wonderful here stateside.

More soon!!!

Beer at 4:30am

Yeah - I'm sitting here in the airport (I got plugged in!) and there are two ladies sitting across from me drinking beer. I can't believe it. Now there's a man pouring martini for a group of 4 women… whoa. There's a beautiful sunrise right now though.

Lost my Passport Part II

When I got to Moscow, I checked my baggage into the baggage check… and then I couldn't find my passport when the lady asked me for my passport… I about freaked out. Stranded in Moscow without my passport. Whoa. I was afraid that I left it on the plane from Tyumen to Moscow… But, turns out that I had put it in my coat pocket, and then I put my coat IN my baggage… so that's where it was... My Russian life is truly a never ending adventure.

Lost my Passport

I remember when I got my first planner. It was my senior year in college. One of my fellow interns in my office gave me one and it really changed my life. The amazing thing is that now I'm organized. And without organization I feel like I'm a cripple.

So I keep things in the same places too, so that I can easily find them. Well, I moved my passport this morning before ch^rch, so I could make photocopies to put in my baggage. And then I couldn't find it.

I lost my passport.

I took three prayers for me to find it again… it was right where I thought it was… it was in a place I had already checked two times.

The Patience Blog

The past couple days sure have been busy. I've been SLAMMING to get all of my things packed. To see everyone that I care about here in Russia before I have to leave. Today has a really interesting and phenomenal feature. I'm moving all of my things that are going to be waiting for Amy and I here in Russia. And three of my four favorite Russians will be helping me move. Sasha, Igor and Dennis are all helping me move my stuff along with Dennis' friend Sergei. Zhanna is our telephone and pr@yer support specialist. You'll never believe how long it took us to move my things less than 1/4 mile from my apartment to the garage.

Everything was all set up for 2 o'clock. Then the moving helpers were late. Then the taxi was late. Then the taxi cancelled. We got a new taxi… We loaded it… We moved…We unloaded the truck. Then we spent 3 hours trying to open the garage door. It turns out to be really not complicated. But we didn't do it right. 6 different people tried to open the door… and then Zhanna and I were talking on the phone (she was helping me look up phone numbers for people in Russia who know how to open the door). She suggested we pr@y - and the door opened. Isn't that amazing?!

The really incredible part of the story is the lesson. I've really learned so many things about myself in this past year in Russia - and the lesson is about patience. There are many aspects of Russian culture that differ from American culture. And the highlight for this story is waiting. Everything in America seems to be designed to happen as quickly and as efficiently as possible. In Russia, we wait in lots of lines, people push to the front (not everyone of course) and in general it's really great for developing patience. In fact, people often go on errands in small groups so that someone can stand in line while the others get the errands done.

So the past several days - I've completely forgotten this lesson. I've been rushing around like a chicken with my head cut off and I've forgotten that the roses smell beautiful. I actually told Zhanna on the phone that I was really frustrated, because I didn't have time to be standing waiting. Zhanna reminded me that I was with my favorite people and that it was a beautiful day to be standing outside.

She was right.

Here goes!

Today might be my last entries for a while. I'm flying TOMORROW (night)! I'll be without internet for a while. Don't know exactly when it's going to be set up at my place in Michigan. Here goes! I'm EXHAUSTED. I've been starting to switch my sleep schedule, packing and seeing people for the last time until Amy and I come back next year! Wow.

People are coming over to help me move my things into storage… whoa. I'll try to post some pictures.

I can't believe it's been 11 months WHOA.

Last Interpreter Training

Well, I feel like I was a disappointment today. I don't usually do very well in this situation (not like anyone does - we all like being successful!) Anyway - I really just ran out of time putting everything together at the last minute with moving. I thought I had planned everything well, but I didn't anticipate all of the last minute projects, meetings, and people visiting. I've been going to bed late this week to try and start switching my body clock… 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning most days. Whoa - I think it'll help me sleep on the planes and adjust to the 10 hour time zone change.

Anyway - we had a shorter meeting than usual and it went just fine. I think I set my expectations really high and it was just a normal meeting. Most of them have really been wonderful, so the bar has been constantly on the rise.

Last Teaching

I taught my final lessons this week at the University. It was with mixed feelings that I approached the lessons. Most of the students had already taken their oral exam with me, so it was really just a matter of giving them their grades and having a wrap up conversation. Many of them are planning to join our English Discussion Club!!! I'm really excited about the possibilities that this brings to us as far as the outreach potential. I have nearly 100 students, so if even a portion of them decided to start coming it would be enough to start another session of club. We're already at maximum size for everyone to have a chance to talk… I think it might be nice to have an intermediate level and an advanced level group.

Many of my students are hoping to come to America someday - it has been so incredible to see them improving their language skills. My involvement at the University has had some really great impact on some of our ministry projects, mostly notably D-Club and Interpreters for camp. Here are some pictures of my students.

Behind in Blogging

Beloved readers! I'm SO sorry I haven't blogged in almost two weeks. I want you all to know that I am certainly still recording the main points of my life and what's going on. It's a bit crazy right now with my imminent departure for America. I'm excited to take some time today to write though, as it really is a highlight of my time here in Russia. I feel so connected to my friends and family back home.

By the way - with all that's been happening in the past 3 days (going to Talitsa for two days with Igor's family, and my interviews with the CEC staff, and 6 hours with my friend Dennis last night), I'm speaking and hearing a LOT of Russian lately. I woke up this morning thinking in Russian! This of course, has happened before, but it's so funny to me, when I realize sometime after I get up that I don't know how to think about something… it's a really good sign. Today I get to pick up my language certificate from my Russian test last week. I'm a bit nervous about my language rating, but I'm also just interested in knowing the results.

Last D-Club

Today was our last discussion club meeting! I have really mixed feelings. I'm excited that it's ending because it means that I'm going back to America and see AMY!!!!! I can't wait. On the other hand, I'm so sad. I really enjoy our conversations, I enjoy having a positive impact on their lives and seeing how they are changing. It's sometimes frustrating that there aren't instant changes, but then again, with slow and steady changes you know they are thinking and considering things honestly.

Saying Goodbyes and Hellos

Being a man of two minds and two hearts is a tough thing. At training in Colorado Springs last January, Amy and I learned that one of the most important things that you can do when moving to and from the field is to say appropriate good-byes. You have to go through the good-byes, so that the hellos are good too.

But, I want to be honest that it's really hard. I feel, in so many ways, that I've really hit my groove here and that I am really being used to make a difference.

I know that G0d will complete the work that I have begun. This is a promise that I cling to. And I know that my friends here are in excellent care, both with the CEC staff and with the divine, but I'm weak and I just like to be able to see what's going on.

(below final d-club meeting)

Anyway - two minds, two hearts. I am SO excited and thrilled to move back to the States for the next year. I cannot wait to SEE Amy, let alone get married! We'll certainly have a LOT on our plate in the next year, and we're really excited about our future together. AND, it's hard to leave. There are people when I leave this year that I probably never will see again. Most of my students and the one-on-one relationships that I have are locals, from Tyumen. But there are a few folks who are not locals and are 15 hour train rides away. So, I'm sad about the fact that I may never see some of them again. Even when Amy and I return, they won't be here… We'll have to see about having a Thanksgiving celebration or something so that they can come back and visit!

The packing frenzy

It has begun. There are boxes littering the floor, clothes piled on couches and arm chairs, picture frames are sitting askance on the table. I am packing. I'm trying to do a better job of not being a frenzied, crazy man as I move back to the States for a year as I was when I moved here in the first place. I don't know if I'll do it or not. I've been thinking about the packing process for nearly 2 weeks already (it's so helpful that Amy has just moved back to the US and I got a LOT of pointers from her move). I'm deciding which items to bring to America and which ones to leave behind. We have a garage here where I'll be storing a bunch of my things for when Amy and I return. This is one thing that will make moving a LOT easier. It's also fun that I can leave some things behind for people to use when I'm not here. Mostly things like magazines, books, and movies. But English materials are like gold here.

Hanging with the fam

So, I had forgotten how nice and brain numbing television is. Let's just say that I got to spend a rainy day with the Kurmangashinov family watching television. We drank tea, made Mexican food, and just relaxed the day away. There was even a cat to curl up in my lap and purrr me to relaxation.

The interesting this is that I'm understanding most of what's going on when I watched tv. They have this show (for THREE hours) called Minute of Fame. It's an opportunity to show whatever talent you have. And today was the semi finals. So that was fun, everything from dancing, singing, instruments, to extreme biking, or the bizarre. So relaxing.

On Sunday we had a ch^rch service at home, which was actually really cool. There were six of us and we all had an opportunity to share what G0d's doing in our lives and what we're learning. It's so cool to get the multiage perspective. We had (39, 39, 35, 20, 16, and 10). So I really enjoyed this time of sharing, learning, and just plain worship. It was fun to sing together too. I even knew the words to half of the songs!

Family visits (and a paragraph on PURPOSE)

Wow, what an early start to the day. Igor and I caught a train this morning to his hometown, Talitsa. The train ride is only about 2.5 hours, but it's really interesting. The elektrichka as it's called, doesn't sell specific seats on the train, so the possibility of it being overbooked, is very possible. In fact, it was so overbooked today that we were standing - in between cars. That's right. At first I couldn't believe it as the rain was dripping in through the connecting parts of the train, but within 45 minutes we found a place to sit down together.

It's so fun and interesting to work with young people. Getting to talk with them about their futures, their choices, their lives. Everything is ahead for them and it's really such a wonderful time in life. I especially like this time because it's when we're figuring out our reason for being. Purpose is really this thing for me. I just love the word. I like thinking about what it means. I like thinking about what it means to know that I have a purpose. I just like knowing that we're all created for a reason, a specific reason for each and every one of us. I think that it's critical for us to seek this purpose and figure out the specific meaning behind our individual lives and that so many of us don't find it. It's one of the reasons that I really love being a facilitator with the LeaderShape program. It's all about finding purpose.

So the purpose of our visit to Talitsa, was that I'm starting the process of saying my Russian good-byes. I've been here for almost a year and it's back to the States for my wedding with Amy!!! Igor's family, the Kurmangashinov's, have been my surrogate family here in Russia for years already. I've known them since 2002.

When I arrived at the house (they live in a small 2 room house in the village, with an outhouse, small garden, and banya (a Russian sauna) - I was immediately overcome with that feeling of being home. You know the one? Where you could just fall asleep laying on the floor? Or the couch? It smells like food is cooking and it's warm. Yeah, that's the one. It was a great feeling.

Victory Day

Russia celebrates Victory Day on May 9 to commemorate the millions who gave their lives during World War II. Flowers and wreaths are laid on wartime graves on this day, and veterans come out into the streets wearing their military orders and medals.

There was an AMAZING parade today. I think it probably lasted for 2 or 3 hours! It was really cool. Here are some pictures. The Irony might be that I honestly felt pride for Russia's contribution in World War II. Really, in so many ways, the war turned because of them (I almost typed us…whoa). I also felt America pride at the same time… it's strange becoming a person who loves two countries. But it's true.

(this is my univeristy! two of my students are carrying the banner)

(when the spectators get cold...)

Interpreting the Velveteen Rabbit

We are having such an AMAZING TIME training the interpreters for camp. It is going really well and they are so talented. We have a basic format that we follow for our meetings: something for team development, B!ble study, talk about the Narnia program, and interpreting/ language practice.

Today was interesting because usually the interpreters lead the B!ble study portion as a way to become more familiar with the Book. There was no one signed up for today, so I sorta had to do a lesson on the spot. Most everyone who knows me, knows that I like to be really prepared, but I was at an orphanage for most of the day today and I wasn't completely prepared.

So - we had an AMAZING B!ble study. It was like someone else was speaking for me the whole time. I was actually talking about the resurrection today and how it connects with the part of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when the stone table breaks and Aslan lives again.

I was just thinking about the emotions of the people surrounding Jes^s at this point. The respect, admiration and love they felt and that HE felt for them. So we talked about who we respect, admire and love and how we would feel if something happened to them. It really made the story more real and come alive.

As interpreting practice, we just sort of fell into interpreting the Velveteen Rabbit. So I read the story in English, all of the interpreters have a copy in front of them, EXCEPT the one who is actually interpreting. That person is in the hot seat and is practicing. It's harder than you think. They are learning how to work together with their interpretee and control the pace of the message. They are figuring out how to improvise and create clever ways to say something in Russian when it's hard to describe. In English was say, "lap." In Russian, they translate that as, "the upper part of the legs when the person is in a sitting position." So, sometimes it's a mouthful. Of course, if they're talking to a child and they say, "come and sit on my lap" they just say, "some and sit on my knees" But the specifics are lost.

Anyway, the point of the Velveteen Rabbit is SO awesome. If you haven't read it in a while, please read it again. It's easy enough to find a copy of the text online to read. The part about being Real is my favorite. Being Real isn't easy, it hurts. It doesn't happen in an instant, you Become. But once you are Real, you can never be UnReal.

Let's all strive to be Real in our lives. It's the most important thing we can do. To be vulnerable enough to be loved so that our hair falls out, and that our noses are rubbed off…. That is really living.

Orphanage Visit

7 cups of water can be such a powerful illustration. Today I got to visit an orphanage at Zavodu Uspenka. The youngest person I saw was maybe 9 and the bulk of them were teenagers.

Being an orphan is different in Russia. Many of the orphans actually have living parents, who either don't want them, or can't take care of them. And then, some of them are actually orphans (sirata). Some of them go home on weekends to visit family and then return to the children's house (that's what orphanages are called here) for the week.

Because most of them were teenagers, Victoria and Marina had planned a program for them to talk about goals, healthy living styles and the dangers of STD's.

That's where the glasses came in. 7 of us stood at the front of the room and were given a small glass of water. We were instructed to put the water in our mouths and VIGOROUSLY swish it around. Then we were to spit it back out into the cup. Gross. We were arranged boy - girl - boy - girl and basically, Victoria started with the first person and introduced her to the second, a boy. Their relationship quickly progressed to one with serious kissing and she mixed the water in the cups. Let's just say by the last person, the water was looking REALLY gross.

Turns out on the bottom of each cup was the name of an STD. So, the message was powerful.

Sasha's b-day

3/5

Today was so much fun. Do you have one of those friends who is just incredibly difficult to find a present for? That's Sasha. He really has everything that he wants and needs already. So I was flailing around trying to think of a gift for his birthday and it was REALLY hard. In fact, I was nearly at my wits end, because I'm the type of person who like to give the PERFECT present.

Well, I had a few ideas, so I was bouncing them around with Zhanna to see which would be the best option. Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3 -- you're OUT! She gave me a suggestion that Sasha had a really cool mechanical pencil/pen combo that broke a while ago. So, I set out upon the quest. Needless to say, I couldn't find one. I did find a cool mechanical pencil… but I really wanted to do something special and cool. I had a few other small aces up my sleeve, but I started to think of the perfect accompaniment for the pen…

Sasha is a pretty organized guy (the only Russian I know who effectively uses a palm computer like a pro (he helped me fix mine today)). So I set about creating a planner for him. I put together some ideas that I've had for a while for a planner and viola! Groovy presents 101.

I think he really like it too.

Have you read the book, The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman? Highly recommended. Anyway - the languages are: physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, service, and gifts. So gifts is the thing that I really jive with (sometimes I feel shallow about this, but I am who G0d made me to be) and I really like making something for folks when it really works. And I really wanted to express my appreciation of how much our friendship means to me, so it was great that he liked his gifts.

We shared a nice meal together, had tea and a prune pie (it was good, don't let your discrimination for prunes get in the way of how tasty it was) and we also shared LOTS of laughter.

True Love

I had a really great talk today with Igor today. I was sharing about how excited I am to see Amy in a couple of weeks and he said something like, love like that doesn't exist for most people. So we ended up having a conversation about what is love and what it means to wait for the right person.

Our world is so geared toward getting what we want right now and not waiting for anything. It's kind of frustrating. In fact, I actual get some pleasure out of waiting for the things that I want. When I get a package from the US (thanks Heather and Rick!!!) I try to wait a little while to open it so that I can enjoy the anticipation.

Anyway - back to love. I had another really good conversations about it this week including this one with Igor. My Russian teaching was reading my latest grammar exercises and she says to me, "you even manage to write about how much you love Amy in your grammar drills! Real love like this is rare. Hold onto it."

So I asked Igor to describe to me what he thinks love is? How does it manifest? What does it mean? Where is a good example of it? Is it a feeling or an action? We talked about how Jes^s is the ultimate example of love in the sense of sacrifice and dedication (and many other things), but as a 20 year old, he wanted to focus on the romantic aspects of love. Is it REALLY worth waiting for? What if you get something that's good and you have that for 10 years and it might not of been as amazing as perfect true love, but for that perfect love you had to wait an extra 10 years? At least in my case, the extra years were worth the wait.

Collectivism vs. Individualism

Doing some grammar exercises, I'm just continually struck by how much language and it's sayings reflect the culture of its people. Check out these phrases -- no promises on the perfection of the translation… I made it pretty literal.

Семья - это семь я. (Family - it is seven of me.)

Вся семья вместе - так и душа на месте (The whole family together - the soul is in its place)