Back in Moscow

We made it back home (Russia) safely. When we arrived on Thursday at 10:30am, our driver picked us up after we got our luggage, and in the car at 11:00; however it took 1 hour to travel one mile, ½ hr to drive 15 miles, and then the other hour to get to the Embassy. Traffic wasn’t moving to fast and there also was a fender bender on the road. When you have an accident in Moscow you are not allowed to move the vehicles until the investigation is over.

We entered into the house, took a shower and went to bed, slept for a few hours got up and unpacked our luggage, then took a shower and went to bed.

When we arrived at work, we had some bad news, Ron, an electrician who worked with Terry had to go home (along with his wife Mel) because they found a lump on his neck that was cancerous.

The big boss, Yelena from PAE, was in town so the day after we arrived we had an Ethics class, Saturday and Sunday we had parties to attend.
It took us a 1 1/2 weeks to get over the jet lag.

Denver, El Paso, Washington

Wow, a lot has happened since we have updated our blog.We spent a week in Colorado,a little over a week in El Paso, drove with Josiah to his first post near Seattle, and then back to Moscow. Take a look at our trip through pictures.

Blake learning from grandpappy

Blake in his automobile

Zachary, Blake & Avery in the sandbox

Terry and Zach building a robot

Pat on Julie's bike

A quick stop at the Grand Canyon

Mom and Josiah relaxing

A bargin at Pike's Market

Celebrate!

The biggest reason we went to El Paso was to celebrate with Josiah as he was commissioned an officer in the US Army. The next day he graduated from University of Texas El Paso with a major in Political Science & a minor in Military Science. That evening we had a celebration dinner at a local restaurant.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Book Smart

The ladies and I , once we had finished our work, have been organizing the Library. We have labeled many donated books, and organized them into the right category. I remember when we first arrived at the Embassy, a year ago, there was one shelf of books now we have 12 shelves.

Not only was it fun, we actually got book smart!

Weapons of Mass Destruction Courses

Pat attended a 2-hour class on Weapons of Mass Destruction awareness. Terry went through the two day course where the emphasis was to help people out of the contaminated area and decontaminated those who may have been exposed. Terry is part of the First Responders Team.


Terry and Mike Phillips, his partner, learning how to suit up.





Terry behind the air purifying mask.

Living Beyond Yourself

Every Tuesday a few ladies come together at our home for a bible study. Presently we are doing the 10 week series Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. We're learning; growing and experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

International Women's Day

International (Working) Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8th every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Celebrating International Women's Day , there was a potluck at the Spaso House, the Ambassador's resident. Take time to listen to a few of these videos on this link.


The ladies I work with: Janice, Me, Doreen, and Sandy.

Couples Bible Study

Presently we facilitate the couples bible study using Gary Smalley's Key to Loving Relationships. Svetlana and Rich Selby graciously open their home every other Thursday where we have 7 different countries represented: USA, Mexico, Lithuania, Russia, Moldova, Zambia, and India.

3 Cheers for Terry

In recognition of his outstanding performance Terry received the Employee of the Quarter Certificate in January at a PAE dinner. A $250 was included with this recognition.

Congratulations Terry!

Superstitions

Last Thursday, we attended Anna Kurakova’s lecture on Russian superstitions Russia’s rich culture and history are evident in the many beliefs that are still a part of everyday life.

Most of these superstitions are not believed on a conscious level, but followed out of a sense of custom.

Russians will avoid cutting their hair while they are sick, and won’t celebrate a birthday early.

Some of these superstitions are from pagan times, when people worshipped elements of nature. Every house had a “domovoy”- a good spirit who helps you find lost items. Still today, if someone is searching for something, he will stop and ask the domovoy to return it to him and thank him when the item is found.

Likewise, everyone has a “chort” living behind his or her left shoulder. This creature tries to mislead us and spoil our plans. You must spit over your shoulder three times to ward him off. If you need to return home for something you forgot- which is bad luck- before going back out, you must stop and look at yourself in the mirror and stick out your tongue, so that the chort will see that it did not succeed.

Some of the beliefs can be traced to Christianity. Three is a lucky number because of the Holy Trinity, and Russians kiss each other three times when they meet.

The dead wander the earth for forty days before continuing on and all mirrors in the house must be covered during this time.

Also, you do not show a newborn to any but the closest family for the first forty days of his or her life.

Most Russian superstitions involve avoiding doing something that will bring you bad luck. Here are a few more:
• Never greet or shake hands across a threshold.
• Never carry an empty bucket.
• Never wash your hair before an exam; you might forget everything.
• Never leave an empty bottle on the table.
• Never give a gift before the baby is born. There are no baby showers in Russia!
• Never gesture or show on your own body where someone was injured.
• Never hand someone salt or money. Always try to set it down so that the other person picks it up.

The list of bad luck superstitions is almost endless, but there are also plenty of things that can bring good luck, too. You will
have good fortune if any of the following happen to you:
• It rains on the first day of a trip or your wedding day.
• You see a funeral procession.
• You notice a bug in your drink.
• You break a dish.
• If you stand between 2 people of the same name & make a wish, it will come true.

Anna’s talk was entertaining, and gave a wonderful overview of Russia’s many superstitions.