Hero Mothers

A couple weeks ago we had the chance to give two wheelchairs to boys whose mothers are part of an organization in Taraz called Hero Mothers.  Today, I had the chance to visit the place where they spend most of their days.  Hero Mothers is a group of mothers of children with disabilities (the ones I saw today all had CP).  In society's eyes, these children don't have very bright futures.  However, as one mother described to me in English "we see our children's future as a smiling future."  These mothers have come together and created a center where they meet each day to do exercises with their children.

The exciting thing is to hear how they got where they are.  They asked the government for a couple rooms in an empty building in order to meet together and set up an exercise room for their kids.  The government has allowed them to use the building temporarily.  They have since requested more rooms and have four rooms.  In one room, the youngest children and their mothers do exercises.  In a second room they have equipment set up for the older children to work on.  Most of this equipment has been made from things they found at home.  The third and fourth room are currently empty.  They want to turn them into a physical fitness room (with weights and exercise machines) and a classroom where the mothers can take turns giving classes to the children.  They are hoping that as they continue to increase their work, the government will actually give them the building for good.  

Parents have to pay to use the center on a monthly basis, about $500 a month.  They have hired a therapist from Almaty who has been working with the kids for half a year.  She teaches the mothers which exercises they need to do with their children.  The mothers are not looking for a quick fix, unlike so many mothers of children with CP here.  Instead they realize they need to keep up these exercises regularly.  

What encourages me the most is these mothers are determined to build a bright future for their children. They are reading and researching and trying to do what is best for their children.  However, they are doing this together, not alone.  I love seeing them work together and encourage each other.  Unlike most people I have seen with children who are hurting here in Kazakhstan, today I saw parents and children with smiles on their faces.  These children are loved and these parents have chosen to fight for a better life.  These mothers really are heros!

Learning on a Sunday

Today I am taking the day, as I try to do each week, to not study and just spend time catching up on things around the house and relaxing.  Here are some things I have learned about myself and I thought you might enjoy them.

• If I want to continue doing dishes just once a week, I need to buy more large spoons.  I run out of them before I run out of anything else. 
• I love having a dish rack in my cabinet (everyone in Kaz has this and as long as you keep the tray underneath the dishes, your cabinet does not warp and you can hide all the dishes you just did or not even have to put them away.  (pictured below)
• Ziploc bags should be re-used and sticking them to the tile backsplash is a great way to dry them. 
• I am more of a perfectionist than I want to admit.  It bothered me that there is one large plastic bag in the midst of all the small ones.  I use the excuse that it makes it easier to put the dishes away when they are all dried according to type.  So, my OCD tendencies are really just efficiency on my part (at least that's what I like to tell myself).  
• A cluttered house actually causes me stress ... I guess I like to be stressed most of the time.  
• Doing dishes often gives me a headache.  I find myself grimacing from focus while I wash.  However, today Gungor kept me from this.  I'll have to play Gungor more often while I wash my dishes.  It's kind of ironic because earlier in the week, when I had a headache, Gungor caused my head to hurt more.  
• White Christmas can make any day better.  
• Here in Kazakhstan the top sheet while getting a massage is used to protect your pants from getting massage oil on them, not as a form of modesty.  
• I shed as much as any dog or cat.  It's a good thing I am not allergic to myself. 
• What looks like rice cakes are really wheat cakes.  I thought I was doing such a good job avoiding gluten.  I'll have to figure out some other solutions.  
• I have figured out a convenient way to bring my computer up to a good working level, using my current furniture (pictured below).  

Well, I guess that's enough learning/entertainment for one post.  Hope you have a great week!  

Our City Lost It's Heart

I've been told the bazaar is the heart of a city.  Last week the heart of our city was closed.  So, for now, our city has no heart and everyone is unsure where to purchase everyday items needed for life.  This is the big news in Taraz right now.

The old bazaar was built upon ancient ruins.  There has been talk for several years of moving the bazaar in order to allow for excavation of what is below.  The other reality is that the location of the bazaar made it difficult for parking.  The bazaar kept expanding in number of sellers and items, but had no room to expand in space.  As a result, it was getting extremely crowded and did not provide much protection for shoppers or sellers from the elements.  All of this is going to change ... at lest that's what seems to be in process.

Last Sunday was the official last day of the bazaar.  Even into the end of last week, there were rumours that it wouldn't actually close.  On Thursday I made a trip to the bazaar to buy a few items with someone from a boarding school for children with disabilities, despite trying to convince her it was closed.  It was extremely strange to see what was once a thriving, crazy bazaar look like a ghost town.  The only people around were police (enforcing the closing) and sellers trying to move their items and sell a few items while they had a chance.  Thankfully, we were actually able to get the items we needed from a couple sellers.

The bazaar is being divided into several new bazaars.  Each one is supposed to sell all the items the old bazaar sold.  This should decrease the number of people at each bazaar.  The problem with the planning is that no one believed that the bazaar would actually close.  So, none of the sellers wanted to move.  They didn't start the moving process until they weren't allowed to sell at the old bazaar.  Without renters, the new bazaars did not finish construction. So there are outside shells of buildings, but the small stores inside are not finished yet (no lights, doors, etc).  So, we have been without a real bazaar for over a week now and everyone is confused as to where to shop.

Today, Aben and I went to see the new bazaar on our way back into town from the village.  It looks great.  The new bazaars are composed of buildings.  Each building holds a different type of product and each seller has a small, numbered store within the building.  There are still a few areas with cheaper items that will be sold from tables outside, but almost everything is at least under a roof.  There is also plenty of parking.  In the long run, I think it will end up being a good thing, but at this point it is a bit chaotic.  Before the next delegation season I will have to learn where meat, teapots, scarves, souvenirs, and candy are sold as these are the primary items delegates tend to look for.  It will definite be a new experience for everyone who visits!

Cast a Vote for Education

Many of you have read my posts about graduates from orphanages and how bleak their life is after the orphanage.  It is so hard to go from having all your needs provided for to having to make decisions on your own.  If you've ever wondered how you can help, here is an easy way.

1.  Go here before November 2nd.    

2.  Register your email address(es) or sign in with Facebook.  

3.  Cast your vote for our project. (you can vote separately with each email address and through facebook)

If we win this project, we will be able to provide four years a post-secondary education for a young girl who has graduated from the orphanage.  It doesn't take much time to make a huge difference in one child's life.  

Humor in Heating

This saga begins when I moved into my apartment in April.  I was told that one of the radiators had a leak in it.  Also, Aben (my Kazakh dad and the man in charge of maintenance for our properties) was told by one of our neighbors that the heating doesn't work very well because we need to remove the air from the radiator lines.  So, these items needed to be fixed before October 15th.


You may wonder why October 15th is important.  Well, October 15th is the approximate day on which city-wide heating is turned on.  Yes, in Taraz we have city-wide heating.  Water is heated in a facility and then pumped throughout the city (starting in the center and moving out).  Each apartment has radiators that carry the heated water.  Houses have to provide their own heat.  There are large, insulated pipes running throughout the city that carry the water between apartment buildings.

The preparation at my apartment began during the Savva delegation in June.  Josh, Adam and Aben came to the apartment and worked to repair the leak as well as attach faucets, yes faucets, to my radiators.  Apparently, it is easier to bleed the air from the radiator if you have a faucet.  One of the radiators was especially troublesome, but after some WD-40 and a small dent in my wall, a new fitting and faucet were attached in my living room.  Now I have shiny faucets on each of my ancient looking radiators.

Usually the week before the heat comes on, it is freezing cold and everyone is complaining about not having heat.  However, it never fails that the week the heat actually comes on, we have 70 degree days and no need for heat. 

In September, several of our roads in the city were being torn up.  Apparently, it was time to repair the hot water pipes.  This resulted in different roads being torn up without warning.  I would be driving down a road when suddenly I would realize I could not drive any farther.  This just so happened to be at the same time as the city was repairing roads.  This means for a while three major streets that all run parallel to each other in the city were closed at the same time causing major traffic issues.  At one point, it took me 15 minutes to drive one block.  Thankfully, this only lasted for about a month and now most of the roads are at least open, if not repaired.  

Around October 17th they turned the heat on in my building.  Aben came over and turned off my water heater (needed when I don't have heat), fixed a new leak, and removed the air from the radiators.  A couple days later I got a call from the downstairs neighbor telling me they had shut the water off to fix pipes and the air needed to be removed again.  He suggested I call Aben and have him come over.  I told him instead that I would take care of it.  He was very concerned and asked me to be careful several times.  He was clearly not comfortable with me doing this.  Later, Aben said this was probably because if I had opened the faucet too much the faucet could have broken and there would be no way to stop the water.  Still, I found it funny that I was not trusted to turn a faucet while holding a bucket under it.  

All that to say, today it was 70 degrees out and the heat was on.  I think I am probably one of the only people in the city who will have a window open tonight in order to sleep comfortably (as most people here prefer to have their houses around 80 degrees). Next time you adjust your thermostat enjoy a moment of laughter as you think about me sleeping with an open window in the middle of winter.  

Two Worlds

Sometimes I feel like even being here in Taraz I am living in two different worlds.  The world of what I did when I was here in the past collides with what I am doing now.  I love both of them, but am reminded of the need to live in the present.  It is often easy to look back longingly or to look forward with anticipation.  My hope is to live just for the moments I have today.

I have had a chance to visit the orphanages several times recently.  I have been teaching English at Saramoldaeva Orphanage while Zarina is on her honeymoon.  One of the best parts of the classes is getting to teach many of the kids that I worked with when they were just four or five years old and had just come to Saramoldaeva.  I have watched many of these children grow up.  Now they are in 3rd grade and I am working with them in a different capacity.  Although teaching English is not my favorite thing in the world, I am really having fun.  I love getting to build into their lives once again.  It's interesting to see them respond differently than those in the classes who I didn't work with in the past.

While at Sarmoldaeva the other day, I saw one of our graduates.  He graduated while I was in the States and was back for a visit.  He was just back for a short visit.  What a blessing to see him.  I remember how hard it was when he and his brother first came to the orphanage.  I remember the pain in their eyes.  When I looked into his eyes the other day, I didn't see that same pain.  I saw clear eyes that shone with the joy of seeing an old friend.  I always focus on the eyes when speaking with a graduate as the eyes tell all (lying, drugs, drinking, lack of sleep, etc).  What a joy to look into his eyes and be able to believe him when he said he was doing well and enjoyed his work.

Last week I also got to visit Savva Orphanage.  I loved getting to see staff and kids.  One of the staff who we worked closely with had her son's wedding the night before.  It was fun to hear about her children and catch up on life.  I also had the privilege of getting to see one of our board members meet his sponsored child for the first time.  I never tire of seeing the connection made between a sponsor and a child.   While at Savva, I snuck up to the little kids room.  One of the girls did my hair (picture below).  They introduced me to the new children who had come and even made sure to tell me which ones spoke Kazakh.

I am so thankful for the friendships I have developed over the years.  I am thankful that I get to visit every once-in-a-while and see my friends.  I am thankful that we have such a great youth department to work with them on a regular basis.  

A Little of Everything

Hi everyone !  I am feeling much better and realized yesterday I hadn't written an update for a while (other then the post in which I complained about being sick).  Life has been busy.  I continue to love being here in Kazakhstan.  So much has happened in the last couple weeks, that I thought I'd just mention some of the highlights.

• English classes at Saramoldaeva - this week I started teaching the English classes that we have agreed to teach at Saramoldaeva orphanage.  I have four groups of children each Monday and Wednesday.  Many of these kids are kids I worked with when they were 4-5.  It is fun to be able to spend time with them again.  
• A child who hasn't been speaking to me, since my return, initiated conversation with me the other day.  I'm not sure the hurt that was behind this, but I am glad that it has decreased enough for him to talk to me again.  He even joined an English class today.  
• David Knauss (our former president) came to visit.  He was here in Taraz for a very busy 26 hours.  It was fun to spend time with him and help him shop for gifts.
• Marina and I got to spend time with a man who received one of our wheelchairs (and his wife who is also wheelchair bound).  We later realized that her children had been placed in Ulan orphanage when she had the accident.  As a result, I know her children.  They also live in Bauerzhan (where Interlink first started).  I have been invited to spend the weekend with them sometime so they can show me the house they are building. 
• I started running earlier this week and was able to run for 20 minutes straight on the first time.  My lungs used to never let me do this.  I am so thankful for finding out that gluten and dairy have such a negative effect on me. It's nice that my legs give out before my lungs.  
• I have been working to catch up with my classes.  This included buying a printer, turning in three assignments, taking a test, reading several chapters in my textbook, and preparing for another test next week.  I have been taking a day off every week or two to do this, since I have a lot of compensation days built up from the summer.  
• I have been working to update our website.  Hopefully by the end of the year Interlink will have a new website.  
• I found out that the color for signing official documents here in Kazakhstan is blue.  You can not sign using black ink.  
• One of my electrical sockets started sparking.  Thankfully, I was in the kitchen, next to the socket, when it started and was unable to unplug my appliances.  It looks like nothing was hurt.  Aben came and fixed it for me, so everything is working again. 
• I have been enjoying watching football games in the evenings while I eat dinner and exercise.  The only disadvantage is that due to social media, I generally know the scores ahead of time.  
• I am only speaking Kazakh in the office on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  I had to do this because everyone in the office likes to practice English and I don't get much opportunity to actually use Kazakh when I am in the office.  I have to pay 10 tenge to a fund to make the office a cake every time I speak English on those days.  So far I have collected 400 tenge.  

Well, I think that's enough for this update.  Hope you all have a great week!

Always Learning

I figured it was time for a more humorous post.  I've been sick with cold this week and have learned some things through this time.  I am feeling better, but am definitely not yet back to full strength.  I have a wedding to attend tomorrow, so hoping my energy continues to increase.  Hope you enjoy these random things I have learned.  Maybe they can help you one day.  

• Ben-gay can substitute for Vicks VapoRub
• One box of tissues is never enough
• Neosporin helps if your tissues do not have lotion in them
• Four flights of stairs suddenly seem like the Alps
• A cold does not prevent you from burning your tongue on hot tea, in other words lack of taste does not equal tongue sensitivity
• There is an oil you can put in your nose to prevent you from catching your co-workers cold
• Although my cold comes from sleeping under an airconditioner, the rest of the office has a bug going around
• Pride and Prejudice and While you were Sleeping never get old
• It's hard to remember what a fever is on a centigrade thermometer when your mind is half asleep (thankfully never had a temp)
• Orbit dental candies make good cough drops (I should send some to my hygienist)
• Watching football always makes a day brighter
• It's important to remember to plug your phone back in when you wake up

Wheelchair Delivery Begins

I have had a chance to build some new relationships this week as a result of the wheelchairs we are distributing in Taraz.  On Monday, I met with the head of a local organization that works with 50 people here in Taraz who are wheelchair bound.  This was an initial conversation in which I got to know the challenges associated with their organization.  

One of the biggest challenges I became aware of is the lack of transportation available for a person in a wheelchair.  In Taraz we have something called a social taxi.  This allows people with disabilities to receive transportation around town for things such as doctor's visits.  However, due to the minimal number of vehicles, each person is only allowed four rides a month.  They shared that this is especially difficult for students who are trying to attend University.  Some youth have received full scholarships to University, but are unable to attend due to lack of transportation.  Being an educator at heart, this challenges me.  

We have been able to donate three wheelchairs so far.  One to the Youth Invalid Society, the organization in Taraz that operates the social taxis.  This wheelchair is a lighter transport chair that should help them as they transport people from one location to the next.  This organization gave us the names of two other individuals who were in need of a wheelchair.  The first of these wheelchairs went to a man who works for the organization I mentioned in the first paragraph.  His wheelchair was in pretty bad shape, so he was a good candidate for one of ours.  The second of these wheelchairs was given to a man whose wife is also wheelchair bound.  They have two grown daughters.  He was sick the day we delivered the wheelchair, so we were only able to meet his wife.  I look forward to meeting again with them sometime soon to get to know them better.  

It has been fun to begin the process of finding good candidates for our wheelchairs.  I am looking forward to touching base with some groups that work with kids so that we can start delivering some wheelchairs to children as well.  I'm hoping we will be able to build relationships that will open doors to our work in the future.  It will be fun to see where all of this leads.  

Looking to the Future

On Wednesday I had the chance to attend the graduation ceremony at Saramoldaeva orphanage.  The children recently returned from camp and school begins on September 1st.  We sat with the director, a man from child protection services, and the children and staff of the orphanage to celebrate this special day.  Before everything started one of the boys in our sponsored groups came and said hello to me.  Although he looked familiar, I couldn't quite place him.  Later, when they announced his name,  I realized exactly who he was.  He had grown up so much since 2009, when I visited the orphanage regularly.  He was one of the boys, in a Russian speaking group, who always took the time to try to speak to me in Kazakh.  Below is a picture from the other day as well as a picture from 2008.  He has a beautiful voice and was given the chance to sing at graduation.

During the ceremony the director reminded the graduates that their futures are in their hands.  She gave them examples of graduates who have become very successful, including one who has recently purchased a cattle ranch near Almaty.  She also reminded them of some graduates who have not made great choices.   I was given a chance to speak and echoed her words, but also reminded them that there are many people who love them and are here to help them.  I reminded them not to be afraid to ask for help.   I also asked them to come by our office and let us know how they are doing.  I hope they do this as it always brings me great joy to know how our kids are doing out in the real world.

Culture Shock

In case you think that culture shock never hits those of us who have lived here long enough, fear not.  Last week I definitely hit a new pinnacle of culture shock.  However, I am thankful for the way I dealt with it.  I think I only had a true meltdown once.  This is going to be one of the longer emails because I think it is a funny story (or stories) and it gives you a feel for daily life here.  The short of it is my car was impounded, it took three days to get it back, I had to clean my stairwell and my apartment, and my electricity was turned off all in the same 24 hour period.  I guess the plus is that I now know how to deal with a ticket if I ever get one and I had fun joking with some of our staff.

On Wednesday night we were driving back from Shymkent and I was pulled over by the cops.  I was a little surprised, because I didn't think I had done anything wrong.  When I asked what I had done he said he didn't know but used the word arrest and sent me to two other police officers.  I later found out the word arrest basically means that there is an outstanding ticket.  After at least 15 minutes of talking with the officers, I realized that one of our previous drivers (who only lasted 10 days with our company) had received a ticket while driving the car I was driving.  As a result, his ticket came up in relationship to the license plate and they informed me that the only thing they could do was impound the car.  So, we drove (with the police officer in the car) to the parking lot for impounded vehicles.  One of our security guards came and picked us up (with the wheelchairs we had brought from Shymkent).

The next morning I was in my office talking to my Kazakh dad about the situation.  While we were talking a man called and informed Aben that they were at my apartment ready to begin work on my electricity.  We are in the process of changing the electricity over from that of an individual to that of a company.  This process includes changing the meter  As a result, we had to run a new line that goes straight to my apartment instead of being shared with the rest of the complex.  I knew this would take place, but none of us knew they were coming that day.  So, someone needed to be at my apartment while they worked.  However, I needed to be dealing with the police related to the car.  I found out at this time that there was a chance I wouldn't have electricity starting Thursday morning through the weekend.

Well, on that note I went with Mukhan to deal with the police.  We went to the office and they said we needed to pay the ticket.  We learned that there is a law that as a company, you are responsible for any tickets that drivers receive while working for you.  As a result, companies are supposed to hold the salary or a cell phone or something until the employee leaving brings a document from the police saying they have no outstanding tickets.  So, we went to pay the ticket at the main Kazakhstan bank branch, as they told us to do.  That bank, being the main branch, said they don't take payments and sent us to a smaller branch.  The smaller branch then sent us to the post office.  Now I know that when you pay a ticket you can pay at the post office.  We then took the document back to the office in order to get a document that stated that we had paid and were free to get our car back.  However, the computer was not working so he told us to come back at 4pm.  At four we went back to his office and it still wasn't working.  He had us wait downstairs while he went to the store to pick up the computer.  However, it wasn't ready. He finally had someone else make the document on their computer.  He told us to take it to the road police station, room 13.  So, we went there and they informed us that we would have to come back the next afternoon.

Meanwhile, the electricity was being worked on at my apartment.  After I got done with the original payment, I went to the apartment to babysit the workmen.  I got there right as they turned the electricity off.  The man in charge of the project decided to visit and ask me a million questions, when all I wanted to do was be productive.  They finished the work for the day around 2pm.  The man in charge had to go get some signatures and other things and depending on how long it would take him, I might not have had electricity until after the weekend.  So, I boxed up the things in my freezer and sent them with Aben.  He reminded me that I needed to clean up the stairwell and my entryway.  This was the only time all week that I almost lost it.  My apartment was finally clean (two days before) after all the remodeling this summer.  However, the electricity people drilled through walls and left all their trash and everything else (including the smell of smoke) in my apartment.  They also drilled through the outside wall in the stairwell, leaving a huge mess.  I went out and started cleaning the stairwell while internally talking to myself and whining about how many other things I had to do and how my apartment would never be clean.  It was definitely one of those times when I realized I was letting my pride surface and I needed to just get over it.  It helped a little when I thought about doing it to be a good neighbor, but only a little.   I went to bed at 9pm since I was tired and there is not much to do if you have no electricity.

The next morning I arrived at the office and waited until the afternoon.  In the afternoon, we went to the police office.  We got there around 3pm (usually lunch is from 1-2pm) and the doors were closed with a crowd of people outside who had been there since morning.  We waited for about 20 minutes until a police officer drove by and informed us that the office was not opening today and that we should come back the next morning (Saturday).  I had to then return to my apartment, where they were going to connect my electricity to the new meter.  The electricity came back on and I was able to enjoy a restful night, knowing that I was supposed to go back to the police station at 9am the next morning and all I needed was to show them the document and it would be done.

We arrived at the police station the next morning and I was thrilled to see the door open.  We went to window 13 (although there were two windows with this number ... one in which the person knew what we needed ... but this isn't the window we first went to).  We got in line and he informed us we needed a stamp.  Well, we ended up having to get a signature, a stamp from a different office and two other stamps from other windows at the police station before we received the document giving us permission to pick up the car.  The funny thing is that everyone else in line with us was also going through the same process.  So, we all followed each other from window to window and then back to the line at window line to find out what we were missing.  Three hours later (yes three hours) we had the document allowing us to pick up the car.

Thankfully, during all of this time (other than the cleaning) I was able to laugh about the situation.  I had fun spending time with Mukhan and Azamat the first few days.  Aben and I got to talk about how getting angry at the police officers wasn't going to help anything.  We laughed with the other people going through the process.  I also enjoyed watching people look at me like I had four heads, since I was the only woman in the room most of the time.  It all ended with some fun memories and laughter, the car back, and electricity at the apartment.  We also learned a new law about drivers.  The time also helped me begin a new habit that I plan to keep up of walking too and from the office.  So, it wasn't all bad, but it was definitely a trying week.

Interlink Blog

One of the projects I have been working on these last couple weeks has been to set up a new blog for Interlink.  You can receive a compilation of the week's posts in email form by clicking on the newsletter button in the top right corner of the blog.  We have also started posting to our Twitter account.

It has been fun to work with the staff to get ideas of things to post.  Today at lunch we talked and laughed about some of the Kazakh proverbs that exist.  We will also be posting some interesting stories about the culture and our work.

Also, tomorrow Aben and I will be heading to Shymkent to pick up the last installment of wheelchairs from Crossroads.  I have several contacts of people to start connecting with in order to find the best homes for these wheelchairs.  The process will take a while because we want to make sure it is done well, but the time will be worth it.

Support Needs:  I still need $480 in monthly support

Fun with Friends

A couple weeks ago I had the chance to get out of the city and have some fun with friends.  On Friday, the entire office and their families went to a river for a picnic.  We had a great time eating shashlik, swimming, and spending time together.  It was a nice time to get to know the spouses and children of my co-workers.  We enjoyed the day together as we celebrated a successful delegation season!  Also, I had fun riding too and from the picnic with Assel.  We talked about ways in which we could improve my Kazakh and her English.  We have started implementing some of those things this week and I think Assel is going to be hard task master, which is great!

A few days later I got to go on a camping trip with some youth.  It was fun to hang out with them and teach them how to roast a marshmallow without burning it.  I got to sleep out under the stars. We also had a great time swimming and playing nine square in the air.  The only challenge for me was that most of the youth were Russian speaking (whereas I speak Kazakh).  However, we figured out ways to communicate enough to even trash talk a bit while playing nine square.  Although I was exhausted at the end of the time, it was so good to get out of the city and enjoy some time in nature.  Here are some pictures from my time!

Buying a Dog

It is very important to have a guard dog here in Kazakhstan.  Some just want the dog to be fierce (they chain these up during the day and then let them loose in the yard at night).  These usually tend to be large dogs.  Others what a "doorbell" to let them know when someone is at the gate.  These tend to be dogs that I usually refer to drop-kickable dogs (the ones that are the size of a soccer ball and like to bark a lot).

In September, the team house needs a new dog.  Since it is best to buy a puppy and by September we want the dog to be able to bark and be comfortable caring for the property, we decided this is the time to buy one.  It will give the puppy a chance to get used to a new house and learn how to guard the house from Mika.  Since Jim and Liz's departure has been delayed a bit, I had the fun of picking out a dog for them.  I thought you might enjoy hearing about my adventure.  

Earlier in the week, we had gone to the bazaar to find out where dogs are sold.  We were told they were sold near the chickens, but only on Sunday mornings from 9-12.  So, on Sunday I went back to the chicken selling location.  At first, I thought someone had told me wrong because all I saw were a bunch of cars (where I had been told dogs would be).  However, I started to hear barking and realized I must be nearby.  Then, I noticed that all the cars had their trunks open.  Everyone was selling the puppies that were being stored in their trunks.  There were about 50 to 100 dogs waiting to be sold.  

It was at that point when I realized I was not at all prepared to buy a dog.  First, I had no idea what kind of dog was staring at me.  Second, I realized that most of the sellers spoke Russian, not Kazakh.  Third, I realized I was one of very few females in the entire area.  I guess mostly men buy and sell dogs.  I made a first pass at all the dogs, just looking and not speaking to anyone.  I tried a second pass, but all it did was add to my sense of being overwhelmed.  I did ask a few people prices and realized all the dogs were pretty reasonably priced.  The third time down the row I saw a woman encouraging (by dragging a bit with a leash) a puppy down the row.  She looked out of place and a little concerned about being there.  I couldn't quite figure out what she was doing.  

After a while, I ended up in a conversation with the woman.  We spent the next 10 minutes talking.  She kept telling me why her puppy was great and I kept agreeing with her and asking about buying it.  She would respond that she didn't want to sell it, but wanted to find it a good home.  I kept wondering, how do I convince her that I am a good home.  My connections with the director at Sarmoldaeva Orphanage helped convince her, as she puts on a yearly competition at the orphanage and knew of the work that we do.  So, I walked away from the bazaar carrying a very scared black puppy who I paid 50 tenge for.  Some money need to exchange hands for it to be an official sale and that was the smallest coin I had with me.  

Now Vella is getting used to being at the team house.  Mika is adjusting to having a puppy around as well.  Hopefully, Vella will be good company for Mika and Mika will teach Vella how to be a great team house dog.  So far everything seems to be going well!  

Support Update:  I still need additional monthly team members totaling $500 

Life is a Team Sport

As many of you, I've been watching the Olympics recently.  As I watched yesterday, I was struck by the importance of team.  This is the case with every sport, including the individual sports.  The team is not just the individuals you play the sport with, but it includes those that have gone before, those that are cheering you on, coaches, peers, sponsors, family, and everyone else included in an athlete's success.  Each person on the team is there in a different way when you win and when you lose.    

I think often we make the mistake of pursuing life as an individual sport.  We forget that we have a team of people (even in an individual sport) that come alongside us and make what we do possible.  In my life, I have to acknowledge the need for others a little more than some might since my job depends on the sponsorship of friends.  However, even so, when things get tough, my natural tendency is to try to tough it out on my own.  I think we all tend to do that.  When life gets rough, we try to figure out how to fix it.  Often that means that we push our team away and try to get things figured out before we reach out to our team again.  

However, the more I think about it, the more I think we are called to something completely different.  I think we are called to live life in community.  It is in those hard times, when I want to pull away from everyone,  that the best thing I can do is remember that I have a team of people surrounding me.  

I also think about how Olympic athletes have a group of people scrutinizing them and being honest with them about their mistakes in order to make them better.  We expect this from athletes, but often when it comes to our personal life, we want to hide our failures and our shortcomings.  Why do we have different standards for athletes?  Why do we recognize that growing and getting stronger requires recognizing where we struggle when it comes to them, but not when it comes to us?  Why do we think we can do it alone?  This challenges me to be more of a person that invites people into my life to live every aspect of my life with me. 

The other night as I was watching team gymnastics, I recognized one other way in which I often live differently than an athlete.  In the team competition only the best three individuals get to compete in each event.  Team members have to rely on each other in areas of their own weakness, even though compared to me they are all amazingly gifted in even their weakest areas.  Why do we want to be good at everything?  Why don't we want to admit that someone has a gifting in something that we don't have?  

These are the things I have been trying to implement in my life.  I want to live in community in a way that causes my reliance on others.  This goes against my natural reaction to life, but the more I chose to rely on others, the richer my life becomes.  

I also realize how blessed I am to have such a large team of people living life with me, from those that have known me a long time to those that I am just meeting.  I have a wonderful support system here in Taraz of friends and family that have been here for me for nine years.  I have people encouraging me from the all over the world.  I also have a team of people sponsoring my work here.  Thank you for being part of my team and helping me to live a richer life!  

Thankfulness

I figured it was time for another chance to just list some things I am thankful for.  So much has been going on and I sometimes have the tendency to forget the many ways I have been blessed.  I thought I'd share them with you in case they might provide you with some encouragement.  

• Time in Almaty with a a good friend!
• Canasta playing
• The chance to have deep conversations about life
• A safe and nice apartment to live in
• Work that I can get behind 100%
• An air conditioner in my bedroom
• A washing machine that works when I employ the tricks I have learned
• Time with friends in the mountains
• The times when a choice in attitude produces a great day
• A car with 4WD to get around town and cart people and things 
• People who come all the way over here for a few weeks/months at a time to build into lives
• The book "Love Does" and its encouragement to me this week
• Medication that can help with allergies and asthma
• Overall good health
• Indoor plumbing
• Windows with screens
• Text messages from friends
• A great staff that I get to work with
• The mountains that I see each day
• Friends and family that support me
• People that ask the hard questions and want answers
• The chance to sleep in
• A train with air conditioning on a 95 degree day
• Encouraging emails
• A shared train room with a woman and her small children
• The manholes without covers that I have not driven my car into
• The train conductor who had never met an American before and was thrilled
• Finding good deals while shopping for souvenirs
• The ability to buy bacon in Almaty
• Surprises
• Safe taxi drivers
• A refrigerator covered with pictures of friends from all over the world
• The joy on a person's face when they meet me for the first time and realize I speak Kazakh

There are so many more, but these are the things that come to mind immediately.  I hope each of you is able to be encouraged by the small blessings that come your way throughout each day!  

Remodeling Coming to a Close

Hi everyone! I thought I'd give you a quick update on my apartment.  While I was at Savva, Josh and Adam worked to install the linoleum in my living room and entryway.  They also installed light fixtures, trim, and some new shelves in a couple closets.

After Savva left Becky and I walked through the house deciding where each piece of furniture should go.  Then, while I had a meeting they moved all my furniture for me and did a round of cleaning.

Today, I had an air conditioner installed.  It was a bit of a funny sight watching a Kazakh man (tall for here) lay on my window sill out my fourth story window making sure the outside unit was properly installed below my window.  Tonight will be my first night sleeping under my air conditioner.

I have been so blessed by friends who have come halfway across the world and helped with in so many ways.  I am especially thankful for all the work they did on my apartment.  I certainly could not have done all of this without them.  We have some cabinets to move in tomorrow and a couple more finishing touches, but the work here is primarily done.  Now they are moving on to other projects at the office and the team house.

Here are some pictures of my completed living room and some light fixtures.

Savva Graduation

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be at Savva Orphanage for their graduation ceremony.  I felt like a proud mom who had 26 children graduating.  So many of these children I have known since they were just starting school.  Now, nine years later, they are graduating from the 9th grade and moving on to the next stage of their life.  

I was struck by their child-likeness.  They were so excited to graduate, yet terrified at the same time.  This fall, their entire life will change.  They will be separated from friends and sent to different boarding schools around the country.  They will study a trade that they have not chosen and will be influenced by those that have gone before.  There are so many bad choices that are calling their names.  They don't see a lot of graduates going before them setting an example of success.  They are an easy target for those who are looking for someone to influence.  

I remember how hard the transition to University was and I can think back on all the people in my life that were supporting and encouraging me through that time.  The staff at the orphanage try their best to prepare them for the future and give them support while they are away at college, but there is only so much you can do when there are so many students graduating each year.  I remember the fear that I dealt with as I prepared to leave my family, knowing full well that I would be back for holidays and would never not have a place at home.  When I think about these kids and the fact that many of them will be leaving the only home they know and will never return (except for day visits), it is a bit overwhelming.  I can't even begin to imagine being in their shoes.  

So, needless to say, I've struggled with a wide range of emotions these last few days.  Joy as they finish well.  Apprehension as I look ahead at what their futures could hold.  Pride as I see the kind of young men and women they have become.  Sadness as I remember the fun times we have had for years during summer camps and monthly visits and knowing that I won't ever play soccer with them again or celebrate their birthdays at Savva.  Excitement to see what their futures could hold.  Doubt as I wonder how much of a difference we actually make.  Pain when I see their individual hurts and insecurities.  Thankfulness for the times I have had with them.  

I choose to end on thankfulness because I am learning how my perspective shifts as I remember to be thankful.  I am so blessed to be able to be here and allow these children to build into my lives.  I am grateful for the moments I have had with them over the years.  

A Day of Rest

Life has been pretty busy recently.  I had a great time with the Ulan delegation.  It was fun to spend time with them and be able to see the kids at Ulan again.  They did a great job and I think the staff and kids had fun and built deep relationships.  Three days after they left, the Savva delegation arrived.  It was so fun to see many friends who have been here before.  They were only in Taraz one day before they headed off to Merke (about 3 hours away) for camp.  I will be going out to Savva for parts of three days starting tomorrow.  It will be fun to spend time with the delegates, kids, and staff.  I am also looking forward to attending graduation and playing some soccer!

Yesterday, the team that is here for the summer took the day to enjoy the beauty of Kazakhstan.  We went to the mountains for the day.  Our time included some rest, hiking, and even some Canasta playing.  It was fun to have others here to share the joy of a restful day.

My apartment remodeling is coming along.  Becky and I went to the bazaar and purchased light fixtures while Josh and Adam installed the linoleum.  This adventure included trying to carry a 6 foot piece of metal through the crowded aisles of the bazaar.  Thankfully, no one lost a head, although there were a few times where it could have been a real possibility.  :)  The bulk of remodeling should be finished this week.  It will be nice to have my apartment put back together.  I am looking forward to thinking through how I can best decorate and organize the furniture and other items that I have.  I'm thankful that I will have help with this as I don't always enjoy trying to figure out what might look best.

Below are some pictures from our day in the mountains for you to enjoy!  If you want to see more you can go to this link.

Remodeling

As you probably know, we have been remodeling my apartment.  So far, the work has gone well and I am happy with the quality of work.  The tile and walls in the kitchen are done (minus the paint).  The walls in the living room and entryway will be made flat and painted.  He started on the living room today and might finish up the first coat of plaster tomorrow. Below are some pictures and some funny stories from the remodeling.

Kitchen Before/After

• We picked out paint colors and bought four cans of paint. The paint comes in 5 lb buckets.  Since we bought four cans, I went ahead and picked one can up to carry out to the car.  Well, the people in the store laughed that I was carrying paint as a female.  I guess I should have let Adam take all four cans of paint.  I thought I was being really good by not picking up 2 cans.  
• The man doing the work is called "the master" here.  He is doing a great job, but each evening he asks me questions and doesn't seem to like the answers that I give him.  I keep trying to get him to talk to Aben (my Kazakh dad and the one in charge of the renovations for Interlink).  However, he seems to want to ask each of us what we think and then go with the answer that he likes the most.  
• We were one tile short for the floor, so we had to run by the bazaar and buy an extra couple tiles.  Azamat, our office driver, made our job so much easier by driving us so that Adam and I could just jump out of the car and go get the tiles instead of trying to find a place to park.  It made a one hour project a 30 minute project.  I am so grateful for the great staff we have at the office that are always willing to help out.  
• Adam has helped haul all sorts of stuff to and from my fourth floor apartment.  I have been very grateful for his willing help.  I help out some, but know better than to pick up anything really heavy.  I did break the rules by carrying a circular saw and power converter up to my apartment and a couple tubs of trash out.  
• The master and I have had 3 debates about the paint.  This evening, the final debate had him telling me I was wrong about putting primer up, that we didn't have enough paint, and that we had chosen a bad color.  He thinks we should add water to the paint to change the color ... I told him we picked that specific color, which he didn't think was a good choice.  He seemed reluctant to paint it for us.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.  
• In the midst of all of this, I am continually reminded of how thankful I am that even though the master and I have some disagreements about how things should be done, he is doing a really good job.  I am very thankful that it is possible to do this work and I don't have to try to figure out a way to do it myself.  I am also thankful that Aben (my Kazakh dad) is handling all the details and I can just point the master to him.  
• Today I took the day off and just read a book.  It was nice to just relax and not think about work.  I didn't quite realize how tired I was.  
• At the bazaar we saw a small car with a lot of foam boards stacked on top of it.  It brought us joy and laughter.  Thought you might enjoy the picture we took.  

Meeting Baba Tonya

In Kazakhstan most apartment buildings are comprised of several stairwells that open to the outside at the back of the building.  Those stairwells each go to the top floor and have two or three apartments off of each level.  Since my entire building is located above a dentist office, the first level of the stairwell has no doors (the dentist office has a large entrance on the front side of the building).  My apartment building has about six stairwells.  I am on the top floor of the third stairwell.  Each apartment has a separate owner.  The owners come together to pay for things like cleaning the stairwells or cleaning the yard outside the apartment.

Yesterday I met Baba Tonya.  Baba is the affectionate term for grandmother in Russian and is often used to show respect to someone that is of grandmother age, even if they aren't related to you.  She lives one floor down on the opposite side of the hall.  She is the governor of our stairwell.  She collects the money to pay the yard cleaners.  She also informed me that since people don't want to hire someone to clean the stairwell, everyone is responsible for the stairs on their floor.  Usually the two people on the floor each take turns. However, Baba Tonya informed me that the people opposite me are not good about cleaning.  I assured her that I would make sure our level of stairs were clean each week.  This task consists of sprinkling some water on the steps (to keep the dust down) and then sweeping the steps.  I will plan on doing this once a week, starting tomorrow

It's good to know that Baba Tonya is always around and keeping an eye on things.  She knows everyone and is aware of everything that is going on.  I never mind having someone like her around.  It will be a bit hard to communicate (since she only speaks Russian), but I hope to gain her approval by keeping my stairs clean.

That's a First

Today we went to Savva orphanage for a short visit!  It was a lot of fun to see all the kids and staff. They didn't know I was coming, so it was fun to surprise them.  It also took them a second to figure out who I was since my hair was longer than it was previously. 

Today I experienced a first that I thought you all would enjoy.  I went to the gas station to fill up the car.  Here, a man pumps the gas for you.  First, you get out of the car and tell him what kind of gas and how much you want.  Then, you go inside and tell attendant.  If you asked the man outside to fill it up, then you wait inside until he has finished pumping your gas and then pay for it.  

I had asked the attendant to fill the tank and was waiting inside when, much to my surprise, I saw the whole van shaking.  It was as if I was back in youth group and everyone in the vehicle was trying to rock it back and forth.  This was especially funny because Barb, Larry, and Zarina were sitting inside the van waiting for me.  I was trying really hard not to burst out laughing, especially as I could see Zarina's face.  He shook the van for about 10 seconds and then went back to pumping.  Then he shook the car again and pumped a little more.  I think that was the fullest the van has ever been.  I guess he took me literally when I said I wanted him to fill it up.  

A busy Four Days

Hi everyone!  I made it safely to Kazakhstan and have had fun starting the process of getting settled back into everyday life.  I figured you might enjoy reading about some of the things that I have been doing (all in random order).  It's been fun, but a bit of a crazy four days.

• Purchased a blow-dryer and flat iron (extremely important)
• Removed the pink, sparkly wallpaper in the living room
• Got gas for my car
• Unpacked my luggage
• Bought a Brita filter to put water in after I boil it
• Attended a birthday party
• Attended a staff training at the office
• Hung out with my Kazakh family
• Played toss with my Kazakh brother
• Went to some hardware stores
• Hung a towel rack
• Changed the location for the hand towel rack
• Purchased shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and other essentials
• Mopped and vacuumed all my floors (especially necessary after the removal of wallpaper)
• Picked out a vacuum cleaner for the apartment
• Slept in until 9 am one morning - not bad for jet lag
• Went to the store to look at TV options
• Purchased a full line of cleaning supplies
• Tried to do a load of laundry (realized the washer needs work)
• Bought groceries
• Went to a friend's house for dinner
• Figured out what parking lot to park the car in
• Read part of a book
• Boiled eggs
• Caught up with my friends at the office
• Spoke on the phone to one of my past roommates 

Unexpected Trip to Istanbul

Well, I can now say that I have been to Istanbul.  The last 24 hours have gone very differently than planned, but have turned out well.   I got to the Richmond, VA airport and was the only one in line to check-in.  Then I went through security where there were about 10 people in front of me.  The flight coming into Richmond from Chicago was delayed, so we boarded the plane a few minutes late.  We were zooming down the runway when all of a sudden the pilot slammed on the brakes.  That was a first for me.  A light had come on in the cockpit indicating a problem.  We went back to the gate and they had us deplane while the plane was looked at.  Several hours later, we were still sitting there.  Thankfully, the staff were very helpful and re-routed me through Istanbul since I would not make it in time for my original flight through the United Arab Emirates. They got most of us onto the next flight to Chicago, which left about 30 minutes late due to the chaos of switching so many passengers and their luggage.  Thankfully, I was one of the first one switched, so I am pretty sure my luggage is probably coming with me.  However, they didn't give me the new baggage tags, so hopefully this will not be a problem in Almaty.

We arrived in Chicago about the time when my plane was supposed to start boarding.  I was in the terminal that serviced American Airlines.  As a result, none of the screens told me where to go to catch my flight.  Someone helped me find out that the international terminal was terminal five and then a security guard guided me in getting there.  Changing terminals required going through security again.  Also, they weren't able to give me my boarding pass in Richmond, so I had to get it in Chicago.  I was racing through the airport and when I got to the gate I realized I didn't need to rush since the boarding process still hadn't begun.

I had a great flight.  I sat next to a man from Somalia who was heading to see family in Kenya.  It was fun to be able to tell him I had lived in Kenya when I was small.  I slept most of the 10 hour flight.  Turkish airlines has foot rests on their planes, which is convenient for those of us that are short but were not very helpful to those that were tall.  The man beside me had his knees up near his chin when he put his feet on the footrest.

Well, I am currently in Istanbul waiting for the last leg of my journey (by plane).  I will arrive in Almaty at 5:10 am and then head on a train to Taraz around 3pm.  I should arrive around midnight.

Nivienne Grace Price

After a rough day, my sister gave birth to their first child on at 3:38 am on April 5th.  They ended up having to do a C-section.  Nivienne Grace was 8 lbs 3 ounces and 20 inches.

God has blessed me so much to allow me to be here with my family during this time.  With my leaving for Kazakhstan on April 16th for 2-3 years, there was such a short window of my being able to be here and meet my niece!  I am so very thankful to have this next week here with my family.

Also, Nivienne was born on the birthday of my Kazakh brother!  It's fun to see my two families drawn together in another way!

Last Minute Blessings

I am in Montana spending some time with my family before I head back to Kazakhstan on April 16th.  Today I received my one-year Kazakh visa.  This is great news as visas have been harder to get more recently.  All the details are lining up for my departure.

We are still waiting for my niece to arrive.  They will start inducing tonight if my sister has not started labor by then.  Please pray for my sister, brother-in-law, and new niece during this time.  Also, my brother-in-law has his dissertation defense for his doctorate degree on April 10th, so it has been a very busy time for him.  It is fun to be with my family during this special time.  

Last week my wallet went missing on my flight from Denver to Montana.  The thing is, it really couldn't have been any better timing.  I noticed it once I had arrived in Montana, so I didn't need any ID to get on another flight.  Also, I had recently applied for a new license due to a change in address.  As a result, the license was already mailed to someone in Indiana who has forwarded that on to me.  My credit cards with new numbers arrived in the mail the next day.  The only other thing I am dealing with is getting my new ATM card, but that is in process.  Also, I guess I will have to buy a new wallet.  Other than that, everything has worked out without much hassle at all.  

I have 13 days before I leave for Kazakhstan and am encouraged by how things are coming together.  The only main thing remaining is that I still need some additional monthly support.  To see my remaining need or donate online see the right sidebar.   

Highlights

I've had a great time here in Muncie!  It is hard to believe that I will be leaving on Thursday for Colorado.  I'm looking forward to time with friends there before heading to Montana for the birth of my niece!  It will be good to catch up with everyone that I haven't seen yet!

The great news for today is that I received my confirmation number for my Kazakhstan visa.  This is just one more step towards my departure on April 16th.  I still have a few more things to finish up and need a few new financial partners, but things are moving along great!  

Another exciting piece of news that I received last week is that as long as nothing changes, I will have 3 people from Lynchburg with me in Taraz this summer to help host delegations!  

In case you are wondering what takes place to prepare to head back to Kazakhstan, I figured I'd give you a list of some of the things I've been doing these last couple weeks.  

• Doctor visit, including updated immunizations
• A trip to the local blood lab for general blood work
• HIV test - needed to get a Kazakhstan visa
• Visiting with friends
• Attending my last board meeting for Inside Out 
• An open house in Muncie
• Packing, sorting, unpacking, repacking, and weighing luggage
• Helping out some in the Interlink office
• Speaking to the youth I worked with in Muncie
• Helping serve meals at Blood N Fire and visiting with my friends there
• Panera and Starbucks have been the most visited locations
• Watching some basketball in the evenings
• A pancake breakfast with my small group
• Getting new passport pictures
• Taking/printing a new picture to give out to friends
• Mailing away my visa application
• Sliding down some great slides at Tuhey Park

Saying Goodbye

I have begun the process of saying goodbye to people for the last time.  Last weekend, I spent time in Maryland and Pennsylvania.  I was able to see many good friends and got to visit with my grandpa.  It was fun to be with so many people that have known me since I was a kid.  It was also great to get to see my grandpa a couple times.

This process of saying goodbye can be tough.  I choose to take these five weeks and make as many joyous memories as possible as I spend time catching up with friends!  I expect that the next few weeks will be filled with lots of laughter!

I have posted a schedule of my travels below and would love to see you.  Let me know if  you'd like to catch up when I come through town.  If you have a suggestion of time and place that would be greatly appreciated as the number of decisions I have to make during these periods of transitions skyrockets.  As a result, any help in the decision making process would be great!

Hope to see many of you soon!

March 10-21 - Muncie, IN
March 22 - 29 - Colorado
March 29 - April 13 Montana
April 14 - April 16 - Lynchburg, VA

Time Flies

This week has been one of preparation.  I purchased my plane ticket to Kazakhstan.  I will leave from Richmond, VA on April 16th.  I am looking forward to going back "home".  I am also looking forward to seeing family and friends before I go.  I will be spending the last month of my time in the States traveling a bit.  

I was blessed by being able to arrange a flight from Indianapolis to Denver to Bozeman to Indianapolis for $132.  I was able to book some of the flight with Southwest and some of it using my frequent flier miles.  Although there is a lot to do between now and my departure, I am going to try to enjoy each moment, instead of looking to the past or the future.  

This week I also completed the last big section in order to be qualified to teach English.  This is something that I needed to complete in order to return to Kazakhstan.  It will be fun to see how this knowledge will help me to serve the people of Kazakhstan better.  

Here is a basic schedule of my travels in the next couple months.  Looking forward to seeing many of you!

Currently - Lynchburg, VA

Feb 24-28 - MD/PA

Feb 29-March 9 - Lynchburg

March 9-22 - Muncie

March 22-29 - CO

March 29-April 12 - Montana (niece's birth)

April 13-April 16 - Lynchburg

Savoring Each Moment

I have found these last few weeks to be extremely busy, but also wonderful.  I have enjoyed the time I have spent with good friends.  I cherish these opportunities as in a few months I will be leaving these friends behind (in location) and living closer to my friends in Kazakhstan.  For the last several months I have been thinking, "just a few more weeks and things will slow down and I will be able to get into a routine".  Well, this week I came to realization that this will likely not happen until I am back in Kazakhstan and summer is over.  I only have about two months to develop any routine before I start visiting with people one last time before flying to Kaz.  For my own sanity, I will need to develop some basic routines for the coming weeks, but I will also have to hold them loosely as last minute things come up.  

The plan is for me to return to Kazakhstan mid-April.  This leaves two and a half months to finish preparations, complete and ESL course, raise additional support, purchase plane tickets, apply for visas, complete my grad school class, see everyone, and a million other things.  In some ways this seems like a long time, but I know these months will fly by.  

As I look at the upcoming months, I have to remind myself to live in the moment.  My desire is that I would enjoy each day thoroughly for what that day brings.  I don't want to rush through this time and plan to spend time savoring each moment.  I know I will need God's help to do this.  I look forward to the moments of joy and surprise He is going to bring my way over the next few months.  

Here are some things I have been up to these first few weeks of the new year

• Time in Muncie catching up with friends
• Training the new staff person in the Interlink office that will be responsible for delegations
• Giving an in-depth training of the database that Interlink uses
• Preparing details for a Kids Connection Drive taking place in Lynchburg.  We had 18 new sponsors sign up during our first week of the drive.  Our goal is to find sponsors for all the remaining children at Ulan Orphanage. 
• Creating a video to highlight Ulan Orphanage and the need for sponsors
• Finished approximately 2/3rds of a course that will prepare me to teach English.  
• Spent a week with a friend in the hospital.  My shift was the night shift.  We had fun laughing, talking, taking walks, going exploring in wheelchairs, chasing off doctors and nurses, and causing mischief in the midst of a challenging hospital stay.  She will hopefully get to go home today.  
• Finishing assignments and my first test for my grad school class this spring
• Catching up with my host home and friends in Lynchburg

Thanks for your prayers as I face the busyness of these next few months.