Adventures in Kazakhstan

Savoring Each Moment

2012-01-25T00:34:00.002+06:00

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.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T00:39:00.001+06:00

I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year! In Kazakhstan the New Year's holiday is huge. We celebrate with Santa coming to give children gifts, a huge meal, a presidential speech, New Year's movies, and fireworks! There are times that I miss this time that I would spend with my Kazakh family, seeing the joy of their children as they bring in the New Year.

I have had a wonderful time in Montana with my family. It has been a chance to rest and relax and spend time with people I love. I figured I'd list some of the things that have gone on during my time here. I will head back to Muncie for a few days on January 4th before heading to Lynchburg.

Walks with family in the beautiful scenery here in Montana
A quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family
The realization that this will be my last Christmas "home" for a few years
Getting to talk to and see my Kazakh family on Skype
Finished reading The Good and Beautiful God, a really good book
Helped mom set up her first Kindle book
Seeing the house that Comfort and Steve have put an offer on
Geocaching with my family
Finding out I am allergic to both gluten and dairy
Playing games each day

I am so thankful for all the friendships God has given me. May your New Year be filled with much joy and blessing!

Year-end donations towards the work of Interlink Resources can be made here.

Quick Note

2011-12-21T04:40:00.005+06:00

I was notified that the graph on the side of my blog related to the financial support still needed for my return to Kazakhstan was confusing. I have fixed it and think it shows more clearly where things are. Sorry for the confusion. Have a great day!

A Busy Fall

2011-12-20T19:55:00.000+06:00

I arrived in Montana last Friday and have a few weeks with my family for Christmas. It has been nice spending time with them. We have played games, gone shopping, and seen some great views. I am looking forward to this time with them as I know it will be my last Christmas in the States for a while.

This fall has been a busy one. I have been updating my blog from many locations doing many different things. I have been highlighting some of the fun I have been having and relationships that I have been making. I thought it would also be good to let you know some of the projects I have continued to work on for Interlink. Although I am traveling around a lot, I have still been accomplishing much in order to prepare to return to Kaz this spring. Here are some of the highlights that I have been working on since I returned from Kaz at the end of July (in random order).

Attended daily training with the new team heading to Kazakhstan next year. We met each morning for 6 weeks. We spent time discussing some of the foundations of the work we will be doing in Kaz and making sure we were all on the same page.
Attended our annual board meeting. During this time I was able to share with our board my journey over the last several years and my sense that this coming year is the right timing for me to return to Kaz long-term.
Moved to Lycnhburg, VA to be part of the training for a new team going to Kaz. This has also allowed me to be part of a small group of people that are interested in the work taking place in Kaz.
Helped with the set-up of a Kids Connection sponsorship drive that is set to take place in Lynchburg early next year.
Helped train the new staff in our Muncie office for responsibilities related to delegations.
Prepared and took care of many of the details for the delegation that went to Kazakhstan in the fall.
Completed my third class towards a masters degree in Special Education. I have a total of 10 classes to complete, so I am almost 1/3rd of the way through the program. My classes are all online, so I can continue them once I return to Kazakhstan. I am hoping to use what I learn to benefit the children of Kaz.
Worked with my team to help my team leaders prepare their house for our move to Kaz.
Continued communication with my friends and co-workers in Kaz.
Focused on support raising for my return to Kaz. This included visiting several States and seeing people that I hadn't seen in a while.
Attended an interesting and informational conference in D.C.
Read many books to continue my preparation to return.
Helped people process after their delegations to Kaz.

Traveling Again

2011-12-07T02:17:00.001+06:00

The challenge and joy of being at this place in my life is that I get/have to travel a lot. I have been back in Lynchburg for a little over a week and am preparing for my next trip. On Friday morning I will be heading to Muncie. I get a chance to spend about six days with friends in Muncie. During my time there I get to be involved in two of my favorite activities, Help Portraits and the Inside Out Christmas Store. It will be fun to be able to serve among my friends. I also have my final for the class I cam currently taking.

On the 16th I will be traveling to Montana to be with my family. I am looking forward to spending a few weeks with all of them in one place. I can't wait to see my parent's new house. I'm sure we will play games and just enjoy visiting and catching up.

I have had some fun memories with my new friends here. We picked out a Christmas tree at a local nursery. This included getting to ride in the back of the pick-up truck and having it cut down with a chainsaw. I am also getting to go to a Christmas concert tonight. We have enjoyed singing Christmas carols and laughing together. I feel blessed to have these new friends and will miss them when I am gone. However, I also can't wait to be back in Muncie. I continue to find joy and blessing in all these friendships.

Blessed

2011-12-01T02:57:00.001+06:00

The last week has been yet another reminder of how blessed I am. I had a great time with my extended family in Oklahoma. It was wonderful to see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I enjoyed the time I got to spend with each one visiting. I am thankful for the extended family I have (on both sides) that have helped me become the person I am. What a joy that many of us could spend time together enjoying each other's company. My mom and dad even got to Skype into our visit for a while.

I had the unexpected joy of spending some time with my sister and her husbands family when I returned from Oklahoma. They welcomed me into my second Thanksgiving dinner, which was also extremely yummy. It was fun to see all of them and reminded me of the blessing that our family has as we have been brought together with Steve's family.

Upon returning to Lynchburg, I was able to celebrate my birthday with my new friends here, while hearing from so many of my friends all over the world. My birthday was a special day, filled with words of encouragement and fun. Thank you to all of you that helped make it that way.

I sent out a newsletter in November sharing what the next few months looks like. If you didn't receive it and would like to, please let me know. There is a financial update on the right side of my blog, for those of you that have been asking. Thanks again for your encouragement, birthday wishes, and support.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T04:21:00.001+06:00

Hi everyone! I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! I have the joy of spending this Thanksgiving with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Oklahoma (where my mom grew up). I was able to get a free ticket with my frequent flyer miles, so I decided to take this opportunity to visit with my extended family. I always enjoy my visits with them because they are filled with laughter. The Champeau side of the family loves to laugh, especially when they all come together. I have so much to be thankful for, so I thought I'd list just a few of them below. Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Family
The chance to spend Thanksgiving with extended family
A new team preparing to go to Kazakhstan
The safety of my Kazakh family and friends during the recent shooting/bombing in Taraz
Good friends all over the world
A faithful God
My small group (both in Lynchburg and Muncie)
A sense of peace and joy
God's provision
Laughter
Freedom
Health

Simple Joys

2011-11-07T18:48:00.001+06:00

Over a week ago I had the joy of spending the day at Kings Dominion with three new friends from my small group. The weather for the day called for showers and a high of around 40 ... not ideal weather for being outside. However, for us the weather ended up being a blessing. The weather was bad enough that most people did not make the trip, yet good enough that the rides did not shut down. We looked like fools as we walked through the park in our ponchos and multiple layers of clothing, but we were happy fools.

The stimulus for the trip was that I know I will be heading back to Kaz next spring and will not get a chance to ride roller coasters for another few years. Some friends from small group were excited to join me in this adventure. We were able to ride each roller coaster that we wanted to 2-3 times and only had to wait in two lines all day long. Due to the weather, I was able to ride more than I had imagined!

I think the best part of the day was the fact that we turned into children when we entered the park. Memories from years before (my first roller coaster was the Shockwave at the same park) brought back thoughts of friends and laughter. We found ourselves almost skipping through the park at times (well, I guess that was only some of us). Stories were told. Funnel cake and cotton candy were eaten. Laughter and joy abounded.

We could have been upset that the weather was not perfect. Instead, we decided to just enjoy the day and find pleasure in the little things. I find it really amazing what a perspective of joy can bring to a day. I am thankful for my new friends that were willing to join the adventure!

Upcoming Plans: Trip to Muncie (Nov 9-13); Thanksgiving in Oklahoma

Friendships That Don't Change

2011-10-20T05:38:00.002+06:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to see so many good friends from my years at Taylor University. Although the drive was long, the time with people that I haven't seen since graduating made it worth it. It's funny how friendships can be picked up after 11 years. I am so thankful for the friendships that God gave me at Taylor and this opportunity to catch up with people.

One of the highlights of my time was the opportunity to spend time with friends from an organization that I was a part of while at Taylor. The organization consisted of people that had spent some time growing up overseas. Now these friends are scattered all over the world. Since the organization was celebrating it's 25th anniversary, many graduates returned for homecoming. We had fun visiting, playing soccer, and hearing stories (picture below).

I also had the opportunity to tour the science center with some of the girls that lived on my floor. It was fun to catch up, hear what is going on in their lives, and meet family members. It brought back so many good memories of my time at Taylor with these good friends. What a happy surprise to get to spend this time with them.

In all of the recent transitions, I have been thinking a lot about friendship. I can look back at friendships that have been so important at different stages of my life. Sometimes, in the midst of transitions or busyness, those friendship no longer are at the forefront of my attention. This doesn't decrease the importance of these friendships, but it seems that they have shifted to a different role. Each friendship has built into my life in a different way and I wouldn't be the person I am without them. True friendships are those that after 10 years, we can begin communication as if nothing ever happened. I often grieve over the inability to keep up with all my friends from the different phases of my life, but then God reminds me that he wants me to engage fully where He has placed me. It is hard to engage fully and still maintain strong bonds with those in another place ... this is the balance that I find myself trying to walk. One in which I engage in the present, but still completely enjoy the past and look forward to the future.

New Life

2011-09-23T02:28:00.000+06:00

I have begun my new life in Lynchburg, VA. I have enjoyed spending time with friends in many States along the way. What a joy it is to be able to connect with friends as if I had never been gone. I continually sense God's blessing on this next step in the process of returning to Kazakhstan. Today marks the first day of a six-week time of training and team building. I am looking forward to getting to know my team members better and learning how to best communicate with one another. I know I will learn much during this time.

I have already been blessed with many new friendships. Last weekend I found myself missing my new friends here in Lynchburg in the midst of the joy of seeing old friends, as I spent the weekend in Muncie to attend a friend's wedding. I am thankful that I already have a small group here. Although I have only been a part of the group for two weeks, I feel like I belong. Everyone has welcomed me into the group. My small group in Muncie was such a blessing and encouragement. The thought of leaving that group was one of the things that made the move to Lynchburg most difficult. However, I see how God has provided a new group here. This doesn't take away the importance of the old, but adds yet another layer of relationships to my life. I look forward to seeing how these relationships will cause me to grow.

Sometimes the idea of making new friends overwhelms me, especially when I know that I will be leaving them soon. I think back on the friends that I have had throughout my life (Kenya, CA, MD, IN, Taylor University, CO, Kazakhstan, and now VA) and realize how blessed I am. However, as I realize this, I also realize how hard it is to leave. My natural reaction is to want to protect myself from this by not adding more relationships to my life. However, when I look back, I also realize that there is not one friend that has failed to make my life richer. The pain of making new friends that I will have to leave becomes worth it when I dwell on the richness of my life. As the next transition draws closer I hope to be able to hold onto this reminder and not allow the sorrow overwhelm me.

Another Round of Goodbyes

2011-08-23T11:25:00.000+06:00

Hi everyone! I just realized how long it has been since I last posted. Sorry for the lack of communication. It has been a crazy couple months. Some of the highlights/lowlights included:

Four delegations in four months (definitely a highlight)
Getting a chance to have several of the youth that I worked with in Muncie come to Kaz
Seeing my kids in Kaz and helping them interact with my kids from Muncie
Saying goodbye to everyone in Kaz
Becoming an accidental illegal immigrant in Kaz (thankfully worked this out legally)
Three weeks in Muncie to see friends
Many games of Settler's of Catan with friends in Muncie
Processing with delegates about their trips before leaving Muncie
Saying goodbye to everyone in Muncie
Spending a few days with my parents playing games

I had a wonderful time in Kazakhstan and then in Muncie. I am now in the midst of my next big transition ... a move to Lynchburg, VA. I will be spending the fall and some of the spring in Lynchburg as we train together as a new team to go back to Kazakhstan. Right now it is looking like I will be returning to Kaz with this new team sometime in April. I am excited to see this team come together and look forward to being in Lynchburg for this time. I will be stopping in MD/PA on my way to Lynchburg later this week and look forward to seeing my Grandpa Coggins and many friends.

It is always difficult to say goodbye, but I continue to see how each step down the path of life has a specific purpose and continues to grow me in a way that would be impossible otherwise. I'll have to share some of the ways the last few months have impacted me in a future post. I hope you have a wonderful week!

My Russian Chiropractor

2011-07-07T22:19:00.001+06:00

Although I just wrote a post a couple days ago, I couldn't resist telling you the funny experience I had today. It is a bit of a long story, but should make you laugh. The short version is that I went to a chiropractor and am hoping it will help my head. The long version is ...

After one week of having a headache caused by my back and neck being out of alignment I started asking around to see if there was somewhere here I could get adjusted. Living in Kazakhstan definitely makes me miss my chiropractor in Indiana. A couple years ago I tried to find someone that would operate in a similar way to a chiropractor and the only person I could find was one that required me to come 10 days in a row and with waiting usually took about 1-2 hours a day. As a result, I needed a better option.

Today, my director told me about a place that one of her friends had been to before. Basically, I knew that my alignment was off and I needed my back and neck cracked. This morning we went to check it out. I met a somewhat older Russian man in charge of the Massage Room. He understood a little Kazakh, but mostly spoke Russian. I was told that he doesn't make appointments so you just have to come and wait. Marina arranged for me to come at 1:30 in the afternoon and pay about $10. Later I found out that it would take 1 1/2 hours and that the room had "machines" in it. That made me a little nervous, but I clearly had no idea what I was getting into, or I might have decided the pain was worth it.

I knocked on the door and entered when told to. There were 3 other people in the room and a bunch of different apparatuses. He took my bag with my sheet and towel from me and put it off to the side telling me we didn't need it yet. Thankfully, I understand enough Russian to follow directions. He turned me away from him and then started twisting my neck in different directions, informing me that it wasn't moving like it should (which I definitely knew). Then he told me to sit in a chair that would be too small for a 5th grader. I sat down and he hooked me up to one of these. As I sat there he used another woman that was there for exercises to talk with me. They were extremely interested and asked me all sorts of questions. Meanwhile everyone around me kept doing their exercises. After about 5 minutes he told me to put my hands behind my head. I innocently followed his instructions as he stepped behind me. The next thing I knew I felt the bones crack all the way up my neck starting about mid-way down my back. It actually felt really good because I knew that was what I needed ... but it was a pretty impressive sound. The cracking wasn't done yet. He hadn't gotten my lower back, so he made me bend over a table while he VERY forcefully caused my lower back to crack (this was not fun and is the part I probably would want to skip if I ever go back - thankfully it was short).

He then proceeded to take me over to this contraption. I was chilling upside down (and enjoying it) for about 5 minutes. During this time I was being asked questions about where I live in town, where I learned Kazakh, how much I paid for lessons, and what kind of salary I receive. All the while, Anatoly (my Russian chiropractor) was giving someone else a massage. While he did this, she screamed out in pain. Then, in the midst of the crying out, one of the braces holding my feet opened and I was hanging there by one foot. He proceeded to put me into a horizontal position, to rest, and then after a couple minutes of rest and an adjustment to my foot braces, hung me back upside down again. It was hard to keep my hands behind my head instead of holding onto the frame. It was also hard to relax with the reality that if both of my feet came out of the braces at once, I would land on my head, which would cause it to hurt more than it already did. Thankfully, after 10 minutes total, this was over and I could move on to my next "exercise."

This one at least did not include any dangling by my feet or neck. I laid down on a table and large rollers went up and down my back (below me) from my knees to my head. Although it was painful, it was a really good hurt as it loosened some of the muscles that had tightened up over the last week.

The entire time I was following one word instructions from Anatoly ), such as sit, stand, etc followed by hand motions to help me understand if I looked confused. Now it was time to lay out my sheet on the massage table and disrobe from the waist up. I was in a room filled with equipment and three people other than Anatoly. However, there was a nice privacy curtain between the massage table and the rest of the room, with about three feet of space between it and the wall. It was in this space that my "translator" sat and visited with me while I prepared my self. I laid down on the massage table while Anatoly worked on my back. Just when I thought it was hurting enough to say something, he would switch to something else. It was actually a really good (yet extremely hard) massage that loosened up my back really well. In the midst of it he grabbed my foot and cracked all my toes, ankle, and knee. That was a bit of a shock. After about 10 minutes of all sorts of different massage tactics from my head to my feet he told me I could get up.

He then proceeded to ask me if I wanted to try out any of the other equipment ... my answer was a quick no. Walking out, my back actually felt really good. My neck still hurts some (but it always does for about a day after going to the chiropractor). We'll see how my body recovers in the next couple days and if I am able to sleep well tonight. If it works, I might go back to my friend Anatoly again one day ... but I still think it was a good thing I didn't look into his massage room when we went to set up the appointment. At the very least my chiropractor visit over here was a lot less expensive than it is in the States and I got to try out all sorts of new "old" contraptions.

Already July - WOW!

2011-07-05T22:23:00.001+06:00

Hi everyone! I can't believe it's July already. Hope you all had a great 4th! My 4th was quiet, with a nice dinner at a friend's house. It is hard to believe that I have already been here for more than two months and will be headed back to the States in less than one. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the transitions in the next couple months, but also really looking forward to them.

The last delegation of the summer will arrive in about a week. It is a group of youth from Muncie, IN that I had the joy of helping with over the last couple years. Of the 13 that will be here, 6 of them are returning. Instead of just coordinating logistics for them, I will actually be able to participate in the time that they spend at the House of Hope, a small, private orphanage in the city of Vannovka. We will be spending four nights at a camp near the mountains with a pool, soccer field, volleyball court, etc.

I really look forward to being able to spend time with the youth from both the USA and Kaz. This summer my responsibilities have entailed helping to care for the delegations, which has meant that I have not had as much opportunity to actually spend time with kids. I have loved my responsibilities, but at times have missed just getting to interact with the kids in the orphanages. It will be fun to have a few days to do that before returning.

Here are my tentative plans for my return: I leave Kaz and arrive in the USA on the 27th of July. I will spend July 27th-August 19th in Indiana. August 19th - 22nd, I will be in Ohio visiting my folks. From there I will drive through PA (to see my grandfather and others) and will end up in MD until the end of August. At the end of August I will head down to Lynchburg, VA ... my home until mid-November when I will likely become a bit transient again for the holidays. Feel free to start letting me know when you can get together if I will be near you. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months as I prepare to return to Kaz full-time.

Ulan Delegation

2011-06-04T00:02:00.001+06:00

Hi everyone! It's been a really busy week as the Ulan delegation has arrived and prepared for camp. They have been a joy to be around. I enjoy the sense of humour that each one has and have been blessed by their servant hearts.

On June 1st (Children's Day), I had the chance to go to Ulan for the first time since being back. It was good and hard at the same time. We came after the concert had started, and due to the hot sun we stood at the back watching. Many of the children did not notice our entrance. It was fun to see the heads turn as they realized we were there. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the news spread through the crowd. One person would turn, then their neighbor would turn, then someone in the row in front of them, until everyone had noticed us. Since my hair has grown out some since I left, it took people (kids and caregivers alike) a little while to realize who I was. It has been fun to see the look of friendship and joy when they recognize me and I get to say hello. These kids (and staff) mean so much to me and it has been fun to see that although I have been gone for two years, I still have a special place in their hearts (as they do mine).

The hard parts are when staff or children say things like "you have forgotten us" to me related to my having returned to the States. It is hard to explain why I have been in the States for so long. It has been touching that many of the kids have asked about my health. One of the reasons that I needed to remain in the States, at first, was that I needed some time to take care of myself (emotionally, physically, etc). I have been a little surprised at the concern of some of the kids related to my health.

Overall, it has been such a blessing to be back. I still love this country and even more the people here. I look forward to returning next spring to live.

Differences

2011-05-25T20:56:00.000+06:00

I have noticed several things recently that are different from what I grew up with. Since they have struck me as funny, I thought I'd pass them along to you. Hope you enjoy!

Russian Phrase: "Don't just lie on your back spitting at the ceiling" I think it basically means, don't be lazy ... but the image of lying on your back spitting at the ceiling isn't necessarily a pleasant one. Guess that might be the point.

Planting Flowers: Our front lawn at the office has recently changed, due to the desire of several of our staff. Instead of a huge rose garden, we now have grass (which I love), a small rock mountain, and a path leading to a patio. The staff originally decided it would be good to get some small flowers and line the edge of the grass with them ... the only problem with this idea is that it made it impossible to mow. They decided they needed to put the flowers in pots in order to make mowing easier. Since the staff were working on this project with a minimal budget, they got very creative with their flower pots. Imagine my surprise when I showed up at the office to find pigs, ladybugs, and even a turtle in the yard. They really enjoyed the chance to be creative.

Potholes: It is the time of year where throughout the northern hemisphere people are trying to fill potholes that accumulated through the winter. Here the process is the same as in many places, cut out the part of road where there is a pothole, line the edges with tar, fill the hole with gr, roll over it with something heavy. The only big difference here is the lag time between each step of the process. Often times a road sits with holes in it for a week before the tar is applied. Then, it is often several days before the gravel is added. This can add a little more excitement to our driving as we try to avoid holes that can eat our tires and tar that sticks to the car and can only be easily removed with gasoline (a skill I have recently acquired).

Trip to Almaty

2011-05-22T19:27:00.001+06:00

I just returned from taking the delegation to Almaty. We had a nice time, both while they were here in Taraz and during our time in Almaty. After the delegation left, my Kazakh sister and I went to the American Embassy so that she could have her interview to apply for a visa to the States this summer. She has the opportunity to spend 2 1/2 months in Virginia studying English at Virginia Commonwealth University. They accepted her application ... and she is thrilled to be able to go. I am excited that she has this opportunity to further her education as well as see another part of the world. We arrived back in Taraz at 5 am Saturday morning and I have had two relaxing days. We have about one week before our next delegation arrives from the States! For those who want to know more about the details of a trip to Almaty ... you can read the details below. There are also some pictures that were takenwhile the delegation was here for you to enjoy!

A Normal Trip to Almaty:

The trip to Almaty began at 10 pm when we left the house for the train station. We arrived at the train station at 10:30 pm with plenty of time to spare before our train departed at 11:15 pm. The train is a night train that arrives in Almaty at 9 am. We had two coupes (4 people each) and then one extra bed in a separate coupe, where I planned to sleep. You never know who will be your coupe-mates. The two on the top bunk of my coupe were asleep before I entered. The one on the bottom bunk was a grandmother named Shara who thought it was fascinating that I spoke Kazakh. After settling the delegation into their coupes, giving the tickets to the conductor, and dealing with a slight ticket issue, I went to my coupe and promptly fell asleep. At about 8 am the conductor roused us to let us know that we were getting close to Almaty and it was time to get our sheets together. At 8:30 am they close the bathroom doors, so it is the last chance for a trip to the bathroom. Around this time, you are also required to give your sheets, pillowcase, and small towel to the conductor.

At 9:00 am we arrived at the train station, where we were met by our two drivers. We had to walk up a four-story flight of stairs, above the trains, and back down to get to the parking area. Then we piled into two vehicles and went to our hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, our luggage (which had gone up by bus the night before) was brought to us by a friend that we hire in Almaty. When we checked in, only two rooms were ready (despite having reserved four) so we took all of our things up to the rooms and went down to breakfast (which closed at 10 am).

The day was spent shopping and riding a cable car to a hill looking over the city. While on the top of the hill, having dinner on a patio overlooking the city, a storm rolled in. We made it inside just in time and enjoyed watching the storm while we ate dinner and enjoyed dessert. By the time we finished the rain had decreased enough for us to ride the cable car back down into Almaty and take a taxi to our hotel.

That evening we finished our debrief with the delegation and then everyone headed to bed for an early morning trip to the airport. I met the delegation in the airport at 4:45 am to check out and take them to the airport. Once they were checked into their flight, I headed back to the hotel to get another hour of sleep before heading to the American Embassy for my Kazakh sister's visa appointment. We arrived just before another storm. Thankfully, when the rain started blowing I was able to go inside and read a book while waiting for her. Her visa was approved and we headed to her relative's house for some rest before our evening train.

Our train in the evening left at 7:30 pm and arrived back in Taraz at 4:45 am. One of our coupe-mates had ridden with me the last time I took the train to Almaty, so she asked me specific questions based on our previous conversation. I felt kind of bad that I really didn't remember much about her. It was nice to be in a coupe where she already knew me and I didn't have to answer the normal questions about myself (Who are you, Where do you work, Are you married, Why not, How old are you, What kind of work do you do, Do you have any children, What year were you born, Why do you speak Kazakh, Where did you learn Kazakh, Can you teach my child English, Do you like Kazakhstan, Is Kazakhstan or the USA better, What is your salary, etc). We arrived home at about 5 am and I went back to sleep for a few more hours and basically relaxed for the rest of the day.

Delegation Preparation

2011-05-08T22:07:00.000+06:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's reading this. I am so thankful for my mother and the way that she built into our lives. I am thankful that she chose to allow us to be adventurous even when it might have scared her a bit. I wouldn't be in Kazakhstan today if it weren't for her encouraging me to follow God's plan for my life and being willing to let go of me in order to allow me to travel halfway across the world. I am also extremely grateful for my grandmothers and the blessing they have been in my life as well. Their support has always been an encouragement to me. I realized today that this is the first mother's day without my Grandma Coggins. It is kind of sad to think of not being able to call her and wish her a Happy Mother's Day. I am blessed to have the mother and grandmothers that I have.

This week has been one of preparation for our first full delegation. We have four people arriving on Wednesday, adding to the two already here, to make a total of six delegates. They will be in-country for one week. I have been working this week with two of the members of our youth department to set up a schedule for them. Setting up a schedule includes thinking through activities, translators, transportation, and participants for each activity. Our entire staff gets to be a part of preparing for the delegation. The delegates are going to be living at the house with us, so Vicki and I are thinking through meals and other items together.

I realized the other day that you might enjoy hearing the story of how we make lasagna, since it is a bit more complicated than in the States. Vicki and I went to the bazaar the other day and purchased some of the items needed, included cheese, ground beef, curds and cream.

The cheese is purchased by the kilo (or portion of the kilo). In this case we purchased 2 kilos (4 pounds) of cheese. They cut the cheese from large blocks of cheese and then weigh it to make sure it is the amount that we request. The sellers are really good at estimating the exact quantity of cheese to cut. We then shred the cheese and use it in the appropriate layer of lasagna.

We don't have ricotta cheese here, so we have to make our own. We purchase the curds (what would be our cottage cheese with the liquid drained off and dried some). Then we combine this with a thick cream that we purchase. As we purchase this and the cheese, we are encouraged to taste them to make sure they are good quality.

The other day as we were walking out of the meat house in the bazaar, we noticed some exceptionally good ground beef. Sometimes we choose not to buy ground beef at the bazaar, but this looked like some of the best ground beef that both Vicki and I had seen. I find it kind of funny that ground beef would catch my eye and I would be excited. We decided to go ahead and purchase 4 kilos (8 pounds) in order to make spaghetti, lasagna, and hamburgers for next week. The seller had to run across the way and get some more ground beef (which looked as good as the first). This was cooked and put aside to be combined with tomato paste and juice and some spices in order to make the sauce for the lasagna.

Lasagna noodles can now be purchased here, so this makes our job a lot easier. Due to the busy schedule when the delegation is here, we will probably put the lasagna's together a couple days early and either refrigerate or freeze it until it is needed.

It was fun to go to the bazaar and see the cheese seller that still remembers me and others that I have bought items from before. With those that I knew, I had to explain why they hadn't seen me in a while. With those that I didn't know, we had to convince them to speak Kazakh (not Russian) and then explain why we know Kazakh, how long we have been here and all the other info they wanted to know. Despite the fun of seeing those I knew and meeting new sellers, about an hour at the bazaar is enough for me and I was glad to return home.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! We are hoping for some sunshine since we have had an unusual amount of rain here these last few days and we need the sunshine to dry the clothes and bedding hanging on the line and around our house.

Partying in Kazakhstan

2011-04-28T12:45:00.000+06:00

Well, it seems like I've already started living a life full of festivities here in Kazakhstan. I have participated in one goodbye tea, a remembrance dinner, and two birthdays since being here. Last night one of my neighbors sounded like they were having a wedding party ... maybe I should have invited myself over in order to round out my party experiences during the 14 days I have been here.

At work I have enjoyed meeting with members of the staff here in order to begin planning delegations. They are excited about the delegations we have coming and will do a great job facilitating them. None of them have ever facilitated a delegation before, so I get the joy of training them and walking them through the process. They are so capable that my job will be very easy.

At home I have been working with my roommate to do some spring cleaning and preparation for delegations as well as basic yard work. It has been good to get outside and do some manual labor. I have also spent come time cleaning the car and working to get it repaired and back in running order since it has had some problems recently.

The temps have risen to 90 degrees in the shade on some days. This is definitely not the spring I was anticipating. Thankfully, we have not had any snow since my arrival! I am not looking forward to the summer temps of 100-110 degrees, but am thankful for the lack of humidity. Today is a cooler, breezy day. I am enjoying typing this sitting at my desk with my window open.

Funny Story: I learned the trick of trimming grape vines. Apparently there are parts of the vine that are men (longer, bigger, stronger) and those that are women (shorter, thinner, weaker). Well, the trick to trimming grape vines is to cut off the women and leave the men. The men enjoyed my comparing this to life and the fact that women weren't important. We enjoyed a good laugh together about this since the men I was with don't really think this way, but enjoy joking about it, especially when initiated by me.

A Week Since My Departure

2011-04-20T21:34:00.000+06:00

I left the States a week ago today. It has been great being back in Taraz and seeing friends. I had a chance to spend some quality time with my Kazakh family over the weekend, which was very special. In some ways, it feels like I never left. I thought I'd share some random things from all areas of life that have taken place this week as I've been getting settled.

I used an ancient push mower (the kind with a rotating blade powered by pushing the mower) to mow the lawn, which consisted of some grass and shin-high weeds. One part was covered in duct tape, which made me laugh. However, it certainly beat the previous method of burning the yard (minus the fun of a fire), since it left some grass behind to enjoy.
I watched out my window (from my desk at work) as my Kazakh father replaced the radiator in my car and was periodically called out to help hold something.
I went to a lunch remembering the one-year anniversary of the death of the wife of one of our security guards with the rest of the staff at the office.
I watched as my Kazakh family enjoyed playing the EA Active 2 game I brought for them to use on their wii. The strength band was a bit too strong for the kids, but they enjoyed it anyway.
I have had the fun surprise of seeing several graduates from the orphanages around town and catching up with them.
I was finally able to sleep in until 7am - beating my previous nights of 5:30 and 6:30. For those of you that know me, you know that morning is not my favorite time. I also went to bed at 9pm last night, which is unheard of. So, I got almost 11 hours of sleep.
The cracked front screen on the cell phone that I use here was replaced for $7.
I am starting to learn where the new potholes are in the city as I drive around town.
I am enjoying Korean salad again.
My grandmother passed away. The memorial service is today. Although there are times when I feel sadness, I am mostly filled with joy knowing that she is much happier now.
I've been playing Rummikub with the staff at lunch time.
I purchased an adapter in order to set up the wii that is at the house.
I had a two hour conversation with my new housemate sharing about life. This was definitely a bit of a challenge for my Kazakh (especially while jet-lagging and after two years of speaking English) but it was really good.

Thank you all for your encouragement and support. I am looking forward to getting down to making plans for the delegations later this week. That will likely include some visits to the orphanages, which I am excited about!

Back Home

2011-04-15T20:06:00.000+06:00

I arrived back "home" today. My flight arrived at 3am - only an hour after its scheduled arrival time. Each of my three planes had some sort of mechanical issue causing them all to be delayed by approximately an hour. Thankfully, I had just enough time to make it to my second flight right before the doors closed. Overall, my trip was pretty uneventful. The food was good. I got to watch 1 1/2 movies that I hadn't seen yet, but had wanted to see. I slept most of the second flight and on the car ride to Taraz. My taxi driver brought a pillow and a blanket for me and I had the entire back seat to stretch out. It's funny how luxurious that felt after cramped plane rides. The car ride was exceptionally quick (which meant a lot of quick avoidance of potholes and other vehicles) which made me thankful for the Dramamine that I had brought along.

I even got to participate in my first party of my time here. Katya, our receptionist, had a goodbye tea just as I arrived. It was fun to spend time with people in the office. I spent the afternoon at home settling in and meeting the person I will be living with the entire time I am here. I will probably head to be pretty soon, as I am exhausted, but wanted to let everyone know I arrived safely. I have the weekend ahead of me without any definite plans and then will begin work on Monday.

A Time of Reflection

2011-04-06T09:59:00.000+06:00

I sit here in the midst of an extremely busy week with a deep sense of having a life in which I have been blessed in so many ways. The sense is so strong that I feel the need to express my gratitude for this blessing.

So far, this week has been filled with a lot of "lasts." My time has been filled with special times with friends who have impacted my life in ways that I probably won't even begin to truly realize until years down the road.

It seems that my life continues to move in cycles, which I currently think of related to moving away. This week takes me back to the many times in my life that I have left a core group of friends behind for the next adventure in my life. In 1996 I left Maryland to move to Indiana and attend Taylor. In 2000 I left my friends at Taylor. In 2002 I left my community in Denver. In 2003 I left behind my family and friends to move to Kazakhstan. In 2009 I left behind my new family and close friends to return to Muncie. Now, I leave behind my community here to return to Kazakhstan.

Every time I leave the most recent community, I have this sense of leaving something special behind. It is easy to look back at the last community and wonder if I will ever have such a sense of belonging and blessing as I did "back there." Often, it isn't until I am called to leave the new community that I fully realize that I have experienced community in a stronger way than ever before.

That is how I feel now. Not that my past experiences of community are any less influential ... but more that those experiences allowed me to delve into community at a deeper level here ... which has prepared me for the community that He has for me next.

Sometimes I get tired of this perpetual cycle of leaving those that I love behind and then I am reminded of the way my life is blessed with friends from each community that I have been a part of. I am saddened about leaving my community here in Muncie and at the same time I am reminded of the blessing that is waiting for me around the next corner. Thank you to all of you for allowing yourselves to be used to bless me and teach me what it is to live in community.

Packing in Everything

2011-03-29T01:47:00.000+06:00

I have had a good couple weeks. Mom and dad came and hung out and helped me pack. That helped a lot as I try to sort and pack all the items in my house. This morning I spend another few hours working on this and am getting very close to having the bulk of this project done. I am hoping to move things to storage on Saturday, since I won't need most of the items until I return to Kazakhstan long-term next spring.

These next few weeks are going to fly by. I only have 16 days until I leave for Kaz. Before I leave there are many people to see, good times to be had, and work to get done. My evenings and weekends are quickly getting booked. It is kind of funny, because having a busy schedule is something I have always had, but actually putting dates into my calendar for some reason stresses me out. However, with as many things as I am planning, I have had to start putting things into my calendar. As a result, life looks a lot busier than it actually is.

So much is coming together and I am getting more excited to head back to Kazakhstan each day. I am looking forward to seeing my Kazakh family and all my friends over there and the kids I spent so much time with. I will be traveling over to Kazakhstan with one of our interns and will begin preparations for our first delegation once I arrive.

I look forward to the funny stories that I will be able to share as I transition back into life in Kazakhstan. :) Thanks for your encouragement and support as I prepare for this journey.

Starting to Come Together

2011-03-09T02:43:00.000+06:00

Plans for my trip to Kazakhstan are coming together. I have purchased airline tickets! I leave on April 13th and return on July 26th. I will be traveling through Amsterdam both directions. Also, yesterday I sent my visa application away. It was my first visa application this year, so I had to remember how to apply correctly. It is a pretty detailed process. Thankfully, I had notes from last year and could also access info from the embassy online if needed.

I am starting to sort and pack items. It is too early to pack for my actual trip, but being gone four months requires a little more thought than just a short trip. I am also enjoying the times I get to spend with friends. I am starting to prepare myself emotionally for the sadness of leaving people here and the joy of seeing friends in Kazakhstan that I haven't seen since September. It's sometimes difficult to have such completely differing emotions related to one thing.

I continue to be excited about what this time in Kazakhstan will hold. I am not looking forward to all the details that need to take place in the coming weeks, but soon they will all be behind me and I will be on a plane to my "home" in Kazakhstan. Thanks for walking beside me on this journey.

Training Update

2011-02-22T03:20:00.000+06:00

Thanks for thinking of me during my training on Saturday. Although I was exhausted by the end of the evening, I had a great time. The group that I was training was so much fun. There were two different delegations, one consisting of youth and the other consisting of adults. About 2/3rds of them had previously been to Kazakhstan, so I had the challenge of trying to make it interesting enough for those that had already been, without totally overwhelming those that had not been before. It was also challenging trying to break things up enough that it didn't cause people to tune out due to it being four hours in length. Periodic breaks to play in the gym or ingest caffeine helped. Also, a stockpile of candy on each table and random snacks seemed to do the trick.

The most enjoyable parts of the training for me were the times when the delegates were divided into groups and they were able to discuss different aspects of the trips. It was fun to hear those that have been before answering questions and giving advice to those that are preparing for their first trip. It was fun to listen to the wisdom that was being passed on at each table. They did such a great job preparing each other as they built relationships with people they might not have met before.

I am very encouraged by the individuals that we have going to Kazakhstan this year. It will be fun to be in Kazakhstan and watch them touch the lives of the Kazakh people while their lives are also significantly touched by the Kazakh people.

Quick update on Grandma Coggins: She is no longer in ICU. They found out that she has pneumonia which was causing her difficulty breathing. Once things are under control they will transfer her back to the nursing home under hospice care. Thanks for all the encouraging notes.

Training

2011-02-19T03:34:00.000+06:00

Hi everyone! I have a few updates that you can be thinking about as this weekend begins. First, my grandma has been in the hospital for several days. She was having trouble breathing yesterday, but that seems to have gotten much better. My parents drove out last night and are there with them, which is good. Thanks for lifting her up. I have been trying to keep Facebook updated for those of you that know her and want to keep updated.

Second, we have a training scheduled tomorrow for the delegates here in Muncie that will be going to Kazakhstan this summer. This includes about 20 people. The training will be four hours of information, including some time for team building. I am excited, but kind of nervous since it is the first time I will be presenting all of this information at one time. I am looking forward to the discussions we will have. About 2/3rds of those going on delegations this year have been before, which is exciting.

Third, I am realizing that my departure for Kazakhstan is only 1 1/2 months away. I have several things to finish up before I leave, including an English curriculum for our summer camps. I am excited about how it is starting to come together, but have started to realize the amount of time that it will take in order to complete this. Thanks for keeping up with me. I continue to be amazed at the ways that I sense God's blessing on my life.

Reflection

2011-02-12T01:40:00.000+06:00

Hi everyone. This blog is going to be several unrelated paragraphs that each share different aspects of life for me at this time. I am starting to get pretty busy. I just sent out an email update related to my trip in April, so if you have not received that and would like to ... please let me know.

I am starting preparations for my return to Kazakhstan in April. I will be there for four months as many of you already know. I am getting near the point of purchasing tickets and starting to apply for my visa. Between this and delegation planning I am keeping pretty busy at work. I am working on helping to develop a curriculum that we can use in our English classes at our orphanage camps that encourages life skills and problem solving. We are wanting to have different material for each grade that can build as the children get older. I'm excited to see how this comes together.

This has been a week of reflection for me. Last week a friend of mine passed away and I have been in this state of processing it this week. The memorial service is scheduled for tomorrow and I look forward to being able to celebrate her life with her friends and family. It brings back memories of others that I have lost in my life and reminds me to cherish those that are currently in my life.

The weather here has been frigid, as it has been in much of the country. Thankfully, we missed a lot of the bad weather that other States experienced. Our storm was much better than expected because we were expecting a lot of ice which would have caused power outages. Instead we received mostly sleet and a few inches of snow. I worked at home for two days last week due to poor road conditions, but otherwise things were pretty uneventful.

Tug of War

2011-01-11T04:52:00.000+06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was great! I was able to spend it with my parents and my sister and brother-in-law. We relaxed and played games for several days. We didn't have much of an agenda and just enjoyed visiting with each other. We were even able to get out to PA to see my grandparents. I feel so blessed that my time with my family was such a refreshing and encouraging time.

At this time of year I sometimes feel caught in a tug of war between what was and what is to come. 2010 was a great year. I have enjoyed being in Muncie and have found a place to call home here. I am thankful that I have been given a way to contribute to the work in Kazakhstan while in the States. It seems like my experience and my giftings have fit well with the current need here. I am also extremely thankful for the friends that surround me.

Although I look back at 2010 full of thankfulness and good memories, I am even more excited to see what 2011 will bring. I know that it will bring the chance to not only train delegates and interns here in the States, but also help care for them while they are in Kazakhstan. I am excited about the four months I will be able to spend in Taraz (April-July) supporting the work Interlink is doing and the staff there. I am also excited to see how my place in the community here in Muncie will continue to grow during this coming year.

Although I sometimes feel drawn by both the longings of the past and the anticipation of the future, I have been focusing more on the joy of today. I am enjoying the moments that each day brings me and trying not to live in anything except the present. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Christmas Letter

2010-12-06T22:08:00.000+06:00

I just emailed my Christmas letter. If you didn't receive one, and would like to, let me know and I will add you to my list. I am guessing that as I compiled my list from past lists there were some people that I accidentally left off.

These last few weeks have been busy, but good. Yesterday I turned in my final assignment for my class this semester. I have one final left, but that is all. I have enjoyed the class as it has given me an overview of different types of diseases that cause a wide range of disabilities.

Work has been going very well. We are in the midst of beginning delegation planning for 2011. Team meetings have already begun for the youth delegation and the Savva delegation. We are still accepting applications and are moving towards forming complete teams. I thoroughly enjoy this part of my job. It will be especially fun for me as I will have the opportunity not only to prepare them, but also to see them in Kazakhstan during their delegations.

Another project I have been working on is our yearly Christmas project. This year we are raising funds to purchase 250 wheelchairs for the people of Kazakhstan. It has been fun to work on the promotional materials for this and set up Christmas trees to make donation locations Christmassy.

Thanks to all of you that continue to support my work financially and through prayer. I am very thankful for your partnership in the work continuing in Kazakhstan.

Thanksgiving

2010-11-30T03:36:00.000+06:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I got to spend the weekend with my parents at their home in Ohio. It was nice to have time to relax with them. I don't think we had ever had Thanksgiving dinner with three people before (always having had guests join us), but it was nice to do that this year. It was a low key weekend with lots of game playing involved.

I have so many things to be thankful for including family and friends. I am also very thankful for the work God has provided me with Interlink. I have enjoyed being able to support the work taking place in Kazakhstan while still here in the States. I am enjoying what I learn in my class as well. I also find myself very thankful for the youth that I have the opportunity to work with here in Muncie. They have such a heart to make a difference in their world. Several of them will be going on a delegation to Kazakhstan next summer and are so excited. It is fun to see them catch a vision for the world around them.

I will be updating you more on this in the near future, but I will have the opportunity to spend four months in Kazakhstan next year (April-July). I will be helping the staff in Taraz facilitate delegations. I am looking forward to being back in the country that I love and am waiting patiently for the day I get to return for good. Until then, I am thoroughly enjoying where I am at this moment.

Update

2010-10-26T01:58:00.000+06:00

Thank you so much to all of you that both prayed for and gave financially towards my last trip to Kazakhstan. All the one-time funds needed to help cover my costs were raised. The side of my blog gives un update on how things are coming along related to monthly contributions.

I have had a crazy few weeks since returning from Kaz. Two weeks ago I was able to go to Taylor University and participate in my 10th year reunion. A friend that I played soccer with at Taylor came up for the weekend. It is hard to believe that I graduated 10 years ago. I really enjoyed the weekend filled with catching up with friends and spending some time on Taylor's campus.

Last weekend I was able to go down to Oklahoma and spend time with my extended family. We celebrated grandpa's 80th birthday and my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, which is coming up in January. Mom, Dad, and Comfort all went as well, so we had a mini-family reunion within a bigger family get-together. It was a great time of celebrating the love that my grandparents have for each other and the way they have passed that love down to their children and grandchildren.

This weekend I spent 2 days at a YMCA camp with about 100 youth from Muncie. We had a lot of fun while learning so much. Although I expected the late nights and busy days to cause me to be tired, they ended up doing just the opposite for me. The time away filled me with a sense of peace and rest that I had been lacking these last few months. I am convinced that these youth will end up leading the world in amazing ways. How fun to see them continue to grow!

I have a busy week of schoolwork this week, so that should keep me busy. I should be getting out another update in a few weeks related to my plans for next year. Thanks again for the blessing you are to me.

Back in the US

2010-10-02T01:08:00.000+06:00

I am back in the States now and trying to get settled back into life here. My stomach has been a little upset, but other than that I have adjusted well so far. My last week and a half in Kaz were pretty hectic, but a lot of fun as well. The trip continues to confirm to me that one day I will be returning to live in Kazakhstan. The main question now is "When will that be?"

I had the chance to visit all of the orphanages that I worked in. It was fun to see the children and staff. I especially enjoyed a trip to Savva where I got to see my boss, Barb, meet her sponsored child for the first time. It was also a lot of fun to spend a couple hours playing and talking with the children that live at the House of Hope in Vanofka. The current Interlink staff are doing a great job working with the kids at the orphanages. It was fun to see them continue building relationships.

One of the things I enjoyed most during my last week was having the opportunity to see Kazakhstan through the eyes of three people that had never been before. It is always fun to observe the things that I now take for granted, through new eyes (horse meat, cows walking down the middle of the road, sewers being cleaned out in the middle of the sidewalk, the pleasure of a good cup of coffee, the bazaar, the wonderful hospitality, etc).

I am looking forward to the day that I will be able to return "home" to Kazakhstan to live. Until then, I plan to continue enjoying every minute that I am given here in Muncie.

Fun Times With Friends

2010-09-15T21:17:00.015+06:00

Here are some pictures of some of the fun things I have been doing during my time here. I am loving being back!

Dinner with my Kazakh family and the American team!

Time with Marina and Yura and their family!

The joy of being a human jungle gym!

Visiting My Kids

2010-09-09T11:11:00.001+06:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit some of "my kids" at the youth house. The youth department here was hosting a birthday party for children with August and September birthdays and I was invited to go along. I was able to see some of the kids from Savva and from Ulan. It was fun to hear what they are doing. Some are working, others are going to tech school, and others are studying at the local University. It was fun to see the surprise in their eyes when they first saw me.

Today is the first day of Ait (the holiday following Ramadan). Yesterday was food preparation day, so my family was working hard to prepare food. When some unexpected guests came by, I was asked to finish frying the bread. I was a bit concerned that I was trusted with such an important task. I was a bit nervous about messing it up, but I think it all turned out okay. It would have been kind of sad to have guests over today and serve them burnt or raw bread. Beth, Vicki, and Barb are coming over to my host home tonight to celebrate together. It should be a fun evening! We might just have to get out "Just Dance", the wii game I gave my family. That would be pretty entertaining.

Update

2010-09-08T09:02:00.001+06:00

Yesterday I had the joy of surprising someone that I used to work closely with. She is a mother living in Taraz that has taken in four orphans as if they were her own. Over the years we have helped her financially and spent time with her children. I was in the office asking Beth a question when one of the youth department staff in our office mentioned that they were going to Rakhym. Barb and I had finished our meetings early, so Beth suggested I go along (when she saw my eyes light up at the mention of Rakhym). I hadn't been expecting to see any of "my kids" until today, so this was a special treat.

When we arrived at their house Shirinkul Apke (the mom) saw me from the window and came running out of the house without even taking the time to rinse the soap off her hands. The youth department staff were taking the boys to buy suits and suggested that I could stay and visit with Mom while they were gone. I had a great visit! I got to catch up on their lives and catch her up on my life and all her friends in the States. Today I get to go to one of the orphanages in the morning and to a birthday party at the youth house in the afternoon! I can't wait!

2010-09-06T10:25:00.000+06:00

Barb and I have arrived safely in Almaty and have the shortest leg of our trip to go. Here are some of my observations from the trip so far.

I am a much better traveler than I used to be. I have learned how to keep myself entertained during the long trip.
It is unwise to serve cabbage in an airplane meal.
Traveling to Kazakhstan in September is far better than traveling in July. I had a whole row to myself on the second leg.
I sleep better when lying horizontally than sitting in a chair.
When the majority of the world (drive/walk on right side) and those in the UK (drive/walk on left side) collide in one airport collide can be the appropriate description.
Playing slap games on an airplane when you are over 18 can be found slightly annoying by other passengers.
An airport is a good place to get homework reading completed.
The trip through the UK (one six hour flight, a seven hour layover, and a seven hour flight) is much more efficient than my past trips through Amsterdam. It also helps that it was cheaper.
I am ignorant when it comes to the coins of the UK. I had a handfull of coins that I had received in change and needed to buy something that I thought was half a pound. I finally held up a coin and asked the seller what it was. When she said a pound, I guessed that it would cover the item that she said was 50 something (which I have figured out is similar in meaning to cent).
I am also ignorant when it comes to the rules for tipping a waiter in the UK.
Mary Poppins is still a great movie, especially the “I love to laugh” song!
Knowing the end of a movie decreases the stress/anticipation of the rest of the movie and is a little challenging out of context. They started the movies on our first flight about 30 minutes from the end. Since I had never seen “Letters to Juliet”, I didn’t know that it was not near the beginning, although I had my suspicions when people started falling in love and having weddings.
The letter “r” and the word aisle, can sound similar when spoken with a rich accent. At five in the morning I found myself trying to figure out how big a plane was that would have “r” as a seat position until I figured out she had asked if it was okay that I had an aisle seat.
If you work the check-in desk it is useful to know that most of the rest of the world puts their month in the middle when putting dates on important documents. As the passenger I shouldn’t have to explain twice why my visa is valid.
The UK takes their tobacco warnings seriously (see picture below).

Two Days and Counting

2010-09-02T02:52:00.000+06:00

On Friday afternoon Barb and I will get on an airplane headed for Kazakhstan. I finished packing today (other than my carry-on). By this point I am just ready to get on the plane and go. However, I do have several things to finish up before I go.

We are making preparations for a Delegation Celebration on October 14th. We will gather people together to hear about the delegations from 2010 and celebrate the great work that they did while in Kazakhstan. It will be fun to hear all of their stories. I have been working to help create a brochure, display board, and some other items that will be used to promote 2011 delegations. The display board was a fun challenge. I had never worked on something as big (size-wise) as that.

We have already heard that our flight from Almaty to Taraz will be delayed about 3 hours (not arriving until 11pm). As a result, we will have about 15 hours in Almaty when we first arrive. However, this is still a luxury compared to taking the train into Taraz (we will arrive at about the same time we would have if we took the train). Hopefully the internet will be working as I will be trying to join in my fantasy football draft that morning. :)

I will try to update regularly and let you know how things are going. Thank you for your prayers.

Eight Days

2010-08-26T18:06:00.000+06:00

In eight days I will be on a plane back "home" to the country that I love to see my family, friends, and children in Kazakhstan. I am asking God's blessing on this time.

A few weeks ago I had the joy of being able to attend the wedding of good friends, both of whom I got to know in Kazakhstan. Ember, was an intern with us and while in Kazakhstan she met Kiikzhan, who worked for our company. Many of you might recognize Kiikzhan's name, since he, Ken, and I worked together on Kid's Connection for several years. During our time working together we all became very good friends. Joy radiated from their faces as they went through the evening. It was extremely fun to spend time with so many people at the wedding that I had not seen for a while. I look forward to going back to Kazakhstan and being able to tell his mother all about the wedding and how happy Kiikzhan and Ember are.

Side note: I ended up getting the bouquet ... so be prepared for a wedding sometime soon in my future ... I guess I just I need to find the man to go with the bouquet. :)

I have been working full-time at Interlink this month and enjoying it thoroughly. Thank you to those of you that have supported me either in finances or prayer. I wanted to go ahead and give you a quick update on where things stand (you can see the sidebar of my blog for a more detailed account). I have raised about 50% of the funds needed, both for the short-term trip and my full-time employment here at Interlink. I am thrilled to see God's continued provision in my life. Thank you for partnering with me so that I can continue on this journey. I am very blessed!

September Trip

2010-08-10T02:34:00.000+06:00

Quick Update: Recently I purchased my plane tickets to visit Kazakhstan this fall. The definite dates are September 3-27th. I am so excited that I will be able to spend time with family and friends in Taraz. I have a lot to do here in the office to prepare for being gone for three weeks. Also, I started working full time with Interlink here in Muncie as of August 1st. We are beginning preparations for next year's delegations already!

One Class Down Nine to Go

2010-07-31T01:10:00.000+06:00

It seems kind of bad that I am already counting down the total number of classes before I can graduate. Last week I finished my first class. Although at times it was boring, I really enjoyed the information that I learned. My favorite lecture was on adaptive technologies. It was fun to hear about all the free things available that I could see helping the kids in Kazakhstan. The whole way through the lecture I kept thinking of specific kids and how certain types of technology would allow them to have a fuller life. I am going to take one class this fall in order to gage the amount of work required for one class. I am looking forward to it, since one of the more interesting lecturers from my last class will by my professor.

Both of our delegations returned home safely. It has been fun to hear about their time in Kazakhstan. This week has been a bit crazy with a lot of meetings at work. I am looking forward to seeing how we implement some of the concepts we have been talking about.

This morning my mother came out of her bedroom to find me sitting on the couch in the living room. Since there was a light behind my head, she had a hard time figuring out who was in her living room working on a computer. Her reaction was priceless. This is only the third time we have succeeded in surprising mom. I will spend today and tomorrow with them before heading back to Muncie. I'm looking forward to hanging out here.

More Changes

2010-07-11T06:00:00.001+06:00

It seems like this has been a year or two of change. I am currently at another set of crossroads in my life. As you know, I have started grad school courses. Although I'm not sure yet if I like having to do the homework and prepare for tests, I am really enjoying what I am learning.

Even more exciting to me right now is the opportunity I have to work full-time for Interlink starting in August. I will continue taking one class, while I spend my days in the Muncie office. I look forward to the ways that I can continue to be a help to the work taking place in Kazakhstan. It will also be really refreshing not to be jumping between three different part-time jobs. It also looks like I will be able to travel to Kazakhstan for a couple weeks in September. I had just resigned myself to the fact that this would be the first year in 8 years that I would not return to Kazakhstan when my boss approached me with this opportunity.

I just mailed a newsletter that goes into a lot more detail about my more immediate future. If you did not receive one and would like to, please contact me and I will get one in the mail. I have also updated the sidebar on my blog to show the funds I will need to raise in order for this to all be possible. I can't wait to see how things takes shape.

Summer Fun!

2010-07-07T09:41:00.000+06:00

I had a great time at SERVE. My group was such a fun group. We worked really well together. The culmination of the week was something called the "Party in the Parking Lot." All the youth help put on a carnival-type event in the parking lot. There were inflatable games, food, live entertainment, and all sorts of other free fun. This year our group was in charge of inflatable games. This included putting the games away in record time. A storm appeared quickly and we had to clean up about 10 different inflatable games (with several other groups) in about 20 minutes. It was fun to see everyone pull together all week and accomplish so much good in our city.

My favorite project was building a short rock wall to accent a park area that we worked on. It was fun to try to fit the rocks together like a puzzle. Below are some pictures of my team.

My first graduate class is going well so far. I survived my first test and paper. Also, God has provided places for me to stay this summer. It is fun to see how God continues to provide for my every need.

Graduate School

2010-06-13T08:52:00.000+06:00

Once I catch you all up on life here, I won't be posting every day. :) I will try to post at least every other week though. I'll also work on sharing some entertaining stories from life in Muncie. I do start SERVE on Monday, so I probably won't be updating next week.

Earlier this week I wrote that I will be starting graduate school. I will actually be starting classes on the 21st of June for a Master's in Special Ed. I am really excited about this. I have wanted to gain more experience in this area ever since my student teaching, but it has never seemed like the right time. Some of you may remember that three summer ago I helped with a camp for children with Cerebral Palsy. Since then, my heart has continued to break for these children that are often shunned by society. Before I left Kazakhstan, some of the mothers shared their desires for their children to receive quality education. My mind continues to go back to that request. During the spring I did some research about graduate degrees at Ball State and found one that will fit my desire to work with children like these in the future. I have no idea what God has for my future, but I sense that the next step is getting a degree that would equip me to work with these children in the future.

I am both looking forward to and a bit anxious about my first class. I'm not sure I am really ready to start studying again, but I guess I will have to. Hopefully, I can remember how to read a textbook. The entire degree is online, which allows for a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I will take one course this summer and then determine the work load I will be able to maintain in the fall. I can't wait to see where this all leads.

Memories

2010-06-11T10:42:00.000+06:00

Today I had the joy of spending some time with four of the youth that I worked with back before going to Kazakhstan. Several of them just graduated from high school and are moving on to University. It was so fun to have the group back together and catch up on life and share memories of the past. I look forward to seeing the choices that they will all make with their futures.

Starting Sunday I will be making some new memories with a new group of youth. Last year I helped with something called SERVE for the first time. Over 200 children and youth participate on teams that go out and serve the community. I had such a good time last year and am looking forward to the memories that will be made this year. My co-leader is the same one that I had last year and we will be working at the same location. We begin Monday morning and don't finish until Friday night (including spending the nights).

We will be doing yard work, cleaning up a neighborhood park, swimming with children from a community center, and many other things. I look forward to getting to know everyone in our group better. I know we will spend a lot of our time laughing as we work hard to serve our community.

Today also marked the packing party for the first delegation that I have officially helped prepare to go to Kazakhstan. They leave on Saturday and will be gone two weeks. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything important. :) Although my heart breaks not to be returning this summer, I look forward to the memories that will be made here.

Long Overdue Update

2010-06-09T09:04:00.000+06:00

A lot has happened since I last wrote. I figure I will write several short updates, since I don’t like reading long updates that people write and am guessing you might be the same. Overall life is going great!

I am loving the moment. I am going to be living in the same house in the fall. I will need to stay somewhere else during July and August, as he will be back from Spain for a couple months before returning for the next year. I am still working out the details of this.

Here are some random things that have been going on ... I will work on giving some more details for them in future posts for those that want more detail.

helping at a week-long service project for youth in Muncie next week
sending off two delegations in the next week for Kazakhstan
completed a handbook to prepare delegates for travel to Kaz
completed paperwork for 25 visas and received them with minimal problems
playing on a summer softball league
finished an 8 week leadership course that really challenged me in so many ways
applied and was accepted to begin grad school at Ball State - my first class starts June 21st
continue to be involved in a great small group at my church
5th graders that I worked with before moving to Kaz graduated from high school this year, so I have been going to a bunch of open houses

My church had a "small group olympics" recently. Our small group triumphed in a close put-off tie breaker. Here is a picture of four of us competing in a corn hole relay.

Purpose in the Present

2010-04-27T09:44:00.000+06:00

This is definitely my busier time at work with Interlink (and with my other jobs as well). Not only am I thoroughly enjoying my work with Interlink, I feel like I have been very productive. Some of my recent tasks have included:

training and sending my first intern to Kazakhstan - from this side of the world
finishing the delegation handbook (used to train delegates before they go to Kaz)
submitting visa applications
periodic preparation meetings with delegations
meetings with delegation leaders
preparing for ticket purchases and visa applications for summer delegates (about 25 people)
helping re-develop an application process for those wanting to live in Kaz
preparing for the return of interns and delegates

I still have days when I long for the day that I will be able to return to Kazakhstan. My heart hurts sometimes when I think of the friends that I left behind. Yet, at the same time, I am completely enjoying life here. Each day I see how things in my past prepared me for this moment. It is fun to see how each step in our lives has a purpose. Sometimes I have to step back and remind myself that this stage in my life is not just a placeholder but is actually a specific stage that I have been brought to for a reason. I have appreciated the reminder to see the purpose in the present these last couple weeks.

Reflections Through Transition

2010-03-21T11:19:00.000+06:00

I have done a lot of reflecting over the last several months. One thing that keeps coming to mind is how blessed I am and how much I enjoy the moment I am currently living in.

I remember a friend asking me what was holding me back from moving away from Colorado (the year before I moved to Kazakshtan). As I thought about it the things that I didn't want to leave were my friends and my kids (the ones I taught at the Denver Street School and the ones that I worked with at Riverside). My friend reminded me that my friends would always be there and God would give me new kids and take care of these kids. Although I have lost touch with this friend, the words he said have never left me. They have been a constant reminder through all of the transitions.

One thing that I continue to marvel at is friendships. I continue to be blessed with great friends. My new friends do not take the place of my old friends, but each has a unique role. Each time I get to spend time with an old friend I am reminded of how strong that friendship is even though our interaction is limited by location and the busyness of life.

When my friend said that God would give me new kids, I kind of feared that in giving me new kids He would take my old kids away or somehow forget them. It is fun to look back at "my old kids" and then look at all the kids he has given me in each transition of my life. I moved away from "my kids" in Denver and was afraid that I would loose touch with them. I have lost touch with some of them, but others have popped back into my life in different ways. My relationship with them is different, but is still very special.

Before moving to Kazakhstan, I moved to Muncie for a year. During that year, I had the privilege to work with a group of fifth graders. Those fifth graders are now seniors in high school. I had the joy of watching one of them experience Kazakhstan last summer. I have also enjoyed watching others participate in sports. Although they were only "my kids" for a year, they will always have a special place in my heart.

Then I moved to Kazakhstan and was inundated with so many kids that touched my life over the years. Leaving them was very difficult, but my friend's reminder came back to me. I am encouraged by the new staff working with Interlink that love these children. I recently received letters from some of "my kids" and they reminded me of the special place they will always have in my life.

Upon returning, I should have expected that I would be blessed with yet another group of kids that would impact my life, but somehow I had forgotten to hope. Some of these kids are the ones that went to Kazakhstan last summer. Others are kids that I have met through subbing and helping out with a group of youth. I know that one day, God will move me on from here and I will once again be blessed with another group of "my kids".

Instead of thinking about the next transition, I hold tight to the moment. I enjoy every second I get to spend with my friends and kids (new and old alike). I remember the special place that each person has in my life that can never be replaced by another. I hold on to the hope that I will get to see each one again, no matter how long from now.

Joy of Friendship

2010-03-03T10:42:00.000+06:00

Delegation season is kicking off. Although the first delegation that I am involved in doesn't leave the States until mid-June, preparations are already underway. Last night and tonight I was able to be a part of team meetings for two delegations that will be going to Kazakhstan this summer from Muncie. The first part of the new handbooks were completed in order to provide them with resources as they begin their adventure. I am looking forward to walking through this process with them. It is times like this that I can look at being here in the States and realize that God has placed me here right now and is using me to do the things that He has prepared me for during the last several years. I am learning to enjoy this period of uncertainty.

I am also in the process of purchasing the first round of plane tickets for interns. We will send away for a visa later in the week. It is exciting to see steps being completed in the projects that I am working on.

On a side note, I continue to be reminded each day of how blessed I am to have such good friends. Since returning I have been surrounded by people that care for me (both near and far). Tonight, as I got together with some of my new friends, I was reminded of how all of my needs have been provided for. One way has been through these friends.

Funny Story: This week I was reminded of some things that I forgot were done easily here. As I prepared the delegation handbooks, I needed 32 sets of dividers for the binders. I went to Staples and was unable to find the product that I had found online. The man at the store helped me to order it in the store and have it shipped to our office for free. When I opened the dividers I found that they came with a template that made it possible to print the tabs instead of hand write them. Yay for the little things in life! I continue to be thankful for the things that I used to take for granted.

Work with Interlink

2010-02-27T05:50:00.000+06:00

I started my new part-time job with Interlink on February 1st. I have loved my first month. Although a lot of it has been detail work, I am enjoying seeing the improvements I have been able to make to the delegation and intern processes.
One of my big projects has been revising the delegation handbook. This is a book that we give to each delegate in order to prepare them for their trip to Kazakhstan. I have enjoyed going through it and adding pictures and content. Before I went to Kazakhstan, I had helped update the same handbook. It is kind of funny to look back on it now and think about how much I thought I understood about life in Kazakhstan before I even went over there to live. I am looking forward to adding more about the culture that I grew to love. I have also been working with two interns that will be traveling to Kazakhstan in the next few months. I especially enjoy being able to share my love for the Kazakh people with them.

I continue to sub a couple days a week. I just finished two days of subbing Kindergarten. That age is pretty entertaining, but is also fairly tiring. I forget how much they need constant help. I think I only had three children cry today - not too bad.

I have recently picked up a part-time job answering after hours calls for a plumbing company about 7 days a month. I still find it kind of funny every time I have to answer a phone because I have to say "It's a great day." I'm just waiting for the day that someone with a plumbing problem informs me that it is NOT a great day for them.

Well, now that I have updated you on the general things I am doing, I will try to post more regularly with stories and entertaining things that are going on in my life. I am thoroughly enjoying life and looking forward to a restful weekend.

Clarity

2010-01-26T04:56:00.009+06:00

I have some very exciting news to share with you. After waiting and praying about my future, some doors have opened for me to continue with Interlink part-time here in the States. I am thrilled about this opportunity because it seems to combine my strengths and Interlink’s current needs.

As some of you may know, Interlink currently has three long-term US staff living in Kazakhstan. This number has decreased significantly over the last several years. At the same time Interlink’s work had continued to increase in the country of Kazakhstan (both in Taraz and in Shymkent). There are some areas that we would love to expand, but our lack of staff has made this challenging.

I will be working part-time with Interlink, here in Muncie, as the People Resource Development Manager. Some of my responsibilities will include preparing people to travel to Kazakhstan (both long and short term), debriefing them when they return, and finding ways to promote our staffing needs. My experience in Kazakhstan will bring a dynamic to the job that I am excited about. It is fun to see how doors have opened for me to help others experience the country that I am so passionate about.

It is my desire that this position will contribute to the growth of the staff of Interlink and thus impact the lives of many youth in Kazakhstan. Please feel free to contact me with any questions that you might have. Thank you for your encouragement over this last year as I have spent time evaluating what the immediate future holds. I can’t wait to see where this will lead.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T10:22:00.000+06:00

Happy New Year! I am writing this from a room in NIH where I am staying with a friend's daughter undergoing cancer treatment while her mom returned with the rest of the family for her dad's funeral. Mom will be returning on Sunday, so until then I am enjoying getting to know Karly better. Today I got to hear about a cruise they took as a family. It was fun to hear about the special time that they had.

I had a wonderful time with my family at Christmas! It was so much fun to be with my parents and their foster girls. Even though Comfort and Steve couldn't be there, we were able to touch base with them through Skype and even got to have a video tour of their new apartment.

On Wednesday morning I left my parent's house and traveled across Ohio to PA to visit my grandparents. I had a nice visit with them and even got to join them in the cafeteria for dinner. It was so nice to see them. I also got to visit with some good friends in PA and down here in MD. I am so blessed with good friends.

New Years is a big holiday in Kazakhstan and I have missed being there to celebrate with the kids and with my Kazakh family. Even so, I feel so blessed by this last year and look forward to what this year has to offer! I hope this year is a year of joy and peace for each of you! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T07:46:00.000+06:00

I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! This has been a really fun week! It started off with a great Sunday with lots of festivities including Christmas choir, house group, and a sleepover! On Monday I traveled to Ohio to be with my folks. I have had some relaxing days here at their house with their foster girls. We have watched Christmas movies and played on the the Wii Fit Plus.

Yesterday I had a very productive day. I helped make chocolate covered creams, shortbread, and Russian teacakes. I even had a small ding in my windshield repaired. Throughout the day I was reminded of things that I love about being in the States as well as things I miss about being in Kazakhstan. I miss my family and friends in Kazakhstan. I miss getting to celebrate New Years with the children at the orphanages and with my Kazakh family. When I shopped this year, it brought back memories of shopping for hundreds of orphans.

I will have to say that yesterday a few of the conveniences of being here in the States stood out to me. In order to get the ding in my windshield repaired all I had to do was make a quick phone call. They then came over on the same afternoon (to the house) and repaired it. It was great! It took me five minutes to set it up and the guy was here 15 minutes fixing it. I was also reminded of the conveniences of life in the States when my mom and I picked up powdered sugar for some of my favorite cookies. We were able to buy all we needed at one store and even found 2lb bags. It made making some of my favorite cookies much easier!

Even with all the conveniences of being here in the States, this time of year causes me to look back and remember some very good times with close friends in Kazakhstan. Although I am thrilled to be spending the first Christmas in four years with my family, I know that when New Years comes, I will be missing my Kazakh family even more.

I mailed out a Christmas letter a week or two ago in order to update everyone on where things are for me ... if you didn't receive one and would like to, please let me know. I might not have your current mailing address. Merry Christmas!

Work and Fun

2009-12-19T23:37:00.000+06:00

This week has been one of subbing in the mornings and helping out with a Christmas store at Blood N Fire in the afternoons. It has been a fun week!

Subbing in the mornings was pretty easy. I was responsible for helping one or two children read every half hour. My only challenges were finding the children and staying awake while they read to me. :)

I had one subbing job at the high school in the afternoon. I primarily had one group of students for two hours straight towards the end of finals week. They definitely didn't want to study (which is what they were supposed to do). I had students switching names on me and all those fun "tricks" that students do to subs. One of these students was the one that the teacher told me was a responsible student that I could ask for help if needed. haha! It was a rough afternoon and I was glad it was only two hours.

My other afternoons were great! I got to help people pick out gifts for their children at a Christmas Store. Blood N Fire set up a Christmas store where low-income families can come and buy gifts for their children for $2.50 per gift. The entire store was set up extremely well. I was really impressed with all of the organization that went into it. The proceeds from the store goes towards sponsoring soccer leagues in Liberia. I think one of the things I liked the most about this was that those purchasing gifts had the chance to give back with their purchases.

I had a blast and am looking forward to a Christmas banquet today at Blood N Fire. It has also been a fun week with times to hang out with my small group and others. On Monday I will be heading up to Ohio to spend Christmas with my parents.

I sent out my Christmas letters last week, so if you have not received one and would like to, I probably just don't have your current address. If you send it to me I would be happy to get you a letter. :)

Professional Photographs

2009-12-16T09:29:00.000+06:00

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to participate in Help-portrait. Several local photographers volunteered their time to take family portraits. Many of these people had never had a portrait taken. One of the fun things was that I was able to hang out at Blood and Fire, a community center here in Muncie. Although I had heard about their work for a long time, I was able to see it in action last summer. I worked with a group of youth to do neighborhood projects in conjunction with the staff at Blood and Fire.

Saturday was such a fun day. The photographers set up lights and backgrounds and did such a great job. Since I am not a photographer, my job was to greet people and make the feel welcome. I would offer make-up (which thankfully I was not doing) to the women. Many of them really enjoyed having Lee do their make-up. Then I would take them in to see the photographers. After their pictures were taken, each family got to choose one picture that they wanted a free copy of.

This is when the fun began. After their pictures were taken, we had snacks and drinks for everyone. I got to sit at tables and chat with people. Each conversation that I had was unique. One of the funniest was a discussion we had on snakes. One man decided that it would be really cool if we would have a snake there that they could get their picture taken with. His wife didn’t think this was a great idea. I think I had used all of my words for the day by the time we had finished three photographs. It was a reminder to me of how important a listening ear is.

Along with some of the funny talks we talked about hard things as well. We talked about the challenges that their children and grandchildren were facing. One couple had fifteen grandchildren. We also talked about the challenges of keeping their living spaces warm in the middle of winter.

I had a great time. I was reminded once again of how much God has blessed me. I have a wonderful family, a warm place to live, and food to eat. What a wonderful opportunity to help give back to the great people that I was able to meet on Saturday and to also be blessed by them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T21:03:00.000+06:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to take a minute and wish you all a Happy Thanksgivng. I am at my parent's house in Ohio. It is the first time in four years for me to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. I arrived to mom's homemade pumpkin and banana bread! Today we are going to have about 10 people around the dinner table. I am really looking forward to the time with family and friends.

I have so much to be Thankful for. I think the biggest thing is how God has guided and directed me this last year. It has been a year of refreshment and renewal! I am so thankful for the community that I have surrounding me in Muncie, especially my small group. God has provided for my every need (housing, car, finances, etc). I am so thankful for the chance that I have had to work with youth in Muncie. They have really been an encouragement to me. I am also thankful for the Christmas music that starts to play on the radio today - and to think I used to get tired of it!

There are about a million more things to be thankful for, but I will let you spend this time with your family and thinking about what you are thankful for instead of reading my list. I hope today is filled with lots of joy, thankfulness, fun, and great food! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Car Maintenance

2009-11-19T20:59:00.000+06:00

It has been such a long time since I have written. I am working on getting a newsletter out in the next couple weeks that better updates what the last several months have been like. I am doing really well and enjoying the things I am involved with here in Muncie, IN. I am feeling refreshed and energized. I have really enjoyed the community I am experiencing here.

I just thought I'd share a funny story since it's been a while. Yesterday I went to get my oil changed. I realized after I was done, how smoothly that process went. There were some marked differences in the process. First, I didn't have to go next door to purchase my own oil. Second, I didn't have to try to communicate in Russian (which is not the language I even spoke) and try to understand what they were asking me to do or what was wrong with the car. Also, a tire rotation and basic car check came free with the oil change. I signed a document at the beginning stating the cost of the oil change and it didn't change. I didn't have to walk over to the adjoining store and purchase transmission fluid or some other fluid when they noticed that they needed to add more fluid. I think the most marked difference was that when something was wrong (they determined that I needed new brake pads) they actually brought me back and showed me what they were talking about and talked to me like a person that was capable of understanding. Since men usually do the car maintenance in Kazakhstan, it would confuse the mechanics when I wanted to know what was going on. Thankfully, my host dad (who often helped me get my car repaired) was good at making sure I understood what was going on.

Last night I set up an apointment with someone to fix my brakes. When I got here this morning, the mechanic was here and ready to work on my brakes. :) I don't have to buy the supplies myself - which is my favorite part. Also, I can bring it in without help. I am currently sitting in a waiting room with internet and being able to get work done while I wait for my car. Although I miss Kazakhstan terribly, car maintenance is one thing I don't miss at all. It brings relief to just be able to sit here and trust them to work on my car and not have to go run errands to make it happen. If you don't receive a newsletter by mid-December and would like to receive one please let me know. Have a great day!

Back in the Classroom

2009-09-21T03:03:00.000+06:00

I am enjoying the place that I am living and getting used to life in the Muncie area. There is not too much going on right now, but I figured I'd tell you a funny story and give you a short update. Since my pay with Interlink remains the same while I am here in the States (despite the higher cost of living), I have picked up some subbing in the schools in my neighborhood. It is fun to be back in the classroom on a temporarly basis.

My first day in the classroom was pretty entertaining and I thought you might enjoy hearing about it. I was in third grade. At snack time I did things differently than their regular teacher. Normally she lets them all get a snack and go to the bathroom at the same time. Due to my being a sub, I didn't feel comfortable with this, so I told them that I would tap them on the shoulder when they were quietly working at which time they could get their snack. I also made them use the restroom one at a time. One of the boys just couldn't handle this change in schedule. He told me over and over "You don't know nothing." Anytime one of the other kids would say something to him he would just get louder in his proclamation. At one point he even put himself in the hallway, but came back in when he wasn't getting enough attention. Thankfully, when I was getting frustrated, the class had music. Music gave him a chance to get back into his daily routine and he had a much better rest of the day. I will be subbing for this class again on Friday, which should be fun because they are already used to me.

God has been providing for my needs in so many different ways. The most recent way was his provision of a car for me. I had been loaned a car during my time here. The people loaning the car to me decided that they wanted to donate the car to Interlink. Due to tax laws, it was not worth it for Interlink to own a car. As a result, I offered to purchase the car. Instead, the owners of the car decided to give me the car. What a blessing!

Over the next few weeks I will be working with Interlink to try to determine my status for my time here in States. No matter my status, I will be unable to remain insured by the company that Interlink has insurance with because it is international insurance. As a result, I will have to find medical insurance by January.

The KC staff of Interlink are busy right now preparing for the start of our programs in October. We will start our birthday celebrations and visits in mid-October. We have made some changes this year due to decreased staff. I am excited to continue to be a part of this, even though I am in the States. We are currently working on having each child fill out a survey to give to their sponsors. I came down with a sore throat this weekend. I am hoping that it will not be a replay of my last sore throat. Otherwise, my health is doing great. I am sleeping well (when I don't procratinate with my bedtime) and am enjoying the friendships I am building here.

Settling In

2009-08-29T03:01:00.000+06:00

The week and half that I have been back in the States have been pretty eventful. I have had to visit the doctor (sore throat caught in Kaz) and have had a chance to catch up with many friends. I have really enjoyed being able to hang out with my small group and other friends here. I have also started helping with a local youth center, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

This week I moved into a house that I am house sitting. This has been a confirmation to me that I am doing the right thing, even though it has been very difficult not to return to Kazakhstan for the time being. I have pretty much unpacked everything (this doesn't include putting it all away though). :) I will take the next week or two to get settled in. I have met several of my neighbors and feel very safe in this neighborhood.

I have new phone numbers as a result of the move and my old cell phone dying. If you click on the link on the side of this blog you will be able to call me using Google Voice. It will ring both my cell and my home phone. You can either do this to get my new number or send me an email and I will send it to you. Thanks for all your encouragement as I have been walking through this challenging period. I have a sense of complete peace, which is really nice.

Musings

2009-08-09T13:03:00.000+06:00

I was trying to think about how to best describe these last two weeks in a concise manner and decided that it wasn't possible to write it in the same way I usually write. So instead this time I am just going to give you random phrases of things I thought and noticed during my first two weeks in Kazakhstan. Hopefully it will give you a glimpse of my heart and the emotions I have been through as I have had special times with my kids and had to say goodbye.

When I told the kids at Vanofka that I was leaving, one of the 16 year old boys had a hard time with it. The rest of the afternoon he barely acknowledged me. The next day (my last day with them), I got a chance to talk to him. When I said it was hard he said to me "I cried yesterday." I was able to tell him that I did too. What a bittersweet memory - knowing I had touched his life that much, but also knowing that I might not get to see him again (at least for a while).

Getting to see the lives of the youth that came over on the delegation change as a result of their time here.

Despite the hurt of going back to the States right now, I am anticipating getting to work with the youth that came over. I am looking forward to watching them play sports and seeing how this trip impacts their lives.

Watching the kids read the letters that I gave them explaining my return to the States and having them come up afterwards give me a hug, tell me they would miss me, and then tell me they would write.

The pats on the back or smiles from the delegates when they knew I was having an especially tough time.

Laughter

Having the energy to play soccer and enjoy it again.

Standing outside in a thunderstorm trying to keep the rain flaps on the tents and getting completely soaked. Everything inside the tents got pretty soaked as well.

Seeing the most beautiful double rainbow that I have seen since living in Kenya when I was seven.

My heart breaking as I watched the faces of children as I told them I wouldn't be back for a while.

Watching the youth interact with my kids despite the language barrier and the short time in Kaz.

Love

The beauty of Kazakhstan.

The sense that I was home as I traveled throughout the country. I was filled with an amazing sense of peace.

Joy at seeing my Kazakh family for the first time.

Sitting on the square eating hot bread (just cooked) with butter accompanied by the vice-governors of the village.

Well, I guess that is enough. This week I will have some time in the office to try to organize things with Kids Connection. I will also spend time with my Kazakh family. On Friday I will go to Savva orphanage camp and celebrate birthdays and say goodbye to my kids there.

Saying Goodbye

2009-08-03T16:05:00.000+06:00

Things are going really well with the delegation. We just moved on to the second part our trip. Our first three days were spent with the children of Vanofka orphanage. It was so good to see some of my kids again. I have missed them a lot since being back in the States. I was reminded of how strong those relationships have grown over time.

On Friday I explained that I was not coming back to live right away. It was such a hard discussion to get through, especially while watching the kids' faces. Earlier that day the delegation had a lesson about doing the right thing even when it was hard. Without planning it, my talk with them about staying in the States right now went right along with the lesson. I chose to do this right before our swim time so that we would have something to distract us and cause us to have fun despite the sad news. I also wanted to give them time to process it before I left. One young man was talking to me the next day about it and admitted to me that he cried when I told them. I was able to tell him that I did too. After swimming I had to take some time to myself to process the pain of leaving behind these kids for the time being.

One of the highlights of my time was being able to play soccer with the kids. We played Americans vs. Kazakhs - which was a lot of fun. It was a pretty intense game and at the end of an hour it ended up in a tie. It was fun to have the energy and desire to play a serious game of soccer again.

I have really enjoyed being able to help facilitate this delegation. The youth are growing so much and really made a difference in the lives of kids at Vanofka. It was fun to see how well they connected despite the language barrier and our short time there.

Despite some lack of sleep, I am really enjoying my time so far and am continuing to look forward to my time here. I know it will be very difficult to say goodbye to the rest of my kids and my friends here, but I also know it will be a really good time.

Arrival

2009-07-28T19:59:00.000+06:00

After a long trip, I was finally able to lay down horizontally for some sleep this morning after arriving at the place I am staying in Almaty. Tomorrow morning I will be going to the airport top pick up the youth delegation and traveling to Taraz by bus. It should be a fun and entertaining trip (although possibly hot). I did have someone warn the bus drivers that American's like air conditioning, so maybe it will be cool on the bus instead of 110 degrees.

My flights were fairly uneventful. The only problem was a two hour delay on the airplane in Newark due to wind and rain. Since I already had a 12 hour layover, the two hour delay did not effect any of my other travel. In amsterdam I left the aiport and went on a canal tour. It was an interesting way to see the city, although I am not sure it is a good idea to sit on a slow-moving boat when jet-lagging. At least I stayed awake. It was nice to get out of the airport though. Thankfully the young child on the plane to Almaty didn't scream after take-off. I was worried that it was going to be a long flight, but it ended up going pretty quickly as I slept during most of the trip.

Tomorrow will be our drive to Taraz. I will get to spend some time with my Kazakh family in the evening. Then we will head to Vanofka orphanage for three days. I will try to update you as much as possible! I am looking forward to seeing Kazakhstan through the eyes of this group of youth.

Preparation

2009-07-24T08:25:00.000+06:00

I have spent a lot of the last couple weeks in preparation for my trip to Kazakhstan. The youth team that I will be helping finished packing today. We have 23 crates of fun supplies to take over. I will be helping facilitate their delegation, which basically means that I will be helping to make sure they have all that they need during their time in Kazakhstan. We will be spending time at an orphanage and with a local youth center. The delegation will be there for two weeks and then I will remain one more week.

During this week I will be saying goodbye (for now) to my Kazakh friends, children, and family. I will also be helping Kids Connection staff plan for the upcoming school year. We have a lot to think about as the number of staff has decreased (with my being here for now and one of the other staff coming back to the States for four months). I am really looking forward to going back "home". I do know that it will be hard, since I will be having to say goodbye to those that are so special to me. I leave on Sunday and will arrive in Kazakhstan on Tuesday. I will try to update this blog fairly often in order to keep everyone aware of what is going on.

Update

2009-07-21T07:58:00.000+06:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I have written. I leave for Kazakhstan in less than a week. I will be there for 3 weeks. I will help facilitate a youth delegation that I have been helping to prepare and will do some planning with the staff for Kids Connection. I am looking forward to seeing good friends. I know that it will be a very good time, but also a very difficult time as I say goodbye, for now, to friends.

The last few weeks have been a lot of fun. I got to go to King's Island and ride lots of roller coasters. I think my favorite might have been the Fire Hawk because I got to lay on my stomach and fly like Superman. On Saturday I went to a friend's wedding and saw many friends from Taylor. How fun to see people that I hadn't seen in over three years.

This week is pretty busy as I prepare to return to Kazakhstan. During my trip I will try to keep you updated on my blog (as well as the Interlink blog). Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. I can't wait to be back home in Kazakhstan, even though it is only for a while.

Serve 2009

2009-06-23T19:51:00.000+06:00

God has been doing some exciting things in my life recently. Although it is extremely difficult to not be in Kazakhstan, God is continuing to make it clear that I am supposed to be in Muncie right now. I have the opportunity to house sit for someone starting in August 2009 and going through July 2010. It is fun to see the way that He provides. I will be making a three week trip to Kazakhstan this summer to help with a delegation and make sure things are taken care of while I am not there. Also, He is giving me things to look forward to in the Muncie area. One of those things took place last week.

I got a chance to be a part of Serve 2009. I spent last week working with 10 youth that were part of over 200 kids and youth that were doing community service projects throughout Muncie. I had such a great time. It was fun to work with youth again and not have to deal with a language barrier of any type.

Our group worked with a local group called Blood and Fire. We did work around the community for those that couldn't do the work for themselves. We also cleaned up a neighborhood park. We spent two afternoons hanging out with kids from the community center at the pool.

Although it was a very tiring week (sleep at 12pm, waking up at 6 am and hard work in between) I had such a blast. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to serve alongside some amazingly hard working youth. We had a lot of fun as we worked, which made the time go more quickly. The week gave me energy despite the grueling schedule.

I think my favorite part of the week was being able to clean off an entire sidewalk that had been overgrown. We were originally only planning to do a part of it, but we got done with more than we originally expected and were able to complete the entire sidewalk. We filled up two pick-up trucks with the dirt and grass that we removed from the sidewalk. It was extremely tiring work, but very rewarding.

Conner Prairie

2009-06-14T09:33:00.000+06:00

Today I got to go to Conner Prairie with some friends from my small group. We had a fun time together as we traveled back in time. There was a hot air balloon, a whole prairie town set in 1886, a stable, and some fun science stuff. It was fun to just be able to hang out and spend time with friends while catching a glimpse of life in the past.

I am really looking forward to this next week. I will be spending time with a group of 10 youth that are a part of over 150 youth here in Muncie that will be spending the week doing work projects in the community. I can't wait to work with these youth in order to help our neighbors.

Where will I be Living?

2009-05-31T23:42:00.000+06:00

A lot of people have asked me where I will be living. I do plan to stay in Muncie for now. I have gotten involved with a great small group and am building good friendships here (as well as continuing old ones). Being in Muncie will also allow me to be a part of Stateside operations related to Interlink.

During the last few months, I have been staying with a couple that went on my first trip to Kazakhstan. I am so thankful for the way that they have opened their home up to me. It has been such a blessing and encouragement.

Right now I am looking for an apartment that I can move into starting in July. Since I am looking at taking some classes and am processing through a lot right now, I am looking at finding a place where I can live on my own for the time being. If anyone knows of an apartment for rent that is a reasonable price in Muncie please let me know. I have looked at a couple places, but am still waiting to see what God has for me.

Update

2009-05-28T09:27:00.000+06:00

I wanted to give you a quick update on me. Some of this is fairly new, so I am still working out the details, but I wanted to keep you posted as I go forward. As many of you know, this last 3 years in Kazakhstan was difficult for me. I love Kazakhstan and feel that it is my home. I did however get to a point of being burnt out and overwhelmed, not specifically by my work with orphans, but with a lot of the other changes that were going on around me. As a result, I returned to the States tired and exhausted.

As many of you know, I have finished my initial 5-year commitment to Interlink in Kazakhstan. I have fallen in love with the people and truly consider Kazakhstan home. Even so, I felt God asking me to evaluate whether or not I was supposed to return for a longer period of time. I feel that God has clearly impressed on my heart that I am. Even so, He has made it just as clear that right now is not the right time.

About three weeks ago I made the decision that I am currently not ready to return to Kazakhstan for many different reasons. I feel that God is asking me to take some more time here in the States so that when I return to Kazakhstan I am better able to thrive. It was difficult to make this decision, especially because I am leaving my team short-handed. Even so, I still have complete peace as I look at the near (and far) future.

During my time here, I plan to continue meeting with wise people who can help guide me through this time. I plan to work for Interlink here in the States to shore up some of the details related to Kids Connection. I am also looking into the option of furthering my eduction in order to be better equipped for my continued work in Kazakhstan.

A Giant Surprise!

2009-05-10T07:18:00.000+06:00

I traveled up to Ohio this weekend to surprise my mommy for mother's day. Dad and I were able to pull it off - mom had no idea it was coming. I think she really liked the surprise. I have had fun hanging out with them and two of the girls that they care for. Today we went to an art exhibition, decorated flip-flops, and went to the zoo. I will travel back to Indiana on Sunday afternoon. Here are some pictures from the day.

What is it?

2009-04-13T00:05:00.000+06:00

I saw something on the way down to Oklahoma that I had never seen before. I actually had to read instructions in order to figure out how to use the sink. The sink was not just a sink. It dispensed soap and water and then dried your hands. I had seen each of those on their own, but I had never seen them all together in one unit. It was kind of funny watching people try to figure out how to use them. Thankfully, there were instructions above the sink.

Family Reunion

2009-04-12T09:22:00.000+06:00

Today we had a Champeau family reunion. There were over 20 of us here (grandma, grandpa, and all the kids and grandkids). This was the first time we have all been together in at least 3 years, if not longer. It was fun to talk about great times we have spent together in the past. Some of the memories are hilarious - at least to us.

Highlights:
-having everyone together
-watching the younger kids hunt eggs (I got to help hide them)
-hunting the eggs that the younger kids hid for the adults
-watching one of my younger cousins play soccer
-going to dinner and to see Slumdog Millionaire with some of my older cousins
-getting to watch my grandpa play wii bowl
-laughter during our picture taking adventure

My grandma and grandpa

Playing Battling Tops

In Line for Food

Time with Family

2009-04-10T23:56:00.002+06:00

We made it safely to Oklahoma. Right now my dad and grandparents are picking up Comfort and Steve at the airport. I got to take a walk on OU's campus (right down the block) with my Aunt Denise. We drove into Tulsa last night and then traveled to Norman today. All the family will be over tomorrow afternoon (possibly 24 people) for lunch. Here are some pictures from the trip so far.

On the Road and How to Tar a Roof

2009-04-09T09:47:00.000+06:00

Today my parents picked me up in Muncie and we started on the long drive to Oklahoma for the holidays. We are going down to visit my mom's side of the family for the weekend. It will be the first time in a long time that all of us (cousins, grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, sister and brother-in-law) will be together. Our times are usually full of lots of laughter. I am looking forward to being able to hang out with family.

The last few weeks have been very relaxing. I have had a chance to watch lots of basketball - I'm not quite sure what I will do now that college bball season is over. I have also gotten to roller blade and spend time with friends. It has been fun making new friends and spending time with those that I haven't seen in a long time.

Funny Story: In case you were missing my stories, here is one from last Saturday. I helped out at a community service day in Muncie. I got to help with a group of junior high youth. They were great workers. In the morning I had the job of taking wood that the youth moved and stacking it. It was a lot of wood!

The afternoon was when things got a bit more interesting. I had the job of "supervising" two youth as they tarred the roof of a mobile home. I guess there are a few things to take into consideration when I say "supervising" - I had never tarred anything, I had never been on a mobile home roof (or even seen one, except on the news when one blows off in a tornado), the roof was made of a thin piece of metal on top of some 2x2's, and I don't particularly like heights.

Now, it was my fault that I ended up on the roof because I made the comment "sounds like fun" when we were told we got to tar a roof. To start off, we checked the stability of the roof and I was taught how to walk on it. The big thing to remember is that you want to walk on those tiny little 2x2's and not the spaces in between.

We got the tar on top of the roof and realized that the tar needed mixing. The man in charge started the project and then once I figured out what to do, I took over. It was a bit challenging, since the bottom of the large bucket of tar looked like those large tar pits that elephants die in while the top was like colored water. After about 30 minutes, the tar was mixed and we were ready to start.

At this point I had still only ventured onto two beams of the roof and was unsure of whether I really wanted to do anything else. Since we only had two brushes and two willing volunteers, I stood back and watched while they tarred the roof. I felt kind of like a jerk as I just stood there pointing at places they missed and moving the bucket of tar. I gave suggestions from my "vast" experience with tarring. The boys did a great job and by the end we were all feeling pretty confident on the roof.

I was extremely grateful that none of us ended up "helping" the owner by creating a sunlight in her roof. The boys worked very hard and did such a great job. Well, now I can add tarring a mobile home roof to the random things I know how to do. I also learned that gasoline removes tar very easily.

Fun with Friends!

2009-03-29T10:44:00.003+06:00

On Wednesday night I had a chance to hang out with friends that I first met in Kazakhstan several summers ago. We enjoyed a meal together and a wonderful dessert! It was a fun night of sharing stories and catching up. I also really enjoyed having the chance to get to know Christine's fiance. It was such an enjoyable evening and I am looking forward to spending time with them again in the near future!

Our meal included one of the best strawberry pies I have ever eaten. I found a local bakery that is wonderful - although I am a bit concerned that it might be a bit too close to my house. So much for exercising regularly. Maybe I can just roller blade to the bakery, buy a doughnut, and then roller blade home.

March Madness!

2009-03-28T15:00:00.000+06:00

The best thing about being in the States in March is basketball! I have not been here during this time since I first moved to Kazakhstan almost six years ago. I had forgotten how much I missed just getting to watch playoff basketball for a month.

Thursday afternoon I took Daniel Knauss and his friend to the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. Indy is hosting the regional Sweet Sixteen. There will be four teams facing off tonight. Thursday afternoon each team had an open practice that was free to the public. We had such a great time. We were sitting in the third row for much of the time and had great views of some pretty impressive players. We got to see Kansas, Michigan State and Louisville practice. We had a really fun afternoon.

I even got home in time to watch Thursday night's games as well. How fun!

My Mommy!

2009-03-27T10:25:00.000+06:00

I just have to brag on my mommy! She has such creative ideas. Among other things (like doing foster care), she is a professional organizer and has written several short books on organizing. She has a web page and a blog and even twitters (which I don't even do). It has been fun trying to keep up with all her ideas of ways to help people better organize their lives. There are so many things that she has taught me (far beyond organizing). I am so grateful for the way she has helped shape my life.

I thought those of you that know mom, might want to know about her new project. Recently, she came up with another idea that she calls Mom Audience. Mom Audience is a "weekly email where you can list (free of charge) your new products, blogs, websites, social networks, discounts/sales and lots more. There will also be opportunities to sponsor Mom Audience and place sidebar ads." Her blog on the topic gives a few more details if anyone is interested. Also, she is having some free giveaways that end tomorrow (Friday). The info on these giveaways can be found in her more recent blogs.

I am so grateful for the family that God has blessed me with.

A Time to Treasure

2009-03-24T05:53:00.000+06:00

While in Pennsylvania, I had the opportunity to visit my grandma and grandpa Coggins. It was so fun to visit with them. They live in a retirement home in PA. My parents and I were able to join them for lunch in their dining hall. It was kind of funny to see many of the other residents watch us and hear them tell each other about us.

Sometimes it is hard to see my grandparents get older. Both of them now use walker’s and are in the assisted living part of the home. It is reassuring to know that they are being well taken care of. I treasure my time with them, especially since I never know how many more visits I will have with them. They have shaped my life in so many ways and I am grateful for their love and care over the years.

Friends for Life

2009-03-24T03:38:00.000+06:00

During my time in MD/PA, I was able to see many friends that I hadn’t seen for years. I hadn’t seen some of them since graduating from high school. A friend of our family allowed us to use her house to host an open house. It was fun to catch up with people that have meant so much in my life. I am blessed to have so many good friends.

A Forever Family

2009-03-18T03:28:00.000+06:00

I had the opportunity to spend dinner with Amina and her family during my time in PA. Amina is a young girl who was adopted from Kazakhstan about a year ago. Although our company has nothing to do with adoptions, we often get to meet the families of the children that are adopted from the orphanages. Amina’s family had done a good job helping her keep in touch with her friends at the orphanage. I met Amina almost 6 years ago when I first moved to Kazakhstan. She always greeted us with a smile and a hug.

Amina is in sixth grade and is adjusting really well to life in the States. It was fun to hear her speak English so fluently. She rarely struggled to express herself. This was amazing to me because she didn’t know any English before being adopted one year ago. It was also really fun to watch her as she interacted with her younger sisters and her parents. I could see how much she loved them. It brought me so much joy to see a child that was so long forgotten with a family that will be hers for the rest of her life.

Escalators, Older Women, and Large Suitcases (NOT A GOOD COMBINATION)

2009-03-12T05:42:00.000+06:00

My friend Eileen and I went to D.C. in order to go to several museums. We had a great time hanging out together and I even got some great pictures of the capital building. We visited the Capital, the Library of Congress, the Natural History Museum, and the National Archives. It was a fun day, but nothing was as exciting as the beginning of our journey.

Eileen and I were on the metro riding into D.C. We had to change trains, so we got off one train and took a short escalator up to our next train. Since an older woman in front of us had a suitcase and was taking up the entire escalator, we stood next to each other about 2 rows behind the woman and her suitcase. As we stood there talking, suddenly the woman in front of us ended up in our arms. She fell back without bending her knees and landed directly in Eileen’s arms (lying horizontally). I caught her suitcase, which she was still holding onto as if it was going to keep her from falling. By the time we realized that we had caught her we were about half way up the escalator that seemed much shorter than it had a few moments below. My brain was trying to figure out ways to get this woman standing again. Pushing her up (with her legs still completely straight) was not doing anything. Thankfully, just before we reached the top of the escalator, a man came running up behind us and pushed Eileen and I up the stairs moving the woman into a standing position. He then walked off quietly while we made sure the woman was okay. Although it provided us with a lot of laughter as we thought back on it, we were also grateful for all the things God put into place that allowed her to get back onto her feet before we reached the end of the escalator. The important lesson to learn from this is that if you have a suitcase that is heavier than you, it is better to take the extra time and find the elevator.

It was an exciting day spent with a good friend. It was probably the most fun I have ever had going to museums. Thanks Eileen!

Unpacking

2009-03-06T06:08:00.000+06:00

I arrived in Muncie on Tuesday night and have finally been able to start unpacking. I have a lot of stories to share with you of my last few weeks and will try to do that in these next couple weeks. I did want to let you know that God provided a car for me to use. Someone that has come over to Kazakhstan on a delegation had an extra car and has agreed to let me use it during my time in Muncie. I am pretty tired after all my traveling, but I really did enjoy getting to see many friends. I am looking forward to some rest during these next couple weeks.

Time in Maryland

2009-02-22T01:38:00.000+06:00

I just thought I'd write a quick update and let all of you in MD know that I will be up there next week. I will get to MD on Tuesday and be there through Sunday. My parents will join me for some of the time from Ohio. On Saturday we will have an open house in the Silver Spring area and would love to see any of you that live nearby and have time. If you would like times and directions let me know. Also, I still have some free time during the week and would love to see as many of you as possible. I have a car rented for my time in MD, but I am still looking into options for a car during the rest of my stay.

I have had a great time this week in Richmond, VA. I will try to write and update you about some of my time soon. It has been a pretty busy few weeks, but I am enjoying time with friends and have been able to meet many of our Kids Connection sponsors. It has been fun!

Killing the Car

2009-02-16T01:10:00.000+06:00

I had a bit of an adventure on the way to Lynchburg, VA on Wednesday. I flew into Indiana on Tuesday in order to pick up a donated car that our company had found for me to be able to drive for the time I was in the States. During the few hours I drove it before starting off on my trip across the country, it seemed to be working okay.

As I was driving through the mountains of West Virginia, I was surprised to notice smoke trailing behind my car. We stopped and looked for the origin of the smoke. I also checked the oil level, which was normal. That pretty much exhausted my knowledge of why a car would smoke. After being there a while the State Trooper dropped by and helped us to get in touch with a tow truck. The truck was going to take 45 minutes to get there and would have had to tow us about 20 miles. The trooper left and another nice man came by. In the meantime I had tried starting the car and it didn't even like doing that. When the man came by he looked at the engine and then suggested I try starting the car again. It started with no problem. He suggested we try driving it again for a little while with him driving right behind us in case we had other problems.

We were able to drive the car for about 16 miles (2 miles short of the exit we needed to get to) before it started smoking again. After pulling over, we noticed a puddle under our engine of a substance that turned out to be oil. At this point, we figured that we probably weren't going to be going anywhere anytime soon.

So, we waited for a tow truck that the nice man helped us to call. Three or four people stopped to check on us as we waited. The tow truck took us to the nearest mechanic and he thought that the car would probably not be worth fixing, due to the expense of the repair and how old the car was.

Since there were no car rentals available in the small town we were in, someone from Lynchburg drove the three hours to pick us up. I am now in the process of looking into other options for a car to drive until the end of May. I have been in touch with an organization that specializes in long-term car rentals and that looks like a fairly good option. I will try to finalize things next week.

I am very grateful that we are safe and that everything this week related to transportation has worked out. I have had a very nice time in Lynchburg. It has been good to see friends who have visited us in Kazakhstan. A friend will be driving me to Richmond tomorrow.

The Travels Continue

2009-02-14T12:43:00.001+06:00

I had a wonderful time with friends in Denver. I sleeping in different places as I visited with friends. It is kind of strange how at home I felt even though I have been gone for six years and only lived there for two years. It was fun to catch up with close friends.

Right now I am in Lynchburg, VA. I have some meetings with sponsors and have been able to see many people that have visited Kazakhstan. It has been a refreshing time. I will be heading to Richmond next week and then I will be in MD the last week of February.

For those of you in MD, I will be having an open house while I am there. If you would like to know more details, please email me for information.

Fun in Montana!

2009-02-02T11:34:00.015+06:00

I continue to really enjoy my time in Montana with my family. Today I got to watch the Superbowl. It was such an exciting game to be back for. We enjoyed a weekend of resting and playing games together.

On Tuesday morning (early) we will leave. I will be heading to Denver for a week. I am looking forward to seeing many good friends while I am there. I finally figured out the problems I was having with my cell phone and am able to make and receive calls again. Sorry if you tried to call me. For those of you on Facebook, my number is posted in my information on there. Here are some more pictures of the beauty that has surrounded us during our time in Montana.

Professional Sign Maker

2009-01-30T12:09:00.013+06:00

We have spent the last couple days helping Comfort in her office. Today I learned how to be a professional sign maker. :) I helped make one giant sign and about eight small metal signs. I was pretty impressed with my first sign making attempt (shown below). It was actually a HUGE two-sided sign. It was fun to learn something new.

We continue to enjoy the scenery here. Tonight on the way home, we saw a beautiful sunset. These pictures don't do it justice, but hopefully you can imagine the beauty that we were able to see.

Christmas and Star Gazing!

2009-01-27T09:24:00.024+06:00

We have been having a great time as a family! Tonight we celebrated Christmas together - my sister even provided a tree. It was kind of funny because it was a Christmas Tree in a Box - a paper one that we put together before celebrating.

It has been very relaxing. We have been enjoying seeing the beauty around us change each day as weather conditions change (snow, sun, sunrise, clouds, sunset, etc). We have also been playing games together and enjoying catching up.

Tonight Steve (Comfort's husband) brought his telescope up to the top of our little mountain. He took us on a short tour of the night sky. It was freezing, but amazingly beautiful. We are going to go out again in a couple hours to see the things that weren't yet visible.

Montana!

2009-01-23T22:15:00.000+06:00

We (my parent's and I) woke up at 4am in order to fly to Montana yesterday. It was a pleasant flight with some great views as we got closer to Bozeman.

We got into Bozeman in the afternoon, were picked up by Comfort and Steve and then grabbed some Wendy's on the way to see my sister's office. It was really fun to see her office for the first time. She has done such a nice job of fixing it up. We were a bit surprised that it was warmer out here in Montana than it was in Ohio.

We are staying in a really nice cottage up in the mountains. It has a great view! Here is shot out our window.

This morning we woke up to a slight covering of new snow. Here are two pictures, one from last night and one from this morning. It has been beautiful so far and I look forward to another 10 days or so here with my family.

A Day of Parties

2009-01-21T21:40:00.000+06:00

I am still trying to catch up on posts from our busy New Year's season. On January 8th we hosted two New Year's parties. Instead of trying to get these parties in before New Year's we decided to do them while the children had vacations so that we could spend more time with them.

In the morning we hosted a party for all the children that we sponsor (except the youngest children's groups) at Saramoldaeva Orphanage. We played games, did crafts, played more games, ate snacks, and gave them small gifts. We even gave them an opportunity to write a letter to their sponsors. They had a great time - so did we!

In the evening we hosted a party for Rakhym. We played games, shot off some great fireworks, ate grilled hamburgers (a first for these children) and even ended the evening singing happy birthday to the two boys. The favorite games of the night were spoons and operation. The evening went by extremely quickly, as 10pm came before we knew it and it was time to get them home so that they could get to sleep for their first day of school.

This day marked the final day of our New Year's celebrations. What a fun and busy month it was!

Cell Phone

2009-01-20T08:17:00.000+06:00

Today I got a local cell phone number. Instead of posting my number online for anyone to see, I figured I'd just let you know that I have a cell phone and you can email me if you want the number. :) I have a limited number of minutes each month (with free nights and weekends). I am also at my parent's house until Thursday so if you want to find me you can always call my parent's house as well. Even though I am in the States, you can always use my Skype number (the US number I had while in Kazakhstan) to get in touch with me as well. I will also try to keep my facebook profile updated with my current information, for those on facebook.

Arrival in the States

2009-01-19T00:23:00.000+06:00

I am currently sitting in the airport in Chicago typing away on hi-speed internet (that is actually hi-speed). I have walked past McDonalds, Starbucks, Cinnabon, and many other really familiar names that I have missed. It's funny, I never used to eat at McDonalds when I was in the States, but walking by I have this urge to buy french fries. So far, my only purchase has been a Sports Illustrated magazine for my last flight and some gum.

Well, I just wanted to let you know I am back in the States. My trip was uneventful. I was a bit concerned when I came down with a cold the day before traveling, but thankfully the first day was the worst and traveling hasn't been bad at all. On the last flight I even got to sit at the bulkhead and had plenty of room for my long legs. :) There were also only three of us sitting in five seats, so we had plenty of room to stretch out without having to worry about invading each other's space. I feel pretty rested considering the long trip and a cold.

Tonight I will be watching playoff football with my folks and will just enjoy being "home" with them. Well, I have to get going since my gate has changed and I have to move to a different terminal.

Ulan New Years

2009-01-17T21:24:00.000+06:00

This year we had the privilege of taking most of the children at Ulan Orphanage shopping to choose their own New Year's gifts. On the morning of December 31st our entire office staff went to Ulan Orphanage and delivered gifts. It was really fun to see the children unwrap their gifts. For me it was also exciting to have our entire office involved in the gift giving process. Often, so many of our staff play behind-the-scenes support roles and never get to see what their jobs make possible at the orphanages. We got some great pictures and even video as we went from group to group delivering gifts.

Due to some confusion, as children move regularly between groups at Ulan, some of the children did not receive their gifts when we went to their group. One thing that was fun for me was that when I promises to bring their gift when we found it, the children were willing to believe the promise. So often these children have issues with trust because they have had so many people let them down. It was encouraging for me to see that due to our longstanding relationship with them, they trusted us when we said that we would return and bring their gift. In the end, all the children received gifts and were extremely grateful to those that had donated the funds to allow them to shop for their own gifts. You can go to the Interlink Blog for more details.

Savva New Year

2009-01-15T17:43:00.005+06:00

We had a chance to celebrate New Year's with Savva Orphanage by attending their New Year's Ball Masquerade. The children and caregivers prepared a 2 1/2 hour presentation, complete with dancing, skits, and singing. It was wonderful.

During the concert I was thinking about the idea of a parent going to their child's concert or recital. I was thinking of how boring the parts have to be when a parent's children are not involved. For example, I don't know how many violin recital's my parents had to sit through. They might have really enjoyed watching me perform, but I don't know that they enjoyed the whole thing.

As I thought about this I realized how thankful I am. During everyone performance one of "my children" was performing. I was so proud of them. They put so much work into it and their work paid off. The morning after the Ball Masquerade, we went from group to group giving out gifts to each child. What a great way to spend two days!

The End of the New Year!

2009-01-10T23:41:00.001+06:00

On Thursday we hosted our last New Year's party at the orphanage. As a result, Kids Connection is finally finished with 2008, only about 8 days late. :) I will try to catch up with some stories and pictures from each party over the next week. I hope you enjoy them.

The big news for me currently is that I will be leaving Taraz in five days. The last month has flown by! I packed a lot of my things today. I have a busy week this week, but it should be fun as I make my last trips to the orphanages and spend time with children.

I will spend two days in Almaty, and then fly out of Almaty on Sunday. Sunday will be something like a 35 hour day. I will leave Almaty at 3 am and arrive in Cleveland at 4pm on the same day.

A few posts earlier, I shared a more specific calendar, but here is a brief summary of my time in the States. I will spend my first couple weeks with my family (in Ohio and Montana) and then go to Denver for a week. From there I will be in VA for a week and a half and MD/PA for a week and a half. I will spend about 3 months in Muncie, IN - with a short trip to Oklahoma for Easter thrown in the middle. At the end of May I will spend a week with my folks in Ohio and then travel back to Kazakhstan the first week of June. I am looking forward to seeing so many of you during my time in the States.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:25:00.000+06:00

I wish you all the best in this coming year! Last night I got to spend the night with my Kazakh family bringing in the New Year. We celebrate the New Year a bit differently here than we do in the States.

First of all, it is a chance for families to eat food (lots of it) together. We sat down for our first meal as 7pm and continued to have more courses (including dessert) until about 1am. Basically, once we finished cleaning up from one round we would sit down to another. We ate Pilov (a rice dish), baked chicken, pizza, four salads, bread, two cakes, and candy.

At 11:50 the President of Kazakhstan comes on TV and gives a speech followed by a toast (at exactly midnight). Everyone toasts with family and then runs out the door to set off fireworks. This can be a little scary because everyone (children, adults, and even those that have had a bit too much to drink) have all sorts of different fireworks. There are no fire department regulations that hold us back here. Some people have fireworks that can compete with some of the fireworks in 4th of July displays in the States.

The first year I was here, we went out on the balcony with our sparklers. Since then, I had not been brave enough (which is saying a lot) to venture outside shortly after midnight. This year I came to realize that I much prefer being on the ground than being on a balcony for the festivities. It is better to have rockets shooting over your head rather than whizzing past your year. We went outside with my two youngest host siblings and shot off some rockets and watched others as well. There was only one time that I was a bit concerned for my safety and that was when a very short grandmother was holding a firework tube that shot into the air. The flame seemed to go out, so she brought it down to eye level and it was somewhat pointing in our direction as it shot off. Thankfully, it remained over our heads (just barely) although the sparks rained down on us.

It was freezing outside, so we only lasted for about 15 minutes. Then we came inside, had tea (which means all the food and dessert came out again), and started calling everyone we knew to congratulate them on the New Year. I don't think I was allowed to go to bed until about 2:30 am. I had a wonderful time hanging out with my family. We brought all the food (including the cake) out for breakfast this morning at 12pm.

Time in the States

2008-12-29T21:40:00.000+06:00

I will be in the States from the end of January until the beginning of June. I am going to spend my first month traveling and then for the most part stay put in Muncie, IN for the months of March, April, and May (other than a trip to Oklahoma to see family). I would love to see as many of you as possible as I visit different States. Here is my basic schedule.

And We're Off!

2008-12-28T18:39:00.000+06:00

Today marked the start of New Years parties for us. New Years is the biggest holiday of the year, especially for children. It is celebrated in a similar manner to Christmas in the States. Santa Clause comes and gives gifts to children and they put up a tree. They have New Year's parties at schools as well as at the orphanages. As a result, it is a pretty busy time for us. I am also returning to the States in about 3 weeks (for about 4 months), so I have a lot to do to prepare to leave. I figured you might enjoy seeing a time-line of our activities for the next week or so.

This morning we started our orphanage New years parties with our youngest children's groups at Sarmoldaeva orphanage. Below are some pictures of our party.

This afternoon we celebrated November and December birthdays at Ulan orphanage. One of the staff at Ulan does such a great job preparing a beautiful birthday meal for the children. She teaches the older girls how to prepare food and set the table properly and while they are eating, she uses the time to instruct the children as to how they should behave at a party. It is fun to see how she uses every opportunity as a teaching experience.

On Monday morning we will have a staff Christmas/New Years party. We will play games and share a meal together.

On Monday afternoon we will leave for Savva orphanage (2 1/2 hour drive) for their New Year's masquerade party. We will spend the night and return on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning the staff at the office will help us deliver gifts to the children at Ulan. These are the gifts that they chose when we took them to a local store.

On Wednesday night I will celebrate New Years with my Kazakh family. I am looking forward to getting to spend some time with them.

I will likely get to rest on Thursday and Friday (unless something else comes up).

On Saturday we will return to Savva orphanage for our monthly birthday party visit. We will spend the night and return on Sunday evening.

On Wednesday morning we will have a New Years party for the children at Saramoldaeva that are in our older children's groups.

On Wednesday evening we will celebrate New Years and birthdays with the kids at Rakhym.

I was telling someone my schedule recently and he said "so you get paid to have fun." It should be a fun, although busy, couple weeks. Soon, I will write a blog detailing where I will be during my time in the States. I hope to see many of you.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T23:10:00.000+06:00

Merry Christmas! Today we had a wonderful day as a team celebrating Christmas together. We all got together at Ken's house for brunch and continued on until about nine in the evening. I decided to put my pajamas on once we got there, since I don't think I have ever celebrated Christmas in anything other than pajamas. It was a relaxing time as we enjoyed the day together. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!

Playing Mailman

2008-12-10T21:37:00.001+06:00

I posted this story on the Interlink blog, but it was a story that I wanted to share with those of you that don't read that blog. It shares my experience as children received letters from sponsors and friends last weekend at Savva orphanage.

Last Saturday evening I got to play mailman at Savva orphanage. This is a task that I dread and love at the same time. Every first Saturday of the month we go from group to group at Savva orphanage. As we walk in, the children eye the box that we carry our letters in. No matter what other announcements we have for them, their eyes often stay glued to the person opening the letter box. I liken their anticipation to the excitement of a child on Christmas morning. On Saturday, as I read off the names of the children receiving letters, you could see their faces light up. It was such a joy to see how important one small piece of paper or a picture of their sponsor is to them.

It is the moment after we finish handing out letters that I dread each month. You can visibly see the faces of those children that did not receive a letter cloud over. It is especially hard when they have never received a letter. Those that have received a letter before understand that it takes time for letters to get back and forth. Those that have never received a letter often have some of their deepest fears confirmed - I am not special, no one wants to be my sponsor, no one cares. It is hard to read these reactions on their faces and answer questions like "I have written 5 letters in the last six months to my sponsor, why haven't they written back?"

On Sunday I had one girl sit down with me and show me her photo albums. She showed me a picture of her sponsors and told me their names. They probably didn't realize it when sending the picture, but that picture is in an album that holds all of her precious memories. These children read the letters over and over, show them to their friends, memorize the details, and keep them to read again later.

Although answering questions about why a child hasn't received a letter is very difficult, the joy on a child's face when receiving a letter reminds me why we do it.

Packaged Meat!!!!

2008-12-08T16:54:00.000+06:00

Going to S'malls always brings a new experience (good or bad). Today it was GREAT! Usually shopping is not something I enjoy, but today's new treat brought me an amazing amount of joy, considering it is something that I always took for granted in the States. Continue reading for my meat buying adventures of the last five years and the surprise I am so excited about today.

5 years ago
There were two stores that had quality beef that I tended to go to. One was closer to town and had a butchering block right behind the counter (kind of fun for the biology major in me). The second was a bit out of town and the butchering was done in a back room. Since the beef was butchered on the spot it was sometimes difficult to find different cuts of beef in the afternoon. So, we would have to plan ahead and sometimes had to rework meals based on meat shortage. The stores with good meat didn't have the best selection of other items, so we would usually have to go to three or four places in order to buy all our groceries. Also, the meat was not trimmed - just cut up into chunks.

3 years ago
Gross was built! We definitely got a lot of entertainment out of the name of our first big grocery store. They had a meat counter and had most of the products that we needed, but were a bit more expensive. They also had a limited supply of meat, because it was brought in sometime in the morning. Also, there were one or two ladies that worked the meat counter and if they were on lunch or away, you could not buy meat. They still sold larger chunks of beef and you had to wait for them to weigh your purchase, but it was convenient because it was close to the office and you could get other items as well.

2 years ago
Skiff moved across town and opened up the biggest meat counter in town. They had fresh meat most of the time. The main disadvantage was that the lines were usually fairly long. Their prices were cheaper than Gross, but it was located further from the center of town and their customer service was lacking. Skiff recently changed it's name to S'malls.

TODAY!!!! (Yes, I know I used a lot of !'s)
Today, I walked up towards the meat counter in S'malls and saw a separate meat counter. The meat there (pictured above) was trimmed into nice, manageable pieces and was packaged and priced. All I had to do was pick up the meat and put it in my cart! I bought two - you never know how long it will be this way, so you might as well enjoy it while you can. To me the small added expense to buy the pre-packaged meat is well worth it for me not to have to stand in line, cut off the fat, and trim the meat into pieces that I can actually cook with.

I also picked up a personal pre-packaged portion of one of my favorite salads! This is a new thing that I saw for the first time today as well. It's the little things in life ... what a good day!

My Birthday

2008-12-04T19:41:00.000+06:00

Last Friday I turned 31 and really enjoyed the day. One of the things I liked most was that all day I had the opportunity to hang out with people that I really enjoy and wasn't the center of attention the entire time.

In the morning, I had the traditional Birthday tea with office staff. I made a pinneapple dump cake. It wasn't nearly as yummy as the peach cobbler I was planning, but since there were no canned peaches to be found in Taraz (and only pinneaple) I had to be a little creative. Everyone seemed to like it.

At lunch, the entire office staff went to Ken's house to celebrate Thanksgiving (I made sure everyone knew this had nothing to do with my birthday). We had a great time enjoying each others company and just having fun together as we ate. We continued a tradition that my family had started in the States and our team here had continued, of writing what we were each thankful for on a tablecloth. We pull this tablecloth out each year. It was fun to look back at past years as well as share with each other what we were thankful for from this last year.

milking my spoons "injury"

In the evening some friends came over to play games. We even enjoyed a VERY lively game of spoons, which included Jason and Ken diving to get the last spoon, me being hit (yes, hit on my birthday) in order to convince me to let go of the spoon in Jason's hand, and me being used as a human shield for the spoons. It was a very nice day, made special because I spent it with friends. On Sunday, I had my Kazakh family over for dinner to celebrate. It was nice to have them over and spend time with just them.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T23:19:00.001+06:00

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for. I am so thankful for relationships, including both my Kazakh and American family, my friends here and back in the States, my team here, and all my children at the orphanages. My life is so rich because of all the people in my life.

Today was a fun (busy) Thanksgiving for our team. We spent all day cooking - minus a game of Canasta (which Jason and I won!). Today the four of us (Ember, Ken, Jason, and myself) prepared our own Thanksgiving meal, but also began preparations for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with the staff from our office tomorrow at lunch.

The decision on what to cook is always interesting. We try to cook the things that each person feels are a part of Thanksgiving. Today (for just the four of us) we cooked turkey (the biggest one I have ever had in Kazakhstan), mashed potatoes, sweet potato marshmallow casserole, green beans, rolls, mushrooms and garlic, gravy, stuffing, apple pie, pecan pie (with walnuts instead of pecans because we don't have pecans here), and pumpkin pie. Tomorrow we will be having the same except we won't be having green beans. Everything was yummy! It was fun to work together to accomplish such a feast. I got the fun job of trying to stuff turkeys and sew them up, which was a new experience for me. We did take pictures of all the festivities, so I'll have to post those another time.

Funny Story: Today we realized we had a lot of potatoes. We bought 10kg yesterday (20 pounds). Ember and I were thinking about all the office staff, but realized that we aren't going to have as many as we had imagined in our head. With our meal today and the meal tomorrow it comes out to about a pound of potato per person. Of course, this is before they are peeled and mashed, so maybe it comes out to 3/4 of a pound per person. Tomorrow we will test my philosophy: you can never have too many mashed potatoes.