The Post Office

Wouldn’t think it was such a scary place, now would you? Stay a while to hear my story of why the Russian Post Office is a frightening place to go.

Mandi called me to let me know that I got a package slip in her mailbox. When you receive a package you have to go to the post office to pick it up. I was speaking to a friend of mine and he said that he knew where it was, so I asked if he would go with me. We met at the metro at 10:30 to go. The address on my package slip was #20. He said that you have to go some place else to pick up the package. Thus, we walked rather far and finally found a post office. The postal clerk told us something, which neither  of us understood. The only thing that we did understand was that we needed  to go to the right and it’s by the pharmacy. We tried these directions and found another post office, but it’s locked. We went back to the lady and tell her that it is locked. She told us again the same thing. We go back out. Well, there is NOTHING to the right. Just a police station. Now, as I said the address on the package slip was #20 and we were at #73. We decided to take the bus back to the metro (very near #20). As we get off the bus I see another post office! We’re finally there!

Think again! We go in and the lady says you can’t pick up packages there, you have to go next door. So we go next door and the lady is on her break. There is one other women in front of us, as we wait 15 minutes alot of other people come in. FINALLY, her break is over and it is our turn. We go up to the counter and the lady yells at us, because I didn’t fill out the package slip. HUH, how was I supposed to know? We can’t make out what we are supposed to fill out on the back of the slip. A kind man gave us some help. Filled it out to the best of our knowledge, no idea if it was right. We then returned to wait in the line (Thankfully in Russia you can butt in line). The lady took the package slip and was huffy. But she finally gave me my package! It was CANDY!! YEY!!! Happy Halloween!! : ) Love it!

Needless to say, now I know how to get a package. SIGH! Anyone want to send me anything? ; ) Just give me warning so I can gird my loins!

Despite what this looks like, it is a post office.

Quarantine

quar⋅an⋅tine  [kwawr-uhn-teen, kwor-, kwawr-uhn-teen, kwor-] noun, verb, -tined, -tin⋅ing.

–noun
1. a strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease.
2. the detention or isolation enforced.
3. the place, esp. a hospital, where people are detained.

–verb (used with object)
4. to put in or subject to quarantine.
5. to exclude, detain, or isolate for political, social, or hygienic reasons.

www.dictionary.com

This word has been coming up alot in the last 4 weeks. “Sorry, you can’t come to school today. We’re under quarantine.” “Sorry, we can’t come to _____, we’re quarantined.”  In one instance we’ve been told not to come to a school four weeks in a row now.

Swine Flu is a big issue here. Many people seem to be very afraid of it. So at any signs of the regular flu, the kids are taken out of school. On one hand, this is a good thing. They aren’t going to spread any of those germs to the rest of the students. On the other hand, parents seem to get scared and keep their healthy kids home as well.

As frustrating at these quarantines are for me, I should look as them as blessings. I’m not getting the germs. : )

Thus, please pray for the health of the students here in St. Petersburg.

more thanks

1. nice neighbours!

2. helpers to help me carry heavy loads!

3. sleep

4. internet that works (i’m extra thankful after not having it for two days)

5. sleep (oh did i say that yet?) ha ha

Thanksgiving

I know that I’ve not posted in a few days and am lacking on my “5 Things a Day.” So I thought I’d just post a few here, not the 25 I’m missing.

1) A FLAT!!!!! We signed the papers on Tuesday. It’s official I am moving on Sunday/Monday!

2) A great soon-to-be roommate.

3) SLEEP (It’s a repeat I know)

4) Friends to celebrate Thanksgiving with

5) My family back home

6) Current roommates who through me a celebration for finding a flat.

Day 4 and 5

I missed a day. Oops. So here are 10 things I am thankful for.

1. Warm weather (since when did 40 degrees become warm?)

2. Clean sheets

3. Good books (aka good authors)

4. Accountability

5. A good real estate agent

6. Chunky Kit-Kat bars (sadly, my comfort food)

7. SMS (Txting)

8. SLEEP!

9.  Shoe repair places!! They didn’t a BANGING job on my boots! (for 300 rubles!)

10.  Good teacher at the Swiss Center!

Day 3

Tim and Sue

1. Great leaders in Tim and Sue.

Jim and Daryl Cannon

2. Great pastors here and in the states!

Megan, Frank, Liza, and Emmanuel

3. Old friends and new.

Jay and Meg

4. The beginnings of new life together.

5. Beginnings of new life with Christ.

Thankfulness: Day 2

1. Snow – it reminds me that my sin has been washed white as snow by the blood of Jesus.

2. Peanut butter.

3. Running water (even if it doesn’t run clear)

4. Sunshine

5. Grocery store in my building! : )

Thankfulness

I’m reading “Lord Change My Attitude, Before It’s Too Late.” I highly recommend it, even though I’m not done it yet. It is written in two-chapter reading sections. You have to read two chapters together. One is about the wrong or bad attitude and the second is about the correct attitude to replace the former.

This chapter recommended making copies of “I am Thankful” sheets. Instead of copying these sheets I am going to try to post every day on my blog for a year 5 things I am thankful for.

1. My parents who love me and are so supportive of all my choices.

2. My sister who is always there for me, no matter what is going on in my life.

3. Wonderful roommates who have not kicked me out.

4. God granting me my dream of living in Russia!

5. The internet. Silly, but grateful to be able to communicate all over the world.

 

L’anniversaire de Sue

C’est la vie, mes amis.

With a full French menu, music, and attire, how could you not start to spout any French words you knew. (Unfortunately, it seems the above phrase is the only one Will could remember.) Dinner included French carrot soup, chicken in a hard cider sauce, and roasted vegetables. For dessert we had French apple cobbler and a nice cinnamon tea.

Will prepared a fantastic scavenger hunt for Sue. She went down the elevator of death, went up and down the escalator with Tim, through the hallway of death, and home to the loving arms of her children.

We finished the evening with presents and a rousing game of Munchkin.

My Church Family

 

ICA: This is my Russian Church Family

I just wanted to introduce my church family to you. I’m sad that I can’t give you everyones names, but front and center are our pastor and his wife, John and Renee Michno. I’m growing to love this family. I can’t wait to see what God does in and through this church!