Since my email is working now, I would like to give you some snapshots, both verbal and pictorial of my life here in Kyrgyzstan. Of course, St Petersburg is probably the most western and cosmopolitan of the Russian cities.

Well, Kyrgyzstan is a world away from there. On my first trip here in 2004 I was delighted to awake the first morning to the sound of cows mooing as they moved past my apartment. Having been raise on a farm (around half a century earlier) I felt like I had been transported back to my roots. Time is viewed differently here than in the west in more ways than one.







When I first arrived in Bishkek this year there was a delay of one day in being picked up to come to the village. One of the pastors is always kind enough to let me stay in his home, however, there was no one there most of the day and I had no idea where my suitcases were. I think I may have slept for 30 hours out of the first 40. Of course, since I had taken an overnight flight that landed in the early morning I really needed the rest.



When I arrived in the village they already picked out for me an apartment that I really like. In these apartments heat is not turned on until November 15 -- so one of the first things I did was to buy a room heater.


There is a sort of micro hardware store, home center close to my apartment. I visited them many times in the first few days, partially setting up my apartment. (By the way, my apartment here is a third floor walk up, but since St. Petersburg was a 5th floor walk up this doesn't seem like much -- just good exercise three or four times a day!)



There are many small shops around but another good place to shop is the open air market on Sundays, where I went after church to buy more supplies. (Actually I went after I TRIED to go to church. It seem they have changed buildings since I was here last!) Now I know where the new building is so I can actually attend next week.

As I mentioned, things are very different there. I had been told that the water supply was turned off from late at night until six in the morning. Of course, that is not a problem. You just bathe late at night or early in the morning. However, there is no hot water in the kitchen. I have to heat it on the stove. But, Praise God, there is a water heater in the bathroom for my shower, and it has GREAT pressure. Also, theoretically, there is no electricity between one and five in the afternoon. I have rarely seen that happen in my apartment, but I have seen it happen in the stores.

By Monday morning I was ready to go to the Children's Home and see my kids. I spent the first day becoming reacquainted with them, meeting the new kids and spending time with Sveta (the Mom of the house) planning how I best could help. Of course the most important part for me was sharing the love of God with these kids who have had such hard beginnings.

It didn't take long for Oxana to let me know she was having a birthday. She is the little girl in the picture standing behind the older boy. Hmmmmm! I think that means a cake. I made plans to have one on Wednesday. It feels good to be back and part of this family. We have twenty-three kids here now. What a nice size family!




Tuesday morning as I started home, I stepped into a winter wonderland. It was absolutely beautiful and I was rejoicing in the Lord about living in such a beautiful place. Fifty minutes later when I was still waiting for public transportation, somehow the snow didn't look quite so pretty. I don't really think that they snow had changed, it was of course, my attitude.

I often teach on perspective. How we look at things certainly makes a difference in our lives! By the time I arrived home I was back to looking at the bright side and the goodness of God.

I had some wonderful days with my kids and altogether we had a full and wonderful week.

In His Love,



Judy