Blessings

If I could just sum up my stay in Kstan in a few words, they would be....

kids, scooter, CRASH, concrete walls, pain, kids, sore muscles, cooking, bazaar, volleyball, kids, eating, basketball, services, egg/tomato sandwiches, kids, walking, pictures, coffee, new friends, more pain, and blessings. 

Anara, Daniel, Ira

At every service I attended in Kstan, there was time for sharing blessings. I realized that I do not thank the Lord enough for the blessings He continually showers into my life. Numerous little things, big things, things I take for granted, things I love dearly, so many things. It was a great refreshment to me to share a few of God's blessings with others and to hear what they were thankful for. And even when I didn't share audibly, it encouraged me to think of other things on my own to praise God for.  

having fun - Lidia, Vernica, me, Nastia

The biggest blessing God has given me this past month has been His abundant grace. During my stay in Kstan, I was not only dealing with much physical pain from my accident, but also emotional and mental pain. I can honestly say it was probably the lowest time of my life thus far. I was dealing, or trying to deal with some news that I had a hard time wrapping my mind around. News that was a blow to me. There I was in a place I had never been before, with people I had never met before, thousands of miles from my family and friends, trying to get through. But do you know, that God's grace reaches to the farthest corner of the earth!? I can testify, it does!! 

I want to praise and thank my Lord for His grace, His strength and His hope in trials. I want to thank Him for putting me with people that were able to help me spiritually during a dark time, for friends many miles away that wrote to tell me they were praying for me, for wise Biblical counsel, prayer and those who just listened. 

Other blessings from the last month would definitely have to include the new friends I've made. The more I travel, the more I long for heaven! Almost every where I've been I leave a part of my heart, but one day I'll be able to gather with my many friends and loved ones from all over the world around God's throne and we'll all praise Him. And the awesome thing is then we will all be able to completely understand each other!! The amazing thing now is that in many places I have brothers and sisters in Christ and though we may not be able to talk about everything because of our language barrier, we still can have a real friendship! 

my tall, very awesome friends

Yo My Yo

Another blessing to me is the ability to play volleyball and basketball. May seem like a small thing to some, but I love sports and during my first week when I couldn't play because of the pain, I ached to play. Glad I healed enough to play with the kids. Have a few more wounds that need healing. (got two more today) Wish you could have seen my incredible flip/somersault in the air while playing basketball. :) It was impressive, if I do say so myself. Some kid ran in front of me and I started falling, somehow somersaulted and landed without hitting my head, neck or back. I was glad, since falling on concrete isn't the most comfortable. Only have a small bruise on my elbow from that one. 

Rita likes this one cause my feet aren't touching the ground. 

One last thing I want to share - I want to thank God for pain. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm grateful for pain. Physically - because it reminds me there are limitations and helps me to work on my self-control. 

And emotionally/mentally/spiritually - because that's when God can really work in my life. When His strength is infused because I have none left. Pain can make one stronger if they accept it and work through it. 

One question that was put to me that helped me....

"Are you willing to trust God with this, even if He never explains the reason(s) why?" 

Trusting God isn't always easy.

But it is ALWAYS worth it.

setting sun in Urumqi

Photos

Thought I would share some pictures of the kids here. We've been having a grand time around here. I wanted to share these earlier, but been having some difficulty with the internet. My computer doesn't want to connect to the wifi sometimes. And usually when I do get on, it only lasts for a little while before it quits working. 

seeing the kids off to school

Lidia, Veronica, Isha

Little Daniel

Big Kata, Veronica, Ira

my Russian family :) 

helping the boys make breakfast

Don't have enough time to write much about what's been going on. But hope to have some updates soon. Lots of laughing been going on here.... bet you can't believe that! :D

Out and About

Last week I was able to go for a drive into the mountains south of where I am staying. I didn't drive, but I enjoyed the ride greatly. It was a gorgeous day - about 60 degrees with sunny skies. As we drove higher and higher into the mountains, it got a little cooler and snow became deeper. A lot of the road near the top of the mountains were covered with snow and melting slush. Before that, the roads were swimming in mud. 

country road

 My pictures don't even begin to do the sight justice. I love seeing rolling green and brown hills set against a backdrop of snow capped mountains, with a blue sky above. Our Creator is an amazing artist!!

mud slide/waterfall

 On the way back down the hill, we slid and fishtailed a little. Seems we weren't the only ones who had problems with the slickery (yes, I did mean to say slickery) roads. We passed a vehicle that had slid off the road. They stopped us and asked for help. Neither of us had a tow strap, but they had a piece of wire. I didn't think it would work; it wasn't very thick wire. But they hooked the vehicles together and we started pulled. Snap! The guy tied a knot in the wire and refastened it to our trailer hitch. Yes, a knot in the wire. We tried again. The car started moving forward, but not back onto the road, merely along side it. Then it started tipping a bit. Mr. Allen said, "if they go over, we're going with them...." At one point, I really thought they were going to roll down the hill. Pretty sure my heart stopped for a second or two. But somehow we pulled them out of the ditch and back onto the road..... all with a piece of wire that had a knot in it!!!! Yep, that's the way it's done here. :) 

 Today I got the chance to go into the city to look around a bit. Thankfully we had a little bit of blue sky, which is always nice. Missed the changing of the guards at the City Square, but got a video of the soldiers marching into the building. It doesn't seem like a very practical way of marching, but sure looks cool! 

Kyrgyz flag

 Just a couple years ago, the country had a revolution. This monument shows how they (supposedly) got rid of the bad and kept the good in the government. There are two main parties constantly vying for control, each accuse the other of being corrupt. And they're both right. 

Revolution Monument

national hero - Manas

Bishkek's "Big Ben" :p

1st Day

Within twenty-four hours of arriving here, I was asked if I wanted to take the scooter for a drive. Now this was no child’s scooter, but a full-size, almost a motorcycle scooter. You don’t have to ask me twice! Simple instructions were given; here’s the front brake, the back brake and the throttle. Simple enough, right?

Only problem was, it was my first time every driving something with that kind of throttle and I was in a small courtyard. Well, I straddled the beast and as soon as I turned the handlebar throttle, we moved forward. Before I could get used to the bike and how it handled, the concrete wall was there. BAM! The bike stopped, but I fell off to the right. Wouldn’t have been too bad, except for the large concrete step that was waiting to meet me. The left side of my back met the step all too willingly. Took me a second to realize what happened. I hurt initially, but wasn’t horrible pain. (I’ve endured worse) But later that day, I started hurting. Thankfully I didn’t hit my spine, at least I don’t think so. But my whole left lower back’s muscles were swollen and bruised deep. Have a few other bruises also. But here it is 5 days later and I’m moving around much better! Yesterday evening, I even played volleyball for a little while.

It’s warmer here. Almost got to 60 degrees a couple days ago. I keep checking the trees for little green buds, but nothing yet. A friend said it does normally start turning green here in March. I hope to see a little green before I leave. I love Spring and it’s so short back home, that I enjoy being other places during this time.