Maslenitsa - butter week (or more commonly - Pancake week)

in traditional Russian costume, a tamada led the group in traditional dance and song

We had the chance to visit a Russian folk custom today. It's called Maslenitsa... something loosely associated with the Lenten season. - it's Carnival or Mardi Gras, depending on your culture or preference.

It was held at a local outdoor resort and our friends Igor and Zhenya had a free pass. It was fun and culturally interesting. We ate Russian pancakes (bliny) and got to breathe in some fresh air (you forget when you're living in a city that the pine air in Siberia is really wonderful!)

During the Russian Orthodox Lent season. The first week, meat is already forbidden, but dairy products are still allowed, so there's a BIG celebration of fattening up for a week eating all the butter and milk and flour etc.

This holiday is, of course, really, a pagan holiday celebrating the return of the sun (in the form of the big pancakes). We attended the event as a cultural experience, and no one really is celebrating the 'old ways' as it were. It was an interesting cultural event.

Masha, our friend Igor's daughter enjoying some sweets and a sunny day

ya gotta just love little kids and their outdoor clothes. They are so adorable and WARM!

Men's Day Celebration

At church today, the women celebrated the men. It was great. They had a beautiful table laid out for all of us.setting the table

pies & salads & candies

baked goods and fruit

Then they sang to all of us. They had written a short song for each of the men who attend church sung to the tune of traditional/popular Russian songs.


It was really cool. In 2 weeks we celebrate women's day... the men will NEVER be able to top this... what are we going to do? fix everyone's computers and household items? The food was delicious the entertainment was even better... and most of all - Amy did a great job and I really felt how much she loves me. She did so much (cupcakes, veggie pizza, decorated the tables, etc etc.) She's amazing.

Driving is a hazardous activity

Yesterday, as I was pulling out into traffic (driving Jim's car), I was cut off by another car. It was just before a red light, so we were stopped one behind the other. The driver and passenger both got out of the car and came back to Amy and I yelling at us.

I responded that we hadn't done anything. Locked the door when he tried to open it. And just watched in surprise as he kicked the driver's side mirror OFF THE CAR! He just reacted violently for no reason. He was the one who cut US off in traffic, not the other way around.I think Amy and I are still in shock about it. We're completely safe. We're hoping to get the mirror fixed this weekend (it's almost impossible to drive in traffic here without both mirrors -- Amy has to look over her shoulder the whole time to tell me if there are cars coming on my left).

We just can't believe that there would be that much ANGER built up in someone that they needed to respond that way. We're praying for peace and calm to descend on that guy's life. He needs some serious help.

Teen Club in the garden...

Teen club was really cool today. Our group remains a nice small size, with 3 kids in attendance since the New Year's (nay Christmas) Holidays. We talked about the Garden of Eden and how mankind first disobeyed.

Amy had this awesome idea and we had a plate of cookies on the table when they got there. In the middle were these incredible peanut butter / chocolate fudgie bar things that she made, surrounded by these plain normal tea crackers. We told them not to touch the deliciousness (they're Jeff's favorites) and that they could have some of the other cookies. Then we left the room.

We returned to talk about temptation and why is it that we always want to do something that we're not supposed to do. What does it mean to obey? This is the origin of suffering and sadness.

Amy also found this awesome game for adjectives and emotions. So we played a modified version of 'Go Fish!' It was a great time with them.

Quarantine!!!

we had a visit to the doctor this week and we were required to wear masks.... Flu Quarantine!

FPI 20 year reunion!

Can you believe it?! Footprints is 20 years old!!! Jim and Sally started all of this 20 year ago. Today at Cornerstone church in Brighton Michigan over 100 people are gathering together to celebrate all that the Lord has accomplished here in Tyumen (and in the lives of more than 300 Americans who have visited us here in Tyumen). It is awesome! We're sad that we're not there to join everyone.

My first bath... (by Kroshka)

A guest post - from Kroshka the Kat

i was just lying on the couch enjoying my afternoon catnap... completely unsuspecting of their plans...

they showed me the bathtub and i started to feel suspicious. why was there a big green cup in there?i'm a cat, A CAT, i don't doggie paddle! what are you doing?

aw - now i look like a rat... doggie paddle and now dripping looking like a rat... why? why?

i'm never gonna get my fur dry again. i think i need a blow dry... Amy?

oh, now this is the right treatment with a heat pad. this me like.

The Dentist...

yes, we finally managed to go to the Dentist in Russia... it was our first trip to the dentist since 2008. I know that this is horrible, but we don't have dental coverage in America anymore and we've been too afraid to go here.

Our teammate Jeff told us that it's just the same as back home, and we finally got up the courage, were able to get through and make an appointment, and FIND the office.

We both had appointments and it was interesting, because I had assumed we'd be getting cleanings. It costs $5 per tooth to get them cleaned. That's right, $5. The dentist told us that we both have excellent oral hygiene and that we didn't need to get them cleaned. Keep up the good work. She told me that I had over brushed in a few spots and that there were a few concern areas for cavities. She told Amy the same and fixed and refilled a tooth.

All in all we were there for 2 hours or so and not too terrified for it. Thanks to my mother-in-law Diana for my electronic toothbrush. I think it just saved us a LOT of money.

Valentine's Day with Teen Club

Well, sometimes teenagers can't stop talking about love and the opposite sex. And sometimes it's something that they don't really want to talk about much at all. Luckily, our plan was to talk about God's love and not all that romantic mushy stuff. It went really well and the kids enjoyed our time together. Amy made these incredible heart cookies and we decorated with red and pink hearts... ah, youth work is so fun!

Just Masha today...

Only one student was able to come to teen club today. Another was sick and another was busy. Seeing as we can't currently advertise any of our programs at the Center, because of our building's status (we're currently constructing - so we can't invite new people! Rules are rules.) we were happy for the one-on-one time with Masha.

She's a really quick, smart and energetic girl. A bit quirky and funny too. We enjoy being able to teach all of our teens English and moral lessons from the Bible.

Valentine's Day

Sometimes life is so strange. Amy and I have been living in Tyumen for almost 4 years already and we don't think of ourselves any differently than our Russian friends or colleagues. But other people still remember that we're foreigners.

Last week, a young woman was waiting for me outside the department where we teach English at the University. She met me at the door and asked if I was Jeffrey. I had about 5 minutes until I needed to start teaching and had only a second to talk.

She was inviting us to a 'native-speaker' only event for Valentine's day. We thought it strange, but it's another opportunity to meet new people. The only problem is that I teach on Tuesdays. So I asked if I could bring my English class along with us. (I didn't want to cancel class for another function... if I would cancel, it'd be to spend the evening with Amy!!!)

Well, we went to the event. It was interesting. A Russian woman who lived near Detroit for 12 years has just returned to Tyumen and doesn't want to lose her English. So she opened up an English only cafe. We kinda feel like she stole one of our ministry ideas! So they wanted us to play some games and talk about Valentine's day in America. There were 2 other English speakers there (it's always nice to meet more Americans in Tyumen) and there was a French guy too.

Amy and I led them in the Electric Slide as our assigned 'activity.' I'm glad for all those years of line dancing at Camp KOVCHEG here in Tyumen - we knew how to teach others to dance!in this picture you can see my student Masha and our new American friend, Jay. They were writing a valentine's poem for everyone.

Discussing Love...

Discussion Club was really cool tonight! Amy planned a really awesome activity and discussion about love. We talked about different kinds of love, defining love and played a game with pick-up lines.

Amy had everyone write down what love is on a heart and then put them up on the wall. We had a brief conversation about parental love and sacrifice and has anyone had someone sacrifice for them. Then Amy used the wall in the cultural center to show the bridge diagram! It was really awesome.

{did I say the word awesome too many times in this post?}

Baptisms & Dedications

This month has been pretty cool as far as baptisms and dedications are concerned. Dr. Richard Alberta was able to baptize and dedicate two siblings who have committed themselves to God as well as a local Nenetz woman from our church who has also accepted Jesus into her life! Dima was able to pray for her at our Church service this week!

Viktor is dedicated

Oksana is baptized

at church

Bible College - 2012 February Session

What a great session of Bible College. We studied the Book of John and Spiritual Development and Interpersonal Relationships. There was a LOT of conversation about legalism and grace. Our interpreters did a great job and we REALLY had wonderful, wonderful conversations with our professors and their wives.

Dr. Richard and Donna Alberta and Bob and Tacey Hopper joined us for our two week session. Irina, a friend of Bob and Tacey's from Briyansk Russia came to interpret with them. She was INCREDIBLE.
They all joined us in various other ministries as well from Discussion Club, to helping teach at the University to a special women's program. It was a great pleasure to have them all here and the impact of their time will last far longer than the two weeks they were with us.

Ice Sculptures 2012

This year the theme of the ice sculptures is continents and countries! Here's Amy with the Africa sculpture.

Dr. Alberta is enjoying a quick, brisk moment on the throne... it's a chilly reign!

The year of the dragon. Russians are very interested in the Chinese Zodiak - so here's the dragon sculpture.

How come I'm photographed with the pig?

Amy with the gate to Siberia! This photo is in front of the city administration building.

Amy with a Yolka (a new year's/christmas tree)

Do as I say... not as I do...

Today I had two guests speakers for my English Leadership Course. Donna Alberta and Tacie Hopper joined us to share about Leadership in the Home.

What a fascinating discussion we had together. I think (to my personal chagrin) that it's going to turn out to be my students' very favorite class all year!

Some of the great advice and laughs that we had together tonight... (I'm not editing all of the text, but you'll get an idea about some of the awesome advice they passed along!)

What is something that your parents always said to you?

• Do as I say, not as I do.
  
• Children should be seen, but not heard.

What did you say to your children all the time?

• I hope you live long enough to have your children do to you, what you've done to us.
  
• "normal is boring"
• You don't always get what you want
  

My students also responded to the second question as well:

• Lead by example
• Raise me in freedom
• Be careful and very polite
• Study hard
• Learn a foreign language

Other things that we discussed

· How to avoid manipulation at home

• You can't avoid it. Children always test their parents.
• You need to learn a response.
• Sometimes you ignore behavior.
• Sometimes discipline is the answer (remove from a situation) (spank or slap) (say no)
• Start with a mild response and progress
• Don't give in to what the child want
• It is a kindness when he gets his way, it is a gift.

· Adjust your parenting to each child

o They all have different personalities

· Don't disagree in front of the child over her/his treatment

· Never discipline out of anger

o Discipline should always be under control (not emotional)

· Two worlds of childhood (by Urie Bronfenbrenner) - recommended reading

· In the 1960s there was a TOTAL cultural revolution (even in the family)

· Radical individualism

· I made many mistakes as a parent (you will too)

· ”wait until your father gets home"

· James Dobson

o Strong willed child (often a great leader)

· Be responsible, honest, protect, honor family/country, serve

· Look for strengths in the child and encourage them

· Until age 7, the parents are the dominant force of influence on the child

• Be thinking about their friends
• Make your home the BEST place to hang out.
  

Love people, use things NOT use people, love things

· Explain the why…

• DON'T SAY, "because I'm your mother"
• Explore how could we have done it the right way
• Tell the infant why you're doing what you're doing, and why are you doing it.
• Age appropriate explanation

· Listen first/ Obey first = explain later/ discuss later

· Verbalize your love to your child.

• Every human being craves love and acceptance
• There is no substitute for love and a child that knows mom & dad love them.
  

Be a good winner and a good loser

• Good sportsmanship

· Behavior is more important than the advice that you give them.

Keeping warm!

no, it's not her real hat!