The Gift of Dining Out

We were invited to dine privately at a wonderful restaurant in Ann Arbor.  We cannot imagine how the Lord could continue in His extravagence, yet He continues to surprise us.

Chum opening at the Cultural Center! (Chum = teepee)

Tonight there was a grand opening of a very special kind at the Cultural Center!  The Chum is finished!  There were songs in Nenetski, a Nenets dance troupe performed and we had reindeer (and reindeer soup).  What a cool evening!

 Nadezhda's cool braids!

 The dance troupe showing us, "the birth of the tundra"

 Victoria made plov (an Uzbeck rice dish) as a supplement to reindeer

 some of the church in front of the 'chum'

 singing around the bonfire

Nadezhda in front of the chum

Exploring the power of a whisper

Gideon exploring the playground

It's so amazing to be a father and to see Gideon explore and discover and explore this incredible world... Even in this moment I'm amazed at him and how God created us.  We're sitting in our apartment, me in a stool and Gideon in a borrowed high hair with a jury rigged safety belt that Amy and I made ourselves, and we're having breakfast.  He's having kasha, Russian for cereal, with a teething cookie in one hand and a ready kasha-filled smile and I'm drinking tea along with a yogurt-like breakfast of tvorog. 

As Gideon was independently playing this morning, emptying a drawer of Tupperware and measuring cups - I was reading the book Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels.  We're reading it together as a team.  It's encouraging us to listen to God each day as we pray.  So often when I pray I find that what I say are rote phrases and mostly praises and requests, but taking the time to really try and listen is much harder.

It's a concept that isn't as easy for a big talker like myself, listening more.

Well, I'm going to do my best to practice all my active listening skills that I try to use in normal life as a part of my prayer life now... who knows what could happen?

Flash floods in Tyumen

Flash floods!  Craziness

You try to cross this with a stroller...

a Gideon update

This post is just several pictures of Gideon and what he's been up to and some new friends!

 Gideon is dressed for the weather - let's go!  Only 3 miles to the Cultural Center

 Gideon tries fish baby food for the first time!

 Gideon with his new pal Igor at church!

 Reading stories with daddy before bed (note that it's bright as day still.

 Hungry on the bus?  No problem.  Mommy is ready.

 No bed for Gideon yet... He's flexible - he'll sleep on the floor.

 Gideon with Marina (Masha's mom) 

 Gideon parkour!  Uh oh.   He climbs already?!

 Gideon loves to watch the wash spin around!

 Victory Day Parade - Gideon discovers balloons.

 Cutest overalls in the world.

 Our new Sunday morning tradition.  Breakfast as a family.

 Team time, dancing with Jeff B.

Team time, playing with Jim.

Tyumen Bible College - Discipleship

Today's lecture ends our Bible college session from the last two weeks.  What a great class and teacher (Dr. David Brown). We've sure learned a lot.  

Gideon has also enjoyed his visits with Marsha!

Women's ministry

The women's ministry gathered at our apartment tonight to finish studying the book of Hebrews.  I'm so proud of Amy that she managed not only to clean our whole apartment, cook a proper feast and watch Gideon for part of the day, but she also prepped for leading Bible study IN RUSSIAN.  wow!

Baptisms

There were three baptisms at church today.  Wow!  It is so cool to see parents responding to the message of God and desiring to bring their children into the family of God!

It's such an amazing blessing to be able to participate actively in the life of the church.

Brooms...

Well, Gideon seems to think that his favorite toy is the broom.  Or the mop if he can get his hands on it.  We've got to find him a broom of his own as it's tough to sweet when his hands are on it!

Gideon's first time with his beloved broom!

Gideon helping to sweep the floor.

11 months old today

Just look at all of this awesomeness.  He's such a cutie.  Today there's a heat wave in Tyumen and it's hotter than 80 degrees in May!  How can it be?!

Gideon is really getting close to walking on his own.  He just started standing all by himself.  It's so fun to be parents.

Traditional Arctic Gear

At the Tyumen Bible College today, our friend from church Nadyezhda had all of her things from the north airing out.  Amy got the chance to put on her traditional Nenyetz overcoat... She looks good ready for the Arctic, don't you think?

Gideon hits the parks

The weather was snowy when we first arrived, but the weather turned two days later and we went straight from winter into summer!

Gideon has been loving the park right behind our apartment building and another newly constructed park near the university.  This kid loves new experiences and laughing!

 oh!  don't put your mouth on it!

 Teeter Totter with mom & dad

 He loves the slide (for little kids)

 Swinging all by himself!

Crossing the bridge with mommy!

Gideon gets set up... (Thank you Community EPC!)

well - this is going to be a process, but we're slowing getting Gideon set up.  A supporting church in Owosso, MI gave us a financial gift to get Gideon set up with much needed equipment and supplies.  This was such a wonderful gift as we didn't need to bring as much with us as we had feared.

But finding the items that we need and choosing is still tough!

here are a few items for Gideon that have made his life here in Tyumen safer and more fun:

 Gideon at the Cultural Center play room.  [gifts: stroller, hippo walker]

 Foam mat for our living room floor - to protect Gideon from head bonks!

Stuffed animal (Luntik from a Russian cartoon) and 

stacking Russian letter blocks

The search is on... diapers, wipes and toys, oh my!

Well, God is good.  We were a bit nervous about what we'd find and how expensive some of the baby conveniences that we need for Gideon.

We did some research and it turns out that there is a ton of stuff available for babies in Tyumen!  Yes!

Everything for kids is more expensive here than the States, but check out these pictures!

 Baby food aisle at the newest SUPER market in Tyumen!

Diaper options!  They even have PAMPERS!

Our New Apartment

Well, our teammate Jeff was really helpful and searched for a new apartment for us prior to our return.  Our place is very similar to our old apartment, just a bit smaller.  The floor was the top priority for us.  We wanted to make sure that Gideon would have a clean and nice floor to crawl (and soon) walk on.

Jeff and Sasha (our realtor friend) did a great job!  We'll have to take some more pictures inside, but here's a quick look at a few things.