May 23rd

I have noticed a weather pattern over the last 20 or so years- it always rains on my birthday.
Tonight (the early hours) is no exception.


* * * *

Today is jam-packed full of plans- I'd better get some sleep so I can cope with it all!
Trac has been flooding the fridges with roast chicken, kebabs, and something secret she won't show me all day, and is talking feverishly of plans for crepes, deserts, salads and serviettes tomorrow; our friend and interpreter Kate and probably her boyfriend Roslun and maybe a friend of their's, Daniel, who she's trying to set me up with (she's wasting her time), are coming over for lunch because they can't make it for the ; party tonight! We've invited over 30 people to our little house! I've demanded that the boys make it their plan to be here, and we have food galore, the chocolate game, M&M relays prepared (in our line of work we're never short of games to play!), good music and a healthy mix of Aussies, other random internationals and Russians! We have a lot of cleaning and tidying to do before then- so I'll say goodnight and get some rest ;-)
(Something you have to make allowances for as you get older, right dad?)

Music

I love my Russian church. As a family we're getting to know some of the other members and leaders, and they are so passionate about living for Christ. I respect and admire them. I love how Russian our church service is, too. It's on the occasional side that we sing songs that I know the English lyrics to- we prefer Russian songs, and we praise God with Russian rhythms that just call my feet to dance!!

On Sunday the pastor's wife asked me to come to music practice with the musicians on Tuesday, and the music team practice on Thursday. I was so excited- I've been itching to play with other musicians for months- years! And all my memories from my years on the Grace team came flooding back- both the good and the difficult ones! All precious and character building, in their own way ;-)

Well, tonight was Tuesday and so off I went, caught the bus all on my own (a small feat in itself) and went to church and played. My guitar is getting repaired by the music master at the musical college in town (some of the cream-coloured capping over the top of the neck had chipped off) so I played an electric guitar. I found that my memory for chord patterns has improved with my age (which took a giant leap forward about 30 minutes ago!! (>_<) and everything I've ever learned came back to me. Woohoo!
I'm looking forward to Thursday. The team leader, Sergei, asked me if I can sing in Russian. I guess I can, if I have enough time to learn the songs. Now this WILL be a challenge!

MAY DAY picnic in the park

It has become a tradition- for a family that's lived here for two years, anyway.
May Day, public holiday and beginning of the spring celebrations that fall across the first 10 days in May, is spent in the park. We weren't the only ones there, either.

We have "our" little secluded spot by the river that we always head for.

And do we know how to picnic!

Bringing in the supplies ;-)
Trac and Pete setting up camp
Beckles and I lounging around


Beckles Me and Jake

Luke, Becky, Roma and Jake Luke. Please refer to him as "Cool Dude"

The muddy remains of our snowboarding slope

благая вест

Our church- Blagaya Vest- is AWESOME!

It's hard to give you an idea.
we go for the rock version of praise songs, we listen to the instrumental "Theme from Local hero" originally by Dire Straits during our tithes and offering (why don't we do that in Australia?!??) and... we just love it.

Sorry these photos aren't very good but this is what it looks like from my point of view.

His kingdom, his power, his glory will be forever!

Late Snows

The snow had melted.

It was sunny. Getting warm. Then one day, on April 29th, we woke up to see...

A big snow fall.

Wet snow sticks to everything. It was a beautiful salute to the end of winter.

Goodbye! Goodbye white coldness! We'll see you again too soon.

Unrecognised Genius

You've met Jenya before. Here he is, just to refresh your memory...

He has a gift. He can break just about anything he sets (or doesn't set) his mind to, simply by walking past it.

But there's another side to his gift- he is a creative inventor.
He can take any household appliance and, much to Peter's frustration, take it apart and make it "better" and/or something completely different.

Anton and Jenya had a friend give them a tatoo recently. Once the scabs had come off (I know, ewww) they weren't happy with the result. So Jenya took apart a battery-operated nail buffer, remains of the OLD laptop, electrical tape and a guitar string and made himself a tatoo machine.

As much as they said it didn't hurt, I'm sure it did! But, I have to admit... they did a good job!
Don't try this at home folks.

Ice Fishing

There is a man, Victor. He goes to our church. And he keeps his car out the front, at our house. So we see him in passing nearly every day. (Incidentally, his wife just had a baby boy. Congratulations Victor!)
Well- he invited us to go ice fishing with him several times. Finally Pete was able to take him up on the offer- bundled up in as many warm clothes as possible, off they went, to spend the day on the ice, hauling in fish.

Pete in action Victor Fishing people scattered across the bay The ice is about 1 1/2metres thick- enough to hold the weight of a vehicle

April picnic

What can you do on a beautifully sunny day, when the kids are on holidays and everyone's at home? Go on a picnic, of course!
(Australian style)


Luke guarding the fire

Pete and Luke hard at work Roma collecting the firewood. For a ...small blaze


Step a mm off the path and you'll be knee-deep in snow.
Jake standing on the path
Bec taking a swing - Pete taught her to hit the ball 5 minutes before!
Jake the great bowler Trac fielding

The mountains have been clear lately

We live in a basin. To the north: mountains. The the south? Well... the ocean. Japan. The east: mountains . The west: mountains.

They are beautiful, and sometimes very clear.


Looking out of the window to see mountains in the distance further confirms the fairytale feeling I have about living here. When I'm in the forest, it's Narnia. When I see the mountains, it's Mordor.

Birthdays

Jenya’s birthday was February 13^th. We asked him what he’d like to do. He’s one for staying at home and hanging around, so we weren’t surprised when he asked if he could invite his brother to have a family dinner with us.

Sasha, Jenya's brother, and Jenya

He didn’t want any other friends, just us and the boys who live here.

Sasha, jenya, Anton 2, Sasha, Anton 1

He turned 20. This year was the first time he’d celebrated his birthday on his birthday, and had a family celebration for it. Cake. Presents.

I wish I’d been able to get a better picture of his smile.

Jenya and Anton

The building

Ever since Pete and Trac first came to Sakhalin, they’ve had long-term vision for a building- a building that will be big and centrally located, that will suit our needs and be a place where a future full-time team of 10 can live and work!! (Currently we are a full-time team of three; Pete, Trac and myself).

Well… there is a building we’re interested in at the moment. It used to be a bakery, but has been empty for 3 years. It’s one block from the school that Luke, Jake and Becky go to; it’s smack in the middle of 3 student hostels that most of our young people live in; it’s about 10 minutes walk to the centre of town.

It’s big. It is built in a U shape, and the back wing can be separated from the main hall area- perfect for live-in team members and family. We want it.

Here are some pictures. Becky and the others at the back of the building Rome at the front of the house the front gates to the courtyard Behind the building- the windows could be our bedrooms

Rome and I in the courtyard

To obtain this building in any way will be a miracle: we haven’t more than a few cents to our collective names! To renovate it in a style that will suit our purposes will be a huge challenge: namely, if this building is for us, God will give it to us.

We’ve met with the owner, we’ve discussed it with our Russian and Australian pastors, we’re discussing it amongst ourselves, and … we’re waiting. For a miracle.

Some scenes from around town

Bec and I taking a stroll on a footpath
lenin's face still graces our town
In the park (Gagarin Park, named after the first Russian dude in space!)
The day someone stole the rubbish bins
Luke, Kat and Jake walking on a footpath
Buying fish... Pete tried ice fishing actually. I'll have to wait til next year!
Eating at our favourite cafeteria, Goloboks!
Kat from NSW, hip-deep in snow

Snowboarding

I’ve been learning to snow board. Now, I am not heavily into sports and I have no clue when it comes to winter sports! But who could pass up the chance to learn? And make good use of the snow we have so abundantly.

It’s changed my point of view completely- now I’m cheering when we have a blizzard and I’m so disappointed that the sun is warmer and staying longer every day… LoL

Roma has boots and he bought a board at the beginning of the season. I’d sometimes go outside with him and watch as he tried to board down the gentle incline at the top of our street.

Those days are far behind us. Since then he’s taken me, and Luke and Jake a couple of times too, to the slope in the park. It’s a short bus ride away, and we usually walk home. LOVE living next to a ski slope!!

At first Rome and Maxim (when he was here on winter holidays) held me up and showed me how to turn, how to stop, how to turn over and (most importantly) how to fall.

Then Ryan bought a new board and boots, so I used his extra pair…

He and Rome, Dina from Ryan’s church and I went snowboarding one Saturday in February, at Gorny Vostok. Dina and I stayed on the beginners’ slope where we belong, while the boys went up the mountain on the real slope ;-) Dina and I on the beginner's slope Ryan, Felicity, Roma, Dina

Time out for Roma after tackling the big slope

But the real adventure was coming home. We’d caught a taxi up the slope, but Ryan knew of a track through the forest that we could board down to get back to the city.

The snow was more than knee deep, which was deeper still for petite Dina!! We slid down on our boards, crawled through unchartered snowfall on our hands and knees, and boarded as much as we could. Several hours later we arrived home, laughing, wet, and exhausted. Thanks for being so patient, boys!!

Ryan and Dina, at the top of the forest track

Finally, at the end of the season, I have bought my own boots.

I’m hoping I get a chance to use them before December!! LoL In any case next time I go snowboarding it will be so much better. Because my boots fit me really well. The board will have to wait for next season.