Stoneworks International » Russia

You know it’s hot when…

Mike — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:03:03 +0000

from On Life in St.Petersburg by Liz Hulley

One thing Americans and Russians have in common is that they both like to complain about the weather, hot or cold. I have a friend from the extreme north of Russia, and she’s always cold. However, when I was in Congo, I didn’t hear any of the locals complain about the heat. But then again, I didn’t understand most of what was said. I would say it’s characteristic of all humans to worry about physical comfort, but I haven’t polled everyone yet…

As you know, it’s been a warm summer in Russia. While we often wish for “real summer” in St. Petersburg, we forget that hot weather is only fun if you can hang out on a beach and jump in the lake, not if you are required to go to work, do remont (home renovations), cook anything that requires heat, get a good night’s sleep, ride the public transportation, go outside at all, wear anything long-sleeved…

It’s been interesting observing how the extreme weather uniquely affects life in northern Russia. If in Massachusetts the warmer temperatures prompted us to get our first air conditioner (instead of the usual assortment of fans), St. Petersburgers are buying their first fans, ever.

This humorous list has been circulating the Russian web. If you’ve been here at all in the summer, you may appreciate it.

-when choosing a restaurant, you don’t consider the menu, you consider the air-conditioning (McDonald’s!)

-you could care less* about the hot water being turned off (this happens for 3 weeks every summer)

-you think that showering twice a day is too little

-you now like to go out only after 11 pm (that’s when the sun finally goes down)

-you think 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) is chilly

-you think that the best food is okroshka (chilled soup) with ice cubes, and the thought of a barbecue makes you gag

-you tried buying a fan in 10 different stores and failed (see: snow shovel shortage, Winter 2009-10; rubber boot shortage, Spring 2010)

-you’ve thought for the first time about buying an air conditioner for your home

-you sleep on the floor with a wet bedsheet and that is just fine with you

-your windows are covered by foil or other reflective material, and you don’t care that it’s dark in the room

-you’ve practically forgotten how to boil soup and fry meat or potatoes

-you’ve forgotten how to iron and what an iron even looks like

-the three most frequented websites on your browser are weather sites, and you look at them at least 3 times a day (okay, 10 in my case)

-you longingly look at travel guides for Norway and Finland…

-the words “come here, let me give you a hug,” can create a scandal (agreed…a handshake is almost TOO much contact at this point)

-you eagerly jump out of bed in the morning, “to work, to work!” because in the office there is air conditioning (or “to the grocery store!”)

-you take off for Egypt, because it’s cooler there

*meaning, you couldn’t care less. I was going to fix the grammar, but then it wouldn’t be conversational. I came across a lot of forums calling Americans stupid for saying “I could care less” when it means the opposite. So I decided to use it anyway, just to exercise my patriotism.

Orphans Visit America

Jay — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:49:39 +0000

Here is a report from Galina Nikolaevna, a MIR representative who has brought Russian & Ukrainian orphans to visit America…

Our 4th Week in America:

Right now I’m living in a family with Marina Cmirnova, from orphanage #35. The family really loves Marina, especially Charlie, who is 3 years old; he gets really upset when he hears that Marina is going to leave soon.

Over the course of 4 days Marina and I got to see various interesting places: the Benjamin Franklin Museum, the first American zoo in Philadelphia, and the Atlantic Ocean, where we spent a whole day.

On July 24th there was a party, which Marina and the other kids from Ukraine attended, with their chaperons. It was really well organized for the kids; there was even a pool, nice since the weather has been very hot lately. Marina had a good time and got to know the kids from Ukraine. Marina really likes America and loves her host family.

The family has come to love this little girl from Russia.

Thing are also going well for the kids from orphanage #8: Kseniya Fyodorova is staying in an oceanfront hotel. Zarina and Ruslan got to go on rides, caught fish, and went to a concert, since the host father plays in a band and sings. They also visited an oceanarium. Maksim Udaltsov had his last day at camp on July 23rd and on the 24th ; they went on amusement park rides.

Robert Shigorin and his host family are staying on the oceanfront in a family camp and is helping his host parents to learn some Russian. He continues to study English and says he misses St. Petersburg and his friends and counselors in the orphanage.

Back In Russia

Jay — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:13:58 +0000

Here’s a brief update from Elizabeth Hulley in Russia:

I am enjoying being back in St. Petersburg, despite the very warm temperatures! I immediately moved into a new flat upon arrival, and have been amazed by the outpouring of support, from carrying heavy things to picking out new wallpaper.

As someone living in another country, there are so many ways that I’m needy, and God never fails to send help. It is humbling.

I have a 3-month visa with MIR and I hope to be in better contact with fellow workers this year as my studies kept me busy last year. I should receive my temporary residency permit in the next month or two.

I’m not sure what my weekly routine will look like in the next few months, but I look forward to seeing where God will lead, and I hope to share about it in the next newsletter!

Your sister in Christ,

Elizabeth

Elama Slideshow

Mike — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:33:27 +0000

Here is a slideshow of MIR’s most recent camp at Elama. A good time was had by all.

A Shelter for Children

Jay — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 02:52:29 +0000

Here is an update from Marina Topoltsyeva, Board Member for MIR:

Dear Friends,

Here are pictures I took yesterday at the shelter my friends from the church started in the village 1.5 hours drive from the city.

There are about 10 kids whose parents are addicted to drugs and alcohol. They simply gave the children up and disappeared. The youngest child is 3 months old, the oldest is 6 years old.

They have a building but it remained empty for 2 years and renovation had not been finished. Children have no documents–no records at all–but need medical help. The Director is very busy with paperwork for them.

Please pray for the workers to take care of children and funds to provide essential needs. We brought them chicken yesterday; they cooked it and ate it right away. The goal of this shelter is to try to bring mothers back and then send them to rehab centers to become free from addictions.

If that doesn’t work they will look for new families for these kids so that they do not end up at the orphanages. The Road of Life is going to help sending girls and boys to do some work there and take care of children. It will be great when the teams come to minister there.

God bless you.

Marina.

A Summer with MIR

Jay — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:45:03 +0000

Here’s an update from Masha Oshkina, MIR Executive Director, on recent happenings in Russia…

This summer is so full for MIR.

In June we had 2 teams getting Camp Elama (see recent pictures here) ready for the time children come in. Saint James Methodist Church team (above) from Athens, GA came in to build a summer pavilion. This was an SII project in partnership with MIR. Then the torch passed to Tuscaloosa First United Methodist Church Team who finished up the work.

As a result, from July 2 to mid August there will be 3 shifts of children filling in the place. The first group of children arrived from Severodvinsk which is up north “to warm up” as Saint Petersburg weather is considered “hot” for them.

In June and July we are hosting a volunteer from Finland named Mia. You can read about her here.

June was a very eventful month in terms of personal training and professional growth. I have been working along the side a trained Christian counselor, Lyle Thomas. Lyle is on the board with MIR to excel prioritizing tasks and strategic thinking. You may get acquainted with his blog post related to his first day with MIR here.

I also had a chance to attend a day conference held by British Charity Everychild. The room was packed with social workers and municipal board specialists. It gave me a good understanding of what is it that government specialists value so strongly that they allowed private foreign charities to change their behavior patterns. The continuance of relationships and work alongside in crisis can turn “cold war” style relationships into teamwork.

Another memorable event was a day tour around the city with intention to meet three successful Saint Petersburg Charities: Perspectivi, Nochlezhka and Teplij Dom. All tour participants were to practice resolving difficult “cases” these successful organizations once faced, and then to compare it with the decision made by each of them. It was so meaningful to meet the real people and hear real stories behind well-known brands.

June was also the month MIR sent a group of children to live with Christian host families in America. Thirty children traveled to families this summer. You may view and use photos from the welcome party for hosting program here. Along with St. Petersburg orphanages who are usual participants, we now are developing the opportunities for children from other areas of Northwest Russia (Novgorod, Pskov, Borovichi, Karelia) to take part in the program. It is a challenging and exciting labor. We are looking forward to seeing more children in need to find anchor and forever families.

In July MIR is hosting a team from San-Antonio who our dear friends and great supporters. One week in a camp with full schedule, discos, the Gulf, special needs orphan kids and gorgeous day in the city can give me the motivation to continue my office work for the next year.

I’m looking forward to new places and people God will bring me to.

Have a great summer!

Masha Oshkina

Recent Elama Pictures

Jay — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:02:10 +0000

Here’s a pictorial update from Mike about Elama

Below are recent pictures of our camp, and tree-filled video. We have about 30 children from the far north, from a town named Novodvinsk. As you can see, they are making use of the new buildings, and we continue to add more facilities. Now we need a good well, since the water supply is not reliable.

Here is a short video of The Great Tree of Elama meeting is literal downfall:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Paradox #1: Security

Mike — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:55:31 +0000

from On Life in St.Petersburg by Liz Hulley –

I’m starting a series on paradoxes of faith! You know, those aspects that are a little hard to express logically, yet fill us with wonder about God.

Today’s topic relates to our life on earth. What kind of life does God promise us, and what type of behavior does He expect from us? Certain factors can be confusing.

The Lord tells us not to worry about earthly comforts, yet offers consolation when we DO worry.

A Little Thing Called Housing

Raise your hand if you haven’t ever worried about where you were going to live. I will include here any traveling, and even choosing a bunk at camp-hey, that can be a long week!

The Bible says that the Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head (Lk. 9:58). This can be applied in different ways, and is tragic considering that He was a king. Personally, I read this as illustrating the fact that he was born in humble conditions, and that His ministry required Him to give up many comforts.

When you don’t know where you are going to sleep one night or sometime in the future, I don’t think it is the time to point out that children in some remote country sleep outside, although thankfulness is a good character trait…and actually, thinking of Haiti does make me count my blessings.

But, getting back to the point…studying the life of Christ serves a few different purposes, among them: 1) To learn to follow His example, and 2) To be assured that He UNDERSTANDS.

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, which was modeled by Jesus, we ask about our daily bread-very much an earthly, practical need, but one that He himself deemed worthy to bring before God.

When we try to live as though we don’t care about our living conditions, we are really just burying anxiety. We are either at peace about it or we aren’t. There is no indifferent middle ground. And if anxiety is there, we must deliver it to the Lord. Though He tells us not to worry, He means that we ought to deliver our worry up to Him.

The End of the Beginning

Mike — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:28:30 +0000

This building project has ended, just in time for the beginning of the summer.

A team from Athens, GA returned yesterday from building two pavilions at Camp Elama, in Russia. Click here to see a slide show of their first few days. Pictured above is the large pavilion which will be used for gatherings and meals. A smaller pavilion will be used as a summer kitchen.

We are so very thankful for all the hard work of so many people. One of the team members said he was very impressed by the quality of the people working on the project. So, now is a good time to mention a few of those people:

Allen Amason was the US team leader and made this all possible by his tireless work and enthusiasm. Sergei Tovstapyat is the camp administrator and was the project manager for this work. John and Karen Bull helped in innumerable ways. Masha Oshkina is the Executive Director of MIR and helped with team coordination and was with the team for a few days. Olga Cantrell handled food planning and team administration. Mia Häyrinen came over from Finland to work with the team.

We are very thankful for the relationships that God has given us. Our love for God and for one another is more important that the tasks we do. God does indeed set us together as living stones. And times like this show how true that is.

Expressing Intentions

Mike — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:22:04 +0000

Here’s another post from Liz Hulley –

When you are “planning” to do something, what is your degree of intent? I’m just curious because apparently in the Russian language, “planning” is tentative. That is, “planning” to do something means that you still aren’t sure. I don’t know if this is a linguistic distinction, or cultural, or both.

In class today we asked the teacher what the difference was between “thinking” about doing something and “planning” to do something. She said they were synonyms. We asked how you could express “planning” to do something, but when you are sure. She said that didn’t happen. Hmm, okay…

Here’s how I picture the English verbs working:

1) I’m thinking about going/I might go to the beach tomorrow (tentative).

2) I’m planning to go to the beach tomorrow if the weather’s nice (conditional: I’ll go IF x happens).

3) I’m planning to go to the beach unless it rains (conditional: I’ll go UNLESS x happens).

4) I’m going to the beach tomorrow (no question).

I would definitely view option 3 as closer to yes than no. But these are all assumptions from my own head. Maybe I’m wrong?