Putting Down Roots

While I am not the biggest fan of how cold it can get in Siberia, I am falling more and more in love with most everything else in Tomsk. I love that I can go around the corner and purchase pumpkins from the old lady at the market and have my pick from the 30 pumpkins she has stashed in her van! I love that I can now speak to people in simple Russian, I love that I have friends. I love that people are coming to our English group consistently. I love that it snowed for 5 days straight. My heart is so full of joy!

About buying pumpkins: on Wednesday I took a field trip to the market near our apartment with the hopes of buying some pumpkins for my friend Jenny. Upon my arrival to the stand where I knew they sold pumpkins I only saw a few very sad looking, mushy pumpkins. I greeted the women and told them that I was wanting some pumpkins. They asked me what size and when I told them I wanted small pumpkins they told me to follow them around to the van. (remember this is all happening in Russian) At the van I was amazed! This jank, light-blue, Soviet era van was filled to the brim with ripe punkins! As I was picking out the right ones to give to Jenny one of the women remembered me from the first time that I bought from her and greeted me with a hearty hello. Then she got into her car and pulled out some garlic. She said a few words but that only thing I really caught was the word for "gift." She was giving me the gift of garlic. (I LOVE garlic) My day was made! Not only was I able to buy pumpkins on my own I was also able to make friends the women selling the pumpkins. This just proves that God has perfect timing and He is the giver of all knowledge. Without His provisions there is no way that I would be able to pick up on so much Russian and be able to do what I did.

I would like to now take a moment to brag on English Club. English Club is run by our good friends Emil, Jenny, and their adorable daughter named Leeza. These three have been an integral part to adjusting to living in Siberia. They have taken us in and called us friends. Spending time with this family is a gift and being able to join them in the work they do has been the most delightful experience. At English Club I think we (Allie, Alissa, and I) have been able to flourish as teammates and teachers. Jenny has helped us to come together as a trio and helped us to utilize our different gifts and talents. Saturdays are quite possibly my favorite day of the week because I get to see people I know and get to have tons of fun! We play games, have tea, learn/teach grammar, and participate in discussions. Last week we talked about Halloween and fears; I was able to be candid about my faith and share how I believe that "perfect love drives out fear." The perfect love of God takes our fears and erases them. That when we are so focused on loving God and receiving His love then we forget our fears. Then this week was super chill and I got to hang out with Baby Leeza and get to know some of the young people from church a lot better.

Playing a game at English Club and there's Leeza!

It is so fun!

I teach English sometimes

Our friends, and Russian teachers, Ivan and Katya

While living in Russia and learning to speak Russian is a marvelous thing I am finding more and more that knowing English really does open so many doors. Teaching and saying the same old things in English can get old, but the relationships it brings about makes me get over myself real quick. The work we are doing with English has led us to so many friends and tonight at English Club there were even some people asking about coming to church tomorrow. Hallelujah! We are also going on a 24-hour retreat this next week and another girl from our English group will be joining us. I am so thankful for these times to get to know people better and to share my heart with them. Seriously, I feel as if my heart could burst with joy! As fun as it to know that I am getting closer to seeing my family in America, it is even funner spending more days with my friends and family in Tomsk. God has planted us here and we are slowly putting down roots. I am comfortable living here and I am refusing to think of this as our final month in Tomsk because who really wants to see me become an emotional wreck. Let's be real... The people of Tomsk have stolen my heart. I have roots here.