Jaime. Travels. Photography. Fundraiser.

Jaime is an amazing wedding photographer. She is originally from BC, Canada. She now lives in California with her husband Will. Jaime is as beautiful and inspiring as her pictures are!
Please visit her web site to take a look!

A few years ago Jaime was on a Trans-Siberian Road adventure with her friend Allison. A common friend of ours connected us so that the girls could stay with me in Mongolia where I was living at the time. I fell in love with Jaime's beautiful, inspired and inspiring pictures. I made a promise to myself that if at all possible, if I ever were to get married, this would be the person I'd love to be there to take pictures for us...

Jaime wasn't able to be there for our wedding because she was a Middle-Eastern adventure with her husband... While in Jordan, Jaime got thrown off a camel and broke her pelvis. It was painful time and there was a lot of virtual hugs and real time prayers going for Jaime... Praise the Lord she is on the mend! God's hand has been upon this beautiful couple and now their family is growing as Jaime and Will are going to become parents in September!

My dream of Jaime's photography being involved in our wedding is coming true in quite an unexpected way.  Jaime's donating her skills and time to raise funds for our medical bill... All I can say, girl you are amazing. We're humbled and touched. Hope we can exchange some BIG Russian-Canadian hugs some time soon!

We've survived the Winter

We've survived the winter. Winter of incredible blessings and deep losses. 

We got married. It was a day when our dreams came true.

We got broken.  I sustained 12 breaks in both legs.

We got broke. Our insurance dropped us with a year income medical bill. 

We got heart broken. Tim's Dad and my Grandpa who raised me lost their battle to cancer.

 

It has been hard and definitely not the way we would have chosen to start our married life.  The Lord has showered us with the blessings of His love and peace. We have held on to Him and each other, surrounded by loving family, friends and church family. We've felt His love shielding us from the heavy weight of the medical debt and physical pain, giving us strength for each day. 

 

There have been ups and downs. We had to keep going. Giving up emotionally would've cost us too much time and energy.  But also how could we?! Having Jesus on our side and having the hope in Him, knowing that my body will be healed, we've been thankful... 

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  ^{(Romans 8)} 

Spring is coming!!

Spring is Coming!...  
(Steven Curtis Chapman)
We planted the seed 
while the tears of our grief
soaked the ground  
The sky lost its sun, 
and the world lost its green
to lifeless brown 
Now the chilling wind 
has turned the earth hard as stone 
And silently seed rise beneath ice and snow
And my heart's heavy now  
But I'm not letting go of this hope I have 
that tells me  

Spring is coming, 
Spring is coming 
And all we've been hoping 
and longing for 
soon will appear  
Spring is coming, Spring is coming 
It won't be long now, it's just about here
 
Hear the birds start to sing  
Feel the life in the breeze  
Watch the ice melt away  
The kids are coming out to play
Feel the sun on your skin  
Growing strong and warm again 
Watch the ground: there's something moving  
Something is breaking through  
New life is breaking through

Spring is coming, Spring is coming 
Out of these ashes, beauty will rise
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear  
Sorrow will be turned to joy
Spring is coming, Spring is coming  
All we hoped for soon will appear
It won't be long now, it's just about here  
Out of the dark clouds, beauty will shine
All above in heaven, rejoice
Spring is coming soon
Spring is coming soon

Papa

You welcomed me

into your home and your heart

you gave me the love of a father.

The tears I shed as a fatherless child

have been wiped away.

You're my Papa.

I miss you so much, Dad!--your beautiful smile,

your wisdom, your patience, your presence.

My Heavenly Dad walked me down the aisle

And you gave me the best wedding present:

You shared your heart

and you gave me your hug

you cheered for us from your chair.

And when a week later

we were wounded and struck

you came all the way, you were there.

The present of you being there for me

I cherish... You're far and so near.

You're Home and you're whole.

On your Home coming party

I'll be there for you in my chair.

Dad- safely Home...

Right through the final hours before going Home, he continued loving, caring for and serving: his wife Mary, sons Matthew, Nathan, Timothy (Galina), and daughters Amy Jo, and Marita along with many others, most specially his brother Clifford (Teri) Smith, their children Thomas, Danny and Sarah, and the underprivileged children he serves in Mexico. Many knew him as professor or colleague during his 29 years teaching at Algonquin College. Almost everyone knew him as a teacher of God's word whether at home, college, in children's programs, with his church family or wherever God allowed him to be each day. He was a father to many more than his birth children... a mentor, instructor, traveller, canoeist, hiker, , , lover of God's creation, lover of people and most of all a lover of God his Father. Harold will be lovingly remembered and missed dearly by the countless people Jesus touched through Him both in Ottawa where he lived and in many other places and even nations. His greatest desire was to see God his Perfect Father glorified through his every word and action, to communicate God’s grace and forgiveness of sins and desire that all would ‘Taste and see that the Lord IS good!’ and ‘Trust in Him’.
Harold Smith ..safely Home with Jesus on February 20th, 2013, after 33 faithful years of marriage, victoriously facing cancer twice, raising 5 children, and persevering courageously through 3 years of leukaemia. 

Post from October. /Homeless and Happy. Leaving and cleaving./

Summer in Siberia has come and gone. This short cold summer felt so long because once again Tim and I didn't know when we would see each other again. As I was waiting for my visa I had a chance to spend some quality time with my grandparents in a little village type community on an island where people come to their “dacha” - summer houses and spend the summer tending their vegetable gardens, visiting each other, making wonderful hearty meals and drinking countless cups of tea during the day. It was beautiful. 

On the last day of the summer my visa was ready, and the time to say goodbye came. I took another month to have a closure. Intentional goodbyes with my family and friends. As we were saying our goodbyes, Grandpa cried, Grandma cried, Mom cried, my sister cried. And I cried, too. Those were tears of love for each other and sadness of separation. I left home five years ago, but this time it was different- I was crossing the ocean, for the first time, and I was going to get married.

I am thankful to God for my family. Imperfect and somewhat broken family. A family that stayed together in the face of so many difficulties in our lives. I am thankful... As I was leaving Russia I felt it so strongly that I was “homeless” in a good kind of way- having a home in the hearts of so many dear people-- in Russia, Thailand and Ukraine, but at the same time being detached from a certain place.

And as I arrived in Canada on October, 1, I found a home in the heart of a man who had been faithfully waiting for me. And again, I am thankful...

Dad

Tim's family is coming together in a very special way right now as well. His dad has had cancer for about 3 years, and God has miraculously given him strength and endurance to keep pushing on and encouraging so many around him. In the last few weeks it has seemed more and more likely that treatment is not working to abate the advance of cancer and with a flare up of symptoms in the last few days his physical strength is waning. Please continue to pray for his heart and testimony that God would continue to encourage others through him as he himself is encouraged by his Father!

our honeymoon suite #4

Technically, our honeymoon never really ended. So each new location we stay in as a couple we count to be our honeymoon suite. We were blessed to have a private room in the hospital. As a great exception we were given a mattress for Tim to sleep on. I would wake up in the middle of the night asking for some pain killers and watch my husband sleep on the floor at my bed side, thankful for this wonderful man. I know it would have been so much harder to be going through this on my own.
We are now convalescing with Tim's family and taking it one day at time. There will be a long road to recovery, with lots of work but we have each other and we have our Lord Jesus and incredible friends and family!
We are praying and waiting on God for our future, especially our plans to get back to the work with youth we started in Nova Scotia. Our little cabin is awaiting us as are the contacts we have made there and the family with whom we plan to live and work. We believe that God is forging something much greater in our lives right now through which He will work in the lives of people and especially children wherever He sends us.

Here we are on a Valentine's Day Dinner prepared and served for us by two special friends :)  Many thanks to you guys ;)

The rescue (continuation of the previous post)

Tim We called for help with no response from the disappearing snowmobiles. Though we were the only ones on the lake, we knew right away that we were not alone. We both are SURE that God was with us, spared our lives, Galina from more serious injuries, that He has been present and active every moment since. We prayed to, cried to and thanked God our Loving Father over and over that night, from the lake. Then when help incredibly arrived from the Auberge we thanked Him again under the loving and caring hands of the staff. 

Galina  A couple came a few minutes later. I knew that God had sent them so I asked “Who are you?” They said that they were staying on the lake.  “We just got married last week”.  “ Oh wonderful,-- said the lady with a slight French accent.--  We've been married for forty years... it's very good!” We heard a snowmobile approaching from the resort side and I begged for them to make sure it wouldn't hit me. But it was a “good snowmobile” and it brought a toboggan.  I don't quite remember how they put me into it because any movement caused excruciating pain. Tim got in by my side holding my knees that I couldn't straighten.  

The view of the Auberge from the top

The snowmobile gave us a fun ride to the office of the Resort where a lady in short black jacket was waiting for us, she called 911. Her name was Deborah. I just remember thinking that she was very beautiful and had a very soft voice.   People around came into motion.  I was only listening to Tim and Deborah's voices. Someone brought  lots of towels to cushion my knee since Tim had to get out. Four snowmobilers (who were not even supposed to be at work at such a late hour!!) lifted the toboggan ever so gently and brought me inside, into the warmth... Deborah asked me some questions, turned out I still remembered my name and the husband's, if I knew my ABC's and if could count to ten (I remember hesitating if I should ask her what language she wanted me to count in but decided it wasn't a good  time to be smart).

Firefighters arrived first and examined me, one of them was holding my hand and was constantly telling me to “concentrate on respiration”. When ambulance arrived the room was full of big men who were trying to help me, I saw that some of them had tears in their eyes.  My Tim was always at my side talking to me.

I just wished to go blank right there in that toboggan but the ambulance was ready to transfer me into a stretcher. When they moved me again, it felt then my mind exploded...  In the ambulance the lady started cutting my clothes. I couldn't care less, even when the air got filled with dawn feathers from my jacket. I closed my eyes and felt scissors going through each layer of my nice sport clothes Tim had gotten for me so that we could enjoy Canadian winter together... Finally we were in the hospital... They gave me lots of heated sheets and started treating me.  We knew we were safe.

Tim  While in the emergency room, Galina  through tears was thanking God for our lives, forgiving the snowmobile drivers, pouring out her love for Jesus and people on everyone listening and greatly encouraging me, her husband of one week.

We have been immensely blessed that week by the outpouring of loving care from the community in St Hippolyte and St Jerome. We are grateful for all the personal, skillful and loving help the hospital and resort staff have been providing us. We want to acknowledge that we are thankful the Lord for allowing us to experience His love and presence in a way we never have before. After successful surgery on multiple fractures in both her legs, Galina is recovering well. There were no other injuries, and we expect a full recovery, but it will be a while.

We do hope that the snowmobile drivers will be identified for 3 reasons: we want to meet them and tell them personally that we forgive them and that God loves them – Galina expressed this desire in the emergency room; we also want to ensure the safety of others enjoying God’s creation in this community; and we do not want the drivers to live with the weight of guilt. We want the drivers to know, especially if they were young people, that God loves them, we love them and that though all of our decisions have consequences and justice does come, God offers forgiveness and freedom, as do we.

We send our love to all those praying for us – Thanks! For the prayers!

BIG Russian Canadian hugs,
Tim & Galina 

Snowmobile accident

We have seen God’s power and love at work in our lives this past week more clearly than ever before in our lives. We were married on January 19th in Ottawa. Our wedding was more than what we could wish for, with our dreams come true as we made promises to each other and shared our first kiss. It was so worth waiting for.  We had a blast.  We had waited for each other and our honeymoon was to be very special – we chose to come to a beautiful cabin resort on Lac Morency in Quebec. The resort, area and town were more than we could have asked God for and we were thanking Him and the wonderful staff of the Auberge all week. We didn’t know we would be thanking Our Father God, the Auberge owner Francois and his staff in a much deeper way the next Sunday night!

Tim  That night we crossed the frozen  lake Morency and enjoyed a walk around the town, we stopped for an hour in a quiet church, and bought a few groceries. Then we headed back across the lake to make dinner in our suite. My wife and I truly feel that angels were present that night, and are sure that God was with us...

Lake Morency

Galina ...We were chatting about our plans for the future when we heard a roaring sound behind us. We looked back and saw two snowmobiles coming from the other side of the lake. We stopped. Although there was plenty of space all over the lake we didn't know which way the snowmobiles would go, it was a full moon night and the lights form the resort were not too far making our bright red jackets visible in the dark.... The first snowmobile hit my pole. We looked at the other one hoping he would swirl around... at that moment I realized that it was coming straight at me, its light shining bright into my eyes, the loud roaring getting closer and finally hitting me, the sound and feeling of it stuck with me and still makes me flinch...

Tim found me about 20 feet away, my skies snapped off my ski boots. I opened my eyes at the sound of Tim's voice... My body was on fire and I was afraid that the worst thing had happened – that my back was broken... That's when I felt that I could wiggle my toes... move my shoulders and feel my hips... My legs! They felt like rubber, I felt the pain but I couldn't feel my legs.

Tim called for the snowmobilers to stop but they didn't. We were all alone on the lake, so close to the resort and yet so far.  Tim started calling for help... and praying... I was looking at the clear starry sky, the trees on the shore of the lake, feeling how I had no control over my life, and peace came over me. I was shaking because of the shock and the cold, still fully with it.  I heard Tim say that the help was coming... He was right there, my precious husband of one week who made me feel so loved and special and there he was fighting for me... “Tim I feel I'm going to pass out soon... Don't forget to take my contacts out...”  I so wished that God would let me just pass out to not feel the pain. But as the time was passing my mind was still there, so I said to God “If you need be to be awake, please give me strength to go through this because it's too much...”  

summer houses and local trains

Summer’s here in Siberia.  Dacha season is open. Dacha is a Russian word for a summer house. People hardly ever (=practically never) use it for just chilling out and spend days working on their little plot of land growing and taking care of vegetables. Those who don’t have a car get to their Dacha and back to the town on Elektrichka, and electric train that runs locally.

You can meet all kinds of people on Electrichka. My mom doesn’t have a Dacha. But today I visited some dear friends in their Dacha. As I got on a night train to get back I was glad to find the cars practically empty – what can be better of enjoying a village scenery from a train at the sunset (the sun sits here after 10 pm and is beautiful). I picked a bench, but  right after me came an older lady and so we sat together. I hesitated whether I should take another seat to enjoy some solitude but decided to stay and maybe chat with a lady. Talking to older strangers (well older than me, my mom’s generation people) is one thing that I enjoy here. So we had a chat about her dacha, and lilacs that my friends’ little son gave to me, and about what we do, and our families, and the struggles that her grandson has growing up without a father.  Yeah, Russians go deep with strangers on a train. That’s why I love talking and hearing their stories, and yep, sharing mine.

The lady got off at her station in about half an hour. Before she left she told me to tell my mom that there’s a retired people hang out happening every Sunday in the center (where all the cool kids used to hang out hoho).

 


Then I heard  someone sing behind me. I assumed someone was drunk and sweet, and I turned back- only to see no drunken, but an older couple sitting together, so sweet, the singing was coming from the good looking husband. I smiled and turned back. He stopped singing. I looked at them again and asked “Please sing some more”. The lady smiled and looked at ther husband “He sings ina Theater” she said.  “Oh then please sing some more!” He said- another time…” They started talking about songs, how old songs were so melodic and beautiful unlike songs nowadays. I knew what they meant, and asked to sing them together. They smiled and continued sharing some stories. Now, it is so rare to see an older couple seemingly enjoying each other’s company in our country (a grandson growing up  without a father remember, it is so common in Russia). 





the pic is from the web, not mine,
but it totally illustrates what I'm talking about :)



 They looked so beautiful together, and they were smiling…. “Hop on  this train tomorrow at the same time” – the man said as they were getting off,  and he smiled . And I smiled. I love riding Elektrichka in the evening and talking to strangers. It helps me to remember the real things about Russia that I love.



Dads, this one is for you.

There are many dreams I remember seeing even as a child. There's one that stands  especially vivid,  I saw it when I was 7 y.o.. I'm in the playground of my pre-school, all alone. Then I see my father walking towards me. He came to say goodbye.  I embraced him and started crying. I woke up in tears...  My father was leaving indeed – our family was moving to another part of the country, and he was going a month ahead of us.  So a couple weeks after that dream I was standing on a railway platform, embracing him and crying. 

A year later my sister and I were standing at our  new house embracing our father, all three of us crying.  He was leaving again. This time to never come back.  I remember running back to the house looking for something I wanted him to keep.  It was a card I had made for him for a Father's day that year. It was the last Father's day card I ever made.

I sent him a letter when I was 20.  That year I found courage to put the heavy load of pain, hurt and difficult memories at the feet of Jesus.  As the New Year approached I sent him a card where I expressed love that God put in my heart for him.  I didn't notice any visible change for better in my father  in a few interactions that we had with him in the next few years, but since then I started living in freedom. Forgiveness led me to experiencing the love of my Heavenly Father.  His love healed my heart that had been crying all those years for a father whom I forgot what it was like to have.

When people challenge my faith in God I can't prove them anything but I can defend the hope that I have in Christ. Knowledge doesn't heal hearts.  Relationships do.  I have a relationship that healed my heart,  and now I have a Father. 

On this Father's Day I want to thank the fathers that I met on my way. Seeing each of you interact with your children, especially daughters, was something God used to stir my heart and touch the hurting places, give me hope and heal me.  I was watching you holding your children, and almost every time I sensed God saying to me, until I believed in it – “See, this is how I hold you in my arms. I always loved you. And I always will.” Thank you for loving your children, Dads, I have much respect for each of you.  Your relationships with your children have blessed more children than you know. I am one of them. Keep loving, Dads.  Your love is life giving, it enables children to experience the love of God.  I didn't have  a dad like you, but you all in different ways pointed me to the only true Father that I have.  You guys rock!

As I write this post, I'm thinking, in particular, of my “tatko” Vitalik,  my African dad Peter, Bob Gilster, Rob Thomas,  Sergey Aleev, Ivan Kulikov, Roman Rubcov, Sean Sanborn,  Jim Weikert, Robert Baerg, David Bute, Victor Evpak, Dan Bray, Micah Wood, P' Ek, Russell Sanche, Dave Houser, Brian, and my very special Papa Smith.   May each of you be secure in the love of your Heavenly Father, as I have came to know more of it through you.

one epic morning

Introduction. Chiang Mai, Thailand. On February, 14 Tim and I went to the post office where we were supposed to pick up an invitation letter for his visa application. Tim was leaving for Malaysia  at 9:10 the next morning. No letter. The post office manager Mr. Coke said that he'd send his postman or even go by himself to Lampung, a town nearby where the post center for Northern Thailand was, and that he would do it at 5 am!  He took our phone numbers and promised to let us know in the morning of his mission complete.  Relieved, we went on our first Valentine date.

February, 15.

8.00.  We came to the post office at the opening hour. Mr.Coke was there. The letter wasn't. No one had gone to Lampung for our letter. Surprise - surprise!

8:05.  Mr. Coke sent Tim to the airport.

8:10.  Mr. Coke and I jumped into his car to go to Lampung.  Talking about personal connections! He drove like crazy, we had two close calls to getting into an accident.  It was like in a movie! I was distracting myself by texting Tim telling him that I love him. La-la

8:25.  We rushed into the post center. Mr. Coke grabbed a bag with EMS post for Chiang Mai. We rushed back into the car. He gave me a dull screw driver to open the bag.

8:27.  I tried and I tried but still no success with opening the bag with the screw driver. Mr. Coke took the matters into his own hands while still steering. 

8:28.  Mr. Coke opened the bag!!!!.... No letter......

8:29. Mr. Coke called on the phone yelled at someone really angrily as he was turning back to Lampung. FYI it's a REALLY bad manner in Thai culture to yell at someone.

8:35. We ran into the office again. Found the letter set aside on a desk. Turns out, someone had indeed given some instructions to take special care of that letter.

8:36. We're back in the car.  Speeding up the Highway on the way to the airport.  Two more close calls, one truck almost smashed us, to the side of the bridge. I screamed. We kept driving in silence.

8:57. I ran into the airport. Tim leaned through the security line to get the letter and give me a hug (such a man he is!). Thirteen minutes before the plane was to take off, my Tim went on board.

8:59. Back in the car, I sighed a sigh of relief and we both started laughing. Mr. Coke pet me on a  head ( a no-no in Thai culture) and shook his head, laughing. We headed back to the post office. On the way, Mr. Coke told me that the big truck which almost smashed us, it was not his (Mr. Coke's) fault. I nodded and said “yes, yes, I know”.

Afterward. Back at the Post Office, Mr. Coke brought me to the Post office master who was having a morning tea. I wai-ed (bowed) to the old man  many times with gratitude...

I had to take the motorbike we arrived on back home. In my three+ years in Thailand I had never ridden a kick start bike, preferring automatic for the simplicity of it. Mr. Coke helped me to start the bike and stood there watching me practice shifting and trying the breaks.  I saw worry on his face.  “Madame you sure you ride?”  “Oh yes, Mr. Coke!”  he came closer as my  bike “jumped” again.  “Madame  you sure you ride?”  “Yes. Mr. Coke! Thank you very much for all your help!  Bye- bye”. 

9:45  I made it home safely.

A Long Distance Relationship

I had said many times before that I wouldn’t choose a long distance relationship. Some earlier posts in this blog might shade some light onto the reasons why not, but I won’t go into the details now.  When Tim and I realized that our friendship held more in it than being “just friends” it was shortly before he had to leave for Canada. We did have an amazing week of transition from “just friends”, good as we were, to “very special friends” before his departure date. And of we went…. Kilometers of emails, hours of skyping.  Happy  relationship growing from the opposite sides of the ocean. The challenge of growing a love relationship in a distance turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 

Last month Tim’s Grandma got very bad and was admitted to a hospice. This beautiful lady is dearly loved and cared for by everyone in the family. It is a hard time for the family as they see their beloved Grandma fade away.  

For us it meant the day of our reunion with Tim is moved till... only God knows when. That is when the distance started being harder to bear.  Distance had separated me from people I loved since I was little, breaking my heart every time.  And the heartache of the separation now, though different from what it was like before, reminded me of the old wounds. But…. as ever, the Lord was near to those who have a broken heart.  

The envelopes from Canada with the cute cards and beautiful letters which Tim has been sending to me every month deliver the message of love, missing and the warmth between us. They do make me feel hugged.

If only I could touch God!..  If only I could see His face!.. If only I could hold His hand, I would never feel alone.  I’ve realized that in this sense my love with the Lord too is a long distance relationship.  Hmmm hmmm… Could it be that the longing to reunite with this Canadian man of mine will help me  (us!) to grow closer to the God I’ve tried to love and missed all my life?  Could it be that out of  the pages of the Bible too, there are His loving hands reaching out to me?...

the Land of floods

1/ 3 part of Thailand is underwater.  Think about it.  30% of the country is flooded. Or better- think of your home being filled with dirty water, no running water or electricity, your car is covered with water to the roof...

Thailand needs the the rain to stop. Would you join us in prayer for the RAINBOW?..

The photo courtresy of http://www.theatlantic.com.  More pictures here

Only a few more from My Bucket Lisr

...Driving a jeep off road  (granted I learn to drive first)

....See the sunset at Grand Canyon

...Do a pull up

...Make an awesome  cake for my Mom  

...Learn to play harmonica

....Tell my father that I love him

........................................

.......................................

.......................................

"The Bucket List"

 “The Bucket List” was somewhat a movie of my last year. I watched it at least four times! It is one of those movies where I liked every scene and there’s something new every time you watch it.  Last summer, when I got to the hospital with complications of dengue fever, the first thing I asked my sweet roommate to bring for me was that very movie. “Galina, are you sure it’s a good idea  to watch a movie about death now?”  “But this movie is about LIFE!”  Dear Kelly gave in, and the story and its moral had indeed lifted up my spirits even on a hospital bed. Needless to say I started composing my own “bucket list” which had already been in my head, unofficially so to say. The story gave me a go on making it and being conscious about  LIVing to the full.

One of the items on the list was doing the FREE HUGS.  Checked.  We did it in Chiang Mai last October  with wonderful people, my friends Hollie, John, and Inna.  It was one f the most beautiful things I had ever taken part in.  It was a year ago.  And I would totally go for it now… What is it though that I somehow lost the feel of my Bucket list , back in the cold in Russia? 

My mama

I want to thank you for your for my mom, for all the encouraging notes you have sent to me in the last couple weeks.  I received your support and care with gratitude.  My mom is out of the hospital and has a few weeks off work to recover from the surgery.  She was up and walking slowly in the first few days after she got operated on.  I delivered her the words and encouragement and assurance of prayers many of you had sent. She  asked me to thank everyone. With tears in her eyes she said “Probably because of all the prayers I'm recovering so quickly”.   The risk the surgery under anesthesia contained for her heart was very high.   My mom was afraid to not wake up.  And when she did I knew Father had showed His love and mercy to my family yet another time.   If you think of my mother please pray for her continued healing (she's been experiencing pain in lower abdomen and her back) and for her to receive the love of Jesus Christ with an open heart. 

Back in USSR, or the season in Russia

Since I left home four years ago my mom had been in a hospital about  ten times with various illnesses.   It was hard to be away and not be there for her.  But Father God had always taken care of her and given me peace. It has been good to reconnect with my family during this furlough.   But reverse culture shock hit me hard when I first came here.  I had been struggling for two months feeling lost and sometimes guilty for not being able to connect to the place and people I had known but been away from. Even the warm summer temperatures were cold for me, people on the bus were rude, fruits were all imported and everybody spoke Russian!  Actually after I switched from full time English and Thai to full time Russian I realized that I myself spoke those other languages much more politely. Oh well, we are not our culture but our culture is  a part of us, eh. 

I didn't know true love could be so real...

there are SO. MANY. STORIES. from the time I've been off the blog which I want to share... But I have no time to catch up on all of them right now.  I'll try to do it step by step. And for now, there is one particular story behind this picture which if you still don't know of you might want to hear ( or to read for this matter)...

 All I have to add right now is that God is faithful.  And God's love really is enough to be full of joy, if we make it real with Him.