I mailed in the third installment toward the cost of my trip yesterday. What a relief! I have to make one more payment of $600 and then another $100 for the cost of the bus trip to D.C. I've had some much appreciated help from my church, Central UMC, and I'm talking with some folks about a couple of fund-raisers.
I noticed that next summer's trip to Moscow will cost $2700 - I don't know if this is an increase over last year's summer trip but I'm glad mine only costs $2000. I heard today that oil and gas prices are going down and that should help decrease travel costs but these days, who knows?
On an unrelated note, if you get the Charleston Daily Mail go to section C and look at the page 1 article about the Seniors' Bible School at Central. Neat!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Such Generous Friends
Thank you again to everyone who has so generously donated to the expenses and needs of this trip. My friend Regina and her daughter Jessica visited from Lewisburg this weekend; when we went shopping Saturday she helped me find and buy some of the school supplies that will go in the gift packs for the kids. She's a teacher, so she knew the best kind of stuff to buy!
My music buddy Ed was the latest to buy a Russian Circus ticket to send an orphan to the Circus. I only have one ticket left but I can still take donations for the Circus if you don't mind not getting a souvenir ticket in return.
My other music buddy Carr gave me a generous donation this morning to help buy presents for the orphans. Here is a list of the items I still need:
Make Up and Nail Polish for Girls/Cologne for Boys (25 total items)
Winter Gloves and Knitted Winter Hats(25 of each)
Socks for Boys or Girls (25 total pairs)
Erasers (25)
If you want to help provide these items you can purchase the actual items and get them to me as soon as possible or you can make a cash donation. (If you want to make a tax-deductible donation you can make a check out to Central United Methodist Church and mark the memo line "Russia Trip". I will be sharing these donation with my co-traveler Lyndsay Gallian.)
My music buddy Ed was the latest to buy a Russian Circus ticket to send an orphan to the Circus. I only have one ticket left but I can still take donations for the Circus if you don't mind not getting a souvenir ticket in return.
My other music buddy Carr gave me a generous donation this morning to help buy presents for the orphans. Here is a list of the items I still need:
Make Up and Nail Polish for Girls/Cologne for Boys (25 total items)
Winter Gloves and Knitted Winter Hats(25 of each)
Socks for Boys or Girls (25 total pairs)
Erasers (25)
If you want to help provide these items you can purchase the actual items and get them to me as soon as possible or you can make a cash donation. (If you want to make a tax-deductible donation you can make a check out to Central United Methodist Church and mark the memo line "Russia Trip". I will be sharing these donation with my co-traveler Lyndsay Gallian.)
Blessings
There are many, many blessings in my life, but here is a special one I was given last Sunday in church on a beautiful Thomas Kincaide card:
BLESS
1. BODY - Lord strengthen Margie physically in Russia. Grant her safe travel and protection on the whole journey.
2. LABOR - Father bless Margie's efforts as she helps the children in Russia. Bless her labor in all that she does while on this mission trip.
3. EMOTIONAL - Help Margie trust YOU so completely that she won't be afraid or worried and so she can sleep peacefully at night.
4. SOCIAL - Though she's away from family and friends, help her connect with others on the mission team. Bring a friend to her so that she will not be lonely.
5. SPIRITUAL GROWTH - Help Margie to trust YOU, depend on YOU, and not lean on her own understanding. As she serves other, may she sense YOUR presence in real ways and receive the reward of growing closer to YOU on this trip.
Love & Prayers,
Ruth Ann & Bill
I will be sure to carry this blessing with me throughout my trip!
Friday, September 15, 2006
More books!
I don't really have anything new to report today so I'll fill you in on a few more books I've read about Russia. (I keep a "book diary" so I can go back and refresh my memory about my favorite books and authors.)
Edvard Radzinsky wrote "The Last Tsar" about Nicholas II and his doomed reign as the last of the Romanov family to sit on the throne of Russia. In the same vein, Greg King and Penny Wilson explored "The Fate of the Romanovs", researching what happened to some of the extended royal family during and after the Revolution. "Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia" focuses on the life of Nicholas' sister who spent her last years in rural Canada.
When Nicholas II abdicated the throne for himself and his only son, Tsarevich Alexei, his brother, Grand Duke Michael, would have been next in line for the throne. Micheal refused the crown (in a carefully worded way that left things open for future speculation) but was executed by the Bolsheviks shortly thereafter. Given his marriage to a divorcee, Natasha, he wouldn't have been eligible to rule anyway - he had married without the Tsar's permission which was a major no-no. Their story is told in "Michael and Natasha" by Rosemary and Donald Crawford.
Rasputin, the so-called "Mad Monk" was another major player in the tragic end of the Romanov dynasty. Edvard Radzinsky tackles Rasputin's life in his book "The Rasputin File".
Robert K. Massie, mentioned in an earlier post as the author of "Nicholas and Alexandra", moved back in time to profile a more successful tsar in his book "Peter the Great". Joan Haslip explores the life of Peter's granddaughter-in-law in her book "Catherine the Great" as does Carolly Erickson in "Great Catherine". Returning to the 20th century, Dominic Lieven gives us another biography of "Nicholas II".
Leaving the royal Romanovs far behind, I read "Last of the Breed" by Louis L'Amour. Louis L'Amour? Didn't he write westerns? Yes, but he wrote a lot more than westerns. Louis L'Amour was Daddy's favorite author; when I inherited all his books I started reading some of them just to find out why Daddy liked him so well and I was hooked! "Last of the Breed" is a spy novel about an American officer (who happens to be a Native American) who is shot down over Siberia in the midst of the Cold War and spends months evading Soviet authorities and living off the land in the taiga, the great forested area in northeastern Russia. I certainly didn't expect to learn about Siberia by reading a Louis L'Amour novel!
Edvard Radzinsky wrote "The Last Tsar" about Nicholas II and his doomed reign as the last of the Romanov family to sit on the throne of Russia. In the same vein, Greg King and Penny Wilson explored "The Fate of the Romanovs", researching what happened to some of the extended royal family during and after the Revolution. "Once a Grand Duchess: Xenia" focuses on the life of Nicholas' sister who spent her last years in rural Canada.
When Nicholas II abdicated the throne for himself and his only son, Tsarevich Alexei, his brother, Grand Duke Michael, would have been next in line for the throne. Micheal refused the crown (in a carefully worded way that left things open for future speculation) but was executed by the Bolsheviks shortly thereafter. Given his marriage to a divorcee, Natasha, he wouldn't have been eligible to rule anyway - he had married without the Tsar's permission which was a major no-no. Their story is told in "Michael and Natasha" by Rosemary and Donald Crawford.
Rasputin, the so-called "Mad Monk" was another major player in the tragic end of the Romanov dynasty. Edvard Radzinsky tackles Rasputin's life in his book "The Rasputin File".
Robert K. Massie, mentioned in an earlier post as the author of "Nicholas and Alexandra", moved back in time to profile a more successful tsar in his book "Peter the Great". Joan Haslip explores the life of Peter's granddaughter-in-law in her book "Catherine the Great" as does Carolly Erickson in "Great Catherine". Returning to the 20th century, Dominic Lieven gives us another biography of "Nicholas II".
Leaving the royal Romanovs far behind, I read "Last of the Breed" by Louis L'Amour. Louis L'Amour? Didn't he write westerns? Yes, but he wrote a lot more than westerns. Louis L'Amour was Daddy's favorite author; when I inherited all his books I started reading some of them just to find out why Daddy liked him so well and I was hooked! "Last of the Breed" is a spy novel about an American officer (who happens to be a Native American) who is shot down over Siberia in the midst of the Cold War and spends months evading Soviet authorities and living off the land in the taiga, the great forested area in northeastern Russia. I certainly didn't expect to learn about Siberia by reading a Louis L'Amour novel!
Monday, September 11, 2006
How cold will it be?!?
Several people have asked me how cold it's going to be in Moscow in December and January and how I will keep warm.
Well, the average temperature in Moscow in January is -10C! http://meteo.infospace.ru/moscow/html/index.ssi
As for keeping warm, that's what long underwear is all about. Several people have recommended "Cuddlz" brand so as soon as J.C. Penny has some in stock I'll buy a couple sets. They also recommend layering clothes with T-shirts underneath sweaters or sweatshirts. I have lots of gloves, mittens and winter scarves and a good pair of snowboots. I have several warm coats, too, so I just have to decide which one to take.
However cold it is, I bet that when I get back to Charleston I'll think it's summertime!
Well, the average temperature in Moscow in January is -10C! http://meteo.infospace.ru/moscow/html/index.ssi
As for keeping warm, that's what long underwear is all about. Several people have recommended "Cuddlz" brand so as soon as J.C. Penny has some in stock I'll buy a couple sets. They also recommend layering clothes with T-shirts underneath sweaters or sweatshirts. I have lots of gloves, mittens and winter scarves and a good pair of snowboots. I have several warm coats, too, so I just have to decide which one to take.
However cold it is, I bet that when I get back to Charleston I'll think it's summertime!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Mission Moment
Today Lyndsay Gallian and I were the subject of the "Mission Moment" at Central UMC. Lyndsay is Leslie and Dave Gallian's daughter and she is going on the trip to Russia with me and the rest of the group! I'm thrilled to have her going along. I was talking to her Mom one day at work about going on the trip and Lyndsay listened carefully and quietly spoke up and said "I want to do that!" Her Mom and I both looked at her and said "Are you sure?" and she said "Yes!" It will be great to see the experience through her eyes.
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