Monday with Larry

This is a picture of the gold medal winners of our Olympic Games. (Read on for more details.)

Megan and Jen refer to the guy in the striped tank top as Russian Josh. He's athletic, he plays the guitar, and he's quite competitive!

Now for Larry's First Blog:

Sunday evening meeting with the youth started as usual. We sang and are enjoying hearing the youth singing in their Russian language. We started the meeting at 8:00 p.m. . Something was a little different tonight at the meeting. Pastor Jim was able to nod off and get some serious nap time in, between 8:30 and 9:00. See--it can happen to any of us. [I blame cold medicine –Jim]
The kids are getting some good teaching and they seem to be having a good time while enjoying our company. The evening meeting usually lasts two hours plus. It seems that we get to bed about midnight, after it is all said done for the day.
Jen has found a couple of the girls to go jogging with her, about 6:30 am, every day, in the snow. Yikes !!
The colds have taken their toll on most of us but I am pretty sure that we are all on the mend. It is a good thing we are getting well because, starting Wednesday we will be outside more and it may be below zero.
We have been able to call home and keep in touch with our families. The phone calls help during our time away. The blog is also a good tool for all to keep up on what’s happening here.
This morning was our first Russian coffee, a break from the black or green tea. The Starbucks Via coffee we brought is still the most desired drink.
During the kids’ study time, the staff went to the market area to do some shopping. Always a fun thing. Megan, as usual, indulged in some large dark chocolate, caramel, raisin candy or what ever it was. We then proceeded to the open market where the gals loaded up on fruit. Something tells me they miss the comforts of home groceries. So do I.
We had morning worship with the kids and then they had study time. Next it was time for the “USA Games” with the gang. Let the games begin. The games were a real hit. We had egg rolls, lifesaver passing mouth to mouth with tooth picks, cookie unicorn, shooting coke cans with rubber bands and a hacky sack contest. At the end we handed out the medals. Gold, silver and bronze for the first three teams, and Hubba Bubba bubble gum for the last place team. (We taught them the meaning of “we blew it.”) They loved that, so did we.
Jen and Megan did some arts and crafts with the kids. We had lunch. Introduced the guys to American football and now you are up to date.
We are all doing well and you can continue to pray for all of the team and campers.
Meet you here next time. Bye
p.s. As the result of Jen's escapade in strange train berths, we have adopted the theme song, "Strangers In The Night" by Frank Sinatra. You gotta love it.

- Larry