Closer to the Son

It has been awhile since my last update, which means a lot has happened since then. I cannot possibly highlight everything that has gone on, but I will do my best.

I love the conversation classes I am teaching. These give great opportunities to have great discussions where I can learn about them and their culture and they can learn about me and my culture. I have had one distinctly interesting conversation with one of my students. He came to me saying that he had a dream. It is amazing the detail of this dream that matches up with “The Woman at the Well”. So, I got to share this story to him from the Word. He seemed fascinated the entire time I was telling him what his dream was about. There is no doubt that this dream was given to him through our Father. Michael and I both went on a walk with this student after class. We talked more about this and why we thought the Father chose him to reveal more of Himself to. I wish I could elaborate more, but that is all I will say for now.

My favorite class consists of about 7 to 12 students in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. A couple of them are in their 40s. They all work for the national news station here. Some are journalists, reporters, and some are newscasters. It is funny having a class with well known “famous” people that you do not really know are famous. This class is easy to get talking, and many of them know each other, so they all joke around with each other and with me. Last week one of them was even bold enough to give me homework to study the history of the country so we could talk about that next time. I thought I was done with homework when I graduated in May, but I have not found that to be true here. I am glad to learn about the country here though. It has been horrible learning of the deep tragedies they have been through in this country. They never gave up fighting for their independence though and received that with great triumph. They may be free as a country, but they are enslaved in so many other ways. My eyes have been opened to more of the oppression here. The women are shown respect in public such as on the metro and the bus if there are any men sitting and women standing, the men will no doubt get up and offer their seat to the woman. However, it is sad to hear of the intense oppression the local women go through among their families behind closed doors.

One American man who lives here said “The mountains we face…Paralyzing hopelessness that nothing will ever change… and a crippling despair that nothing I do will ultimately matter.” This is what the families working here are facing. Not much is glamorous about this kind of life here, but the peace that the Father gives to these families working here is evident.  And after having said all of that…This is somewhere I could see myself living in the future. We have enjoyed our time with the American families living here. There are so many cute children running around. Many card and board games have been played. It has been great just sitting around talking and soaking up information and stories from the families living here. We learn about how they cope, interact, raise their families, and just do life here together. I know that in the future I desire a community as strong as they have here.

I wish so much that I could speak their language. We have taken a couple classes of language, but you can only learn so much in such a short amount of time. There have been countless times where someone says something to me, and I just have to stare at them and give them an “I have no idea what you are saying look.” Sometimes it is nice seeing how nice someone is without them even talking to you though. Sarah and I workout with one of the American mothers two times a week. We go to the back of this salon where there is a treadmill, an elliptical that feels like it is going to crash onto the floor every time you make a move on it, and a stationary bicycle. There are also yoga balls and a few weights. The woman that runs this salon/gym is very sweet when she looks at you, but she does not speak any English. The American mother we go with speaks the local language very well, and I know wherever I go someday I will want to learn the language as well as she has. The lady who owns the salon stays in the workout room with us the entire time, and she monitors you when you are on the treadmill. She pushes the buttons to make you go faster and slower. She also directs on what to do with the weights. It is just funny how we are used to working out on our own in America when we go to a place like this, but she monitors everything you do. Apparently the women here need monitoring because they are wimpy when it comes to working out and sweating even a little. This is what I hear. I am right there with them though because sometimes I need an extra push. I love working out here as it relieves emotions and stress that I carry. 

My own personal life has been growing tremendously. I have been faced with the reality of some issues that I have just been pushing aside and trying to bury. The Father is bringing them out and healing me. I am growing, learning, and feeling closer to him here than when I was back home. I continue to see my desperate need to seek Him more and more each day.

Tonight we are going bowling with a few students. Hopefully they don’t think all Americans are as bad at bowling as I am. I miss you all and hope everything is going well back in the States.                  

                                                           

The flame that has been naturally burning for 600 years. Well we were told 600 years, and I looked it up and it might be 60 years, but 600 sounds better

We went with some of the local students

Eating dinner along the Sea!

Day at the Beach. It was so nice just having a day to relax and play in the sea with all of the American families here. We rented a bus that fits 26 people and filled it completely.

I am so glad to share this experience with Michael. 

Some things are challenging, but we are growing :)

Me with one of the girls who wants to be a teacher at the school I teach at. She is very sweet. We have down time where we just chat with the other local teachers and workers at the school.

Unexpected First Day

Yesterday morning I went to the school where Michael and I will be teaching to figure out my schedule for the week. Michael had to be there by 10:00 to sit in on a class he will be taking over. When we got there I was expecting to just sit around and wait to discuss my schedule. However, one of the teachers asked me if I had gotten the memo that I had a class...at 10:00...that morning...right that moment. I was just prepared to sit around and work out a schedule, so I was a little shocked and starting to get nervous. The teacher assured me that this would not be difficult, and it would simply be an introduction to the conversation class. Honestly they say this kind of stuff happens a lot here, and so it is always good to be prepared not to be prepared. So, I walked into the classroom and met my student, 15-year old Philip (not his real name, but I will call him that here in the blog). Philip speaks good English, and so it was easy talking to him which helped ease me into my first class. I actually enjoyed my first hour having a conversation class. Twenty minutes into the class, my other student (Ralph...also not his real name) came in. He is 22 years old, but he does not speak English as well as Philip. We ended up talking about the United States because they both want to go there. When I said I was born in California, Ralph's eyes lit up like I had been born in a palace. Overall, everything went well for my first class, and I look forward to having many more conversations with them. They are easy to get along with, and fun to talk to. I have a few more conversation classes I will be doing each week. I could possibly also have a 9 year old girl whom I will be working with one-on-one to teach her English, which will be different than my conversation classes. I also will have a conversation class with 9 people from the national news station...I hope that is not too intimidating. It has been really exciting for all of us to see our classes getting scheduled and everything coming together. Michael, Cody, Sarah, and I are all excited to be here and seen what this summer holds.

I love hearing random American songs like on the bus this morning we got started to "I Believe I Can Fly". The other day Sarah and I were walking and behind us we heard music playing. It kept getting closer and closer until we heard "Like a G6" blasting through 2 teenagers' phone behind us. As soon as they passed us the music stopped. Sarah and I could not help but bust out laughing knowing that was meant for us to hear because we were American.

There is much oppression here, but pr*yer is key. I am constantly pr*ying wherever I go against the darkness and lies the enemy is trying to tell me. I have a hunger and thirst for the Father I did not have before I came though which is a HUGE blessing. He is my Strength and my Shield. Thank you for all your pr*yers as well. Love to you all back in that States!

One of the family's dining/living rooms we hang out at

The street by the school Michael and I are at

Our school's lounge room

The teachers Michael and I will be taking over for. Eating at Shaurma #1. We will miss these awesome people and have loved getting to know them over this past week. They are both going back to the States in a few days.

Michael and I eating our really good shaurmas

Flexible

As someone I know used to say "Changes are improvements". The people who have been setting up our teaching arrangements kept telling us that we needed to be extremely flexible, and we have learned why. Originally Sarah and I were going to be teaching at one school, and Michael and Cody would be at another. The other day plans changed, and now Michael and I will be teaching at one school and Cody and Sarah will be at another. These schools are in completely different locations from each other. I met the 15-year-old girl I will be working with to help her with her English. She is kind and sweet and actually speaks English very well, which will be easier for both of us. Pr*y for good conversations and for us to build a good relationship while I am here. I will also be working one-one-one with one other person and conversing with the native teachers here who are trying to teach English, so I will help them with their pronunciations and mostly just have conversations with them. The teachers from the U.S. that are here now will be leaving in seven days, and they are sad to leave the relationships with their students they have built, but hopefully we can build good relationships and make a smoother transition for whoever will come in next. I am also sad these U.S. teachers are leaving because we have had fun with them these past couple days. They have been here for two years, so we have received some wisdom and advice from them. I really like the location Michael and I will be at. It is about an eight minute walk from the Caspian Sea. Surrounding the area are nice restaurants, coffee shops, stores, etc. I love just people watching and there are some peaceful places around to read and journal in much of the down time that I will have. Thank you for your pr*yers and please keep them coming. I can definitely feel them. The Father is doing and will do great things here. You can see pictures below because pictures are worth a thousand words...

Chandeliers hanging from the streets 

Drinking an iced coffee with Sarah...The iced coffee actually had ice cream instead of ice. Still good :) Sarah and I were given two of the waiters numbers here inside our bill...just because we are American. We did not take them to relieve some of your worries.

Martyr's Lane. A memorial for those killed in a massacre after dissolution of the Soviet Union and also for those killed in a war from 1988 to 1994

You can see how extremely windy it was this day

The Eternal Flame

Beautiful city. Cannot wait to see this at night!

Beautiful City, Beautiful People

Yesterday was a great day touring a lot of the city. What started out as trying to learn the bus and metro system turned into a scenic touring afternoon. From the pictures, you will see how beautiful parts of the city are. We  visited a local coffee shop, which had great food and good iced coffee, which I have been missing. Going throughout the city, at any point I can stop and look at anyone and  they will be staring back at me. I do not mind this because I have gathered that the people here are inquisitive and curious. It also does not help that I stick out with my fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. I tend to want to people watch and stare as well because these people really are beautiful. This morning Sarah and I tried to make biscuits for a group of people, but we ran into one small problem after we prepared and cut all the doughy biscuits...how to turn the oven on. This Celsius foreign oven was very confusing. We called one of our friends for help, so the crisis was averted. However they did turn out really flat, but still really good for our first time baking in another country! Tonight we had dinner at one of our American friend's home, and it was such a good time talking and relaxing. Sarah and I could not stop laughing at how cute, funny and adorable their children were. Any little thing set us off into a laughing fit partly because they really were cute and funny but also because jet lag is still lingering. Slap happy is what I would term that. Here are some pictures of my experience so far:

 

The Coffee Shop

Beautiful buildings and structures

The Flame Towers from a boat ride we took 

Settling In

Hey everyone! We just spent our first day here. All of the flights went well, and we all have not had horrible jet lag, but we have take some naps :) Flying into the city was beautiful with all of the lights, and we also flew in just in time to see the sunset from the sky over the sea. So beautiful. Everything is really laid back right now as we are trying to get situated and learn the basics such as getting groceries. That has been the most overwhelming part so far because everything was of course in a different language and I am used to going and getting simple things which they may not have such as a wide variety of cereals to choose from or frozen vegetables. I am very excited that the place I am staying at has a French press. They sell coffee here which is amazing for an addict like me. For all of you out there who are worried about my safety I do feel safe here. Some of the Americans we know here even let their children go outside to play on their own. Sarah and I really like the place we are staying at. It is nice and comfortable. It is different than an American place but hard to explain. I will be helping teach English somewhere with Sarah, and the boys will be at another location teaching. All four of us had dinner at one of the American's places, so it was nice to relax with them, talk, and drink tea. I am already learning and growing a lot. Taking a lot in at this point and trying to process. I am excited for these next two months whatever they may hold. Love to all!