Monday, September 01, 2008

Woodleaf: Former Soviet Republics Weekend

Natalie, Luke, and I got to spend the weekend at Woodleaf with Younglife staff from the former Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. It was an encouraging weekend to see and hear about all the great work Younglife is doing there, learn about the history of Younglife from an old-timer who was there for the first club in a circus tent in Dallas, and to relax with friends in a beautiful setting.
Thankfully, the Russian and Georgian representatives got along just fine. I was thankful once again for running water as Stass, a Younglife staffer in Kazakhstan, shared about his hometown. They don't have any hot water -- and they have cold water for only 5 hours... a week! To keep warm in the winter they build small fires in their living rooms because they don't have heaters. I'm liking our duplex better all the time. Stass was also a formidable opponent in our 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Natalie and I hitched rides whenever possible from Jeff Farrar riding around in his golf cart.
Playing at the lake after a wiffleball game.
This is the biggest swing Natalie and I have ever been on.
Sheryll and Leon are really good at Ultimate Frisbie.
Luke hanging out with Armin, the most famous musician in Armenia, after some messy games.
Luke likes diving.
A few more pictures coming soon...

No comments: